Ollie McClure Woods is one of the honored and distinguished citizens of Liberal, Kan., who has gained an enviable standing in his community. Mr. Woods is a man of distinct and forceful individuality and mature judgment who is leaving his impress in southwestern Kansas, where he has been an important factor in the upbuilding of the country, and the promotion of the enterprises which have developed the natural resources. He was born on a farm near Springfield, Mo., November 22, 1886, the son of Dorsey E. and Ollie McClure Woods. His grandfather was born in Tennessee, but came to Greene county, Missouri, in 1844, where the built the first house in Springfield and was for many years the county treasurer. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army for the defense of his country. He died at Springfield in 1895. There were five children in the Woods family: Tolbert, accidentally drowned in the White river in 1901; William, who died in 1894; Dorsey F., now running a ranch in Texas; Simmie, the widow of D. Jarrett, of Springfield, Mo., and Rathborn, who lives at Springfield. Dorsey Woods was born in Greene county, Missouri, in 1862, where he was reared and educated. In 1882 he married Ollie McClure, who was born in 1884, the daughter of a Baptist minister who died in Springfield in 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Woods had two children: Gerland Christopher, born August 28, 1884, married Julia Roe, in 1897, and now has two children. He is a partner with his father in the cattle business in Texas.

The second child was Ollie McClure, who received his education in the public schools of Greene county, Missouri, and after graduating there attended the State Normal School at Chillicothe, graduating with the class of 1906. Upon leaving school Mr. Woods entered the First National Bank of Liberal as bookkeeper, a position he filled four years. Seeing the many opportunities open for young men in the West he engaged in the real estate and loan business. Mr. Woods began selling land over all the Southwest, being emigration agent and land commissioner for the land owned by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad in Seward county, Kansas. Mr. Woods has been instrumental in many extensive land deals for the opening up and development of southwestern Kansas, such as the sale and division into small farms of the Gurney Ranch Company's holdings of 12,000 acres, which was completed in 1910, and many others of like magnitude. Today Mr. Woods carries on one of the most extensive business enterprises in the Southwest. He is a member of the Masonic order, being a Knight Templar, having taken the Thirty-second degree. In politics Mr. Woods is a Democrat, but has never sought political preferment.

On May 22, 1909, Mr. Woods married Bessie Lucile, the daughter of Cecile C. and Belle Adams, of Hooker, Okla. Mrs. Woods was born in Christian county, Illinois, July 20, 1887, and for a number of years was a teacher in the schools; being a fine musician, she also had charge of that branch. She is an accomplished pianist and vocalist, having given pleasure to many by her public appearances. She is one of the favorites of the social circles of Liberal. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have two children, twin sons: Delmar Leroy and Dexter Waldo, born May 20, 1910.