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John C. Woodson

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John C. Woodson
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the Rockingham County, Virginia district
In office
October 5, 1869 – December 5, 1871
Preceded byJohn T. Harris
Succeeded byS.A. Coffman
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the Rockingham County district
In office
December 4, 1865 – April 29, 1867
Preceded byJohn T. Harris
Succeeded byPhilo Bradley
Personal details
BornDecember 25, 1823
Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
DiedApril 24, 1875
Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S.
SpouseSarah
Alma materUniversity of Virginia
OccupationLawyer

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

Early and family life

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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]

Career

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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.[5]

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.[6][7]

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.[8]

In 1867, Rockingham County voters elected Conservatives Woodson and Jacob N. Liggett to represent them in the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868.[9]

Death

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John C. Woodson died in Harrisonburg, Virginia on April 24, 1875, and was buried in Woodbine cemetery.[10]

References

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  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. ^ Pulliam 1901, p. 146
  6. ^ Swem 1918, p. 448
  7. ^ Leonard p. 480 n.12
  8. ^ Swem 1918, p. 448
  9. ^ Pulliam 1901, p. 141-142
  10. ^ Pulliam 1901, p. 146

Bibliography

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  • 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.