Thomas H. Woods | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi | |
| In office 1896 – April 1, 1900 | |
| Associate Justice Supreme Court of Mississippi | |
| In office 1889–1895 | |
| Mississippi State Legislature | |
| In office 1872–1881 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Hall Woods March 17, 1836 Glasgow, Kentucky, US |
| Died | August 10, 1910 (aged 74) Meridian, Mississippi, US |
| Alma mater | Williams College |
Thomas Hall Woods (March 17, 1836 – August 10, 1910) was an American judge, politician, and lawyer. He served in the Mississippi State Legislature and was the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Mississippi.
Early life
[edit]Woods was born in Glasgow, Kentucky on March 17, 1836.[1][2] His father was Reverend Henry Woods.[2] In 1848 his family moved to Kemper County, Mississippi.[2] He attended the public schools there.
Woods attended two sessions at Williams College in Massachusetts. While there, he was a member of the Fraternity of Delta Psi (St. Anthony Hall).[3] After returning to Mississippi, he read law and obtained his license to practice.
Career
[edit]Woods started practicing law in De Kalb, Mississippi in 1859.[2] Woods was sent as a delegate to the convention that passed the ordinance of secession, of which body he was the youngest member.[2] He served in the Confederate States Army and served as the Captain of Co. C, 13th Mississippi Infantry Regiment, receiving a serious wound at Malvern Hill.[1][2]
In 1865, Woods was elected district attorney, reelected in 1866 but was removed from office by reconstruction officials.[2] He was reelected in 1875 but resigned the next year to focus on his law practice.[1][2] He was elected to the Mississippi State Legislature in 1871 and releected in 1875.[1][2] He resigned in 1881 and declined to run for reelection.[2] He also turned down an appointment as United States District Attorney from President Grover Cleveland.[2]
In 1889, Governor Robert Lowry appointed Woods an associate justice to the Supreme Court of Mississippi, filling an unexpired term.[2][1] In 1891, Governor John Marshall Stone appointed Woods to a nine-year term on the Supreme Court.[2] Woods served as the chief justice from 1896 to 1900.[1][4][5] At the end of his term, he retired.[2]
He also served as the first president of Citizens National Bank, also known as Citizens Savings Bank which was started in 1888.
Personal life
[edit]Woods lived in Kemper County, Mississippi until he moved to Meridian, MIssissippi.[2] He was married and had five sons and two daughters.[2]
After he retired, Woods returned to Meridian.[2] Woods died in Meridian Mississippi on August 10, 1910.[2] He was buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Meridian.[6][2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Thomas H. Somerville, "A Sketch of the Supreme Court of Mississippi", in Horace W. Fuller, ed.,The Green Bag, Vol. XI (1899), p. 514-515.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Thomas H. Woods Dead". The Tallahatchie Herald. Charleston, Mississippi. 1910-08-17. pp. [1], 2. Retrieved 2024-11-28 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Catalogue of the members of the fraternity of Delta Psi - Revised and corrected to August 15, 1912. 5th edition. Sherman P. Haight, 1912. via Family Search
- ^ Leslie Southwick, Mississippi Supreme Court Elections: A Historical Perspective 1916-1996, 18 Miss. C. L. Rev. 115 (1997-1998).
- ^ "Appointed Supreme Judge", The Grenada Sentinel (October 12, 1889), p. 2.
- ^ East, Bill and East, Mary. Publication #51 Rose Hill Cemetery Interment Records. Lauderdale County Department of Archives & History, Inc., p. 246.
| Supreme Judges of Mississippi (1818–1832) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| High Court of Errors and Appeals of Mississippi (1832-1870) | ||
| Supreme Court of Mississippi (since 1870) | ||