Family background
John Dorset Wood was born at Windsor NSW in 1860, son of John Wood and Lucina Ann. In 1889 he married Mary Catherine McCrean at Sydney.There were three daughters and one son of the marriage. He died at Potts Point on 21 May 1940, aged 80 years.Mary Wood died on 14 April 1936, aged 73 years.
Occupation & interests
In 1894 Wood was described as a well-known bookmaker. The bookmaker in the 1890s no longer roamed the racecourse but remained stationary, with a clerk, wearing a large leather bag containing change. The bookie took the cash and gave the punter a numbered ticket with the horse’s name, and details of the wager. Wood was moving up in society, departing from ‘St Elmo’ 161 Bridge Road Glebe for Darlinghurst in 1897 and then Potts Point.
Community activity
Wood and wife Mary were great supporters of Glebe Benevolent Society, and its major fundraiser, the annual ‘bread and butter’ dance. Wood was a vice-president of Glebe District Cricket Club and Wentworth Park Cricket Association. Mary Wood was a member of the Hospital Saturday committee in Glebe.
Local government service
John Wood was an alderman on Glebe Council in 1894-96. He proposed a new by-law in 1894 prohibiting the cartage of nightsoil, or any other offensive matter through the borough of Glebe, but such by-law did not apply to a contractor employed by council.
References
The Mercury (Hobart), 8 February 1894, p. 3
Sydney Morning Herald, 6 February 1894, p. 7
Sydney Morning Herald, 20 October 1894, p. 10
Sydney Morning Herald, 7 January 1897, p. 3
Sydney Morning Herald, 22 May 1940, pp. 11-12