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John Morton Wood
Family of Samuel and Jody Wood
John Morton Wood
Born: 3 June 1879 at Cedar City, Iron, Utah, USA
Parents: Samuel Wood and Josephine Catherine Chatterley
Died: 18 January 1893 at Bluff, San Juan, Utah, USA
Life Sketch of John Morton Wood
Jody was pregnant with this baby when the call came from leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a large number of people to leave the Parowan Stake (Cedar City and Iron County area), and travel to the San Juan area where they would settle, build a community, and make peace with the Indians. Samand Jody were among those called, but were unable to leave with the first group who went through the famous Hole-in-the-Rock, reaching Bluff in the spring of 1880. Samand Jody and their family reached Bluff late in 1882, either November or December, when John M. was three and a half years old.
John M., as the new little baby boy would be called, was born in the handsome, brick home of his parents. In Bluff, he lived in a rough log cabin, but the homewas filled with happiness, activity, hard work, and the manystruggles that challenge any pioneer family. Except for a trip back to Cedar City in the late fall of 1884 or early 1885, John M. spent his brief life in Bluff.
As he grew up, John M. often rode his little white pony, named "Little Light". He probably rode along the banks of the San Juan River and up "CowCanyon". He had responsibilities in the garden and orchards and around the animals. He played games, and participated in other boyishactivities.
Albert R. Lyman, who grew up in Bluff and who was the author of "Aunt Jody - Nurse of the San Juan Frontier", wrote that John liked to play ball and that he was a good player. Albert knew this because he played ball with John. They were friends. One day, when John M. ran for third base, he tripped and fell, striking his knee on a stone. He scrambled to his feet and limped away, and all his playmates figured that he would soon feel better. But, John becameincreasingly ill. His knee becamevery inflamed and extremely painful. His mother, Jody, whoserved as the doctor/midwife/nurse for San Juan, was helpless in the face of the raging infection. She, Sam,all the family, and the friends who helped, could not turn the tide. Jody, who had saved so many, could not save her thirteen—year-old son. And so, this dear little boy died on January 18, 1893--eighteen days after his knee injury. Albert R. Lyman's mother was one of the watchers at the bedside during some of the weary nights when family and friends tried to help. She spoke of John's loving disposition. She was moved with wonder at his gratitude as she told how he had thanked her and said, "The Lord bless you."
Source:
Samuel Wood Family, December 1982. John M. Wood Chapter.
Right-click [Mac Control-click] to open full-size image:
John Morton Wood
Family of Samuel and Jody Wood