He is the author of two chapters in this work -- that on the Indians of Westchester County and another on the Early Exi)lorations and Settlers of the County, and has aided the compiler in many ways-- by suggestions, by correcting manuscripts and read- j ing proof and by lending his valuable support in various directions to the jiromotion of the enterprise. He is justly regarded as one of the most intelligent and public-soirited gentlemen in the county and as j ne of its most cultured and useful citizens.

James Wood was born November 12, 1839, at the place where he now resides, and where his father and grandfather lived before him, one mile north of the present village of Mount Kisco, in the town of Bedford. He bears his grandfather's name. His father's name was Stephen. He died in 1876. His brothers were j Henry, Charles and John J., of whom the first alone is now living. There were three sisters. James is the youngest of the family.

The family came from Long Island early in the last century. They are descended from Jonas Wood, who came from Halifax, in England, in 1635, and was named in the patent of Hempstead in 1644. He was connected with the family of Lord Halifax, j Mr. Wood's mother was Phoebe, daughter of Caleb I Underbill, of Yorktown, a descendant of John Underbill, who came from Ettington, in Warwickshire, England, and settled at Oyster Bay, Long Island, in 1667. The Underbill mansion and buildings are still standing at Ettington, while numerous brasses and t monuments to members of the family remain in the ! old parish church. The estates are now in the posj session of Lord Frere's family -- the Shirleys -- with whom the Underbills intermarried. Another John ; Underbill of this family was chaplain to Queen Elizabeth, and was made Bishop of Oxford in 1589.