Chalmers Barbour Wood

Biographical Information

The following is from Jo Conners' Who's Who in Arizona (Tucson, AZ:  Jo Conners, 1913), p. 718:

Chalmers Barbour Wood, or "Wood of Maricopa," as he is familiarly known, is a descendant of old Virginia stock, his ancestors having settled there before the Revolution, and among them are numbered the Woods, Strothers, Ashby, Brownings, Barbours, Pendletons, and others of the old-time Southern families.  Senator Wood was born in Calloway County, Missouri, reared and educated in his native State, where he attended the public schools and Westminster College, at Fulton, from which he was graduated in the class of '94.  His father Edward Whitfield Wood, was of old Anglo-Saxon descent, and his mother, Helen Mary Strother-Wood, of Scotch-Irish descent.  Senator Wood has long been regarded as one of the best posted men in Arizona on County and State government, and as an authority on school affairs, and during the first session of the Legislature he was Chairman of the Committee on Education and Public Institutions.  He was also chairman of the Finance Committee, and member of six others.  He has been a resident of Arizona since February, 1900, during this time also a resident of Maricopa County, and most of the time prominent in its political affairs.  He is also a thorough Democrat, a strong supporter of the Arizona Constitution and an enthusiast on what Arizona is and is likely to be.  He was elected to his present office by a large majority and has been one of the most persistent and enduring workers to be found in either house.  In the special session he was again chairman of the Committee on Finance and a member of the following committees:  Appropriations, Counties and County Affairs, Corporations, Education and Public Institutions, Judiciary, Rules, and Suffrage and Elections.  Senator Wood is a member of the Sons  of the Revolution, and of other social and fraternal organizations.  He was married November 24, 1896, to Miss Eleanor Wilson, and with their three children, Wilson Barbour, Mary Adele and Helen West, they make their home near Phoenix.

The Honorable Chalmers B. Wood died tragically:

"Burned to Death:  Postmaster Wood of Phoenix meets Untimely End at Country Home."  Graham Guardian (Safford, Ariz.) November 05, 1915, p. 1

Overwhelmed by the fumes of an exploding lamp, C. B, Wood, post master of Phoenix, died and his body was partially consumed in the ruins of his country house on the Black Canyon road near the grand canal Sunday evening.

Warned by Mr. Wood's last words, "Look out," and by the sight of fire bursting out of the window of the frail wood structure, C. L. Madison, renter of the ranch, was able to rescue his bedridden son from the room next that in which the tragedy occurred.  Madison dragged the young man a short distance from the house placed him on a cot, and rushed back into the house screaming to men on the other side of a canal, nearby.  As he opened the door, smoke and flames billowed out, and he was driven from the place, blinded stunned and compelled to stand aside and watch the fire rapidly spread throughout the building.  At this time he had no idea the unfortunate man had not succeeded in escaping from the house.  It was not until he had, with a half score of neighbors, attempted to form a bucket brigade to throw water on the fire, that Mr. Wood was missed, and the horrible possibility occurred to the group....

The Life of Mr. Wood

Chalmers Barbour Wood was about forty five years of age and had been a resident of Maricopa county for fifteen years.  He was born in the "Kingdom of Callo," Missouri, and was educated at Westminster College. Mr. Wood was appointed postmaster about a year ago and he discharged the duties of that office in a most efficient manner....

The Arizona death record indicates an accidental fire and that the Hon. Chalmers Wood died of a heart attack.

Employment

Arizona Legislative Service

Sources

Birth: Ancestry World Tree, location: 1902 AZ birth record of daughter; Death: AZ death record, news article: Graham guardian. (Safford, Ariz.) 1895-1923, November 05, 1915; Occupation(s): AZ death record