Biographies | 1896 Bios
James Franklin Woody
After receiving his discharge he came to Iowa, in 1848, and on the 28th day of August, 1854, married Miss Henderson, also a native of Indiana, born in 1837, who with her parents came to Iowa in 1853, locating on a farm in Jackson township, Guthrie county. They were the fourteenth couple married in the county of which they are honored pioneers, and they lived on a farm in Jackson township until within a few years, when they sold out and removed to Guthrie Center, where they now reside. On the breaking out of the Civil war, the father again offered his services, enlisting as a member of Company I, Twenty ninth Iowa Infantry, with which he served from 1862 until the close of hostilities, being with the western army. The family consists of three sons and one daughter, of whom James F. is the eldest. Florida E is the wife of J. R. Morris, a farmer of Brule county, South Dakota. Ulysses G., a mechanic, resides at home with his parents. Charles w. is married and resides at Salida, Colorado, being an employee of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Company. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics the father is a Republican. The family traces its genealogy back to Scotland, and the founders of the family in this country first located in North Carolina. The maternal grandfather of our subject, James Henderson, was a Protestant Irishman, born in Tennessee.
In the common schools and the county high school of Guthrie county, James F. Woody received his education, and on the homestead farm was reared to manhood. He taught school for several terms, mostly in this county, though for two terms he followed the same occupation in Dakota. He devoted eight years of his life to the service of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, being bill clerk in the freight office for three years, and the remainder of the time serving as ticket and express clerk. In 1894 he became the Republican candidate for the office of Clerk of the District Court, and on being elected took possession of the office on the 1st of January, 1895. He is now acceptably serving in that capacity, giving general satisfaction.
On the 11th of November, 1880, were united the destinies of Mr. Woody and Miss Tacy P. Morris, a sister of J. R. Morris, who married our subject’s sister. The lady is a daughter of J. J. and Sarah (Reynolds) Morris, natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively, and they now make their home in Stuart, Iowa. Eight children were born to them, six sons and two daughters. The father was one of the honored pioneers of Guthrie county. Three children grace the union of our subject and his estimable wife, namely: Ivan L., Bertha and Elsie, all now attending school.
In his social relations, Mr. Woody is prominently connected with the Masonic order, being a member of Token Lodge, No. 304, F. & A. M.; Damascus Chapter, No. 97, R. A. M.; and Alhambra Commandery, No. 58, K. T., the last two of Stuart. He also holds membership with the Knights of the Maccabees, being a charter member and Commander of Garfield Tent, No. 58; and belongs to Bower Camp, No. 1485, Modern Woodmen of America. He and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the work of which they take an active part; while in politics he is an earnest Republican, taking a deep interest in political affairs, and being a leader in the councils of his party.
A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company 1896, pg. 33.