Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-John T. Woods
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
JOHN T. WOODS, Probate Judge, resides in
Clay Center, Clay County, and is, financially
speaking, one of the substantial men of this
county. In Blaine Township, where he made
his home for several years, he owns a farm of 200
acres, which is one of the best improved and finest
fitted up of any estate of its size in the county. It
is located in the Republican Valley bottom, one
and a half miles south of the city of Clay Center.
Judge Woods also owns lands in other counties,
and the competence which he now enjoys has been
earned through his ability and attention to business.
In October, 1888, he was nominated as the candidate
of the Republican party for Probate Judge,
and was elected November following, and Jan. 1,
1889, entered upon the duties of the position, which
he is now discharging acceptably to his constituents
and with credit to himself.
Judge Woods is a native of England, having
opened his eyes to the light in Lynn, near London,
July 16, 1843. He is however, by training an
American, as his parents removed to this country
when he was hut three years old. His father, William
Woods, was born in Scotland and married an
English lady, whose maiden name was Mary Pett.
They reared a family of six children, three having
been born to them after they became residents
of the United States. On coming to America
William Woods located at Buffalo, N. Y., where he
resided for three years. He then, in 1849, removed
to Hillsdale, Mich., where he engaged in
farming, continuing his agricultural employment
until his death in 1852. The mother still lives at
Hillsdale.
The gentleman of whom we write grew to maturity
in Michigan, finishing his education in Hillsdale
College. While in attendance there the Civil
War broke out and he, like many others of the youth
of our land, was fired with an enthusiastic longing
to take part in support of the Union. Being less
than eighteen years of age he was obliged to leave
home to enlist, and entering Illinois he was enrolled
in Company F, 42d Illinois Infantry, the date of
his enlistment being Aug. 16. 1861. The regiment
first served under Gens. Fremont and Hunter in
Missouri, then under Pope in the New Madrid and
Island No. 10, campaigns, and were then transferred
to Pittsburgh Landing, following which they took
part in the siege of Corinth. Being then transferred
to the 20th Corps (Army of the Cumberland)
they participated in the battles of Iuka Springs,
Perrysville; Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Chickamauga,
siege of Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, the relief
of Knoxville, Strawberry Plains, and the minor
skirmishing and tedious marching which accompanies
the more bloody and stirring conflicts of a
soldier's life.
Re-enlisting as a veteran, after a thirty days'
furlough, Mr. Woods was returned to the 4th Corps
and from Chattanooga entered the Georgia campaign under Sherman, accompanying the main body
as far as Jonesboro on the march to the Atlantic.
The 4th and 23d Corps then went back to head off
Hood, being under the command of Gen. Thomas,
from Jonesboro. Pulaski and Columbia, Tenn., were
their next most notable points, following which
came Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville. Thence,
after Lee's surrender, the regiment was sent to Indianola,
Tex., thence to Victoria, and on the 6th of
January, 1866, they were mustered out at Port
Lavaca, Tex., and being transferred to Springfield, Ill.,
received their final pay and were discharged.
Mr. Woods had served four years and six months,
being among those who were in the army the
longest time. On the 26th of April, 1865, he was
commissioned First Lieutenant by Gov. Oglesby,
of Illinois, and had complete charge of his company
until the time of his being mustered out of
service.
At the expiration of his army life Mr. Woods
returned to his home and spent another year in
study at his Alma Mater. He then came West,
and going up the Missouri River to Helena, Mont.,
he spent four years mining in that section. He
came to Kansas in January, 1871, and locating at
Milford, Riley County, engaged in agricultural pursuits
during the following four years. Removing
to this county in 1875, he has since that time been
a resident and voter of Blaine Township. He has
bought, improved and sold several farms in that
township, and to his labors in this county he owes
the financial standing of to-day. On account of
poor health he has spent several seasons with his
family in other sections, but since he removed
to this county it has ever been that which was home
to him.
At the residence of the bride in Manhattan,
Riley County, Oct. 7, 1875, Mr. Woods was united
in marriage with Miss Elsie L. Thorpe. Mrs.
Woods was born in Polo, Ogle Co., Ill., Oct. 28,
1853, and is a daughter of Eli O. Thorpe, who was
born at Springfield, Mass. In 1871, she became a
resident of Manhattan, where she completed her
education. At the time of her marriage she was
engaged in teaching, a work for which her natural
tact and cultivated mind well fitted her. To Judge
Woods and his wife two boys have been born.
They are: Earl L., born in 1880, and Lynn, born
in 1883.
Judge and Mrs. Woods belong to the First
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which society the
Judge is one of the Trustees. He holds membership
in the G. A. R. Upright and honorable in
business and in private life, Judge Woods is highly
spoken of by all who know him. In politics he is,
and always has been a stanch supporter of the principles
of the Republican party.