George Lemuel Woods

Infobox Governor
name= George Lemuel Woods


caption=
office=9^th Governor of Utah Territory
term_start=1871
term_end=1875
preceded=Vernon H. Vaughan
succeeded=Samuel Beach Axtell
order2=3^rd
office2= Governor of Oregon
term_start2= September 12 1866
term_end2= September 14 1870
lieutenant2=
predecessor2= A. C. Gibbs
successor2= La Fayette Grover
district3 =
term3 =
preceded3 =
succeeded3 =
state3=
birth_date= birth date|1832|07|30|mf=y
birth_place= Boone County, Missouri
death_date= death date and age|1890|01|07|1832|07|30|mf=y
death_place= Portland, Oregon
spouse= Louisa A. McBride
profession= Lawyer
party= Republican
footnotes=

George Lemuel Woods (July 30, 1832–January 7, 1890) was an American lawyer, judge, and politician. A member of the Republican Party, Woods served as the Governor of Oregon from 1866–1870 and was then appointed Utah Territory Governor by President Ulysses S. Grant, serving from 1871–1875.

Early life

George Woods was born July 30 1832 in Boone County, Missouri.Horner, John B. (1921). "Oregon: Her History, Her Great Men, Her Literature". The J.K. Gill Co.: Portland. p. 125, 153-4, 176] In 1847, his parents Caleb Woods and the former Margaret McBride moved to Oregon Country with the 15 year-old George.Corning, Howard M. "Dictionary of Oregon History". Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.] In Oregon, the family settled in Yamhill County where George was educated in the public schools before attending McMinnville College. In 1853, George was married to Louisa A. McBride, and the couple would have two sons. After college he worked on the family farm and studied law, passing the bar in 1858 and setting up a private practice.

Politics

In 1857, Woods organized Republican clubs in the state and was a noted speaker of the party. In 1863, he became a judge of Wasco County. In 1865 he was appointed to serve on the Idaho Territory’s Supreme Court. [http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/OR/MU.html#R9T0XKHY7 Political Graveyard: River View Cemetery] ] In 1866, Woods was elected as the third Governor of the state of Oregon. [http://bluebook.state.or.us/state/elections/elections24.htm Oregon Blue Book: Oregon Governors] ] His term began on September 12, 1866 and continued until September 14, 1870. Woods failed to win renomination and was then appointed by President Grant as the Governor of Utah Territory in 1871. [cite web |url=http://historytogo.utah.gov/people/governors/territorial/woods.html |title=George Lemuel Woods |publisher=Utah.gov "History to Go" |accessdate=2008-05-22] Woods was critical of Mormon leader Brigham Young, and was not reappointed in 1875 at the end of his first term. [cite web |url=http://historytogo.utah.gov/salt_lake_tribune/in_another_time/010796.html |title=The Territorial Governors |author=Hal Schindler |date=1996-01-07 |accessdate=2008-05-22 |publisher="The Salt Lake Tribune"]

Later life

After leaving the Utah governorship Woods moved to California where he remained for ten years. He then returned to Oregon in 1885 where he died on January 7 1890, and was interred on January 12.Fact|date=September 2007 Woods was buried at River View Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.

References

External links

* [http://www.media.utah.edu/UHE/t/TERRITORYGOV.html Utah History Encyclopedia]
* [http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/governors/woods/woodsmenu.html entry] in the "Oregon Blue Book"
* [http://www.osl.state.or.us/home/lib/governors/glw.htm Oregon State Library: George Lemuel Woods]