An Illustrated Congressional Manual. The United States Red Book, 1896, (detail), Collection of U.S. House of Representatives

WOOD, Benson, a Representative from Illinois; born near Bridgewater, Susquehanna County, Pa., on March 31, 1839; attended the common schools, Montrose (Pa.) Academy, and Wyoming (Pa.) Seminary; moved to Illinois in 1859 and for two years was principal of a village school in Lee County; enlisted as first lieutenant of Company C, Thirty-fourth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, September 7, 1861; promoted to captain May 1, 1862; honorably discharged January 29, 1863; was graduated from the law department of the University of Chicago in 1864; was admitted to the bar in 1864 and engaged in the practice of law in Effingham, Effingham County, Ill.; member of the State house of representatives in 1872; delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1876 and 1888; mayor of Effingham 1881-1883; elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1895-March 3, 1897); was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1896 to the Fifty-fifth Congress; resumed the practice of law in Effingham, Ill.; president of the Effingham State Bank 1903-1912, and chairman of the board of directors 1912-1915; died in Effingham, Ill., on August 27, 1915; interment in Oakridge Cemetery.