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James Wood (1799-1867) was the sixth President of Hanover College (1859-1866), president of Van Rensselaer Institute, Hightstown, N.J. (1866-1867). He served as president during the Civil War. During which Hanover College remained operational, despite the loss of many of students.

Early Life
Born in Greenfield, New York. There is not a lot of information about his childhood, or his early life.

Education and Qualifications
James Wood studied at Union College in 1822. Union College is in Schenectady New York. Union College is a liberal arts school that was founded in 1795.

After Union College James Wood went on to study theology at Princeton. In 1825 he was licenced by a presbytery of Albany. In 1826 he was ordained by the presbyter of Albany in 1826. Wood was a pastor at Amsterdam and Veddersburgh in New York from 1826-1834. He became the professor of Theology Seminar at New Albany, from 1839-1851.

After teaching at New Albany, he served on the board of education from 1851-1854. Then became the associate secretary of the board of education from 1854-1859. His next career was becoming the president of Hanover College.

Presidency at Hanover College
James Wood was the sixth president for Hanover College from 1859-1866. presidency covered the times of the Civil War. During this time he impressively kept the College open even with the drop in enrolment. Wood collected money from outstanding debts to keep Hanover College open.

In James Woods inaugural addressed three principals that would govern his management of Hanover College, the first The Course of Study should be adequate to meet the demands of any vocation, the second; accurate and thorough scholarship and unquestionable moral character should be pre-requisites to the degrees granted by the institution; third the religious instruction should have a large place in the regular course of, study.

James Wood also purchased land now occupied by residents, fraternity houses and areas by the Y.M.C.A. Chapel, observatory, tennis courts, gymnasium and the "Wood Athletic Field". These area are extremely important to Hanover College. When visiting campus these structures surround the campus.

Wood left Hanover College to be the President of Van Rensselaer Institute, Hightown, N.J. This left Hanover college in a transitional period where a Professor, Professor Thomson, acted as President for two years. When he left he had formed a strong connection to the students, and graduated a high standard of graduates.

Hanover College and the Civil War
Hanover College remained open during the Civil War. At the start of the war Hanover college had 86 students (1860-1861). The next year 79 students (1861-1862), 76 students (1862-1863), 84 students (1863-1864), 66 students (1864-1865). Because of Hanover College location, along the border of Indiana and Kentucky, a lot of its students were drafted into the war. Company 1, 137th Indiana Volunteers was largely made up of Hanover students. However, Hanover College students fought for the North and South during the war.

Alarms alerting to confederate troops in Kentucky would sound frequently. During Gen. John Hunt Morgan raid, known as Morgan's Raid, Hanover College was on vacation in 1863. This meant no students were on campus at the time of the raid. A Hanover College student once set out to scout for Gen. John Hunt Morgan's group, using a horse to travel, but was quickly disarmed and had to walk back to Hanover after running into Gen. Morgans party. In one incident, students heard a rumor about confederate troops gathering on the edge of the Ohio River. Students gathered a variety of weapons, guns, pitchforks and clubs for example, and marched to the rivers edge. However this turned out to be fake information.

James Wood was able to keep Hanover College open during the War by collecting outstanding payments from churches and disciplines.

Indiana In the Civil War
There are reports of 193,363 Indiana men who served in the Civil War. In addition a few thousand men joined to serve in the states recognized militia, Indiana Legion, who guarded the state's southern border. The southern border is where Hanover College is located.

Many of the first soldiers joining the army where looking for adventure. Southern Indiana was mostly democratic which large populations young men where located.

Other factors scholars have considered is that equal parts of democratic and republicans joined the army. While evidence to support this includes that Southern Indiana had a large male population.

Republicans had many reasons to fight in the war. Some historians believe the main reason is to end slavery, many sentiments shared by Republicans. However many readings don't mention slavery as a main cause. Historian James M. McPherson's in For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War, McPherson suggest that men fought in the Civil War because they believed in the American Experiment. These assumptions are based on letters gathered from soldiers, whom felt the American ideals were being challenged. Southern Indiana soldiers mentioned honor more while Northern Soldiers spoke of honor and duty.

James Wood Legacy
While James Woods major accomplishment was keeping Hanover College operational. It was also stated that Wood's administration was a very successful one which produced a high quality and standard of graduate men. It is also recorded that he developed a strong relationship with the students who after he departed requested he come back for their their commencement ceremony. Student Harvey W. Wiley stated, "Honored and Respected Teacher: As your relation to us is now soon to be dissolved, and as we have so nearly completed our college course under your supervision and control as President of this Institution, where we have so long enjoyed the benefit of your able instructions and wise counsels under these circumstances, we represent that it will be highly gratifying to us to have our diplomas honored by your personal signature and personal presentation. We therefore, members of the Senior Class of 1867, do hereby respectfully yet earnestly request that our diploma may be, at the coming Commencement, signed and delivered by your hand." . While Hanover College's board approved this request, Doctor Wood passed away before this could be accomplished.