The Van Bergens came to Oak Park in 1867, some of the earliest settlers.  William, then 18 years old, immediately got work (through his father) as an office boy for the Chicago & NorthWestern Railroad, in the general passenger and ticket office.  He quickly worked his way up the ladder within the company.  In 1871, he helped to save valuable records for the railroad during the Chicago Fire.  This, along with his hard work and admirable accounting skills, landed him the job as chief Ticket Auditor in 1882. 

          Dr. John Shoudy Wood was born in 1811 in Albany County, N.Y..  He came to Lansing, Michigan in the 1860's with his wife Maria and together they raised a family of seven sons and four daughters.  With ten children and working as a physician, a dentist and an inventor, John Wood must have been a very busy man indeed.   He certainly passed along much of his ambition to his sons and daughters.

Above:  A Daguerrotype of Ella Wood (left) and her younger sister, Jessie Wood.  Ca. 1858-59
(photo courtesy Nancy V.B. Brigham)

Above:  John Shoudy Wood.
(photo courtesy Nancy V.B. Brigham)
Below:  From a Van Bergen family scrapbook.
(courtesy of the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest)

Right:  The Wood sisters:  Clockwise from top: Kate, Ella (Nell), Jessie, Anna

(photos courtesy Nancy V.B. Brigham)