Elijah Woods was a politician from Belmont County, Ohio who was a delegate to the convention that drafted the first constitution of the U.S. State of Ohio in 1802 and served in the Ohio House of Representatives soon after statehood.
Elijah Woods | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the Belmont County district | |
| In office March 1, 1803 – December 4, 1803 Serving with Joseph Sharp | |
| Preceded by | none (new state) |
| Succeeded by | Josiah Dillon James Smith |
| In office December 3, 1810 – December 1, 1811 Serving with Moses Moorehead William Smith | |
| Preceded by | Joseph Sharp Josiah Dillon Isaac Dore |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Sharp Thomas Mitchell James Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1778 Rockingham County, Virginia |
| Died | November 23, 1820 Belmont County, Ohio |
| Resting place | Walnut Grove Cemetery, Martins Ferry, Ohio |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse | Hetty Zane |
| Children | six |
Biography edit
Elijah Woods was born in Rockingham County, Virginia in 1778. He travelled with his uncle Archibald Woods to the Ohio River Valley in 1798.[1]
Woods worked for Ebenezer Zane at Fort Henry, now Wheeling, West Virginia, and acquired land in Belmont County Northwest Territory, where he settled. He had surveyed in Kentucky for a winter before coming to the Ohio Valley. When Belmont County was organized in September, 1801, he was named County Surveyor, and served as clerk of courts 1801–1806.[2]
Woods was elected to the Convention to write a constitution for the proposed state of Ohio in 1802 as a Democratic-Republican who was “pledged to support statehood and the principles of Jefferson”.[2] At the convention, he voted to oppose civil rights for black people.[3]
Woods was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1803 and 1810.[4][5]
Woods was married to Ebenezer Zane's daughter, Hester “Hetty” Zane on May 15, 1803. They had six children.[6]
Ebenezer Zane laid out Bridgeport, Ohio across the Ohio River from Wheeling. He deeded eight acres to Elijah and Hetty Woods in the town in 1806.[2] Woods operated a ferry from Bridgeport to Wheeling Island and Zane operated the ferry from Wheeling to Wheeling Island. Woods built his home in Bridgeport near the ferry and operated an inn there.[7]
Elijah Woods died on November 23, 1820, in Belmont County at the age of 42.[7][6]
Notes edit
- ^ Milligan, p. 240.
- ^ a b c Milligan, p. 241.
- ^ Convention, p. 114.
- ^ Manual 1917, p. 253.
- ^ Manual 1917, p. 255.
- ^ a b "Descendants of Elizabeth McColloch and 'Col' Ebenezer Zane". lotsofsites genealogy. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
- ^ a b Milligan, p. 242.
References edit
- Milligan, Fred J. (2003). Ohio's Founding Fathers. Lincoln NE: iUniverse. pp. 240–242. ISBN 0595750397. OCLC 53472872.
- Ryan, Daniel Joseph (1896). "First Constitutional Convention, Convened November 1, 1802". Ohio Archaeological and Historical Publications. V: 80–132.
- Ohio General Assembly (1917). Manual of legislative practice in the General Assembly. State of Ohio.
External links edit
- Elijah Woods at Find a Grave
- "Elijah Woods Husband of Hester "Hetty" Zane". lotsofsites genealogy. Retrieved 2012-11-19.