WOODS, Peter Nesbit, M.D. - 1890 Bio (1829-1886)

WOODS, BLAKE, GRAHAM, WOLPH

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/5/2007 at 20:13:11

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 223-224

Peter Nesbit WOODS, M. D., deceased, was one of the honored early settlers of Jefferson County, and one of her ablest physicians. His friends were many, his enemies few and therefore we know that a record of his life will be of interest to the readers of this 'Album'. He was the fifth child in a family of eight children born unto James and Hester A. (BLAKE) WOODS, and his birth occurred in Greenville, Stark County, Ohio, on the 8th of September, 1829. His paternal great-grandfather emigrated from his native land, Germany, to America when a youth and during his early life settled in Harrisburg, Pa. His father, James WOODS, was left an orphan at an early age and reared by his paternal grandfather. His trade was that of a gunsmith, to which he served a term of apprenticeship, but during the latter years of his life he devoted his attention to farming.

Dr. WOODS, the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood under the parental roof but at the age of eighteen years left home to complete his education. By teaching he made his way through the Vermillion Institute of Hayesville, Ohio, and the year 1850-51, he spent as a student in the Ohio Wesleyan University. Having made choice of the medical profession as a business which he believed would prove both profitable and pleasant, he entered the office of Dr. O. J. Rotsel, of Rome, Richland County, where he remained three years, and in 1854, was graduated from the Eclectic School of Medicine, in Cincinnati, Ohio. For one year he engaged in practice as a partner of his preceptor who then retired, leaving the business in his charge.

On the 14th of September, 1855, Dr. WOODS was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary, (daughter of John and Mary (GRAHAM) WOLPH, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, although in early life they emigrated to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and later in life went to Nebraska, where the death of Mr. WOLPH occurred at the age of sixty-six years, his wife departing his life at the age of eighty-three years. Mrs. WOODS was the eighth in a family of ten children and her birth occurred in Richland County, Ohio, November 10, 1832.

The Doctor and his wife in May, 1856, landed in Fairfield and from that time until his death he had an extensive practice in the city and vicinity. In 1861 he was appointed Medical Examiner of Jefferson County, under the direction of the War Department and in September, 1862, was commissioned Surgeon of the Twenty-third Iowa Infantry; but to accommodate a friend of the Colonel of that regiment he took the same position in the Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and was with this command during the battles of Jackson, Parker's Cross Roads, Tuscumbia, Bear Creek and Town Creek. In the winter of 1863, he was made Surgeon-in-Chief of his division with headquarters in Pulaski, Tenn. He accompanied Sherman to Atlanta, and in July, 1864, was made Surgeon of the Division Hospital, in Rome, Ga., having the care of the wounded after the battle of Altoona. He then accompanied the forces of Sherman on the celebrated March to the Sea and at Savannah, Ga., was put in charge of a branch of the general hospital. After being relieved from that position he was ordered to Blair's Landing at Buford, S. C., and made Surgeon-in-Chief of Gen. Sherman's division, in which capacity he served until the army was disbanded at Raleigh, N. C. In June, 1865, he was mustered out of service, having discharged his duty most faithfully.

No citizen of Fairfield has taken a more active interest in her advancement and progress than did Dr. WOODS. Whatever call of a public nature was made of him, if it was a worthy object, he gave of his time and means unsparingly. Soon after his return from the army he and a brother built the Fairfield Woolen Mills, and he held the position of Chairman of the Building Committee under whose direction the Union Schoolhouse was erected. He was a leading Mason and a Past Grand in Odd Fellowship. Politically, he was a stanch Republican and both he and his wife were consistent and faithful members of the Methodist Church. He was called to the home beyond, on the 19th of March, 1886. As a physician, he stood at the head of his profession and as a citizen and a friend, he won the highest esteem.

His wife and two sons, Dr. Harry E. and George C., compose his family. The former was born five miles east of Fairfield, on the 30th of April, 1857. After attending the city schools, he pursued the classical course in Parsons College, from which he was graduated in 1880. Thereupon, he commenced the study of his profession with his father and in February, 1883, he graduated from the Rush Medical College, of Chicago, and engaged in practice with his father until that worthy man was called from this life. Save about fifteen months spent in Libertyville, he has since continued to practice in this city. He is a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society, and in politics is a Republican. Though unostentatious and unassuming, Dr. WOODS is possessed of a decision and firmness of character that makes him especially fitted for his profession.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.