Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-08-16
From the Hamilton Inrelligencer.
John Woods.

DIED nj his relidenco in this civ on Monday, Tin
SUN u!umo,, ,JonN WooDs aged 6l years
Death is at all times soemn-in howell al
well as in hall. But it is only when a mar
( OF mark falls, that the solennity and hush
which should mark the passage of soul, are
visible in the haunts and on the faces of men
The death of Mr.. Woods, though measurab,
expected, for some time, has caused this man.
hesitation in cur community more percepti-
! bly, than any o,her which has taken place for
years. lie had SO long walked among us-sc
long been prominent io public enterprises
50 long been a speaker in public assemblies
that to miss his familiar face and expect
to see and hear him no more, was solemn
thing, even to those who in life may not have
] loved him.
! NJ. Woods had been i'll about three weeks.
His disease was at first Inflammation of the
lungs, 50 severe as very som to cause strong
, apprchenscns its fatal termination. Last
week he was better, and hopes were entertai-
ned that his system would laly-but the dis
ease finally terminated ia typhoid fever, with
liberation o! the bowels. which ended his
exister ce on NJ Indly,as above stated
The deceased was n native of Dauphin
county Pennsylvania. He came to Ohio in
Infancy, in the yea: 1897, His father settled
in Warren county, near SprIngboro, where
John was raised, and received the rough ee-
merits Of such an education as this primitive
wilderness then afforded, by dint of lard work
in the daytime and hard study by night
lie served one campaign in the war of 1912,
being included in the last draft OF Ohio militia
in 1916 and was in the garrison at Fort
Meigs when peace was proclaimed. After
wards he persever ng)y carried out the de.
signs OF his boghood; and taking a piece of
ground in his fathers neighborhooi, To
"clear," as means of support, he began to
study la~ with. I"dsa Mclean in Lehanan.
about the year 1877. He built hut or camp
on his clearings and after maulng heavy
timber all the day he hammered at law of
evenings while other weary workers slept -
He studied in this way, going once week
TO Lebanon to recite.
ln.lSl0, he was admitted to the bar and
settled in II imilton. Here, basing his course
upon Correct principles and steady habits, he
differed very materially from the majority OF
his associates at the bar, and soon began to
show the superiority OF that Course by rapid-
Iy rising over their heads. A notable ex-
ample at the end of good and bad habits
nigh, be afforded by comparing the career Of
Mr.. Woods with that of George Sargent,
than prominent and talented young lawyer,
his superior in education and opportunity -
Sargent was reckl IS in his habits, and drank
to excess. He died year or two since in the
County lnhrmlry,a hopeless lunatic. While
he was thus public charge for twenty years,
man far behind him at the beginning OF the
race, Was laboriously planning the improve
menls Of his county, and reaphg the golden
rewards of a well-spent life. Here is amoral
which the young should let sink deep into their
memories,
In 1924 he was elected to Congress. He
was distinguished there, as everywhere, by
his industry, and was largely instrumental in
securing Ohio her first large grant OF lands
for canals. He served two terms in Congress.
At the end of his second term, changes in
Politics threw him into the minority, he warm
ly opposing the election of Gen. Jackson
lie retired on the 4th of March, 1929, and on
the 3Oth of the same month became the pub
Usher and editor of this paper, which he con-
Quoted with great ability 70: three years;
the latter part of the time in Connection with
Lewis ID. Campbell as printer. In 1882,
after the Presidential contest, he sold his
interest in the IRteligeRcer to Mr Campbell,
and returned to the practice of his profession,
which he prosecuted vigorously nearly all
the time until his election IVY the LegSla-
ture of 1856 TO the important post ofauditor
of State.
As Auditor, he left indeible marks on the
policy and history of the State. Ohio had
heen running into debt, year by year, going
. into debt to pay interest, and thus componn-
ding it, until the public obligation loomed up
/ in fearful magnitude. Something must be
done-Joan Brough had vainly endeavored
to accomplish reform in taxation- fear
brooded over our legislators-no one dared
/ touch the dreaded subject Mr.. Woods, as
Auditor, was mainly Instrumental, by his
courage, industry, aud perseverance,in Ohio
/ from the bankruptcy and ruin.
At the end of his second term he returned
home--but his reckless energy would not
allow him to cease work. He became Presi'
den; of the Hamilton and Eaton Railroad
Company, and brought his strong power t1
bear on the completion of that work. Being
opposed, however, to the "Pequa Branch >
he was defeated in the second election. He
Immediately accepted The Presidency of the
"Junction Railroad" aud filed the otF,e with
honor to himself aud profit to the Company
until his death.
Such is the briefhisory ofa well-spen, life
terminated in the hope of better one tt
come. Always on the moral side Of ever'
public question,he was never known to Ainel
or fail in his duty at the time and place de
manded. Time, labo. and money wer