The Woodworth Family of Portage County, Ohio

THOMAS J. WOODWORTH (deceased!, a younger brother of William, was born at Rensselaerville, Schoharie Co., N. Y., June 9, 1808. His parents removed to Madison County, N. Y., when he was about eight years old. When about nine he was afflicted with what was known as the putrid epidemic, and of a large number of cases in that region, he was the only one who survived. But from its effects he never recovered, his hearing being permanently affected and in other respects he suffered. Growing up amid the rugged activities of pioneer life, he was thrown upon his own resources, and was thus trained to habits of persevering industry and self-reliance. Having secured such intellectual training as was afforded by the district school, he entered Oneida Conference Seminary, Cazenovia, N. Y., where he spent some time in study. His name appears on the records of that institution for 1829. He was dissuaded from entering the legal profession, which he had contemplated doing, on account of his imperfect hearing. Some three years were then spent in the employ of Col. Hezekiah Sage, of Sullivan, a part of the time as foreman on his extensive farm. One fall he sowed 300 bushels of seed wheat by hand. With the means thus obtained in the employ of Col. Sage he made the first payment in the purchase of a farm in Fenner in the same county. In 1833 he was united in marriage with Sarah S. Wager, daughter of Philip Wager, Esq., of Sullivan. Her father was in early life a pioneer preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church He joined the itinerancy in 1790. In 1792 he was one of the eight ministers who formed the first New England Conference as organized by Bishop Asbury, with Jesse Lee as Presiding Elder. He was the first minister of this conference sent into the States of Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. He located about 1800. He was brother of Rev. David Wager, of Columbia County, N. Y., and of Henry Wager, father of Hon. David Wager, law partner of Horatio Seymour, and grandfather of Gen. Henry Wager Halleck. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Woodworth removed to his Fenner farm. Twenty-six years were passed here in the enjoyment of the respect of the community, shown by the many positions of honor and trust he held in township and county; among them Commissioner of Deeds and Magistrate for several years. One incident of his life exemplifies his indomitable energy and perseverance very forcibly. When he had nearly paid for his farm and began to feel in somewhat easy circumstances, he undersigned a friend and relative to a large amount, and by so doing lost heavily and was plunged into debt so deeply that his friends despaired of his saving his farm. But he at once sold off everything except the bare necessaries for farming purposes, and with an industry that knew no flagging, set to work to pay off the debt, a task which took more than ten of the best years of his life to accomplish. In 1859 he sold his farm and removed to Cazenovia in the same county, and from there to Windham, this county, in 1860. His deafness increasing, he led a more retired life in Windham than in former years. Home was the most attractive place to him and to make it enjoyable he gave his best energies. He was a keen observer of men and things, and all his actions and words evinced a sound judgment which was held in high esteem by all who knew him. From the days of his majority he was a Democrat in politics, voting for Buchanan, but supporting Lincoln in 1860, and ever after the Republican party with zeal. During the Rebellion he was a member of the War Committee of Windham, and did what lay in his power to support the Xnion cause. Mr. Woodworth was of an inquiring, active cast of mind, was a great reader during the intervals from more active duties, always seeking information. His knowledge of the political history of our country was extensive. He delighted in discussion, and his sword of argument was edged with a satire and wit which rendered it keen and cutting. Though jSrm and decided in his convictions, he extended to others in the sphere of thought the suffrage he secured to himself. In early life he became a Methodist, he while here holding a certificate of membership from the Methodist Episcopal Cburch, of Cazenovia, N. Y. Thorough honesty was his admiration, and for hypocrisy he entertained the highest contempt. To be more than he seemed rather than less was his highest aim. These traits were exemplified in his character. In business he was successful in spite of his misfortunes, and he accumulated a handsome competency, far in advance of those whose dishonesty robbed him of years of toil. To be a good farmer, according to his ideal, was his highest happiness as an occupation. On coming to Windham he bought Lot 33, then known as the Willis Strickland farm. It was ever after his residence. He made his home in Fenner an attractive place, and his Windham home will long bear the impress of his energy and love of order. He died suddenly of paralysis, January 30, 1884.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HON. E. S. WOODWORTH, son of Thomas J. Woodworth, was born in Fenner, N. Y., August 24, 1841. His boyhood years were spent on the farm and in the district schools of the neighborhood. In 1858 he entered Oneida Conference Seminary, and completed a three years' course in 1860. In the winter of 1 858-59 he taught his first term of school in Lenox, N. Y., and so well did he succeed that the next winter he was employed to take charge of one of the principal school in Cazenovia, the village of his home, his parents having moved to this place in 1859. In July, 1860, after leaving school, he came to Windham, Ohio, his parents having made their home there in May previous. He at once began labor on their farm. In the winter of 1860-61 he taught in Ravenna, and for many succeeding winters in different schools of Windham. In 1862 he spent some time in school at Hiram, thinking to enter the Junior Class of Michigan University in 1863, but the events of the war and other circumstances changed that plan, as well as his ideal for life-work — the study of law. In 1864 he was a member of Company I, One Hundred and Seventy-first Regiment Ohio National Guards, and in the battle of Kellar's Bridge, Ky., he was severely wounded by a ball shattering his right leg below the knee. On the morning of this battle he volunteered at the request of Gen. Hobson to gain what knowledge was possible of the situation of the Rebel force under John Morgan at Cynthiana, some two miles away, who earlier in the day had an engagement with a small detachment of our men under Col. Garis. He was to advise Col. Garis to fall back to Kellar's Bridge if practicable. However, it was found that our force there had already been forced to surrender, and Woodworth, who succeeded in getting within the enemy's picket line and almost in the town, was happy to get out much faster then he went in, after a close range encounter with a calvaryman who followed him and after exchanging several shots got the benefit of a ball from Woodworth's revolver. On reporting to Gen. Hobson he received his thanks as well as much credit by all who knew the circumstances of the exploit. Being much exhausted on his return to his company the officers advised him not to go into the right that was commencing, but he insisted on going, and was wounded as stated. With the wounded from this battle he was taken to Covington, Ky., where he remained nearly four months before he was able to be removed home. He refused to have his leg amputated when advised to do so by the post surgeons, and so saved his limb. In 1871 he married Belle C., daughter of William Rudd, late of Sullivan, Ashland Co., Ohio, who, while a member of the Forty-second Ohio (Garfield's regiment), received a wound at Champion Hills, from which he died. The William Rudd family at present reside at McMinnville, Tenn. The children of this union are Nellie E., born October 20, 1873; Glenn R., born January 29, 1877, and Clyde W., born November 26, 1880, but who died March 19, 1885. He was an attractive child who won all hearts. Mr. Woodworth is in politics an ardent Republican, and enjoys the remembrance that his first vote was cast for Garfield on his first election to Congress, and his first Presidential vote was for Lincoln on his second election. He has held many positions of trust, among them Justice of the Peace some eight years, which position he resigned on his election to the Legislature in 1881. In that body he was esteemed for his strict and assiduous attention to the duties of his position, and for a new member was more highly honored than is usual by being placed in important positions on committees. In the County Convention of 1888 he lacked only seven votes of a re-nomination. Like many others of the Sixty-fifth Ohio General Assembly he 8ufi"ered because of his vote favoring the " Scott Law " and kindred temperance legislation. However, his friends believe he has nothing to regret, for even in defeat is sometimes high honor. He has been an active worker politically for several years, and in the campaign of 1884 served his party as member of the Republican County Central and Executive Committees. Mr. Woodworth lives in the enjoyment of an attractive farm-home, made so by the joint labor of his father and himself, he having added to his paternal acres. He is at present Senior Vice-Commander of Earl-Milliken Post, No. 333, G. A. R., and is a member of Silver Creek Lodge, F. & A. M. He is a member of the Congregational Church of Windham, in the Sabbath-school of which he is an active worker. Wherever known he enjoys the confidence and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact, and in all the relations of life he sustains such a character as to stand high in the esteem and honor of the people of Portage County.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.