John Woods (Pennsylvania)

John Woods, (1761, Bedford, Pennsylvania – December 16, 1816, Brunswick County, Virginia)[1] was a state senator in Pennsylvania. He was the son of Colonel George and Jane McDowell. John was instructed by his father on land surveying. John, his father and his brother George, Jr performed the original survey of Pittsburgh. On 30 Sep 1784, the laying out of the "Town of Pittsburgh" was completed by Thomas Vickroy and John Woods and approved by the attorney (Tench Francis) of the Penns (John & John Penn, Jr.) in Philadelphia. The survey established the future boundaries of Pittsburgh including a tract called "John Woods Plan". John married Theodosius Higbee in about 1780.[2] The two settled in Bedford, briefly, soon after. John's brother Henry Woods was also a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania.[3]

The John Woods House, built in 1792, is perhaps the oldest house in the city of Pittsburgh.

History

Woods studied law and joined the bar in 1781. He also was a major in the militia and moved to Washington county the same year. In 1784, he joined the Westmoreland and Fayette County bars; He then joined the Allegheny County bar in 1788 and the Bedford bar in 1791. His career was considered successful at the time due to ties to other prominent families in the area. His sister Jane married David Espy and his sister Anne married prominent James Ross, a Pittsburgh attorney. While working David Espy, the collaborative work of the two was described as a powerful influence in Western Pennsylvania at the time. With Hugh Brackentidge and Alexander Addison, Woods was controlled legal system in Pittsburgh from 1788 until the mid-1790s. Woods was the attorney representing Pressley Neville who had lost his home during the Whiskey Rebellion. He was lottery manager helping to found the Pittsburgh Academy in 1796. His political career included serving as a presidential elector and caucus nominee for Congress in 1798.[2]

Woods was on his way back from South Carolina to recuperate from his poor health when he died at the age of 55, only two years into his term.

See also

References
  1. Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Woods". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
  2. Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "John Woods". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
  3. "HENRY WOODS | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
Political offices
Preceded by
position created		 Member, Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, representing Fayette County
6 November 1784 – 2 November 1786		 Succeeded by
John Smilie
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Adamson Tannehill		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 14th congressional district
1815–1816		 Succeeded by
Henry Baldwin
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