JOHN HARVEY WOODS, a rural mail carrier living at No. 50 Glesner avenue in Mansfield, was born Aug. 16, 1844, upon a farm in this county.  His father, James Woods, was a native of Pennsylvania, and with his parents removed to Ashland county, Ohio, in his childhood days.  When he had attained his majority he began farming on his own account across the line in Richland county and was thus identified with agricultural pursuits in Ohio until 1863, when he removed to Indiana, where his death occurred in 1865.  His entire life has been devoted to farming.  He wedded Mary Fifcoat, who was born in Marion county, Ohio, and they became the parents of four children; John F., who, though a resident of Mansfield, is now sojourning in Los Angeles, California, for the benefit of his health; William, a resident of Oklahoma; John H., of this review; and Ebenezer, deceased.
     John Harvey Woods pursued his early education in Quail Trap school in Springfield township until the age of sixteen years, after which he devoted his undivided attention to the work of the home farm, continuing thus to assist his father until he reached the age of nineteen years.  He had not yet attained his majority when he offered his services to the government in defense of the Union, enlisting at Mansfield on the 19^th of August, 1862, as a member of Company I, One Hundred and Twentieth O. V. I.  He served for three years, two months and four days, and was discharged at Detroit, Michigan, although the regiment was mustered out at Columbus.  Mr. Woods, however, was at that time a messenger on staff duty.  He participated in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou and Arkansas Post and went down the Mississippi river to Young’s Point, where he was in camp for a time.  With his command he afterward crossed the river below Vicksburg and participated in the battle of Thompson Hill, while later he took part in the battles of Jackson and Black River and was also present at the siege of Vicksburg until its surrender.  From the battle of Arkansas Post he served as a messenger on special duty until the close of the war, being connected with the staffs of General Henseman, General Joseph Hooker, and others.  Although he was not wounded in battle he had met with an accident which, though seemingly slight, has since been felt.  HE started with a message on a dark night and, tripping on a rope, fell and hit a stake.  The fall impaired his health and he feels the effects to this day.
     When the war was over Mr. Woods returned to Richland county and began to clerk for his brother.  He afterward went upon the road as a traveling salesman and subsequently was engaged in business on his own account until about six years ago, when he began carrying the mails on rural delivery route No. 7.
     In 1873 Mr. Woods was united in marriage to Miss Emily A. Brown,  who was born in Medina county, Ohio, and came with her parents to Richland county at the age of sixteen years.  They now have one child, Cassius H., who was born in 1876 and after attending the public schools of Mansfield became a student in the dental department of the Ohio Medical University.  He was graduated in 1897 with the D. D. S. degree and began the practice of dentistry in Bellville, where he remained for six years.  He afterward practiced in Mansfield for two and a half years, but during the past four years awake, progressive business man.  In 1899 he married Miss Jeannette . Oberlin, a resident of Bellville, Ohio.
     In his political views Mr. Woods is a stalwart republican and, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day, is enabled to support his position by intelligent argument.  Hew as born and reared in the faith of the Seceders church, but both he and his wife are now members of the Congregational church.  They own an attractive and well furnished home in the city, keep a team of horses and are pleasantly situated in life.  Comparatively few men of Mr. .Woods’ years can boast of three years’ service as a soldier in the Union army and in the years which have since come and gone he has proven himself equally loyal to the interests of his country.
Source: History of Richland Co., Ohio - from 1808 to 1908 - Vol. I & II by A. J. Baughman - Chicago: The J. S. Clarke Publishing Co. - 1908 - Page 1151