BIO: John A. WOODS, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 386-387. __________________________________________________________________ JOHN A. WOODS, Aughwick Mills, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in Washington, Tazewell county, Ill., May 18, 1855. He is a son of George and Mary A. (Moore) Woods. His paternal grandfather emigrated to this country from Ireland, the land of his birth, and settled in Black Log valley, Huntingdon county. He there engaged in teaching school. His wife was Isabella, daughter of Robert Taylor. They had four children, all now deceased: James; Joseph; Susanna, wife of Robert Clymans; and George. Mr. Woods was drowned in Aughwick Creek. His wife died in 1865, aged eighty-three years. They were of the Presbyterian persuasion. The maternal grandparents of John A. Woods were natives of Illinois; his grandfather's occupation was farming. Three of their children are now living: Harriet, widow of Alexander Taylor; Benjamin; and Mary A. The grandparents of Mrs. Woods died in Tazewell county, Illinois, well advanced in years. They were members of the Baptist denomination. Mr. Wood's father, Mr. George Woods, was a laboring man, a native of Huntingdon county. He married Mary A., daughter of Benjamin Moore. They had three children: Ada, who died at the age of fourteen years; John A.; and Frank. Mr. George Woods was a member of the Presbyterian church. He died in 1857, aged thirty-eight years. Mrs. Woods was married again, to William Gilliland; he also died, and she survives him, residing in Black Log valley, Huntingdon county. She is a member of the Baptist church. The education of John A. Woods was begun in the public schools of Burnt Cabins, Fulton county, Pa., and completed, when he was seventeen years of age, at Milnwood Academy, Shade Gap, Huntingdon county. He then devoted himself for sixteen years to the profession of teaching. In 1888, he became agent for Adams Express Company, and was thus employed for two years; after which, he returned to the school room, and has been ever since engaged in its arduous, but dignified and important labors. The respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens has been manifested by his election to public offices. He was for two terms clerk of Dublin township, Fulton county; in Dublin township, Fulton county, he was for two years inspector of elections; and in 1896, he was elected to his present office of auditor of Shirley township. He is a Republican. Mr. Wood is a member of Richvale Lodge, No. 564, P.O.S. of A. John A. Woods was married September 1, 1873, to Harriet E., daughter of William and Mary (Ziegler) Anderson. Their children were: George A., died June 19, 1896, aged twenty-one years, ten months and twenty-six days; and Frank J. Mrs. Harriet Woods died April 3, 1886, aged thirty- four. Her parents were natives of Burnt Cabins, Fulton county; her father was a carpenter and general workman. Mrs. Woods was Mr. and Mrs. Anderson's only child. The father died in 1854, aged twenty-five years; his widow was married a second time, to Jacob W. Miller, and is still living. On July 9, 1888, Mr. Woods married his second wife, Belle M., daughter of William A. and Margaretta A. (Wilson) Scott, natives of Huntingdon county. The only child of this marriage was Omar, who died January 9, 1895, aged five years, four months and ten days. Mr. William Scott is a farmer, now retired from business. Mrs. Scott is a daughter of George Wilson. Their children are: Walter; Belle M. (Mrs. Woods); Albert W.; Rachel A. (Mrs. T. J. Parsons); Allen W.; Elizabeth J. (Mrs. William R. Gilliland). Both parents are living. Mrs. Scott is a member of the Presbyterian church.