Education
Born near Sharon, Wisconsin, Woods attended the public schools and the Northern Indiana Normal School, Valparaiso, Indiana.
United States representative politician
Born near Sharon, Wisconsin, Woods attended the public schools and the Northern Indiana Normal School, Valparaiso, Indiana.
He reached a House leadership position after only two terms. He moved to Estherville, Iowa, in 1887 and worked in a newspaper office for two years. He engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business until about 1902 when he helped organize the Iowa Savings Bank of Estherville.
He also became involved in the publication of the Northern Vindicator newspaper of Estherville, before and after its merger with the Emmet County Republican.
He managed Iowa Governor Albert B. Cummins" successful campaign for a third term in 1906, and served as chairman of the Republican State Central Committee in 1906 and 1907. In 1913, after his second re-election, he was elected chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Several weeks later, Woods also voted against the Espionage Acting of 1917. Facing many challengers from his own party in the wartime 1918 Republican primary election, he was defeated by Algona lawyer (and future United States Senator) L. J. Dickinson.
In the immediate aftermath of his loss in the primary, fellow National Republican Campaign Committee members demanded that he also resign his leadership position.
Those efforts faded when Woods announced he would resign following the summer recess, but when he changed his mind, he was forced out of the chairmanship. In all, Woods served in the House from March 4, 1909 to March 3, 1919. After Congress, Woods returned to Estherville.
He was interred in Mountain View Cemetery.
However, in 1917 his vote against the United States" declaration of war on the German Empire effectively ended his political career, leading his loss of the Republican nomination for re-election to his seat, and of his leadership position for the remainder of his final term. He sided with the progressive wing of his party, against the more conservative "stand-patters."As a Republican his seat was relatively secure. In its fifty-year existence the 10th district never elected a Democrat.
However, his congressional career took a hard turn in April 1917, when he was one of only 56 members of Congress to vote against the resolution declaring war against Germany.