Quincy in Adams County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
John Wood 1798-1880
In 1846, a majestic white oak stood on a Mississippi River Bluff on property owned by Quincy founder John Wood. It towered over the trees that surrounded it. When Wood began to plat Woodland, he chose this oak as the point around which the cemetery would lie. This stately guardian - damaged over time by hail, wind, and lightning - withered away and eventually had to be removed. Another white oak is now planted on the site - a tree that today stands in the center of Block 6, ten yards north of John Wood's tombstone.
(timeline:)
1798 - born in Moravia, Cayuga County, New York
1818 - left home for the West
1822 - erected Quincy's first building - a log cabin at what is now Front and Delaware
1826 - married Anne M. Streeter
1827 - went to Galena, Illinois, to mine lead
1832 - volunteered for Black Hawk War
1837 - fed and housed Mormons expelled from Missouri
1844-1848 - served as Mayor of Quincy
1846 - platted Woodland Cemetery and became its first sexton
1846 - arranged shelter for Mormons leaving Nauvoo
1849 - went to California during Gold Rush
1852-1854 - served as Mayor of Quincy
1856 - served as Mayor of Quincy
1856 - elected Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
March 1860 - January 1861 - became Governor of Illinois when Governor Bissell died
1861 - served as one of five delegates from Illinois to Peace Conference
1864 - served in Civil War a Colonel with 137th 100-Day Illinois Infantry
1865 - relinquished post as cemetery sexton
1865 - married Mrs. Mary A. Holmes
1880 - died in Quincy; buried in Woodland Cemetery
Erected by Woodland Cemetery.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Charity & Public Work • Horticulture & Forestry.
Location. 39° 55.142′ N, 91° 24.636′ W. Marker is in Quincy, Illinois, in Adams County. Marker can be reached from South 5th Street, 0.1 miles south of Madison Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located in Woodland Cemetery. It is between the Civil War monument and the main entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1020 S 5th St, Quincy IL 62301, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Victorian Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); His Friends Rest Here (within shouting distance of this marker); Honoring Soldiers (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Monument (about 400 feet away); Mississippian (approx. ¼ mile away); Marquette & Jolliet (approx. ¼ mile away); Woodland (approx. ¼ mile away); Quincy (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Quincy.
Also see . . . John Wood on Wikipedia. (Submitted on May 15, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 15, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 203 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 15, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.