Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-11

| large number Of our best citizens held a
meeting in the County Court room at II
O'Clock yesterday morning, to pay a suita-
BILE tribute to the memory of tie late
James Woods, who died at his residence in
this city at one o'clock Monday afternoon.
Mayor Howell called the meeting to
order, briefly explaining its object, and
moved that John NJ. Bass be called to the
chair. The motion prevailed by a unani-
nous vote.
On motion Of Judge James WhitwOrth,
Williath Henry Smith was unanimously
chosen Secretary.
JUDGE GUILD
said he deemed it proper on the occasion to
make a few remarks touching the life Of
their friend who had been called away. He
was perhaps the Oldest citizen Of Nashville.
He had known him well since 1921. The
speaker came to Nashville about that time
| in a suit Of jeans clothes, with a view Of
reading law. Making his own observa-
| tiOns; he came across the lamented Ephraim
H. Foster. Mr.. Foster had just had a diff
| ficulty in the courthouse, and bore himself
with such gallantry that he became charmed
with the man and followed him around
the streets Of the town to hear him talk.
Mr.. Foster took him into his Office, made
him his messenger, AID fer tWo years he
read Fosters books. 1t was there that he
met James Woods. Ina was before the
advent Of steamboats,, and Mr.. Woods was
at the head of the keel-bOat system.
In IA cotton speculation with Col. eat
man Mr.. Woods made a large fortune S9d
established a bank, and ever since main
tanned an enviable reputation for honesty
and integrity. He was an example for ths
| tisihg generation. He was a man OF =
large heart and the kindest FEELING The
speaker in that day had but little fhone5;
and he paid his board three mouths in ad-
vance. He then had some fifty or sixty
dollars, which he gave TO Mr.. Woods for
safe keeping. As time passed by he found
| he owed about fifteen dollars more than he
had money to psy. He made known the cir
cumstances TO Mr.. Woods and, althotgli-hA
did not apply TO him for help, ~
latter instantly went to his safe
and said, "YOu can have what you
want" He told Mr.. Woods he
was only fifteen dollars short; the latter
handed him the money and he paid the
bill. Mr.. Woods spoke to him in the
kindest terms and wanted to know his re-
sources. He told him he had been cut off
by the death Of an uncle; and MFR. Woods
replied, "When you want money come to
me-" The speaker confessed he had no
way Of paying it back, and was assured
that made no odds. Mr.. Woods advanced
him money until be obtained a license,
and went to Sumner county to practice
law. As soon as be was able TO accumu-
late the amount that had been advanced
to him by his friend, he came to Nashville,
repaid it and expressed his gratitude for so
great a service. The kindness Of Mr..
| Woods had no doubt saved him from dissi-
patton and ruin.
The deceased had paid all his debts,
reared an honorable family, met all his
obligations, and his death was great loss.
4 better man than James Woods never
walked the streets Of Nashville. He was
there to endorse anything the meeting saw
fit 10 do in memory Of the departed. He
would move TO appoint a committee Of
/ ten to draft suitable resolutions. The
motion prevailed.
DIR. J. b. LINDSEY
| thought the deceased was undoubtedly the
most remarkable man who had ever lived
in Nashville. He possessed the rarest
| business qualities, the most benevolent
/ spirit; and was modest and retiring. In
| deed, he bad so many noble qualities that
I
/ of Nashville In 1850 a number Of physi-
clans were projecting the establishment Of
| a Medical College in Nashville, and had to
solicit aid from the public. 1t fell TO his
| lot TO 20 over the town with a book and
hunt up subscribers. In those days, as
| now, people turned a cold shoulder to such
| enterprises. He went TO Mr.. Woods, that
| gentleman gave him encouragement and
/ fsaH
| when the public was again asked for aid to
enlarge the buildings, Mr.. Woods gave four
| times as much as any other subscriber.
REV. DIR. J. Z. M'FERRIN
| said be didn't know that the occasion called
for any remarks from him, as Mr.. Woods
had been mau Of business and be had
followed a different line. He knew him
| not so intimately as some others, but from
| the first had always been favOrably i'm
| pressed with him. He always respected
and regarded him IS a man Of high moral
virtue. One Of the most beautiful cEarac-
| teristiCs Of his life was that he hal been
an exemplary Christian. He thought that
was the highest cOmmendatiOn that could
| be bestowed on any man.
JAMES 7. BELL
fe't that be could not let the occasion pass
without expressing his small tribute TO
him, whom he regarded as the paragon Of
all that was good and noble. When the
speaker was a small boy and helped to de-
| liver one Of the city papers TO its sub
| sCribers, it Was customary then, as now, for
| the carriers to take around their Christmas
| addresses. Mr.. Woods never turned him
away, but invariably gave him a kind word
and liberal reward. He knew not where
| he might have drifted had it not been for
| the kindness and liberaiity Of Mr.. Woods
| and Othe- such men. He felt thai the city
had lost its best man.
EX-GOv. NELL 5. BROWN
| heartily cOncurred in the remarks he had
just heard. Hereg7ettef exceedingly to hear
of the death # Mr.. Woods. He was IA
miliar with his Character, and was free to
say that no bester man ever lived or died in
Nashville. Mr.. Woods was a christian
gentleman in the highest sense Of the term.
He was the most charitable man he ever
saw, and never turned a deaf ear to an ap-
peal for help. He never spoke of his chaii-
table deeds;Ihe gave 20 the needy because
he thought il was bis abstract duty. He
cared not for the applause Of men and never
sought office. His heart was larger than
the frame that nature gave him. He had
his views Of religion an politics, was faith
ful to both, but no. more so than to the
claims Of suffering humanity around
him. He had a sublime sense or pecuniary
obligation. He was a man of stern IN
teg-ity and the highest honor.
HON. EDWIN Il. EWING
next took the floor. He was visibly affect
ed and shed tears quite freely. There were
few men of whom nothing but good could
be said, but of NJ. Woods he could speak
without measure and without stint. He
was dear to him and all related to him.
He C uld endorse him wholly, utterly, en-
tirely, as a gentleman and Christian. He
defed any man to point to a blemish in his
character. In his death they had sustained
an iueparable loss.
II. L. CLAIBORNE
smoke in feeling terms of the deceased.
Mr.. Woods had ever been his friend, and
he had taught his children to revere his
name.
TIE chair appointed as the
COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS
10. C. Guild, Neill S. Brown, ST., Edwin
II. Ewing, W. F. Cooper, Edgar Jones,
Samuel Watkins, A. G. Adams, James
Whitworth, j. b. Knowles, Arson Nelson,
and II. L. Claiborne. On motion, the
chairman was added to the committee.
Rev. DR.. J. w. Hoyte thought the CON-
mittee should have ample time to prepare
the resolutions, and moved that the meet
ing adjourn till 10 o'clock this morning, re-
oof,-o he rarsort of the committee at that