Amos Wood Gunshop
Amos Phineas Wood (1841-1924) was a gunsmith, machinist, postmaster, farmer and inventor. He used this building in North Hamden from 1867 to 1924 as both a gun shop and post office.
Amos Wood was born on October 19, 1841, the son of Ira Penfield Wood and Sally Howland. Amos received the baptismal names of his two grandfathers, Amos Wood and Phineas Howland.
Sally Howland, Amos’ mother, was “the daughter of Captain Phineas Holand, and the grand-daughter of one Gershom Howland, who came to the town of Hamden from Rhode Island, in 1796, bringing with him his wife and four sons – Joseph, Job, Phineas, and Gershom. These sons all married and reared children, many of whom are settled in this part of Delaware County. The Howland family are lineally descended from Henry Howland, who was one of three brothers that were living in Plymouth, Mass., in 1625. The other brothers were Arthur and John Howland, the latter of whom crossed the ocean in the “Mayflower” in 1620. Henry Howland subsequently settled in Duxbury, Mass., being one of the pioneers of that place.”
Amos’ father Ira was born in Massachusetts in 1814, but moved with his family to Delaware County in 1814. After Ira’s marriage to Sally Howland in 1834, they lived for one year in the village of Delhi, “then came to Hamden, where they bought a tract of wild land, fifty acres, paying for it one hundred and seventy dollars. This land had been obtained from the government by Mrs. Wood’s father the previous year, he having paid one dollar and fifty cents per acre. Renting a small log house for three months, they proceeded to build a cabin of their own. Having cut down the trees, Mr. Wood hewed out the rafters himself, and erected a comfortable house, consisting of two living rooms and a bedroom. Mrs. Wood did many a baking in the old-fashioned tin oven, before a stump fire.”
Willard Samuel Wood, Amos’ older brother, was educated at the district school, followed by the seminary and became a teacher in New Jersey. When the Civil War broke out, Willard enlisted with the First New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, going to the front as First Sergeant in Company D. He was an active participant in many engagements; and on May 11, 1864, at the Battle of Spotsylvania, he was captured and made prisoner. He was first confined at Dansville, and was afterward taken to Andersonville, and then on to Florence, South Carolina, where he died of starvation.
From a young age Amos worked on the family homestead, which he later took responsibility for when his father passed away. Amos “inherited in a large degree the mechanical ability of his father, who was equally competent to clean a clock or build a mill.”
In 1865, at 24 years of age, Amos went to work for A. D. Bishop, a gunsmith of Decatur, Otsego County, New York, to learn the fundamentals of gunsmithing. He returned to his home at North Hamden around 1866 and set up his own gunshop in a building purchased by his mother and moved to the home property. It is believed that the building was originally built as a dwelling, but was purchased by the Wood family when the original family went west. The building was then moved two or three miles to the Wood family farm.
Wood made hunting and target rifles to order, and also made boot pistols. He repaired rifles, purchasing rough castings and parts from firms in New York City and then filing and polishing them to fit his needs. Many of his guns included stocks of black walnut.
In 1869, only several years after beginning his gunsmith trade, the local newspaper spoke very highly of Wood’s abilities. “We have been shown a target rifle and shot-gun combined, (one rifle and two shot barrels) manufactured by Mr. Amos Wood, gunsmith, at North Hamden, which reflects credit upon the genius and mechanical skill of the maker. It is much lighter than an ordinary target rifle, weighing only eight pounds, and yet it does equally good service, carrying 100 rods. The particular advantage claimed for it is its practicability as a target and sporting gun.” (Delaware Republican. September 11, 1869.)
The work of a gunsmith was often dangerous, with Wood receiving several serious injuries over the years. In 1888, Wood was injured while firing salutes in honor of Benjamin Harrison’s election as U. S. President. He was injured by the premature discharge of a blast that he had put in a large stone cannon. His face was blown full of powder, and pieces of the stone struck him on the hand and leg, inflicting severe wounds. Flesh was torn from one of his limbs, and his head, hands and other portions of his body were burned and lacerated. Dr. Huyck was calls and he dressed the wounds.
In 1891 Wood was seriously injured by the explosion of a gun which he had been repairing. Wood had just put a new breech pin in an old army musket and was trying it, when the pin blew out, filling his eyes fully of powder and burning his face. Local doctors, Dr. Montgomery and Dr. Greenwood, were immediately summoned, and they cleaned the powder from his eyes and dressed his wounds.
In 1897 Wood suffered a painful accident while repairing a gun. While holding the stock in his left hand, he was working with his right hand on the refractory screw. The screw driver slipped, striking his left hand and passing entirely through it. Wood could not use his hand for several weeks.
Despite the dangers of the trade, Wood worked as a gunsmith for 59 years from his initial training in 1865 until his passing in 1924. Wood was one of three gunsmiths recognized as professionals in Delaware County. Of the other two, there was one with the last name of Buckham whose shop was located in the rear of a hardware store in Delhi. The other was A. R. Davis of Deposit whose shop was located near the railroad station in that village.
Wood served as postmaster at North Hamden for many years until rural free delivery brought about the discontinuance of the position.
In addition to his postmaster and gunsmith trade, Wood “also carries on general farming and dairying, making butter from his eighteen grade Jersey cows. His farm is well improved, and his buildings kept in good repair, everything about the premises indicating the careful supervision of an intelligent proprietor. In 1894 he built an extension to his barn, which is now thirty feet by eight feet, and in the basement has room for thirty cows and two or more horses. An invaluable luxury of his farm is a spring of pure, cold water, which is carried to the house from a distance of seventeen rods.
Mr. Wood was married in 1868 to Sally M. Howland, a cousin, and the daughter of William Howland. Of this congenial union three children have been born, one whom, Minnie, a beautiful girl of thirteen years, died in 1880. The living children are: Ira P., born July 16, 1877; and Ella Mabel, born August 15, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are worthy and valued members of the Chrisitan church, to which his parents also belonged. In politics he follows in the footsteps of his father, and is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party.”
Amos Wood passed away from pneumonia at 82 years of age on February 22, 1924 in the same house where he had been born. His wife Sally died less than 20 hours later, also from pneumonia. A joint funeral was held at the United Presbyterian Church at Mundale. The service was officiated by Reverend C. A. Jay. Both Amos and Sally are buried at Ouleout Valley Cemetery in Franklin, New York.
Wood, “known far and wide as an expert gunsmith,” was well respected in the community. He “was widely known in the towns of Walton, Hamden and Franklin. Genial, generous, and likeable, all who came in contact with him felt that he was a real friend. Many will miss his hearty handshake, the twinkle in his eye that betokened wit and goodwill, and the sincere interest he took in the welfare of his friends and the community.”
In the summer of 1966, 44 years after his passing, an advertisement was placed in the Walton Reporter, a local newspaper, announcing the sale of the contents of the Amos Wood gunsmith shop. Items for sale included old shotguns, rifles, bullet molds, mold cherries, powder horns and much more.
Although many of the individual items went to a variety of buyers, the Delaware County Historical Association (DCHA) in Delhi, New York was fortunate enough to be able to buy the actual gunshop building from Amos Wood's grand-daughter, Mrs. Ralph Irwin, for $900. The contract was signed on October 24, 1966 and the building was moved to the DCHA in November 1966.
A dedication for the gunshop was held six years later on July 22, 1972. Gordon Goodemoot coordinated the final restoration of the gunshop and planned the dedication.
In addition to the Amos Wood Gunshop, the DCHA museum is also home to the Gideon Frisbee house, the Woodin blacksmith shop, the Husted Hollow Schoolhouse, a tollgate building, the Frisbee Family Cemetery and a nature trail.
The DCHA museum hosts historical exhibitions and special events throughout the year. Visit the DCHA website at www.dcha-ny.org for more information on the buildings, visiting hours and the history of Delaware County.
Selected Sources:
Biographical Review: The Leading Citizens of Delaware County, New York. Boston: Biographical Review Publishing Company, 1895. pp. 251-252.
“Shelton Dedicates Museum Gunshop.” Stamford Mirror Recorder. July 26, 1972.
“Three in One Family Die Within Thirty-Six Hours.” Walton Reporter. March 1, 1924.
