James F. Woods, of Portland, one of the early settlers of Knox Township, Jay County, was born in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, the date of his birth being November 7, 1823, a son of Hezekiah and Mary (Oliver)Woods. The father was a native of the State of New Jersey, and in his youth removed with his father, Levi Woods to Pennsylvania, where he was married, and in 1833 removed with his family to Darke County, Ohio. Traveling in those days was slow and tedious, they making the journey from Pennsylvania down the Ohio River in a flat-boat to Cincinnati, and then with teams to Darke County. Hezekiah Oliver and wife lived in Darke County until their death. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eldest. Four of the sons and two daughters grew to maturity, but one daughter has since died, leaving four sons and one daughter the surviving members of the family. Levi Woods , the grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Joseph Oliver, was one of the well known pioneers of Pike Township, Jay county, Indiana. He was a native of Dublin, Ireland, where he grew to manhood. Soon after his marriage he immigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania, later removed to Darke County, Ohio, and from there he came to Jay County, settling in Pike Township. He lived in Jay County many years, and late in life returned to Darke County, where he and his wife lived until their death. He was a manufacturer of shingles, which he made his principal occupation. He was the father of a large family, thirteen children living at one time. James F. Woods, whose name heads this sketch, was ten years old when his parents settled in Darke County, and there he was reared to maturity, and in his youth he often visited the home of his grandfather in Pike Township, Jay County. He was married in Darke County, to Miss Susanna Bailey, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Porter) Bailey, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively. To this union three children have been born -Melissa, wife of Henry Shofer; Susie, wife of David Barr, and John B. By a former marriage Mr. Woods has two children, named Martha and James C. Peter Bailey, the father of Mrs. Woods, was twice married, Mrs. Woods being a child of the second marriage. Some years after his marriage Mr. Bailey settled with his family in Perry County , Ohio, and in 1849 removed to Darke County. The father died in Darke County, and the mother of Mrs. Woods died near Briant, Jay County, Indiana, at the home of one of her daughters, in her eighty-fourth year. In 1856 Mr. Woods came to Jay County,and settled in Knox Township, where he and his wife lived for eight years. They then removed to Pike Township, where they resided a number of years, and in September, 1883, came to the city of Portland, where they have a pleasant home. In politics Mr. Woods affiliates with the Republican party.
Biographical & Historical Record of Jay County, Indiana, Lewis Publishing Company, 1887