OBITUARY       

Charles A. Wood died at his home on Front street last Saturday morning a six o'clock at the age of 83 years.

     Mr. Wood was born in Mason county Ky. , July 11, 1817.   His father, with the family came to Indiana and settled in Indianapolis in 1823, two years before the state capital was established there.   They lived on a farm at the outskirts of the town, not far from the present location of the Grand Hotel.   Mr. Wood came to Delphi about 1845 with his brother-in-law George Robertson, who died in 1865.   Mr. Robertson was a practical paper maker, and together they built a mill and engaged in the manufacture of paper.   Mr. Wood made frequent trips to Indianapolis and other cities, even to Chicago , by wagon, marketing the product of the mill.   In those days almanacs were sold, instead of being distributed free as advertisements, and with his   Mr . Wood also sold the John Rosser's Dutch-English Almanac.   In exchange he took ginseng, beeswax, “Red Dog” and Blue Pup,” the old canal script, which for lack of a better name, was called money.

     The first paper mill in which Mr. Wood was interested as built in 1845 and successfully operated until 1849, when it burned, Robertson then went to California and on his return, two years later, he and Mr. Wood built another paper mill and operated it until the death of the former in 1865, when the mill was sold to the late Abner H. Bowen.   Later Mr. Wood operated for several years a flax mill which stood just below the Kerlin warehouse.   The machinery is still there.   He was also engaged for a time in the live stock and grain trade.   He retired from active business about fifteen years ago.

     Mr. Wood was of a family of eleven children.   One sister, Aunt Axia Robertson, now 73, is the only one living.   In 1859 Mr. Wood was married to Delia Harter and of this union four children were born.   Two are living, Miss Addie Eldridge and Mr. Will Wood; Harry died in 1882 and Charles in 1898.

     Last summer Mr. Wood, with nine other octogenarians, were photographed.   His death is the second from the group, the other was Alexander Moore, of Flora.   He was good citizen in all that the term implies.   What higher tribute could be paid to the memory of any man?   It is doubtful if in all the years of his busy, active life he ever made an enemy; certainly he had none at his death.   Always kind and considerate towards all, he was especially so with his family ,   and _______ever to them will be the memory of the husband, father and brother who never uttered and unkind word to those who were dearest and nearest to him in his daily life.

     The funeral services took place at the family residence Sunday afternoon conducted by Rev. Addison Park and what was mortal of Charles Wood now lies at rest in the Mason cemetery on the hill.