A native of Henderson County, Illinois, born October 21, 1851, his father, James B. Woods, being an early settler of that county. He was given good educational advantages, attending the public schools and the high school at Monmouth. He lived in Illinois until 1873, when he came to Iowa and engaged in stock-raising in Madison County. For two years, from 1884 till 1886, he was engaged in the agricultural implement business at Humboldt. He bought his present farm in 1882, and as the care of his extensive farm and his stock required so much of his time he gave up his business at Humboldt and located on his farm. Although his personal interests require his whole attention and though he has avoided, as far as possible, inducements to enter public life, yet he was prevailed upon to accept the nomination as a candidate to the State Legislature, and in the fall of 1887 was elected to the Twenty-second General Assembly of Iowa. Although his opponent carried the county by 600 votes in 1885, yet Mr. Woods was elected by about 200 majority and in his own precinct had but three opposing votes. With one exception he is the only Democrat elected from his district since 1876. His popularity has been fairly won. He was married January 22, 1873, to Miss E. C. Brown, of Warren County, Illinois, daughter of J. C. Brown.

A native of Henderson County, Illinois, born October 21, 1851, his father, James B. Woods, being an early settler of that county. He was given good educational advantages, attending the public schools and the high school at Monmouth. He lived in Illinois until 1873, when he came to Iowa and engaged in stock-raising in Madison County. For two years, from 1884 till 1886, he was engaged in the agricultural implement business at Humboldt. He bought his present farm in 1882, and as the care of his extensive farm and his stock required so much of his time he gave up his business at Humboldt and located on his farm. Although his personal interests require his whole attention and though he has avoided, as far as possible, inducements to enter public life, yet he was prevailed upon to accept the nomination as a candidate to the State Legislature, and in the fall of 1887 was elected to the Twenty-second General Assembly of Iowa. Although his opponent carried the county by 600 votes in 1885, yet Mr. Woods was elected by about 200 majority and in his own precinct had but three opposing votes. With one exception he is the only Democrat elected from his district since 1876. His popularity has been fairly won. He was married January 22, 1873, to Miss E. C. Brown, of Warren County, Illinois, daughter of J. C. Brown.