Cornelia Wood was born on March 30, 1849, in Madison County, Illinois, to Joshua and Sarah Wood. Her father was a farmer who owned $4,000 of real estate by 1850. She grew up and attended school in Madison County. By 1870, she was working as a housekeeper, and she owned $1,500 of real estate. She lived with her mother until at least 1880. She died “after a prolonged illness and much suffering” in Madison County on March 21, 1907.