Person:Charles Rood (1)

Died, at his residence in North Loup, Neb., of hemorrhage of the lungs, March 17th, 1878, Charles P. Rood in the 55th year of his age.
Bro. Rood was born in Franklin county, Vt., May 31st, 1823, and spent his boyhood days in that State. Though his early advantages, religiously and in the way of obtaining an education, were very limited, he was converted when quite young, and became a great reader of the Bible, which was nearly the only book to which he had access. By this means he laid the foundation for an intimate acquaintance with Bible history, especially that of the Old Testament times. When quite a young man, he was baptized by Rev. N. V. Hull, and joined the church at Clarence, N. Y., having embraced the Sabbath as a result of his own Bible study when a boy. In July, 1844, he was married to Miss Marianne Thorngate in Cattaraugus county; shortly after which, they, with several other families, removed to Rock county, Wisconsin, and subsequently to Dakota, in the same State. Here they reared a family of nine boys and girls, all of whom survive their father. For a period of fifteen years he preached more or less for the Dakota Church, and two or three years at Berlin. His labor for the church at Dakota was done in connection with Bro. Oscar Babcock, both attending their business during the week, and preaching alternately on the Sabbath. In 1871, he was one of a committee of four to locate the lands of the colony at North Loup. He finally moved there with his family in the Spring of 1875. Anxious to establish his new home, he overworked himself, and has been failing since last June, and for the past few months rapidly, suffering very greatly at times. While his friends and relatives were at times encouraged by his physician to hope for his recovery, he told them from the beginning that he was to leave them very shortly. He spoke of his death every day as a thing not to be feared, and calmly and patiently awaited the good pleasure of his Lord. When the end came, all his children, except one who lives at Milton, Wis., with their families and his wife and her aged father and mother, stood at his bed, all feeling that their best and truest friend on earth was passing away.
He was a good man, and his heart was full of benevolence toward those around him. He was very radical in his views upon the moral questions of the day, especially the subject of temperance, which he made a point of advocating at all times. He served in the Army of the Potomac the last year of the war, having already furnished three sons for his country's service. While his loss is beyond earthly repair to his friends, it is his eternal gain, for there is a crown for those who have fought the good fight of faith. H. W. R.

"Compendium of History, Reminiscence and Biography of Nebraska," 1912, p 728.
CHARLES PEARSON ROOD.
Charles P. Rood, son of Burrell and Mary Rood, was born in Swanton, Vermont, May 31, 1823, and at an early age began to shift for himself, his early life being that of a poor boy making his way in life as best he could.
On July 13, 1844, Mr. Rood married Miss Marianne Thorngate, at Persia, New York. Mrs. Rood was born in Brownsville, New York, on January 23, 1823.
Mr. Rood and his family moved from New York state to Rock Prairie, Wisconsin, in June, 1847, and during the following winter moved to Waushara county, taking up land on the Mecan river near Dakota, two and one-half miles west of Richford township.
Nine children were born to Charles and Marianne Rood, named as follows: Hosea W., George B., William Herman, Charles J., Mary Matilda (Mrs. Mansel Davis), Eugenia (Mrs. A. L. Crandall), Emma Jeanetta (Mrs. S. C. Terry), Esther Amy (Mrs. C. E. Crandall), and Walter G. It is a remarkable fact that among these nine children and their families, comprising thirty-one grandchildren, only one death has occurred, that of Minnie May Rood (daughter of Hosea Rood) who departed this life on September 10, 1869.
Mr. Rood and his son, William Herman, enlisted in November, 1864, in Company G, Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry at Dakota and were discharged July 27, 1865, at the close of the war. The two older sons, Hosea and George B., had previously enlisted and the father and three sons held an enviable war record, having served from date of their enlistment to the close of the war.
In the spring of 1871, many of the families surrounding Dakota, became interested in the idea of leaving Wisconsin and locating as a colony in some of the more western states, either by homesteading government land, or purchasing railroad land. An organization was accordingly formed and at locating committee named, consisting of Charles P. Rood, Nathan B. Prentice, Amos Travis and Charles Wellman.
In the latter part of May, 1871, the committee left Waushara, county, Wisconsin, going overland through Iowa into Nebraska, and July 3, found them at Davis creek. While the other members of the committee were out hunting one day, Mr. Rood climbed to a high point known to subsequent history as "Sugar Loaf Hill" or "Happy Jack's Peak" and from this vantage point saw that portion of the beautiful North Loup river valley that lies above the chalk hills. He then and there decided that this beautiful valley should be his future home. He was, however, the only one of the committee so favorably impressed and upon their return his pleadings alone did not sufficiently impress the people in favor of the colony plan, which was therefore abandoned.
In September of the same year, however, Mr. Rood, his son, Herman, and son-in-law, Mansell Davis, and a friend named John Sheldon, young men of sturdy stock and splendid character, started west, going directly to the Loup river valley. They liked the country and here John Sheldon and Mansell Davis took homestead claims. They returned to Wisconsin in December having a very severe trip. Mr. Rood's glowing accounts of the possibilities of this new country had so impressed the people that by April 1, 1872, the first emigrant train left for their future Nebraska home. Among the train were Mr. Rood's companions of the former trip, John Sheldon and Mansell Davis; George and Charles Rood and C. H. Wellman started two days later, all reaching the Loup river valley on May 12, 1872. Elder Oscar Babcook went by railroad to Grand Island, and joined the Rood boys there, journeying with them for the remainder of the trip.
On March 30, 1874, Mr. Rood, the principal subject of this sketch, with his daughter, Eugenia, and Elder True, started from Dakota, Wisconsin, making the seven hundred mile trip to North Loup in a month. Mr. Rood took up land in Mira Creek valley four miles west of North Loup, being joined later by his son, Herman, and daughter, Emma. Having prepared his dugout home, Mr. Rood returned to Wisconsin by rail in December and on May 18, the following year, again started west, bringing with him Mrs. Rood and the remaining children, reaching the Nebraska home on July 4. This was his fourth overland trip and it was made with a yoke of three-year-old steers. In the fall of 1877 Mr. Rood made one more trip to Wisconsin, by rail, bringing back with him the aged father and mother of Mrs. Rood, settling them in a home prepared for them by loving hands.
For some time Mr. Rood had been suffering from a complication of diseases and his death occurred in North Loup on March 17, 1878. During life he was best known for his strong religious character. He was an early student of the bible and by the time he had reached the age of sixteen years, had come to believe the seventh day of the week to be the Sabbath and accordingly became a convert to the Seventh Day Baptist faith. In after years, while residing in Wisconsin especially, he did considerable preaching for this church at Dakota and Berlin, and also frequently lectured on the subject of temperance. Throughout his long life he proved himself to be a man of sterling worth.
Mother Rood, now at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, resides in North Loup. She is still quite active and enjoys the love of children and friends and the reverence and respect of all who know her.