Sumner Gilbert Wood (1855-1942) was born in Boston, Mass., only son of Franklin and Pamelia (Huntley) Wood. He was graduated from the High School of Waltham, Mass; from Williams College, Class of 1877; and from Andover Theological Seminary, Andover, Mass.
While at Andover, he became engaged to Miss Emma Frances Chadbourne (1859-1946), daughter, of Sylvester Winbourne Chadborne and his wife, Harriet Walters; she was niece of Dr. Paul Ansel Chadbourne, president at various times of the University of Wisconsin; Williams College; Mass. Agricultural College, (now Massachusetts State College); and Bowdoin College; natural historian; and explorer of Labrador, Greenland and Iceland for the Smithsonian Institution. Miss Chadbourne, at the time of her engagement, was studying at Abbott Academy, Andover, Mass. They had previously met in Williamstown, Mass., and there they were married, March 24, 1881, in the house of her uncle, who was then the Williams College president.
Rev. Wood's first pastorate was at New Ipswich, New Hampshire. It was of comparatively short duration, and followed by about five or six years at a mission church in Fall River, Mass. He was next minister of the First Congregational Church in Easthampton, Mass., 1888 to 1900, which church is no longer in existence, having merged with the Second Congregational Church after destruction of its building by fire. (this church is now known as the Congregational Church of Easthampton).
From Easthampton, Mr. and Mrs. Wood moved to Blandford, Mass., where he was pastor of the Congregational Church and of the Congregational Chapel at North Blandford, from late 1900 until 1911. While there he became intensely interested in Blandford history. With his horse and buggy he traveled, probably, almost every mile of the over 100 miles of the township, both in the course of his pastoral calls, and for historical information, to every place of possible interest, including even the old house- ruins and cellar-holes remaining from the earliest inhabitants. These he learned about from oldest townspeople who were alive at that time.
In the course of these activities he took many snapshots of homes and house spots, and some of these he used in the two Blandford histories which he published while in that town. The titles of these are "Taverns and Turnpikes of Blandford" and "Ulster Scots and Blandford Scouts." He prepared also the manuscript for a third volume, which he planned to call "Homes and Habits of Ancient Blandford." The two books that were published were well received by reviewers and by the public.
At the close of his ministry in Blandford, Mr. and Mrs. Wood moved to Winchester, New Hampshire, and served the Congregational Church there for several years, after which came his last pastorate, which was at East Berkshire in the northern part of Vermont.
Mr. and Mrs. Wood each lived to the age of 87. They are buried in their family lot in Brookside Cemetery, Easthampton, as also are Mrs. Wood's parents.
While at Andover, he became engaged to Miss Emma Frances Chadbourne (1859-1946), daughter, of Sylvester Winbourne Chadborne and his wife, Harriet Walters; she was niece of Dr. Paul Ansel Chadbourne, president at various times of the University of Wisconsin; Williams College; Mass. Agricultural College, (now Massachusetts State College); and Bowdoin College; natural historian; and explorer of Labrador, Greenland and Iceland for the Smithsonian Institution. Miss Chadbourne, at the time of her engagement, was studying at Abbott Academy, Andover, Mass. They had previously met in Williamstown, Mass., and there they were married, March 24, 1881, in the house of her uncle, who was then the Williams College president.
Rev. Wood's first pastorate was at New Ipswich, New Hampshire. It was of comparatively short duration, and followed by about five or six years at a mission church in Fall River, Mass. He was next minister of the First Congregational Church in Easthampton, Mass., 1888 to 1900, which church is no longer in existence, having merged with the Second Congregational Church after destruction of its building by fire. (this church is now known as the Congregational Church of Easthampton).
From Easthampton, Mr. and Mrs. Wood moved to Blandford, Mass., where he was pastor of the Congregational Church and of the Congregational Chapel at North Blandford, from late 1900 until 1911. While there he became intensely interested in Blandford history. With his horse and buggy he traveled, probably, almost every mile of the over 100 miles of the township, both in the course of his pastoral calls, and for historical information, to every place of possible interest, including even the old house- ruins and cellar-holes remaining from the earliest inhabitants. These he learned about from oldest townspeople who were alive at that time.
In the course of these activities he took many snapshots of homes and house spots, and some of these he used in the two Blandford histories which he published while in that town. The titles of these are "Taverns and Turnpikes of Blandford" and "Ulster Scots and Blandford Scouts." He prepared also the manuscript for a third volume, which he planned to call "Homes and Habits of Ancient Blandford." The two books that were published were well received by reviewers and by the public.
At the close of his ministry in Blandford, Mr. and Mrs. Wood moved to Winchester, New Hampshire, and served the Congregational Church there for several years, after which came his last pastorate, which was at East Berkshire in the northern part of Vermont.
Mr. and Mrs. Wood each lived to the age of 87. They are buried in their family lot in Brookside Cemetery, Easthampton, as also are Mrs. Wood's parents.
