History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Joseph J. Woods
JOSEPH J. WOODS was born in Brown County, Ohio, on the 11th of January, 1823. He took a preparatory course at Augusta College, Kentucky, and entered the Military Academy at West Point in 1843. He graduated third in his class and received a commission as second lieutenant. The Mexican War was then in progress and he was sent with the First United States Artillery to Vera Cruz where he served until August, 1848, when he was promoted to first lieutenant and sent with his regiment to Oregon, where he remained until 1853. He then resigned and became a resident of Jackson County, Iowa, making his home on a farm. In October, 1861, he was appointed colonel of the Twelfth Iowa Infantry, just organized. His regiment served with distinction at Fort Donelson and Shiloh. being captured at the latter place. Eighty members of the regiment died in southern prisons. Colonel Woods was recaptured by the Union army on the second day's battle. He served with his regiment but often in command of a brigade, for three years, until the term of enlistment expired. After the war he was twice appointed by President Grant visitor to West Point Military Academy. He removed to Kansas in 1869, locating on a farm near Oswego, where he died September 17, 1889.