An old adage says, "Heaven helps those who help themselves," and so we find it the rule in every community that the most successful men are those who are the most energetic and self reliant. The kind of success thus attained is more satisfactory, on the whole, than that which comes fortuitously and without personal effort, as it builds up and strengthens the character of the man instead of weakening it. A good example of self-made man may be found in Henry M. Wood, clerk of the Board of Fulton County Commissioners, who has been a resident of Atlanta for about a quarter of a century. Mr. Wood was born in Columbia County, Florida, April 3, 1860, a son of James and Emily (Hightower) Wood. The father, James Wood, was born of English parentage on one of the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence River, and came to Georgia with his parents when about ten years of age, the family locating at Elberton, in Elbert County. James Wood later removed to Columbia County, but at a still later period returned to Georgia in time to serve four years in the Confederate States' army with a Georgia command. After the war he located at Macon, where for many years he was cashier of the City Bank. He died about thirty-five years ago. His wife, Emily Hightower Wood, was born in Pike County, Georgia, and reared near Barnesville in that county, in the vicinity of what was known as the Hightower Mills, which belonged to her father. The Hightower family of Pike and Upson counties, of which she was a member, was one of the most prominent in that vicinity prior to the war, owning large plantations and large numbers of slaves. She died in 1892.
Henry M. Wood, who is now the only living child of his parents, was reared and educated at Macon, Georgia. Being a mere boy when his father died, and the only son, he was compelled to go to work at an early age to help earn a living for himself, his mother and his three sisters. Owing to this cause he was able to attend school not over one year in his life and never attended a business college; yet, in spite of this lack of early educational advantages, he has the reputation today of being one of the finest and most expert accountants in all the State of Georgia. He is now serving his eighth two-year term as clerk of the Board of Fulton County Commissioners, and during his sixteen years' service as such has made for himself a name as an expert bookkeeper and accountant of which any man might be proud. His work, which was especially heavy during the building of the new million dollar Fulton County courthouse, is a model of neatness and accuracy, and has been so thoroughly satisfactory in every way that he has been re-elected to his position without opposition. Before coming to Atlanta in 1890 Mr. Wood spent three years in the auditor's office of the Central of Georgia Railroad, at Savannah, and it was there that he became a trained accountant. After coming to Atlanta at the date mentioned he was chief clerk in the Central of Georgia general freight office for nearly ten years before assuming the duties of his present position. In politics he is a democrat. Mr. Wood is past master of Atlanta Lodge No. 59, Free and Accepted Masons; past master and secretary of Piedmont Lodge No. 447, Free and-Accepted Masons, which he helped to organize in 1902, becoming its first master, and which is now the second largest Masonic Lodge in Georgia, the Gate City Lodge of Atlanta being the only one that is larger; past high priest of Mount Zion Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; member of Jason Burr Council, Royal and Select Masters; Atlanta Commandery, Knights Templar, and Yaraab Temple of the Mystic Shrine, all of Atlanta.
On December 15, 1892, Mr. Wood was united in marriage with Miss Annie Heywood of Atlanta, and they have three sons, James R., Henry H. and Clifford Palmer. The two eldest are now young men, aged twenty-one and nineteen years respectively, while Clifford Palmer is now twelve years old. Mr. Wood enjoys a happy home life and he and his family have many warm friends in Atlanta and the vicinity. His career shows the value of self help in the concentration of mind and effort toward a definite purpose.
A STANDARD HISTORY OF GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS, VOL. 4 by Lucian Lamar Knight 1917