James C. Woods
James C. Woods, farmer, Monroe Township, was born in 1828, in Dearborn County, Indiana; was raised on a farm, and educated in the common schools.
His father, Joseph Woods, was born in Pennsylvania in 1793; he came to Indiana in 1816, and settled in Dearborn County. Here he remained until 1837, when he removed to Jefferson County, into what is now Monroe Township, where he died in 1853.
He was one of the first Justices of the Peace in Dearborn County, and was elected to that office in Jefferson County, where he held the office for nine or ten years, and was serving at the time of his death.
The mother of Mr. James C. Woods was Miss Isabel Bushfield, daughter of Samuel Bushfield, all natives of Ireland. The family of Joseph Woods was composed of nine children, seven of whom lived to maturity.
Mr. James C. Woods, at the age of 22, began to learn the trade of coach blacksmithing. He served part of his time in Madison, Indiana, and finished at Frankfort, Kentucky. He worked at this trade for five years.
He married Susan A. Read, in December, 1852. She was the daughter of Andrew Read, a native of Virginia, who removed to Kentucky after his daughter was born. He was of Scotch-Irish extraction. His father, Frank Read, was a Revolutionary soldier, and he, himself, was a soldier in the War of 1812-15.
Her mother's family, of French extraction, named Leftwich, were early settlers of Virginia.
The result of this marriage was six children, viz: Belle, Kate, Elizabeth, Anna, Howard and Ida. Kate is married to George Craig, and lives in Johnson County, Indiana; the others are at home except Belle, who is at Indianapolis, Indiana. Mr. Woods owns 200 acres of good land, well improved. Is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Grange. Once held the office of township treasurer, and is a good citizen.
Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.
