U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Woods family ------------------------------------------------------------------- History of Ritchie County by Minnie Kendall Lowther Wheeling News Litho. Co., Wheeling W.Va., 1911 Pages 479-480 The Woodses too, have long been identified here. James Woods, senior, came from Wales and settled in the Keystone state, where his son, the Rev. James Woods was born in 1797. This son, (the Rev. James), married Miss Eliza Axtel, daughter of Phillip Axtel, in 1820, the marriage taking place at Pittsburg; and in 1846, he came to this county, and settled on the Wells homestead, at the mouth of Bunnell's run, where he remained until 1868, when he removed to Missouri where his labors came to an end. He was an early minister of the Baptist church, and the first Superintendent of Free schools of this county, he having been appointed for a brief time. He was an ardent advocate of the Union cause, and was pronounced in his views on the slavery question. He was the first pastor of the Clarksburg Baptist church, and his ministry extended over the Counties of Ritchie, Doddridge, Harrison, Tyler, Pleasants, Wood and Wirt. He was the father of the following named children: The Rev. P. A. Woods, Josiah M., Brantley, Erasmus, James, and Robert, Mrs. Mary (John) McGinnis, and Mrs. Elizabeth, (Solomon) Hopper. Phillip Axtel Woods was born at Pittsburg, on January 4, 1828; and on December 12, 1846, he was married to Miss Salina Wells, daughter of Isaiah Wells; and from that time until his death, on September 17, 1902, he was a resident of this community. He was a faithful servant in the Master's Vineyard, his father's mantle having fallen upon his shoulders, when he went West in 1868. He was widely known, the field of his ministry having embraced many points in central West Virginia, which included, Sistersville, Middlebourne, Harrisville, Stillwell, Briscoe run, Willow Island, and numerous others. His death severed the first link in the family circle, which was again broken during the spring of 1909 by the death of his aged companion, who was laid by his side in the Harrisville cemetery. Their children are as follows: Isaiah W. and Judge Homer B. Woods, Harrisville; Joel, Parkersburg; William, Keyser; Mrs. Independence (E. E.) McDougal, Hannahdale; and Mrs. E. M. Patton, Luke, Maryland. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ritchie County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/ritchie/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------