Frank P. Woods

Who was Frank P. Woods?

Frank Plowman Woods was a five-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 10th congressional district, in north-central Iowa. He reached a House leadership position after only two terms. However, in 1917 his vote against the United States' declaration of war on the German Empire effectively ended his political career, leading his loss of the Republican nomination for re-election to his seat, and of his leadership position for the remainder of his final term.

Born near Sharon, Wisconsin, Woods attended the public schools and the Northern Indiana Normal School, Valparaiso, Indiana. He moved to Estherville, Iowa, in 1887 and worked in a newspaper office for two years. He engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business until about 1902 when he helped organize the Iowa Savings Bank of Estherville. He also became involved in the publication of the Northern Vindicator newspaper of Estherville, before and after its merger with the Emmet County Republican. He managed Iowa Governor Albert B. Cummins' successful campaign for a third term in 1906, and served as chairman of the Republican State Central Committee in 1906 and 1907.

In 1908, Woods defeated incumbent Congressman James Perry Conner in the Republican primary for Iowa's 10th congressional district, and then won the general election. His district, known as the "big tenth," was made up of Boone, Calhoun, Carroll, Emmet, Greene, Hamilton, Humboldt, Hancock, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Winnebago, and Webster counties. He sided with the progressive wing of his party, against the more conservative "stand-patters."As a Republican his seat was relatively secure; in its fifty-year existence the 10th district never elected a Democrat.