Horatio Wood was born in Butler, Wayne County, New York on August 23, 1869. In the late 1890s, as a member of the Coast Guard, he became captain of the U.S. Cutter “Bear” that patrolled Alaskan waters helping commercial fishing ships as well as the native population.
Wood acquired many artifacts from his expeditions around the world and donated several pieces in 1935 to the Steinheim Museum at Alfred University. He connected with Alfred during visits to his sisters Angeline and Julia, who both taught in the university’s School of Agriculture.
One unique artifact was a slingshot or “bolas” from the Inuit people. They used this hunting weapon by swirling it in the air, launching it at a low-flying bird. Once entangled, the bird was brought down by its weight.