Micajah Woods
Encyclopedia
Micajah WoodsMicajah Woods (May 17, 1844 - March 14, 1911] was a Virginia lawyer, who served as the Commonwealth's Attorney in Charlottesville, Virginia
for 41 years, and was a president of The Virginia Bar Association
.
Woods began life in Albemarle County, Virginia
. He was educated at the Lewisburg Academy, the military school taught by Colonel John Bowie Strange, and the Bloomfield Academy. Woods joined the Confederate Army
in August 1861 at the age of seventeen, a volunteer on the staff of John B. Floyd
. Under military age, he spent the winter of 1861-62 at the University of Virginia
and then joined the 2nd Virginia Cavalry
. In 1863, he became a First Lieutenant in Thomas E. Jackson's Battery, Virginia Horse Artillery, and saw action at Gettysburg, New Market, and Cold Harbor.
After the war Woods returned to the University and earned a Bachelor of Law degree in 1868. He practiced in Charlottesville
and became Commonwealth's Attorney in 1870. In 1872 he was made a member of the board of visitors of the University of Virginia, a position which he held for four years, at the time of his appointment being the youngest member of the board ever selected. Woods served as president of The Virginia Bar Association
in 1909. He was a member of the board of visitors of Virginia Tech in 1911.
Woods is remembered locally as the prosecuting attorney in the murder trial of J. Samuel McCue, the three-term Mayor of Charlottesville who was convicted of murdering his wife then became the last man to be hanged in Albemarle County, and as the father of Maud Coleman Woods, the first "Miss America," at least for the Pan-American Exposition
of 1901.
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
for 41 years, and was a president of The Virginia Bar Association
Virginia Bar Association
The Virginia Bar Association is a voluntary organization of lawyers in Virginia, with offices in Richmond, Virginia.- VBA Mission : is the independent voice of the Virginia lawyer, advancing the highest ideals of the profession through advocacy and volunteer service.- History :The VBA, , was...
.
Woods began life in Albemarle County, Virginia
Albemarle County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,236 people, 31,876 households, and 21,070 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 33,720 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile...
. He was educated at the Lewisburg Academy, the military school taught by Colonel John Bowie Strange, and the Bloomfield Academy. Woods joined the Confederate Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
in August 1861 at the age of seventeen, a volunteer on the staff of John B. Floyd
John B. Floyd
John Buchanan Floyd was the 31st Governor of Virginia, U.S. Secretary of War, and the Confederate general in the American Civil War who lost the crucial Battle of Fort Donelson.-Early life:...
. Under military age, he spent the winter of 1861-62 at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and then joined the 2nd Virginia Cavalry
2nd Virginia Cavalry
The 2nd Virginia Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....
. In 1863, he became a First Lieutenant in Thomas E. Jackson's Battery, Virginia Horse Artillery, and saw action at Gettysburg, New Market, and Cold Harbor.
After the war Woods returned to the University and earned a Bachelor of Law degree in 1868. He practiced in Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
and became Commonwealth's Attorney in 1870. In 1872 he was made a member of the board of visitors of the University of Virginia, a position which he held for four years, at the time of his appointment being the youngest member of the board ever selected. Woods served as president of The Virginia Bar Association
Virginia Bar Association
The Virginia Bar Association is a voluntary organization of lawyers in Virginia, with offices in Richmond, Virginia.- VBA Mission : is the independent voice of the Virginia lawyer, advancing the highest ideals of the profession through advocacy and volunteer service.- History :The VBA, , was...
in 1909. He was a member of the board of visitors of Virginia Tech in 1911.
Woods is remembered locally as the prosecuting attorney in the murder trial of J. Samuel McCue, the three-term Mayor of Charlottesville who was convicted of murdering his wife then became the last man to be hanged in Albemarle County, and as the father of Maud Coleman Woods, the first "Miss America," at least for the Pan-American Exposition
Pan-American Exposition
The Pan-American Exposition was a World's Fair held in Buffalo, New York, United States, from May 1 through November 2, 1901. The fair occupied of land on the western edge of what is present day Delaware Park, extending from Delaware Ave. to Elmwood Ave and northward to Great Arrow...
of 1901.