John C. Woodson

John Chesterfield Woodson (December 25, 1823 – April 24, 1875) was a nineteenth-century American lawyer and politician from Virginia.[1]

John C. Woodson
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the Rockingham County, Virginia district
In office October 5, 1869 – December 5, 1871 Serving with Charles Grattan, John H. Hopkins
Preceded by	John T. Harris
Succeeded by	S.A. Coffman
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the Rockingham County district
In office December 4, 1865 – April 29, 1867 Serving with W.G. Thompson, H.B. Harnsberger
Preceded by	John T. Harris
Succeeded by	Philo Bradley
Personal details
Born	December 25, 1823 Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Died	April 24, 1875 Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Sarah
Alma mater	University of Virginia
Occupation	Lawyer

Early and family life

Woodson was born on Christmas Day, 1823 in Richmond to Jacob Woodson and Elizabeth Brown.[2] He graduated from the University of Virginia, attending 1848–51.[3] He married Sarah E. Amiss in Highland County, Virginia on November 16, 1848, and they had children Edmund (b. 1849), Andrew Dyer (b. 1851), Katherine Elizabeth (1854-1944), Frank (b. 1857), Robert Lee (1862-1933), Thomas Chapman(b. 1868) and John H. (b. 1869)[4][5]

Career

The Virginia Capitol at Richmond VA
where 19th century Conventions met

Woodson's grave at Woodbine Cemetery

In 1847, Woodson moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia, practiced law and was elected Commonwealth's Attorney there.[6]

During the American Civil War, Woodson was elected to represent Rockingham County in the House of Delegates alongside Charles Grattan and John H. Hopkins, but resigned and S.A. Coffman was elected in his place.[7][8]

As Virginia's Presidential Reconstruction began, Rockingham County voters again elected Woodson to the General Assembly for the session from 1865 to 1867, and he served alongside W.G. Thompson and H.B. Harnsberger.[9]

In 1867, Rockingham County voters elected Conservatives Woodson and Jacob N. Liggett to represent them in the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868.[10]

Death

John C. Woodson died in Harrisonburg, Virginia on April 24, 1875, and was buried in Woodbine cemetery.[11][12]

References

1. Cynthia Miller Leonard, Virginia General Assembly 1619-1978 (Richmond: Virginia State Library, 1978) pp. 480, 502, 506
2. Rockingham County, Virginia death index at ancestry.com
3. Pulliam 1901, p. 146
4. 1860 and 1870 U.S. Census for Harrisonburg, Virginia
5. findagrave no. 63398120
6. Pulliam 1901, p. 146
7. Swem 1918, p. 448
8. Leonard p. 480 n.12
9. Swem 1918, p. 448
10. Pulliam 1901, p. 141-142
11. Pulliam 1901, p. 146
12. findagrave no. 63398120

Bibliography

• Pulliam, David Loyd (1901). The Constitutional Conventions of Virginia from the foundation of the Commonwealth to the present time. John T. West, Richmond. ISBN 978-1-2879-2059-5.
• Swem, Earl Greg (1918). A Register of the General Assembly of Virginia, 1776-1918, and of the Constitutional Conventions. David Bottom, Superintendent of Public Printing. ISBN 978-1-3714-6242-0.