W. D. Wood

William D. Wood (1858–1917) was the 23rd mayor of Seattle, appointed to fill the vacancy of Frank D. Black. He first announced his resignation which the Seattle city council denied. He subsequently forfeited his seat on October 18, 1897.

Biography Before becoming Mayor, Wood was a lawyer and real-estate speculator who developed property around Green Lake. On April 6, 1896, Mayor Black submitted his resignation to the city council citing illness and a dislike for the job. Black recommended Wood for the seat, and Wood was appointed after a city council vote.

In July 1897, Wood traveled to San Francisco to speak at the International Christian Endeavor Convention. While he was at the convention, a steamboat returning from the Klondike showed up with "a ton of gold."

When Wood returned to Seattle in mid-August and submitted a leave of absence for at least ninety days, which was denied by the council the following day.