Jeremiah Wood (1819-1889) was a true ‘49er arriving in California in that infamous year and spent most of his life mining in Nevada County. In the meantime, two of his sons, John and Denis came to Susanville in1872 and opened up a meat market/butcher business. In 1887, Jeremiah came to Susanville to spend his final years with his son Denis, who by the way expanded operations into ranching, and six generations later the family carries on the tradition. This is remarkable, after all the old saying goes the first generation makes it, the second uses it and the third loses it. Only 13 percent of family owned businesses make it past the third generation. On a final note, the Wood Ranch still uses the brand that Denis created back in 1875, the DX.
Jeremiah Wood was married to Anne Clifford and they had six children—five sons and one daughter. Denis was the eldest and after moving to Susanville spent the rest of his life there, and his descendants, too. John Clifford Wood, who spent some time in Susanville moved around to various points and was buried in San Francisco. Katie Wood married J.J O’Neill and spent most of her life in Nevada City, Thomas spent most of his life in Pacific Grove. James Hyatt was the only to migrate further away and spent most of his life The Dalles, Oregon. Jeremiah Vincent, the youngest, died in 1888 in Susanville at the age of 22.