JOHN C. WOODS, one of the energetic, practical and progressive agriculturists of White Hall township, was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, on the 12th of November, 1864, his parents being Isaac and Martha (Baker) Woods, the former a son of William Woods, who was of English descent, while the mother was a daughter of C. B. Baker. Mr. Woods of this review is a nephew of William C. Baker, of White Hall. The Bakers have ever been industrious and respected people and for many years have been valued citizens of Illinois, upholding the moral and political status of the state and at the same time contributing to its material upbuilding. Oscar Woods, a brother of our subject, resides at Berdan, Greene county.
John C. Woods acquired his education in the public schools and was reared to the occupation of farming, which he has made his life work. He resides on a farm, which was formerly the property of his father-in-law, William Ridings, and here he has a good tract of land which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. He located here soon after his marriage and is now engaged in general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of the raising of Thin Rind hogs, having recently purchased a fine registered male of this breed from William Strang. He also operates much of the land belonging to his father-in-law, who is an extensive property holder, and who finds in Mr. Woods a most dutiful and helpful son.
On the 22d of May, 1884, Mr. Woods married Miss Nellie Ridings, a daughter of William and Mary Ann Ridings. Her great-grandfather, John Ridings, was born in Wales and became the progenitor of the family in America, establishing his home in North Carolina, where he died in 1832. His son, Isaac Ridings, grandfather of Mrs. Woods, married Susanna Chinn, of a noted Kentucky family of that name. Her father was born in 1822, in Surry county, North Carolina, and there acquired a meager education. In 1835 he came to Illinois with his parents, the family home being established in White Hall township, Greene county. Throughout his entire life he has carried on agricultural pursuits and he now owns over seven hundred acres of land in Greene county and two hundred and forty acres in Christian county. His prosperity has come to him as the result of careful management, unfaltering diligence and judicious investment. His home is a comfortable brick house, with frame addition, and is surrounded with apple and peach orchards. He is a genial gentleman, hospitable and kind hearted, keeps well posted on public affairs and is yet deeply interested in the general topics of the day. In early life he was a Democrat, and at the time of the war he became what was known as a Douglas Democrat, following the example of Stephen A. Douglas in supporting Lincoln in his war policy. He has long been a Republican, supporting Garfield, who was of the same religious faith, both being members of the Christian Church. He has since been unfaltering in his advocacy of the Republican party and by his ballot always upholds its platform. He wedded Mary Ann Allen, a daughter of William Allen, a native of North Carolina, and they became the parents of three children: Sarah, the wife of Pleasant Edward Driver, by whom she has three children; Mrs. Woods; and Frank, who lives on a farm near Wrightsville and has one child.
Mrs. Woods, the younger daughter, is a model housekeeper, a kind neighbor and a devoted wife and mother. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Woods have been born five children: William T., who was born June 7, 1885; Myra, born in 1887; Edward, in 1891; Sarah, in 1896; and Lucy, in 1899. The parents have many warm friends in the locality where they reside and their own home is a most hospitable one.