Reuben was the son of Reuben Wood and Phoebe Maria (Danforth) Wood. He was born in Franklin County, Vermont; some sources list his birthplace as St. Albans, but others list it as Georgia (another town in the same county).

Reuben graduated from Mount Morris Seminary in Illinois and was ordained a Methodist Episcopal minister of the Rock River Conference in 1842. In 1848, the conference was divided, and Reuben became a member of the Wisconsin Conference. He worked as a circuit Methodist minister throughout Wisconsin, founding churches at Patch Grove, La Crosse, Black River Falls, Delaware, Leon, and Monroe. He was the first presiding elder of the district of La Crosse.

In December 1861, Reuben took temporary leave from the ministry to enlist in the Union Army. For two years he was captain and field commander of Company C of the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry, serving alongside his brother, Myron Winslow Wood. In 1864, Reuben raised Company A of the 53rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and he continued to serve as leader of that company until the end of the Civil War.

After the war, Reuben started a mercantile business at La Crosse, then returned to the Methodist ministry a year later.

He was sent to Iowa and stationed at Frankville Township (Winnishiek County) for one year, after which he went to Burr Oak. He took up farming for five years, then entered the Congregational ministry in 1874. He had a series of Congregational pastorates in Iowa, serving the towns of Burr Oak, Britt, and Clear Lake. He finally retired from the clergy in 1898.

Reuben was married to Rebecca Titsworth, daughter of James Titsworth and Elizabeth (Pearce) Titsworth, on March 1, 1842, at Oswego, Illinois. They had four children: Edwin R., John J., Celia Marie, and Edna Rebecca. Rebecca Titsworth Wood died March 4, 1853, in Kendall County, Illinois. Reuben then wed Rebecca's younger sister Sarah Ann Titsworth on May 15, 1853, at Monroe, Wisconsin. Reuben and Sarah Ann also had four children: Sarah Adda, Henry Reuben, Ida Elizabeth, and Mary Frances.

Reuben was the son of Reuben Wood and Phoebe Maria (Danforth) Wood. He was born in Franklin County, Vermont; some sources list his birthplace as St. Albans, but others list it as Georgia (another town in the same county).

Reuben graduated from Mount Morris Seminary in Illinois and was ordained a Methodist Episcopal minister of the Rock River Conference in 1842. In 1848, the conference was divided, and Reuben became a member of the Wisconsin Conference. He worked as a circuit Methodist minister throughout Wisconsin, founding churches at Patch Grove, La Crosse, Black River Falls, Delaware, Leon, and Monroe. He was the first presiding elder of the district of La Crosse.

In December 1861, Reuben took temporary leave from the ministry to enlist in the Union Army. For two years he was captain and field commander of Company C of the 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry, serving alongside his brother, Myron Winslow Wood. In 1864, Reuben raised Company A of the 53rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and he continued to serve as leader of that company until the end of the Civil War.

After the war, Reuben started a mercantile business at La Crosse, then returned to the Methodist ministry a year later.

He was sent to Iowa and stationed at Frankville Township (Winnishiek County) for one year, after which he went to Burr Oak. He took up farming for five years, then entered the Congregational ministry in 1874. He had a series of Congregational pastorates in Iowa, serving the towns of Burr Oak, Britt, and Clear Lake. He finally retired from the clergy in 1898.

Reuben was married to Rebecca Titsworth, daughter of James Titsworth and Elizabeth (Pearce) Titsworth, on March 1, 1842, at Oswego, Illinois. They had four children: Edwin R., John J., Celia Marie, and Edna Rebecca. Rebecca Titsworth Wood died March 4, 1853, in Kendall County, Illinois. Reuben then wed Rebecca's younger sister Sarah Ann Titsworth on May 15, 1853, at Monroe, Wisconsin. Reuben and Sarah Ann also had four children: Sarah Adda, Henry Reuben, Ida Elizabeth, and Mary Frances.