Joseph  Woods

          Thrown upon his own resources when but five years of age and compelled to make his own way,  Joseph  Woods  stuck to the task and now is numbered among the well-to-do citizens of Shelby county, Indiana.  His father died when our subject was an infant and he has no recollection of him. His mother was known in her maidenhood as  Annie  Smith.  They were from Pennsylvania, and in their early life removed to Kentucky, and later to Johnson county, Indiana, where they were pioneers in the settlement of that part of Indiana.  He was a farmer and followed that vocation until his death in 1844, a year after the boy, Joseph, was born.  His wife died in June, 1907, after many years of usefulness.  There was one other child besides Joseph, a daughter,  Susan,  who became the wife of  James  Suitor.
          Joseph Woods was handicapped by the early death of his father, and he had but little opportunity to add to his scant learning.  Commencing at the age of five years to earn his own living, he soon acquired the knack of taking care of himself.  He tramped to Marion county, Indiana, and obtained work, being employed by one man for eleven years, which was a testimonial of his ability as a workman.  Later he was employed in Shelby and Johnson counties.  In October, 1864, he married  Sarah  C.  Walker,  of Clermont, Kentucky, a daughter of  Adrian  and  Rebecca  (Seaton)  Walker.  He went to Shelby county, Indiana, during the fifties and settled at Waldron, and later came to Shelby township, where he lived out the remainder of his life.  To him and his wife were born ten children, six of whom are living:  Martha,  residing in Indianapolis;  Nancy  A.,  in Colorado;  Barbara,  in Kansas;  David,  in Columbus, Kansas;  Joseph,  in Shelby county;  Sarah  C.,  wife of  Joseph Woods.
          To Joseph Woods and wife were born seven children as follows:  Reuben,  who married  Olive  Wells;  William  married  Mary  Perkins,  and farms in Shelby county;  James  married  Jennie  Wells,  and farms in Addison township, Shelby county;  John  married  Bada  Anderson, and farms in Shelby township;  Daisy  married  Alfred  Main,  Shelbyville, Indiana;  Marion  married  George  F.  Mallory  and lives with her father;  Wilber  married  Clara  Roberts,  and farms with his father.
          At the breaking out of the Civil war Joseph Woods offered his services to his country and was accepted.  He enlisted at Fairland, Indiana, on August 12, 1862, in Company F, Seventieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and went into camp at Indianapolis with his command.  When hostilities were breaking out in Kentucky he was sent to Louisville and later to Bowling Green.  From there the command went on to Nashville and Murfreesboro, and finally back to Nashville, where it went into quarters for the winter.  He followed the fortunes of his regiment and participated in all of the important engagements, being wounded in the right arm at the battle of Resaca, Georgia.  He was sent to a field hospital at Nashville and after he had recovered was made head nurse of his ward.  Later he was sent to Louisville and to Madison, Indiana, where he was honorably discharged in August, 1865.  He went home and later to Shelby county.  In 1900 he bought a farm of thirty -three acres, where he now lives.  He erected a house and barn and otherwise improved his holdings.  Mr. Woods for a long time was employed by the Big Four Railway Company, at Fairland, Indiana, on the section.  He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, at Shelbyville, and the Methodist Episcopal church.  He has retired from active labors and is enjoying a well earned rest.
Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana by Edward H. Chadwick, B.A., assisted by well known local talent, B.F. Bowen & Co, Publishers: Indianapolis, IN, 1909, pp 611-612.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming.