Woods Lumber was founded in Oswego, Kansas in 1889 by Oscar Edwin Woods, the son of a Union Army Colonel from Iowa who had moved to Montana, Ks at the end of the Civil War. along with his sons and daughters expanded the business into Southeast Kansas and Northeast Oklahoma and at one point had as many as 21 operating yards. moved the general offices and opened a yard in Independence Kansas. As family businesses go, ownership was divided up amongst family members. For many years and at least 3 generations this formula worked very well. But, as the family entered the 4th generation of ownership it became harder to find family members willing to carry on the family business and the older owners started selling off their yards. Woods purchased controlling interest in O.E. Woods Lumber of Independence, KS and changed the name to Woods Lumber of Independence, KS. He also purchased Independence Ready Mix that remains part of our operation today. In 2001 we entered the rental equipment business and have expanded our fleet of rental equipment every year since. The 5th generation of ownership is carried on today in Independence under the ownership of Mark Woods, who assumed controlling interest in 2009.
