From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 485-486.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


JOSEPH  J. WOODS
 
Joseph J. Woods, attorney, of Wheeling, W. Va., well-known throughout 
the state as speaker of the house of delegates during two sessions of 
the legislature, is of a family prominent in the history of Ohio 
county from a very early day.  His great-grandfather, Andrew Woods 
was sheriff of Botetourt, county, Va., under a commission bearing 
date, October 18, 1777, signed by Patrick Henry, an interesting 
document now in the possession of Mr. J. J. Woods.  His grandfather, 
Col. Archibald Woods, a native of Botetourt county, Va., entered the 
Continental army when a mere boy, near the close of the Revolutionary 
war, and served until peace was gained, being wounded at the decisive 
engagement at Yorktown. About the year 1790, he, with two brothers, 
came to the Ohio valley, then the western frontier, and the colonel 
settled on land two miles east of the site of the present city of 
Wheeling, the brothers also settling within the present bounds of 
Ohio county.  Col. Woods was a man of much force and integrity and 
was a member of the Richmond convention, which ratified the 
constitution of the United States, and for many years was president 
of the old county court of Ohio county. His death occurred in 1847, 
when he was aged eighty-five years.  His wife, whose maiden name was 
Ann Pogue, lived until 1856. Of the large number of children born to 
them, not more than four or five reached maturity. One of the younger 
of these, John Woods, was born in 1807. He was raised as a farmer and 
followed that occupation during life. He was married to Ruth H., 
daughter of Dr. Joseph Jacob, an early physician of the county.  She 
is still living, and has her home on the farm that Col. Woods 
purchased a century ago. In the spring of 1888 her husband died.  Six 
children were born to them, of whom four survive: Archie, Joseph J., 
George, W. and Hamilton, all residents of Ohio, county.  Joseph J. 
Woods was born December 15, 1851. He received an academic education 
while a boy, and then entered Princeton college, where he was 
graduated in 1872. Choosing the profession of law as his vocation he 
entered the office of judge James Paull, of Wheeling, and after the 
election of the latter to the court of appeals, he went into the 
office of J. H. Good, with whom he read law until 1874, when he was 
admitted to the bar.  He then began the practice of law with Mr. 
Good, and after that gentleman's death, continued in the practice 
alone, and has achieved success and an honorable position in the bar 
of the county.  Mr. Woods is distinguished for his long and valuable 
service in the legislature of the state, to which he was first 
elected in 1878, as a member of the senate, for a term of four years. 
Upon the expiration of this term he declined a renomination, and 
became the candidate of his party for the house of delegates, as a 
representative of Ohio county, and was elected for a term of two 
years.  Upon nomination of the chamber in 1883, he was elected 
speaker, an office that he filled with notable tact and ability.  In 
1886 he was again nominated and elected to the house of delegates, 
and was again elected in 1888, and for a second time in 1889, 
presided as speaker of the house. He has represented faithfully and 
efficiently the interests of his county and his admirable discharge 
of the duties of presiding officer, have earned for him many friends 
throughout the state. 


(Linda Fluharty)