Pictorial and Genealogical Record
of Greene County, Missouri • 1893

Together with Bibliographies of Prominent Men of Other Portions of the State, Both Living and Dead


SAMUEL WOODS, Springfield, Mo., is one of the prominent ex-county officials and farmers of Greene County. Edward Woods, father of our subject, was of Irish stock, and a farmer, of Tennessee. He married Sarah Trimble, daughter of John and Margaret Trimble, both of whom came from Ireland. Mr. Trimble was a school teacher and owned a farm. Edward Woods and wife were the parents of three sons: Joseph, Samuel and William. Mr. Woods died when our subject was too young to remember his father. Samuel Woods, our subject, was born on the line of Williamson and Maury Counties, Tenn., Oct. 14, 1821. After the death of his father he was brought up by his uncle, William Trimble, a prominent farmer, of Williamson County, Tenn. Our subject received a good English education for those days, and at the age of twenty-one, left his uncle's home and learned the trade of a carpenter, of John L. McCracken, Maury County, Tenn.. He worked at learning his trade two years, and then continued with Mr. McCracken as a partner seven years. On April 10, 1844, he married Mary C. Ragsdale, daughter of______ .On the 6th of July, 1844, Mr. Woods came to Springfield, and Mr. McCracken and himself engaged in the house carpenter business. There were no brick buildings in Springfield at that time. Mr. Woods worked at his trade in this county until the war broke out, and in 1847 he bought his present farm, then consisting of forty acres, to which he has added until he owns 380 acres. To Mr. and Mrs. Woods have been born seven children, who have lived to grow up: William T., James K. (deceased at eighteen); Talbot F., Dorsey F., Sarah E., Emily, and Lucinda A. In politics Mr. Woods has always been a Democrat, but now affiliates with the Labor party. In 1862 he was elected justice of the peace in Campbell Township, holding this office one term, and be was deputy sheriff under sheriff C. B. Owen two years, and was assistant adjutant quarter master in 1863, in the State militia. In 1890 he was elected county treasurer and filled this office to the general satisfaction of the people. The bond required is $400,000, showing how many substantial friends Mr. Woods has, and he retired without a stain on his character. Both Mr. and Mrs. Woods have been members of the Christian Church for years, since 1850, and Mr. Woods was elder in his church six years, and was school director twenty years. He has made his property by his own unaided efforts, and is a man whose word is as good as his bond and has maintained a high character for honesty and worth. When Mr. Woods was justice of the peace, and was holding court in Springfield, in a case where Judge Baker was the prosecuting attorney against an ex-county ________ for damages for non-delivery of goods and John O'Day was defendant, it being his maiden case, Judge Baker made an able plea, and O'Day made a vigorous defense. Judge Wood decided the case for the defendant. Then Judge Baker took occasion to score the Court in scathing language, saying that the decision was an outrage and in his opinion the justice was prejudiced against him. Judge Wood replied that "If the learned attorney had that opinion of the Court and the justice was in his place, he would whip the Court, as it would not cost him a cent to do it."

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