DARKE COUNTY OHIO - BIOS: WOODS, JESSE (published 1900)
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A Biographical History of Darke County Ohio, published in
Chicago by the Lewis Publishing Company, 1900. p. 474-475



                       JESSE WOODS

     Jesse Woods, deceased, was for many years prominently
identified with the agricultural interests of German township,
Darke county, Ohio, where his widow still owns a fine farm of one
hundred and sixty acres, which she rents.  He was born in Tyler
county, Virginia, March 25, 1819, and was a son of James Woods, a
native of London, England.  The father was a silk weaver by
trade, but for about twenty-two years followed the sea.  He was
married at the age of forty and died at the extreme old age of
one hundred and two years, two months and twenty-six days.  His
death occurred at the home of our subject in German township and
at that time he was the oldest man in Darke county, where he
located in 1821.
     Jesse Woods was about three years old when brought to this
county by his parents and here he was reared to manhood.
Throughout life he followed agricultural pursuits and continued
to reside on the old homestead in German township, where he died
September 3, 1896.  He was widely and favorably known and at one
time served as a county commissioner in a most creditable and
satisfactory manner.  In his political views he was a Democrat.
     January 19, 1844, Mr. Woods married Miss Anna Stephens, who
was born in German township July 21, 1822, a daughter of  David
and Lydia (Wagner) Stephens, both natives of Pennsylvania, the
former born in Washington county, the latter near Harrisburg.
The father enlisted in the war of 1812 when about nineteen years
of age, but had to run away to enter the army, as his parents
were Dunkards and opposed to war.  He was one of the boys
employed in carrying provisions to the Kentuckians.  As a young
man he located in Preble county, Ohio, and after his marriage
came to Darke county, making his home in German township
throughout the remainder of his life.  He died when past the age
of eighty-eight years, his wife at the age of seventy-five years.
In his political views he was a Democrat.  Mrs. Woods, is the
eldest in a family of ten children, seven sons and three
daughters, but only four are now living.  She has traveled
extensively over the United States, visiting Washington, the
centennial in 1876 and other places of interest, but is now
living quietly at her pleasant home in Palestine, Darke county.
She is well preserved for one of her age and is highly respected
and esteemed by all who know her.  Religiously she is an earnest
and consistent member of the Reformed church.
     To Mr. and Mrs. Woods were born thirteen children, three
sons and ten daughters, namely: Jennie, now the wife of Dr.
Squire Dickey, of German township, this county; Ella W., the wife
of Thomas J. Perry; Sarah, the wife of Charles Harp; Levi, a
resident of German township; Rebecca, the wife a John A. Lease,
of Greenville; Ada, the wife of James Wilcox, of Palestine;
Laura, the wife of J.C. Turner, of Neave township; Milton, who
died at the age of five years; Malinda, who died at the age of
four years; Cordelia, who died at the age of three years; Louisa,
who died at the age of nineteen years; James, who died in
infancy; and Alice, who died at the age of two years.