Izard Co., AR - Biographies - James B. Woods

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James B. Woods, farmer, Melbourne, Ark. Among the prominent young farmers of
Izard County appears the name of James B. Woods, who, like many others of the
representative men of the county, is a native of Bedford County, Tenn. His
parents, John and Lucinda (Richardson) Woods, are natives of the same State.
John Woods came to Arkansas in 1854, settling in Izard County, and bought a
farm near Melbourne, or rather near the present site of Melbourne, where he
resided until his death in 1860. He was in his twenty ninth year at that time,
and was a member of the Christian Church. He had always taken an active
interest in politics. In 1858 he had been elected sheriff of the county, and
had just retired from office at the time of his death. The mother died in 1879,
at the age of forty eight years. To their union were born six children, four
now living: Margaret, wife of Alex. L. Sublett; James B., Mary, wife of W. L.
Stroud; Sarah J. (deceased), wife of Joseph E. Freeman; Thomas R. (deceased),
and Martha C., wife of Daniel S. Freeman. James B. Woods was born in February,
1852, and was reared to agricultural pursuit in this county. He received a
good, practical education in the subscription and free schools of Arkansas, and
when twenty-one years of age started out to fight life's battles for himself.
He first tilled the soil on his mother's farm, but two years later bought a
house in Melbourne, moved there, but rented land and still cultivated the soil.
In connection with this he also teamed and followed the carpenter's trade for
two years, after which he sold out and bought his present property. This
consists of 151 acres, with about forty or fifty acres cleared, and with good
buildings, etc. He was married, in 1874, to Miss Fannie Dixon, daughter of W.
C. and Eliza (Clarada) Dixon, natives of Tennessee. To this marriage have been
born five children: Ora A., Lillian A., Owen D., Robert L. and Margaret. James
B. Woods is among the prosperous young farmers of the county and deserves
especial credit for the start he has made in life. He is public-spirited and
takes an active interest in educational matters as well as all other public
enterprises. He and wife are both members of the Christian Church. In politics
he casts his vote with the Democratic party. Socially he is a member of the
Masonic fraternity.