Margaret Jane Sweet was born September 25, 1864 in Shelby Ontario. In 1879 she moved with her family to Victoria, British Columbia. Margaret's father, O.D. Sweet, was a schoolteacher and Margaret followed in his footsteps. The family later moved to Richmond, where O.D. became the Richmond town clerk (1884-1891) and Margaret taught school.

Margaret Sweet married Rev. James Alexander Wood in 1885. After the couple married they served several congregations, living in Kamloops, Clinton, Richmond, Vernon, Revelstoke, Kaslo, Sidney, Victoria and Salmon Arm.

The couple had eight children: sons Ernest O., Clinton S., Colonel J. Ellis, Douglas V., William L. and Fred H. and daughters Winnifred and Alice Margaret (Froelich).

The Woods lived in Salmon Arm from 1902-1906. When Reverend Wood retired from the ministry in 1916, the couple returned to Salmon Arm. Mr. Wood died soon after retiring, but Margaret continued to live in the community until her death in 1954.