1885 Minnesota census records show Warren Wood (age 28, born in Wisconsin) married to Dora (age 23, born in Wisconsin). The couple resided in Fisher, Minnesota.
An 1889-1890 Grand Forks, North Dakota city directory showed Warren B. Wood as a bookkeeper for the firm Freeman & Stephens. His address was 111 North Fifth.
A 1891-1892 Grand Forks, North Dakota city directory showed Warren B. Wood as a partner in the firm Wood & Stephens. Their address was 111 North Fifth.
A 1891-1892 Grand Forks, North Dakota city directory showed Warren B. Wood as a dealer in real estate and collections. His address was 321 1/2 DeMers Avenue. He partnered with Andrew D. Stevens.
HON. WARREN B. WOOD, one of the proprietors of the Hotel Dacotah, at Grand Forks, and one of the well known and popular men of North Dakota, was born in Portage county, Wisconsin, November 26, 1858, son of Charles and Julia (Robertson) Wood. The father of Mr. Wood was born in New York state, was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion and was killed in 1862, while fighting for the preservation of the union. The mother of Mr. Wood died in her native state, New York, in 1863. The subject of this sketch was returned to Wisconsin at six years of age and placed in care of a guardian, by whom he was reared to manhood. He received a common-school education in the state of Wisconsin, though for the most part, his knowledge has been acquired in the practical school of experience. His life in his native state was spent on the farm. In 1880 Mr. Wood came to Grand Forks and this city and vicinity has been his home since that time. For some years he was engaged in the business of farm real estate and loans for the Corbin Banking Company, of New York. Mr. Wood, as representative of that financial institution, handled a very extensive business in the Northwest.
It was in 1898 that Mr. Wood formed a partnership with Hon. J. D. Bacon, of whom mention is made on anther page of this volume, and they erected the Hotel Dacotah and since that time he has been interested in and has devoted his attention to the business connected with the hotel. He also has large farming interests and owns six hundred and forty acres of valuable land, ten miles east of Grand Forks, in Minnesota. In politics, Mr. Wood is an uncompromising Republican and for many years he has taken an active and leading part in the political affairs of Grand Forks county. He has represented the county for two terms in the general assembly of North Dakota. He introduced, and was instrumental in securing the enactment of the law to enforce the collection of delinquent taxes of the commonwealth. This law is regarded as a just one and has proven of great value to the state.
Mr. Wood was married, June 1, 1884, to Miss Dora Taber, of Wisconsin. They have one child, namely: Viola M., born December 18, 1891. Mr. Wood is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Grand Forks Lodge, No. 255, of which he is treasurer, the Zodiac and the Grand Forks Gun Club. Mr. Wood has had no assistance in the struggle to attain his present enviable situation in life and has made his own way by virtue of his courage, energy and capacity for business. His portrait will be found in these pages in connection with this biography and sets forth in speaking likeness the countenance of one of the leading men of the day in North Dakota. (Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota, Geo. A. Ogle & Co., 1900, Page 1103)
The 1900 United States census records show W. B. Wood (age 41, manager Hotel Dacotah, born in Wisconsin) married to Dora (age 38, born in Wisconsin). A daughter (Viola, age 8,) lived with the couple in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
W. B. Wood is one of the pioneers of North Dakota, coming to Grand Forks in 1880, from the state of Wisconsin. About a year after locating here he went to Fisher, Minn., to take the management of an extensive general merchandise business at that city, which he conducted for three years, and returned to Grand Forks. He was for years engaged extensively in handling real estate, and was also the local representative of eastern capitalists having large interests in North Dakota. He also came in charge of the old Grand Forks National bank as receiver, making a splendid record in the settlement of its business. Mr. Wood was for four years a member of the state legislature and gave the public a splendid service in that capacity. He is a man of large executive ability and broad gauged in his views. He is rather modest and somewhat retiring in disposition, but by his genial ways and broad citizenship, has made a host of friends throughout the state. For some years past he has devoted himself closely to the details of the management of the hotel, and it is largely to his careful supervision that everything in the Dacotah is always in the best of condition. (Grand Forks Herald, Silver Anniversary Edition, June 26, 1879 to June 26, 1904, Page 87)
DEATH SUMMONS. Death of W. B. Wood, One of Grand Forks’ Oldest and Best Known Citizens, Following a Stroke of Apoplexy Yesterday Morning – End Came at 6 O’Clock Last Evening – Had Been a Resident of the City for Twenty-Six Years, and Had Long Been Prominent in Business Circles. Stricken with an apoplectic stroke at 8:30 yesterday morning (December 4, 1906), W. B. Wood, one of Grand Forks’ most esteemed citizens, and a member of the firm of Bacon & Wood, proprietors of the Hotel Dacotah, passed away at 6 o’clock in the afternoon without regaining consciousness. The sudden death will cast a gloom not only over the city, but throughout the surrounding country and the state as well, for few of our citizens enjoyed a wider acquaintance or a larger circle of friends.
Mr. Wood suffered a slight stroke of paralysis last summer, but had apparently nearly regained his wonted health. A little more than two weeks ago, soon after his return from a hunting trip to the western part of the state, he suffered a severe attack of indigestion accompanied by brain trouble, which confined him to his room most of the time since. Some of the symptoms caused his physician and family uneasiness, but his condition slowly improved, and Monday evening Dr. Engstad thought he could pronounce him out of danger. Yesterday morning, on awakening, he remarked that he never felt better. A half hour later, however, he complained of a severe headache, and at 8:30 he became unconscious, remaining practically in a state of coma during the day, never regaining consciousness until the end came.
W. B. Wood was born in Portage county, Wis., Nov. 26, 1858. His father, Charles Wood, was killed in battle in the war of the rebellion in 1862. His mother returned to her native state, New York, where she died a year later, and W. B., orphaned at this early age, was sent to Wisconsin, where he was placed in the care of a guardian, with whom he was given a home on the farm and where he obtained a common school education. In 1880 he came to Grand Forks, and has lived here and in this vicinity ever since. For some years he was engaged in the real estate and loan business. In 1898 he became association with Mr. J. D. Bacon in the purchase of the reconstructed Hotel Dacotah, and since then has devoted his attention chiefly to the hotel, of which he was one of the proprietors. He was for some time in charge of the affairs of the old Second National bank as receiver. He owned a large farm a few miles east of the city in Minnesota, which has also required considerable of his attention. He served his district for two terms in the house of representatives of the state legislature, and was one of the influential members of that body.
He was a member of the Knights of Pythias, B. P. O. E. and other fraternities. He was always genial, large-hearted, broad gauged, a man of sterling worth and esteemed highly by the entire community. Mr. Wood was married June 1st, 1884, to Miss Dora Taber, of Wisconsin. They have one daughter, Viola M., now just growing into young womanhood. It is expected that the funeral services will be held some time tomorrow, but the details of the arrangements have not yet been completed. (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Wednesday Morning, December 5, 1906, Volume XXVI, Number 30, Page 6)
FUNERAL OF W. B. WOOD. It Will Be Held This Afternoon Under Auspices of the Elks – Rev. Frank Hays to Officiate. The funeral of W. B. Wood will be held from the Hotel Dacotah this afternoon at 3 o’clock, under the auspices of the Elks. Rev. Frank Hays will arrive this morning from Chicago and will officiate. There will be services in the hotel and the burial will be at Memorial Park. (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Thursday Morning, December 6, 1906, Volume XXVI, Number 31, Page 6)
FUNERAL OF W. B. WOOD. It is Largely Attended and is Under Auspices of B. P. O. E. – Demise Causes Sorrow. The funeral of W. B. Wood, who died Tuesday, was held yesterday afternoon from the Hotel Dacotah and was attended not only by citizens of this city but by prominent residents of other sections of the state who desired to honor the memory of Mr. Wood, who for years has been a prominent figure in the business and social life of Grand Forks. The funeral services were in charge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Rev. Frank Hays, of La Grange, Ill., formerly of this city, eulogized Mr. Wood. He had known him for years and testified to his qualities. Following the services the body was taken to Memorial Park, where the burial took place. The pallbearers were H. L. Holmes, William Budge, A. D. Stevens, C. L. Van Alstine, Vic Chaffee and W. H. Kelsey. There were numerous floral tributes. The Elks sent a beautiful design – a clock with the hands pointing to 11. The K. P. society’s offering was in the form of a shield, the M. W. A. society sent a pillow of white roses, the Masonic design was in the form of a lyre with square and compass and the employees of the Dacotah sent a broken arch. (Grand Forks Daily Herald, Friday Morning, December 7, 1906, Volume XXVI, Number 32, Page 6)
Mrs. Dora Wood. Mrs. Dora Wood, widow of W. B. Wood, once associated in ownership of the Hotel Dacotah, died Wednesday in Englewood, Calif., Mrs. J. D. Bacon was notified. The family left here about 25 years ago. A daughter survives. Rites will be today. (Grand Forks Herald, Thursday, January 11, 1940, Volume 59, Number 62, Page 5)