Gilbert Wood

G. Wood, Son & Co. was a major wholesale grocery business founded in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia in 1876.

The company had its origin in a grocery store established by Gilbert Wood in Angas Street around 1855. He took on James Gartrell as clerk, then in 1876 established G. Wood, Son & Co. as a partnership of himself, his son Peter Wood, and Gartrell. Shortly after the death of Gilbert Wood in September 1886, South Australia experienced a depression brought about by a succession of poor seasons, the collapse of the Commercial Bank of South Australia and the Town and Country Bank. Many businesses folded but by hard work and perseverance they survived the crisis. After that the business became increasingly prosperous, and new and substantial premises were erected on North Terrace. Wood and Gartrell thereupon determined that they would thenceforth devote a percentage of their profits to charities and good works, considering they owed their good fortune to God.

Gilbert Williamson Wood JP (2 September 1828 – 24 September 1886) was the founder of G. Wood, Son & Co., wholesale grocers in the early days of the colony of South Australia.

Wood was born in the Shetland Islands and came out to Australia as chief mate on the brig Seaton out of Aberdeen. He left the ship in Melbourne and captained the schooner Grenada, plying between the various colonies at the time of the Victorian gold rush. Around 1855 he opened a grocery store in Angas Street, Adelaide, which was a success, and after a few years moved his operations to Rundle Street.

In 1876 he founded the company G. Wood, Son & Co. with his son Peter and James Gartrell, for many years his chief clerk, with premises at 198 Rundle Street and Lipson Street, Port Adelaide.

He died of a heart attack after a holiday in England; his will was proved at £25,770.

He was for 17 years a deacon of Clayton Congregational Church, Kensington.

He married Ann Fraser, born Muckle Row, Shetland Islands 1829 – 27 November 1920); they had four daughters and three sons; they lived at "Seaton Cottage", Magill Road, North Kensington:

...
Wikipedia