ID: I18274
Name: Benjamin Nelson Woodson
Sex: M
Birth: 25 Feb 1850 in Hustonville, Lincoln, Kentucky
Death: 14 Nov 1920 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma
Burial: Oakwood Cemetery, Honey Grove, Fannin, Texas
Note: Benjamin Nelson Woodson belongs to a family which originated in England and came to the Virgi nia Colony in 1620. He received his preliminary education in the public school at Honey Grove , Fannin County, Texas, and was subsequently graduated from Pritchett College, Glasgow, Misso uri, in 1875, receiving the degree of proficiency. Later he entered the law department of th e University of the City of New York, where he was graduated in 1876, at which time Ulysses S . Grant, Junior was sworn in, although a graduate of Columbia University. Returning to Hone y Grove, Texas, Mr. Woodson engaged in the practice of law, and was elected state's attorne y for Fannin County, an office he retained for two terms. On April 22, 1889, he removed to Ok lahoma City and engaged in the practice of his profession, remaining there for five years wit h a full measure of success. He was the representative of Texas on the famous committee of fo urteen that was selected at the mass meeting in Oklahoma City to survey and lay off the cit y into lots and blocks, streets and alleys, and took an active part in all the public affair s of the city until he left for Kay County. He was chairman of the committee that settled th e contest on the Gault 80 of the city. In 1893 he went to the Cherokee Strip, where he was ap pointed county judge by Governor Renfrow, a capacity in which he acted to the end of the ter m and lived there for seven years, and in 1901 came to Kiowa County, Oklahoma, where he opene d an office for the practice of his profession in Hobart. While there he was honored by elect ion to the last Territorial Senate, the twelfth session, in which he represented Kiowa and Wa shita counties, in 1904. After five years in Kiowa County, Mr. Woodson removed to a ranch an d proved up a homestead in the south end of Greer County, which afterwards became Jackson Cou nty, this property being situated nine miles from Altus. He was there elected county judge i n 1911 and served as such two years, and January 1, 1913, came to Walters and purchased the W alters New Era, a democratic organ which had been founded in 1901 by J. A. Stockton. The succ ess which has been attained by Mr. Woodson in his journalistic work would seem to prove, as c laimed by many, that editors, like poets, are born, not made. The qualities which make a succ essful journalist are inbred and no amount of study can supply the lack of a keenness of obse rvation, acute perceptions of the tastes of the public, and accurate judgment on matters trea ted in various newspaper departments. While it has a respectable foreign list, the New Era ci rculates principally in Cotton and the neighboring counties, and is the democratic organ of C otton County, as well as the official city paper of Walters. The commodious and well-equippe d offices are located on Broadway, and are fitted with all appliances and machinery to foun d in the modern newspaper and printing office. A stalwart democrat from the time of attainin g his majority, Mr. Woodson was secretary of the first democratic organization ever establish ed in Oklahoma, at Oklahoma City. He was likewise chairman of the county central and territor ial central committees there, has helped to organize the party in five different counties i n Oklahoma, and has been very active in all state and county conventions. He is both a forcib le writer and eloquent speaker, and his voce and pen are always at the service of his party ; as they are also at the command of movements which promise advancement and progress in th e affairs of his city, county and state. Mr. Woodson has long been a member of the Methodis t Episcopal Church, South, and is at present superintendent of the Sunday school. His variou s fraternal connections include membership in the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the W orld. Of recent years he has disposed of all his farming interest, and now devotes himself un reservedly to his journalistic duties and his political activities. Mr. Woodson was married i n May, 1880, at Glasgow, Missouri, to Miss Nellie COCKRELL, who was born at Glasgow, Missouri , daughter of the late Maj. H. Clay Cockrell, who was a major of reserves in the Union army d uring the Civil war. Mrs. Woodson, a graduate of Pritchette College and of the Southwestern C onservatory of Music, has been prominent in club, religious, charitable and social work, an d is at present secretary of the Oklahoma L.T.L. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs . Woodson: Lalla is the wife of John KEITHLEY, a banker and agriculturist of O'Fallon, Missou ri. Marion Marle, a graduate of the Agricultural and Mechanical College, at Stillwater, Oklah oma, is now a commercial salesman, with Lexington, Kentucky, as his home. He was for a numbe r of years at the head of the demonstration department of agriculture of the State of Oklahom a, and as such in charge of the exhibits of the state in the Dry Farming Congress in Lethbrid ge Exhibition, in Canada, in 1912. Benjamin Nelson, Jr., is manager for the Emerson-Brantingh am Implement Company at Kansas City, Missouri. James Clay graduated May 28, 1915, from the Ag ricultural and Mechanical College of Oklahoma with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Genell e Attended the Agricultural and Mechanical College, Stillwater, Oklahoma, and is now a teache r in Walters public schools, and John Mortimer will graduate from that institution with the c lass of 1917. Typed for OKGenWeb by Earline Barger, December 16, 1999
Change Date: 30 Nov 2007 at 17:50:52
Father: James Patrick Woodson b: 6 Jul 1818 in , Rockingham, North Carolina
Mother: Mary Willie Ison b: 18 May 1819 in , Garrard, Kentucky
Marriage 1
Nellie Bly Cockerill b: 16 Jan 1858 in Platte City, Platte, Missouri
- Married:
31 May 1880
in Glasgow, Howard, Missouri 1
Sources:
- Repository:
Name: Family History Library
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150
USA
www.familysearch.org
Title: International Genealogical index
Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Note: Record submitted by a member of the LDS Church
Search performed using PAF Insight on 20 Jan 2007
Text: Benjiman Nelson Woodson; Male; Birth: 24 JAN 1850 Hustonville, Lincoln, Kentucky; Death: 14 N OV 1924; Father: James Patrick Woodson; Mother: Mary Willie Ison; Spouse: Nellie Cockerill; M arriage: 31 MAY 1880; Film Number: 451030 Page Number: Reference number: 82136
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