Charles Woods has been identified with the history of Clayton County from an early period of its settlement. Coming here in 1852 he located in Sperry Township, and began the task of clearing and improving a farm. He had but little means, but he had health, strength, ambition to succeed, and the natural talents to do so, together with an amiable, helpful wife, to assist him in the upbuilding of a home.

Working diligently, succeeded in placing his land under cultivation, and became the owner of a valuable farming property. There he resided until 1894, when, having erected an elegant and spacious residence in Volga, he came to this village, and here hopes to spend his declining years in pleasant retirement from life’s active cares.

Mr. Woods is of foreign birth and parentage. His father and mother, Robert and Alice (Lenton) Woods, resided in England throughout their lives, the former dying in Huntingdonshire at the age of ninety-three. And the latter when sixty years old. Charles was born in that shire on the 1st of February, 1830 and was one of eleven children, of whom the only survivor besides himself is a brother in Niagara County, N. Y.

The early childhood years of our subject were passed upon the home farm in England, but at the age of ten years he removed with the family to town, where his father became proprietor of a tavern. He remained at home until eighteen years of age, when he came to the United States alone. On the 1st of September,1848, he took passage at London on a sailing vessel, ad after a voyage of five and one half weeks landed in New York. The voyage was a dangerous one, on account of ocean storms and on reaching the harbor the passengers were not permitted to land for several days on account of the fact that there was considerable sickness on board ship.

From New York City Mr. Woods proceeded direct to Niagara County, and was employed at Lockport for three and one half years, after which he came to Iowa and settled in Clayton County.

About thirty-seven years ago he was united in marriage with Miss Emma, daughter of David and Ann (Bidwell) Thulbon. About one year prior to her marriage she accompanied her parents from Huntingdonshire, England, to the United States and the family after spending one and one half years in Lockport, N, Y,, came to Clayton County.

In England Mr. Thulbon was employed as a brewer and worked for one firm for twenty-one years never losing a day from his work. He died when about fifty-five years of age. His widow afterward married William Crain and is still living now (1894) eighty-seven yeas old. Notwithstanding her advanced age she is in fair health and retains her mental faculties unimpaired.

To Mr. And Mrs. Woods were born two sons one of whom died at the age of twenty-four years. The only surviving child is Warner Thulbon, who assists his father in the management of his extensive landed interests. He is married and has one daughter.

Our subject bought his first land, a tract of forty acres, about two years after his marriage. Such was the success of his efforts that he has enabled to add to his property until his possessions now aggregate three hundred and forty-seven acres. He also owns considerable realty in rock and produce, and all his property is unencumbered.

In national issues Mr. Woods is a Republican, but in local matters he votes for the best man rather than the party. While not at present identified with any denomination, he formerly belonged to the Episcopal Church, in which faith he was reared. He usually attends the services of the Methodist Church at Volga.

~source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1894; pg 509-510
~transcribed by Suzanne Terrell