History of North Tama By Daniel Connell ABIJAH WILBUR was an early settler. With Horace C. Green and Mr. Dusenberry, acquaintances in New York, he early made investments in land, and in 1856 removed his family hither, settling on section twenty-six, where he lived until 1863, when he sold to the Ewing brothers, removing to Green Mountain in Marshall county, and subsequently to Marshalltown where he died in 1886 at an advanced age. Mr. Wilbur was a business man. In his young days he built boats for the Erie canal and made money, which he ultimately invested here. His business habits adhered to him and he was actively engaged to the last, his mind being clear and vigorous. Mrs. Wilbur resides at Marshall town. Their family here consisted of daughter Esther, wife of James Wilson, Addie, wife of Henry Wambaugh. She resides at Denver. They had four sons: Ward, who lives in Nebraska and Charles, Judson and Daniel, all of whom are dead. ALFRED WOOD better known as "General," was born February 26, 1814, in the town of Ashfield, Franklin county, Massachusetts. At the age of twenty, just at the close of the Blackhawk war, he went to Chicago. At the time of his arrival he says there were about 150 inhabitants besides the soldiers in barrack. He commenced work in a lumber yard owned by a man named Washburn, the only lumber establishment in the village. Not liking the swamps he left and went to Dupage county and worked on a farm for a year. In 1835 he went to Whiteside county, at that time containing but five white inhabitants. He there engaged in farming and had a saw mill, continuing for nineteen years, and in 1854 he came to Buckingham and entered land on section 30. He has resided on it continuously to the present. In common with many of the early comers Mr. wood has experienced hard times and many vicissitudes. His wife died soon after his arrival, leaving an infant child and another boy but a few years old who subsequently died. Mr. Wood re-married in 1857 and they have a large family, all boys but one. Of fate success has crowned their joint efforts. Mr. Wood has been known as General. Few know him by any other name. Fewer still know how he came by the title. Being a New England man he formally used oxen on the farm, especially in hauling logs for his mill. He became habituated to carry the long whip as a military officer a sword. He was a large, substantial man with erect carriage in his younger days. He was the impersonation of the ideal military officer. This appearance, while driving his oxen, conveyed the idea to John Connell, who dubbed him General, and he has since retained it. A few weeks since Mrs. Wood met with an accident, and the newspaper spoke of her as Mrs. A. Wood. Many asked who she was, not knowing A. Wood.