My Genealogy Hound

ELDER J. G. WOODS was born in Franklin County, Tenn., in 1823, and is a son of William and Mary (Harris) Woods. Wm. Woods was born in Virginia in 1776, and Mary Harris, his wife, was born in Kentucky in 1782. They died in Franklin County, Tenn., in 1838 and 1840, respectively. Wm. Woods was of Scotch-Irish descent, and a tiller of the soil, and for upward of thirty years was a Primitive Baptist minister. He was one of the earliest settlers and largest land owners of Franklin County. Of his large family of children, only three are living: Mourning S., Mary A. (widow of John Miller), and J. G., who is the youngest. J. G. Woods was educated in the pioneer log schoolhouse of primitive days. After his parents’ death he resided on the home farm about three years, and on November 30, 1843, he was married to Susan J. Boyce, daughter of Joseph and Martha J. Boyce, who was a daughter of Paul Dismukes. Susan J. was born in Madison County, Ala., in 1825. J. G. and Susan J. Woods had six children, to wit: James H., Archibald M., William E., Joseph G., Mary A. and Mattie E. Archibald M. died in infancy, and Mary A. died after she was grown. Since 1844 Mr. Woods has been a resident of Fayetteville. He and James H. Cobb were engaged in the tanning, saddlery and harness business for a number of years, and they were also engaged in buying and shipping produce South. In 1850 they erected the first livery and feed stable in the town, and two years later they closed their partnership business, after which our subject served as constable and justice of the peace for several years, during which time he studied law and was admitted as a practicing attorney in 1858. He continued to practice law until 1875. In 1857 or 1858, upon the re-organization of the Winchester & Alabama Railroad, he was elected one of its directors, and continued as director until the road was sold by the State. He was also president and receiver of the road for some time. At the organization of the First National Bank of Fayetteville he was elected one of the directors, and in November, 1874, was elected president of the same, but resigned in January, 1885, owing to ill health. He was licensed to preach by the Primitive Baptist Church in the fall of 1873, and ordained in 1874, and has been actively engaged in the ministry from that time until the present, except when prevented by bad health. His wife Susan J. died in 1865, and the following year he married Lou S. Webb, who is a daughter of Hartwell and Nancy Webb, and was born in 1825. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since about 1851.