- Gender
- Male
Woods, James
Biography
Ca. 1800–1886. Lawyer. Born near Boston, in Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Nehemiah Woods and Mary. Moved to Lincoln, Grafton Co., Massachusetts, by Feb. 1802. Moved to Virginia, 1824. Admitted to bar, 1827, in Lewisburg, Greenbrier Co., Virginia (later in West Virginia). Moved to Wisconsin Territory, 1833, and settled in what later became Burlington, Des Moines Co., Iowa. Practiced law in Illinois and Iowa Territory. Married first Catharine C. Wells, 14 Aug. 1836, in Hancock Co., Illinois. Appointed first city solicitor for Burlington, 1837. Appointed first district attorney for Muscatine Co., Wisconsin Territory (later in Iowa), Apr. 1837. Served as secretary for Iowa territorial legislature, 1841–1842. Served as legal counsel for JS and Hyrum Smith, June 1844. Gave account of events surrounding JS’s and Hyrum’s murders published in Times and Seasons, 1 July 1844. After death of JS, served as legal counsel for Emma Smith. Served as secretary of Iowa Senate, 1846–1847, and clerk of Iowa Supreme Court, 1847–1854. Married second Adaline Wallen, 13 Aug. 1864, in Hardin Co., Iowa. Moved to Waverly, Bremer Co., Iowa, 1868. Moved to Steamboat Rock, Hardin Co., by 1882. Died in Steamboat Rock. Buried in Aspen Grove Cemetery, Burlington.
Links
- Appendix 3: Willard Richards, Journal Excerpt, 23–27 June 1844
- Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 1, 10 March 1844–1 March 1845
- Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846; Volume 2, 1 March–6 May 1845
- Historian’s Office, Martyrdom Account
- Historian’s Office, Martyrdom Account, Draft
- History, 1838–1856, volume F-1 [1 May 1844–8 August 1844]
- John Taylor, Martyrdom Account
- Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 2, 10 March 1843–14 July 1843
- Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 4, 1 March–22 June 1844
- Letter from Hugh T. Reid and James W. Woods, 24 June 1844
- Letter to James W. Woods and Hugh T. Reid, 26 June 1844
- Miscellaneous Notes [25–28 June 1844, 1843]