James Wood was born around 1841 in Madison County, Illinois, to Joshua and Sarah Wood. His father was a farmer who owned $4,900 of real estate and $1,500 of personal property by 1860. He grew up and attended school in Madison County. By 1870, he was working as a farmer, and he owned $3,000 of real estate and $300 of personal property. He died sometime after 1870.