John Maples married Fannie Woodall in 1907. She was the
daughter of W.H. Woodall. Miss Fannie received a B.S. degree in 1896. She
taught in several Jackson County Schools. She was very active in the
Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school, played the organ, and for
many years served as recording secretary for the Quarterly Conference.
John was a railroad agent with Southern Railroad Company
at Woodville for 35 years. His duties included ticket sales, western union
operator and freight and express agent. Early years as a railroad agent he
was required to climb the pole daily to light kerosene signal lanterns. Mr.
John was a teacher in very early schools. They had no children.
It was the knowledge of the nephew that Fannie and John
had the house built and got married in it the same year.
The structure of the home basically remains the same
inside, the beaded ceilings, walls and wood floors. The only changes to the
exterior are a metal roof and vinyl siding. Mr. John loved the outdoors and
soon after building the house he set out maple trees in the yard. These
trees are still standing today and from these beautiful trees the home
became known as “Maplewood.”
