Résumé

James Madison Wood became one of America's most well-traveled architects of the 1875-1900 period. He specialized in theatre and opera house design, particularly their interiors, and gained commissions from coast to coast, developing a national reputation in this area. Given his national success, the relative paucity of information on his life and career remains puzzling. His career began in carpentry, moved into scenic painting for theatres and finally theatre architecture.

Carpenter, Chicago, IL, c. 1866-1873.

Principal, James M. Wood, Building Contractor, Chicago, IL, c. 1873-1880.

Partner, James M. Wood and Son, proprietors of the Blake Hotel and lessee of the Blake Opera House. (He ran both with his son Benjamin Wood. (See Racine, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1883, p. 296.) This Blake Opera House and a hotel in the same building burned on 12/28/1884, killing five people. (See New York Times.com, "Two Actors Burned to Death," published 12/29/1884, accessed 06/12/2024.) A business in the same building as the Blake Opera House and the hotel was a hardware store owned by the "Wood brothers," possibly related to the architect. The burning of the Blake Opera House seems to have triggered a period of travel and intense theatre design activity within the Midwest.

Principal, James M. Wood, Architect, Racine, WI, c. 1882-1891. Wood was listed as an architect in the W.F. Curtis & Company's Classified Business Directory Racine 1883-4, (p. 301). In 1883, his office was situated at 322 6th Street.

Wood was not, however, listed in the W.F. Curtis and Company's Classified Business Directory for Racine, 1885, (p. 315 and p. 322), the W.F. Curtis’s Classified Business Directory, Racine, 1887, (p. 291 and pp. 296-297) or the W.F. Curtis’s Classified Business Directory, Racine, 1888, (p. 359 or pp. 365-366), as an architect or carpenter, contractor and builder. He was likely traveling during 1885 and 1887, as he was known to have designed the Toronto Opera House (1886) and other opera houses in Elgin, IL, Grand Rapids, MI, and other sites in OH, PA, and MI. According to historian Wendy Waszut-Barrett, who has done exhausitve research on Sosman and Landis: "In 1885, the Chicago Directory listed Wood as an architect, with his employer’s address as 279 S. Clark Street. The directory listing noted that he was still living in Racine, Wisconsin. 279 S. Clark Street was the business offices and main studio for Sosman & Landis in 1885." (See Wendy Waszut-Barrett, Historic Stage Services.com, "Sosman & Landis: Shaping the Landscape of American Theatre. Employee No. 78 – James M. Wood." published 02/24/2022, accessed 06/12/2024.)

After the fire, Wood began to work in 1884 with the Chicago-based scienic painting firm of Sosman and Landis, a highly productive studio operating throughout the Midwest. He even was listed as a partner in this firm by the mid-to-late 1880s.

Partner, Wood and Lovell, Architects, San Francisco, CA, and Chicago, IL, 1891-1897. The biographical publication, The Bay of San Francisco: the Metropolis of the Pacific Coast and its Suburban Cities: A History,said of Wood: "He has given much attention to designing and erecting theaters, opera houses and concert halls throughout the United States. Among the temples of art designed and erected by him are the New California Theater [San Francisco, CA]; Grand Opera House, Los Angeles [CA]; Grand Opera House, Portland [OR]; the Tacoma Theater [Tacoma, WA]; New Broadway, Denver [CO]; Hennepin Avenue Theater, Minneapolis [MN]; Blake Opera House, Racine [WI]; and Grand Opera House, Warsaw, [sic, should be "Wausau,"] Wisconsin; Rockford Opera House [Rockford, IL], and Grand Opera House, Danville, Illinois; Academy of Music, East Saginaw [MI]; Wood's Opera House, Bay City [MI]; Academy of Music, Kalamazoo; Redmond's Opera House, Grand Rapids [MI]; Academy of Music, Toronto, Canada; Academy of Music at Franklin, Oil City and Altoona, Pennsylvania; Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and many others, too numerous to mention. He is an enthusiast in this branch of the profession, and has devoted a great deal of time and study to the comfort, convenience, acoustic qualities and effect in the design and arrangements of opera houses, theaters and concert halls. His design and supervision in erecting the magnificent New California Theater in this city [San Francisco] was through the endorsement and special recommendation of the most eminent artists in the profession,--Booth, Barrett, Modjeska and others." (See Oscar Lewis, Bailey Millard, and Lewis F Byington, "J.M. Wood," in The Bay of San Francisco: the Metropolis of the Pacific Coast and its Suburban Cities: A History, volume I, [Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Company, 1892], p. 644-645.) This article referred to Edwin Booth (1833-1893), Lawrence Barrett (1838-1891) and Helena Modjeska (1840-1909), leading dramatic actors of the mid-to-late 19th century.

Other theatres by Wood and Lovell included the 1,500-seat Jefferson Theatre, (1897), located at Free and Oak Streets, Portland, ME and the the Temple Theatre, (1901), 15-19 Monroe Street, Detroit, MI.

As per the Dictionary of Architects in Canada 1800-1950.org, Wood or his later firms designed the following opera houses and theatres there: Toronto Opera House, (aka “The Academy of Music,”) Toronto, ON, (1886), Grand Opera House, London, ON, (1901), rebuilding of the Russell Theatre, Ottawa, ON, (1901), and the King Edward Theatre, London, ON, (1907). (See Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada 1800-1950.org, "Wood, Col. James M.," accessed 07/06/2021.)

Partner, Wood, [Sidney] Lovell and [Fuller] Claflin, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 1893.

Relocation

The architect was born in New York State and spent his early years in New York, NY. There is some uncertainty about his date of birth, although it is very likely to have been between 1839 and 1841. The US Census of 1850 listed James M. Wood's family living in New York City, where his father worked as a harbor master. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1850; Census Place: New York Ward 3, New York, New York; Roll: M432_535; Page: 423B; Image: 378, accessed 02/25/2019.) The 1900 US Census listed it as 06/1841.

Ten years later in 1860, his parents had relocated to Perry, IL, in the west-central part of the state, where they managed a farm. George Wood no longer lived at home, but siblings James M., Henrietta and Henry lived on the farm. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: Perry, Pike, Illinois; Roll: M653_219; Page: 468; Family History Library Film: 803219, accessed 02/25/2019.) His parents did not last long in IL, as his father died in 1864 and this mother one year later.

Wood served in the Union Army during the Civil War, apparently attaining the rank of colonel. A "James N. Woods," born in NY, and the same age, may have been among conscripts gathered in Pike County and seven others of the 9th Congressional District on 09/01/1863. This record indicated that this James Woods lived in Chambersburg, IL, was married and worked as a farmer. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Consolidated Lists of Civil War Draft Registration Records (Provost Marshal General's Bureau; Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865); Record Group: 110, Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau (Civil War); Collection Name: Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865 (Civil War Union Draft Records); NAI: 4213514; Archive Volume Number: 2 of 7, accessed 02/25/2019.)

Another Civil War record noted that a "James M. Wood" joined the Union Army on 09/16/1861 at Ballston Spa, NY, and re-enlisted on 12/25/1863 at the Union Army camp at Brandy Station, VA. This individual was transferred on 11/19/1864 to the Company D Battalion by consolidation. He left the military as a private with the Company A at Washington, DC, on 06/27/1865. This card contained a description of the young Wood in question who was 5-feet, 8-and-1/2-inches tall with blue eyes and light hair, consistent with his appearance at age 51. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation New York State Archives; Albany, New York; Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts of New York State Volunteers, United States Sharpshooters, and United States Colored Troops [ca. 1861-1900]; Box #: 1190, accessed 07/02/2021.) His rank of private does not correspond with the title of Colonel that Wood used later his career. It is likely that this was not the same James M. Wood, as there seems to have been another man born c. 1840 at Saratoga County, NY, likely in Ballston Spa, who lived in Milton, NY, according to the NY State Census of 1905. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1905; Election District: E.D. 03; City: Milton; County: Saratoga, accessed 07/02/2021.)

A "James Wood" was listed as working as a carpenter in the Chicago, Illinois, City Directory, 1867, (p. 973), although it is unclear if this was the same man. This James Wood resided at 298 West Jackson Street. Two years later, James Wood, a carpenter, was listed as working for the firm of Richie and Fullerton, living at 13 Miller Street. (See Chicago, Illinois, City Directory, 1869, p. 965.)

James M. Wood, his wife and three children lived in a comforable section of Chicago, IL, in 1870. The US Census of that year listed his profession as a "painter-grainer." The census noted that Wood owned $18,000 worth of real estate, a substantial sum for that time, and a much smaller personal estate of $500. Robert Slaughter (born c. 1850 in IL) lived with James and Isabelle Wood, and was likely her younger brother. He also worked as a "painter-grainer" in 1870. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Chicago Ward 5, Cook, Illinois; Roll: M593_200; Page: 287B; Family History Library Film: 545699, accessed 02/25/2019.)

In 1873, James M. Wood operated his own contracting business as per the Chicago, Illinois, City Directory, 1873, (p. 1012) and the Chicago, Illinois, City Directory, 1875, (p. 1061). He lived at 80 Langley Avenue (1873) and 72 Langley Avenue (1875). He continued to work as a contractor in 1877-1878, having moved to 142 Johnson Place. (See Chicago, Illinois, City Directory, 1877, p. 1058 andChicago, Illinois, City Directory, 1878, p. 1113.)

Wood lived at 3835 Johnson Place in Chicago in 1880. The US Census of that year indicated that Wood worked as a "decorator." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 186; Page: 248B; Enumeration District: 029, accessed 02/25/2019.) By 1882, Wood had begun to call himself an "architect." His office was located at 266 Wabash Avenue, and he boarded at 36 Aldine Square. (See Chicago, Illinois, City Directory, 1882, p. 1309.)

He worked in nearby Racine, WI, during the early 1880s, working on the design of the Blake Opera House, and there came into contact with Sidney Lovell (1867-1938), with whom he would later practice. Wood and his family must have liked Racine, as they stayed in the city between 1882 and 1890, at least, and purchased cemetery plots in that city. The Racine, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1882, (p. 265), listed Wood as an architect and proprietor of the Blake Hotel in that city and lessee of the Blake Opera House. He lived in the Blake Hotel, on the northeast corner of College Avenue and 6th Street. (See Racine, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1883, p. 296.) In 1887, he made his residence at 1136 College Avenue and in 1890 at 1201 College Avenue. (See Racine, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1887, p. 298 and Racine, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1890, page unknown.) Wood was not listed in the Racine, Wisconsin, City Directory, 1888,(p. 355).

The two men worked in Los Angeles, CA, between 1888 and 1890, before relocating to San Francisco. In 1890, the San Francisco Call noted: "J.M. Wood, a Chicago architect, is at the Palace." (See "Personal Notes," San Francisco Call, vol. 70, no. 65, 08/04/1891, p. 2.) Wood established an architectural partnership, Wood and Lovell, in 1891 and expanded it to include a third partner, Fuller Claflin.

California voter records for 1892 indicated that Wood resided in Riverside, CA, where he had worked on the Loring Opera House and Office Building during the three years previous.(He registered to vote in Riverside on 10/22/1892. See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 38; FHL Roll Number: 977092, accessed 07/01/2021.)

It seems Wood and Lovell returned to Chicago, c. 1893, but this San Francisco practice lasted until 1897.

The 1900 US Census located Wood and his wife living in the Arizona Flats apartment building at 4224 Greenwood Avenue in Chicago, IL. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Chicago Ward 32, Cook, Illinois; Page: 10; Enumeration District: 1004; FHL microfilm: 1240285, accessed 02/25/2019.) The Arizona Flats was listed in the 1904-1905 Chicago Blue Book, a society publication suggesting that it was a comfortable, if not plush, residence in that year. (See the Chicago Blue Book of Selected Names of Chicago and Suburban Towns, for the Year Ending 1905, [Chicago: Chicago Directory Company, 1904], p. 60.)

Wood had likely retired by 1910, when he lived on a farm in Turkey Creek, IN, with his wife, son and his daughter-in-law, Nina Wood (born c. 1871 in OH). The US Census of that year still listed him as an architect, but it seems unlikely that he could have sustained much of a practice in such a sparse, rural setting in northwestern IN. Benjamin Wood made a living as a wallpaper laborer, so it is possible that James continued to work in some aspect of design or construction at this time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Turkey Creek, Kosciusko, Indiana; Roll: T624_358; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 0082; FHL microfilm: 1374371, accessed 07/01/2021.)

In 1920, James M. Wood, then a retiree, lived with his wife, widowed daughter, Minnie Wood Driver, and her son, Russel Earl Driver, (born 01/18/1893 in WI-d. 01/18/1983 in Palm Beach, FL) at 2910 Hilldale Avenue in Baltimore, MD. The household also included a boarder, Arthur Schneider (born c. 1890 in MI), who worked as a telephone company accountant like Russell Driver. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Baltimore Ward 15, Baltimore (Independent City), Maryland; Roll: T625_664; Page: 32A; Enumeration District: 263, accessed 07/01/2021.)

Wood was thought to have died in about 1923 in the Washington, DC, area. A death notice in the Washington, DC, Evening Star on 10/03/1923, indicated that a James M. Wood died at 3224 Park Place within the last 24 hours. His likely date of death was 10/02/1923. (See "Deaths Reported," Washington, DC, Evening Star, 10/03/1923, p. 9.) Isabella lived on for two years after his passing in that city, also dying at 3224 Park Place. (See "Deaths Reported," Washington, DC, Evening Star, 03/17/1925, p. 9.)

Both Wood and his wife were buried in the Mound Cemetery in Racine, WI.

Parents

His father, James E. Wood, (born c. 1804 in ME-d. 1861 in Perry, IL) married Jane Dunning (born c. 1806 in Scoharie County, NY-d. 1865) on 01/11/1827 in New York, NY. A biographical publication of 1890 said this of Wood's father: "His father, James E. Wood, a native of Maine, came to New York and for many years was a leading coal merchant and the head of the Union Coal Company.... He was a prominent Whig and was a leader in the councils of the party. He was president of the Board of Aldermen of the city of New York, and held the office of United States Harbormaster." (See Oscar Lewis, Bailey Millard, and Lewis F Byington, "J.M. Wood," in The Bay of San Francisco: the Metropolis of the Pacific Coast and its Suburban Cities: A History, volume I, [Chicago, IL: Lewis Publishing Company, 1892], p. 644-645.) The 1850 US Census contirmed that the elder Wood worked as a harbor master in New York City.

James E. Wood switched to farming between 1850 and 1860, leaving behind the crowding of New York City for farming on the open Illinois prairie. It appears he died in Perry, IL, in 1861, aged about 57.

His mother, Jane, raised four children, who included George W. Wood (born c. 1832 in NY), James, Henry C. Wood (born c. 1846 in NY) and Henrietta C. Wood Ragan (born c. 1847 in NY-d. 10/20/1903 in Kansas City, MO). It is possible that three of the children were named after prominent American politicians: George Washington Wood, James Madison Wood and Henry Clay Wood, suggesting that one or both of his parents had a strong interest in politics.

Spouse

He wed Isabella S. Slaughter (born 09/1842 or 09/01/1843 in IL-d. 03/15/1925 in Washington, DC) in 1861 in Pike County, IL. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800-1940 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016, accessed 07/01/2021.) During her lifetime, Isabelle had had five children, only one of whom did not live past her 18th birthday.

Isabelle's father had been born in VA, her mother in England. (See

Her death appeared in in "Deaths Reported," Washington, DC, Evening Star, 03/17/1925, p. 9.

Children

He and Isabelle had had five children, three of whom survived in 1900. Their five children in 1880 were: Benjamin Wood (born 06/17/1863 in IL-d. 03/31/1912 in Chicago, IL) Nellie E Wood Winslow (born 03/13/1864 in IL-d. 07/27/1908 in Grand Rapids, MI), Minnie Wood Driver (born 06/27/1869 in Macomb Township, IL-d. 12/27/1941 in Racine, WI), Lulu Wood (born c. 02/16/1872 in IL-d. 03/23/1890 in San Francisco, CA) and Edna Wood Hardenbrook (born 1876 in IL-d. 04/1960 in IL).

By age 17, Benjamin worked as a clerk in a paper house, according to the 1880 US Census. An obituary for Benjamin printed in the Racine Journal-News on 04/01/1912 stated: "Wood drew the plans for the Blake hotel and the theatre, and his son was manager of the hotel and theatre for a number of years."

Biographical Notes

According to California voting records of 1892, Wood, at age 51, stood 5-feet, 8-inches tall, and had gray eyes and gray hair. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 38; FHL Roll Number: 977092, accessed 06/12/2024.)

• New York, NY (Architect's Birth)
  New York, NY

  ---

  ---