The HODGE family

WOODSFIELD

A history and pictures of the town as it appeared in 1906

The town of Woodsfield was founded in 1814 by Archibald Woods, of Wheeling, for whom the town was named. In 1820 Woodsfield contained but 8 houses. The first court house and jail was built in 1816 and cost $137.00. The second court house was built in 1828-29 and burnt in 1867, and was succeeded by a brick structure costing $40,000, which was burned in 1905, and was again being succeeded by a magnificent structure costing $150,000. [This article was written about 1905 so the construction of the last and current court house was still in progress.] The town was incorporated in 1834, Henry Johnson being its first mayor.

Woodsfield had a slow but steady growth up until the oil field surrounding began to be developed, since when it has rapidly grown until today it is one of the most prosperous and enterprising towns for its size in southeastern Ohio, with paved streets, electric lights, many handsome and modern business blocks and fine residences. It has 5 churches, 2 banks, 5 newspapers, 4 grocery stores, 3 grocery and general merchandise stores, 2 dry goods stores, 2 drug stores, 3 hardware stores, 5 meat markets, 2 bakeries, 4 livery stables, 2 jewelry stores, 2 furniture stores, 3 hotels, 7 saloons, 1 flouring mill, 1 machine shop, 1 planing mill and lumber yard, 3 Oil Well Supply companies and many other industries. Its many merchants and business men are a very enterprising class of gentlemen, working for the general, financial and moral upbuilding of their town.

Its present officers are Mayor, E. D. Thompson, Treasurer, A. J. Tubaugh. Members of the town council, B. F. Paulus, W. F. Haney, M. F. Archer, R. M. Graham, D. O. Watson. The town Marshall is John Keyser, and Wm. Salsbury is policeman and street commissioner.

The above was copied verbatim from the book, “Souvenir of Woodsfield and Monroe County 1906.” The book was issued by The Monroe County Republican, Woodsfield, Ohio in 1906. This book has been reprinted and is offered for sale by the Monroe County Historical Society. The following is a list of pictures scanned from an original issue of this book and may be accessed by clicking on the name below. Alternately, these pictures can be accessed by going to the list of photos included in the “Photos” section of this site under the town of Woodsfield.