John Travers Wood
John Travers Wood was an American physician and politician who served as a one-term U.S. representative from northern Idaho from 1951 to 1953.
Early life and education
Born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Wood immigrated with his parents to the United States in 1889. They settled in Woodridge, North Dakota, and he became a naturalized a citizen in 1901. After graduating public schools there, he taught school for six years. He then graduated from Detroit College of Medicine.Career
After graduating from medical school, Wood moved to Hannah, North Dakota, where he operated a medical practice before relocating west to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.From 1910 to 1950, Wood worked as a traveling surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad.
He was elected mayor of Coeur d'Alene for a term lasting from 1911 to 1913 as a member of the Socialist Party of America, becoming one of the first Socialist mayors in the United States. Wood also founded the town's hospital.
During World War I, he served as a first lieutenant in the medical corps of the United States Army.
Congress
In the 1950 election, Wood ran as a Republican for the open seat in Congress from Idaho's first district. He took office at the age 72 and served a single term, narrowly losing his re-election bid in 1952 to Gracie Pfost, the first woman to represent Idaho.During his term, he mentioned his distrust of the United Nations, citing its charter's similarities to the Soviet Union's constitution, and mentioned as much to the U.S. Flag Committee.