Woody, John M.

WOODY, DAY, BYERS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/24/2009 at 11:19:24

Woody, John M.

One of the thrifty farmers of Fairview Township, Jasper County, is John M. Woody, who has won a reputation as a man of excellent judgment and progressive ideas, which accounts for his continued success in his chosen line of endeavor. Being careful in his calculations, resourceful in his dealings and eminently honorable in his relations with others, people have always reposed confidence in him.

Mr. John M. Woody was born in Marion County, Iowa, January 2, 1866. He is the son of William H. and Jennie E. (Day) Woody, both natives of Lawrence County, Indiana, the father born on July 11, 1834 and the mother in September 1840. They grew up, were educated and married in their native county. In early life the father learned the carpenter's trade. In 1849 he came to Iowa with his parents, John, Sr., and Mary Woody, and settled on a farm southeast of Monroe. The father of the subject returned to Indiana when twenty-three years old and married, but lived there only a short time, when he brought his young wife to Jasper County, Iowa. Here he worked at the carpenter's trade for some time, finally buying eighty acres in Marion County, southeast of Monroe. He subsequently added to his place until he owned one hundred and sixty acres. In 1898 he moved to Monroe, after a successful life as a farmer, and retired from work and there he and his wife still reside. He is a Democrat and a member of the Baptist Church. He reared a large family, five sons and eight daughters, of whom John M., of this sketch, was the fourth in order of birth and the only son that lived.

John M. Woody attended the Pleasant View district schools in Marion County. When he was twenty-one years old he began renting land and in 1896 he bought three hundred and thirty-three acres on the Skunk River in Fairview Township. Here he has built a large and attractive residence, good outbuildings and kept his fine farm well improved and under a high state of cultivation and as a general farmer and stock raiser he ranks with the best of the township. He makes a specialty of full blood shorthorn cattle. Politically, he is a Democrat, but has not attempted to be a leader in public matters.

Mr. Woody was married January 1, 1890, to Anna L. Byers, who was born on the place where they now live, on December 2, 1866, the daughter of Thomas L. Byers. To the subject and wife the following children have been born: Olive B., Amor L., Percy H. and Mark M. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 894.