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BARBOUR COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Valerie & Tommy Crook
vfcrook@trellis.net
November 26, 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 319
J. HOP. WOODS was the second son of Judge Samuel
Woods. He was born at Philippi, West Virginia, on the
23rd of November, 1853, and died at Philippi on the
25th day of October, 1921. He was educated by private
tutors, in the public schools, at the West Point Military
Academy and at the West Virginia University.
He came to the bar in 1879, and for a long time prac-
ticed his profession in Barbour County with his father,
the late Samuel Woods, under the firm name of Samuel
Woods & Son, and until his father went on the bench as
judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals.
In Barbour County, where he resided and was respected
and loved by everybody, he had a large and lucrative
practice and he was an unusually diligent, studious and
faithful lawyer in respect to every matter which was com-
mitted to his care.
He was remarkably studious and industrious to a de-
gree, and never failed to make every effort and apply
every energy to the successful performance of the many
duties which were entrusted to his supervision, at a bar
which during his time was composed of able, eloquent,
successful and commanding lawyers, among whom he at-
tained and always maintained the highest rank. At the
time of his death he was the oldest and perhaps most
honored member of the Barbour County bar. He was
the president of the Barbour County Bar Association.
He had been president of the West Virginia Bar Asso-
ciation, and for the year 1921 he was a delegate to the
National Bar Association from West Virginia, and at
tended its meeting in Cincinnati.
Mr. Woods was a deeply religious man of sincere and
devout religious conviction. He was a consistent member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of the finest
Bible teachers the local church at Philippi ever had. He
was happily married, had a beautiful home and enjoyed
the companionship and society of his fellowmen. He lived
with his head among the clouds, and he was a master of
high thinking and had a deep and profound respect of
all right living people.
In 1898 he married Miss Jennie Canter, and they have
one son, Neeson Canter Woods, who is in his twentieth
year and is preparing himself for the legal profession.
He has recently graduated from the Staunton Military
Academy, and is now a student in college, and the hope
of his father was that his son might become a lawyer
and keep up the high standard of learning, capacity, and
efficiency at the bar which has so long distinguished the
talented family of lawyers through which he is descended.
Mr. Woods was a consistent and out-spoken democrat,
unusually proud and assertive of the political view which
he entertained. He was an interesting, clear headed and
convincing public speaker, and when at his best was a
powerful and formidable adversary before the bar and
before a jury. He was the kind of a man who did not
ask nor expect any quarter at the bar from judge, jury
or advocate, and was quick and ready to have them all
understand that that was his attitude in every legal and
forensic contest in which he was engaged as a lawyer or
practitioner.
Mr. Woods was dearly loved and his death was deeply
deplored by all who knew him, and in the community
where he lived he is greatly missed. His noble life and
humble Christian fortitude stand as monuments among
his neighbors which neither time nor tide can efface.
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