Robert W. WOODS, farmer and merchant of Fayette county, was born in the same county, July 3rd, 1850.  He is the eldest of three children born to Robert M. and Cornelia (TRULL) WOODS, both of whom are natives of Alabama.  Robert M. WOODS was the son of David E. and Peggy WOODS of South Carolina, the former of whom was one of the very earliest settlers in Alabama, coming here in 1821.  He remained here afterward most of his life, dying when he was eighty-five years old.  The parents of Mrs. Cornelia WOODS were Griffin and Sally TRULL of South Carolina.  They were also among the first settlers in Alabama.  Robert M. WOODS was born and reared in this state and died in 1862, during the war.

Robert W. WOODS was educated in the private schools of his native state until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered the Southern university at Greensboro, remaining three years.  In 1881 he entered the Louisville Medical college at Louisville, Ky., and graduated in 1882.  He had, however, read medicine somewhat before, and took a course of lectures in 1875.  Immediately upon his graduation in 1882 he began the practice of medicine and established himself at Bankston in the mercantile business, and since then he has been thus occupied, and is now also giving his attention to farming.  He owns a plantation of 560 acres of land, 250 acres of which are under cultivation.

He was married in 1877 to Miss Fanny C. COLE, a native of Alabama, and a daughter of William COLE.  To this marriage there have been born four children viz.: Cornelia A., Willie W., Eller E., Chester A.

Mr. and Mrs. WOODS are members prominent of the Missionary Baptist church.  Mr. WOODS is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and always has taken an active interest in all laudable public enterprises.  His is one of the oldest and best families in the state, and he is respected and honored by all who know him.

Source: Memorial Record of Alabama: A Concise Account of the State’s Political, Military, Professional and Industrial Progress, Together With the Personal Memoirs of Many of Its People, (Brant & Fuller, Madison, Wisconsin, 1893), Vol I: Fayette County, p. 1027.