He was born at Cuthbert, now in Randolph County, Georgia, on March 12, 1795. In 1814, Wood enlisted in the U.S. Army and fought in the Creek War and Mexican-American War. During the war with Mexico, he was elected as Colonel of the 2nd Texas Mounted Rifles, and served in the Texas Division being personally led by the sitting governor of Texas, James Pinckney Henderson. Wood fought at the Battle of Monterrey. Following the battle and disbandment of the division, Colonel Wood succeeded Henderson as governor of Texas.
The town of Woodville, Texas, the county seat of Tyler County, Texas, was named in his honor, as Wood introduced the bill to create the county.