The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-12
JAS. 7. WOODWARD
DIES At ADVANCED
AGE IN NEW YORK
Was Prominent Factor in Up
building of the Birming-
ham District
AS A SOUTHERNER HE
TOOK PRIDE IN SOUTH
For Many Years Was Dominant Factor
In Tennessee Co. and Birmingham
. RcnIty-Chairman Southern
Iron and Steel Co.

James Il. Woodward, president of the
and strongly identified with important
business interests in Birmingham and the
Birmingham district, died in New York
on Sunday, aged Y.
He was born and reared in Maryland
but took up his residence in New York
soon after the civil war, He early devel-
oped marked capacity for business and
while yet a young man had become
prominent in the banking circles of New
York. For many years he had been
recognized as one of the foremost finan-
ciers in the United States.
Mr.. Woodward was always proud of
being a southerner and in reconstruction
days, just as soon as he began to pros
per in business, he showed in many sub
stantial ways that his sympathies were
with the south. He took an especial in
terest in the Birmingham district and
from the very founding of this city he
was it's prophet. In 1872 Mr.. Woodward
lent a helping hand in furnishing Bir-
ming with a water supply. A few years
later he associated himself with num-
Der of pioneer citizens in founding the
Birmingham Trust and Savings bank,
and UP to the time of his death he was
large stakeholder and a director in
this institution.
Mr.. Woodward was for many years a
dominant factor in the Tennessee Coal,
Iron and Railroad company. As he had
abiding confidence in the future of Bir-
mingham he never tired of exerting his
influence to induce the investment of
large capital here. And it was due chief
ly to his faith in the district and his en-
thusiasm that the original steel plant at
Ensley was built. He continued to con-
troll the policy of the Tennessee company
up to four years ago.
Mr.. Woodward was a large stakeholder
in the old Elyton Land company and
after that company had gone through a
period of bankruptcy he was active in re-
organizing it as the Birmingham Realty
company and starting it off under the
best of auspices. He was the controlling
factor In the Birmingham Realty up to
the time of his death.
The last large enterprise in this district
to which Mr.. Woodward turned his at
tention was the Southern Steel company
after it became bankrupt in 1907. Dur
Ing the stress and strain of the panic he
entered upon what was regarded as a
herculean task in recognizing and re-
financing it. He became chairman of the
reorganization committee and after the
company was rehabilitated as the South
ern Iron and Steel company he was made
chairman of it's finance committee, which
position he held to the end 1t is said
that but for Mr.. Woodward's construc-
tive mind, his financial strength and his
wonderful endurance the reorganization
would not only have been greatly re-
tarded but that it might never have come
out of its troubles with flying colors as
1t did.
w. p. G. Harding, who was a mem
Der of the reorganization committee Of
the Southern steel and who is a director
in the new company, paid the follow
ing tribute to the deceased:
Mr.. James Z. woodward, president
of the Hanover National bank of New
York, was one of the ablest financiers
in America, and in his death the Birming-
ham district has sustained a distinct
loss, as he has been closely identified
with it for many years. He was heavily
interested in the Elyton Land company,
and its successor, the Birmingham Realty
COMPANY, controlled the Tennessee Coal,
Iron and Railroad company until 1906. and
&C ~cputed to be large stakeholder in
the Birmingham Trust and Savings COM
tta w chairman of the roOr2aQ n
ization committee of the Southern Steel
company, and later became chairman of
the executive committee of the Southern
Iron and Steel company.
HE was a man of strong likes and dis
CONTINUED ON PAGE 1O.)