University of Virginia Library

JAMES PLEASANT WOODS

The subject of this sketch was born in Roanoke
County, Virginia, February 4th, 1868. His father was
William Woods and his mother, Sarah Jane (Edington)
Woods. He is of Scotch-Irish
descent on his
father's side and English
on his mother's side.
He descended from
Michael Woods, who
settled in Albemarle
County in 1734. William
Woods was First
Lieutenant in a company
which formed a part of
the Fifty-fourth Virginia
Infantry and served
with distinction throughout
the Civil War.
James Pleasant Woods
graduated at Roanoke
College with first distinction,
in the class of
'92, was president of his
class, and in 1891 made the highest average grade in
college.

He studied law at the University of Virginia in
1892 and 1893, and began the practice in Roanoke,
Virginia, with Judge C. B. Moomaw, as Moomaw &
Woods.

In 1903 he became a member of the firm of Robertson,
Hall & Woods, which continued until 1910, when
Mr. Robertson was elevated to the bench. The
present firm of Hall & Woods enjoys a commendatory
practice and represent many of the leading corporations
and industrial enterprises.

In politics, Mr. Woods is a Democrat. A member
of the City Council for several years, mayor of the
city from 1897 to 1899, a member of the State Central
Committee and was a member of Governor's Swanson's
staff.

In 1904 he was married to Miss Susie K. Moon,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brekenridge Moon, of
Chatham, Virginia, and they have two children,
Elizabeth and Katherine, age four years.

Religiously he is a member of Greene Memorial
Methodist Church, South.