Person:John Woods (49)

Sketches of Prominent Tennesseans By William S Speer Published 2003 Genealogical Publishing Company Tennessee 587 pages ISBN 0806317159

JUDGE JOHN WOODS - page 81 Murfreesborough

This gentleman, who has served the people of Rutherford County in one capacity and another nearly all of his life, and is now one of the oldest, best known and respected citizens, was born near Murfreesborough, September 11, 1807. He is the son of Thomas Woods, who came to Tennessee from Orange county, North Carolina in 1807. In 1827 he went to Hickman, Kentucky, and there remained until his death, in 1838. He was a dwell educated, well-to-do gentleman and quiet citizen. He was the father of eleven children of whom Judge John Woods, subject of this sketch, was the second born. Judge Woods' grandfather was John Woods, a native of Pennsylvania, who moved when young to North Carolina, and was in the employ of the colonies during the American Revolution, and three of his sons were in the American army.

Judge Woods' paternal grandmother was Miss Mebane, daughter of Willilam Mebane, of North Carolina, a man of prominence in his time, who took an active and leading part in the affairs of the country during the Revolution. This family, distinguished in North Carolina in those days, is mentioned with much favor in "Wheeler's Historical Sketches of North Carolina."

The mother of Judge Woods was Miss Susan Baldridge, daughter of a gentleman of Irish descent, who emigrated to North Carolina and married Miss Jane White, the daughter of Stephen White, near Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Judge Woods was brought up as a farmer's boy, and educated in the old field schools of Rutherford county. At the age of twenty he was elected to his first office, that of constable, and served four years. He then went into merchandising and continued at that business until 1836, when he returned to farming, and continued at it until 1840. In the latter year he was elected register of Rutherford county and re-elected in 1844, serving two terms, until 1848. he was then elected clerk of the county court of Rutherford county and served two terms of four years each, when he returned to farming and was so engaged at the beginning of the war. In 1859 his fellow citizens urged upon him the candidacy for member of the lower house of the Legislature for which he was elected by a handsome majority, and served two years during the stormy period just preceding the civil war. After this he returned to his home and remained upon his farm until the close of hostilities. Upon the reorganization of the State in 1866 he was commissioned a magistrate, and in the following year was made chairman of the county court, and has held the position by re-elections up to the present time.

Judge Woods has always been a Jeffersonian Democrat, and cast his first vote for Gen. Jackson in 1828, since which time he has always voted with the Democrats. He has been a delegate to several Democratic State conventions, both before and since the war, and is justly regarded as "one of the old wheel-horses of Democracy."

In 1828 he was made major of the Forty-fifth regiment of Tennessee militia, and received his commission from Gen Sam Houston, then governor of Tennessee. He, however, did not enter the late war, owing to age and physical disabilities.

Judge Woods was married to Miss Mary F Jarratt, October 30, 1833. She is a daughter of Thomas Jarratt, of Goochland county, Virginia, who came to Tennessee in 1806. Her mother was Miss Susan Thompson, who was also of a Virginia family of good standing. Judge and Mrs Woods have no children, but have shown true parental affection by taking into their family and bringing up with care and tenderness several children of their relatives. Judge Woods comes from a Presbyterian family, but has never connected himself with any church, being broad in his religious views and not willing to be bound to any one denomination. His wife's family were originally Presbyterian, but on coming to Tennessee became Methodists.

Judge Woods began life a poor, hard-working farmer's boy, and had but few early advantages; but, by industry and close application to business, always taking a firm hold on whatever came to hand, and endeavoring to accomplish it and fill his obligations, he worked himself up to a position of respect and influence. Previous to the war he had amassed a very considerable property, but suffered from the long protracted and destructive struggle. He still, however, possesses a comfortable competency. He was a director is the branch of the Planters Bank at Murfreesborough, and in the Murfreesborough Savings Bank, and a member of the directory board of the First National Bank of Murfreesborough. Always a liberal man, willing to help others, he has spent much of his fortune in this way, but can look back now in a serene old age and feel thankful that he has been the cause of happiness to many others.