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 E. WOODS, editor of the Mattoon Journal, a daily and weekly paper which has become quite indispensable to the people of Coles County, is also part publisher and proprietor of the same, and has distinguished himself as a practical journalist of sound sense, and with a fair acquaintance of the needs of the people in this direction. He is a gentleman well known in this section of county, having been born in Lafayette Township, this county, June 2, 1837, and being consequently of the age when his capacities are in their full vigor, and his judgment, sharpened by an acquaintance with the world and human nature in general, has given him broad and liberal views of life. The parents of our subject were Hiram and Margaret (Threlkeld) Woods, natives of Kentucky and highly respected members of the farming community. They emigrated to this county in about 1833, and from the undeveloped soil built up a good farm. During the late war, the father of our subject enlisted in the 62d Illinois Infantry, and gave three years to the service of his country. He participated in various campaigns, and was once captured by the rebels at Holly Springs, being, however, retained as prisoner but a short time. It is hardly necessary to say that he was a stanch Republican, and both parents were members of the Old-School Baptist Church. The elder Woods became more or less identified with the local affairs of the township, being a man of cool and temperate judgment, whose opinions were held in general respect. He possessed great enterprise and industry, and was a sub-contractor on the I. & St. L. R. R. The parental family of our subject numbered six children, four now living, namely: Thomas E., of our sketch; Harriet A., Mrs. Bridges, of Malvern, Iowa; Winfield and Milton Y. The mother departed this life in Mattoon, in the spring of 1859. Hiram Woods survived until 1884, spending his last years in Mattoon. Thomas E. Woods remained on his father’s farm until he was a youth of eighteen years, in the meantime receiving a good education, and then commenced teaching school. A year later he engaged as clerk in a general store at Mattoon, and also officiated as Deputy Postmaster, being the second man to fulfill the duties of Postmaster at Mattoon. In 1858 he purchased the Mattoon Gazette, which he conducted two and one-half years, and then returning to the rural districts, engaged in farming for a year. He now decided upon the study of law, and going to Charleston entered the office of Hon. H. P. H. Bromwell, where he read law and at the same time officiated as editor of the Charleston Courier. The war now coming on he enlisted, in 1862, in Co. A, 123d Ill. Vol. Inf., and was soon afterward made Quartermaster Sergeant. Eighteen months later he became Sergeant Major, and the last year commanded Company H, being mustered out with a Captain’s commission. After returning from the army Capt. Woods purchased the Mattoon Journal, and since that time has had editorial charge. Under his supervision the Journal has become very efficient and popular as an exponent of Republican principles, while at the same time it is a lively record of local and general news. Mr. Woods was married, in 1860, to Miss Lizzie N., daughter of Dumas and Lucy Jones, of this county. This lady died in 1866, and six years later Mr. Woods contracted a second marriage, with Miss Louie V. Powers, of Griggsville, Ill., the daughter of Rev. William R. Powers, a native of Vermont, and now deceased. Of this union there have been born four children—Eulalie, Percival, Margaret and Hallie. Mr. W. belongs to the K. of H., the K. and L. of H., and is a member in good standing of the G. A. R. |
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