William Penn Wood was born on May 2, 1843, in Asheboro, North Carolina. Wood served as Asheboro town treasurer (1880-1888), Randolph County treasurer (1890-1894), state legislator for Randolph County (elected in 1905 and 1907), and state auditor (1910-1920). He additionally served vice president of the board of directors for the Confederate soldiers' home. Wood died in High Point, North Carolina, on April 1, 1924.