Dates

• Existence: 1893 - 1968

Biographical History

Wilford C. Wood (1893-1968) was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints most known for purchasing several Church history sites and artifacts.

Wilford Cotton Wood was born May 22, 1893 in Woods Cross, Utah. He is most known for purchasing several historic sites and artifacts related to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when there was little interest in preserving these pieces of history. He began purchasing important Church history sites after returning from his mission to the Northern States in 1918. He owned such items as the original uncut sheets of the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon; the John Taylor home and original temple site in Nauvoo, Illinois; the jail in Liberty, Missouri; and the Newel K. Whitney Store in Kirtland, Ohio. Wood later sold most of these sites to the Church and set up the Wilford C. Wood Museum in Bountiful, Utah, to allow the members of the Church to view the items he collected. Wood served for several years on the board of Utah Trails and Landmarks Association and on the Church's historical committee. He died January 17, 1968 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Citation:

Joseph Smith begins his work, 1995?: v. 1, cover (Wilford C. Wood) v. 1, history and notes on Wilford C. Wood (Wilford Cotton Wood; b. May 22, 1893, in Utah; d. Jan. 17, 1968, in Hiram, Ohio)

Ancestry.com, viewed Oct. 25, 2010 (Wilford Cotton Wood; Wilford C. Wood; Wilford Wood; b. in Woods Cross, Utah; fruit farmer)

Wilford C. Wood Museum, via WWW, Oct. 25, 2010 (Wilford C. Wood; Mormon collector of books, historic sites, artifacts; d. in Salt Lake City, Utah; served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Northern States)

Wilford Wood Museum website, Wilford C. Wood biography, via WWW, Nov. 18, 2013 (Wilford C. Wood; most known for purchasing Church history sites and artifacts; b. May 22, 1893 in Woods Cross, Utah; began purchasing Church history sites after returning from his mission to the Northern States in 1918; owned such items as the original uncut sheets of the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon; the John Taylor home and original temple site in Nauvoo, Illinois; the jail in Liberty, Missouri; and the Newel K. Whitney Store in Kirtland, Ohio; sold most of the sites to the LDS Church; set up museum in Bountiful, Utah, to allow LDS members to view items he collected; served on board of Utah Trails and Landmarks Association and on Church's historical committee; d. Jan. 17, 1968 in Salt Lake City)

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