Robert C. Woodward

As printed in 1881

ROBERT C. WOODWARD, City Librarian, Springfield: is a native of Springfield, a son of Jacob and Sarah (Christie) Woodward; his father was a native of Pennsylvania, and came, when a young man, to Springfiold, and was connected with the business interests here until his decease, which occurred in 1829, being associated with Judge Ira Paige inthe proprietorship of the woolenfactory, and subsequently a merchant; his widow and two sons still survive. The subject of this sketch was born in 1829, and was but 3 months old when his father died; his mother, by teaching, took care of him and gave him a rudimentary education, and, after her second marriage, in 1837, he attended the Ohio Conference High School, and was one of the first students enrolled at Witten. berg College, but, after passing the Freshman year, circumstances compelled him

_ "np to rehnquish school and he entered the Republic office, and, after two years’ service as “devil,” was promoted to foreman of the office, but, three months later, accepted a position as compositor on the Cincinnati Commercial, a position he obtained by reason of his ability to read short-hand; during the three months in which he was employed in the Commercial office, he completed a commercial course under the direction of R. S. Bacon, after which he returned to Springfield and accepted a positions traveling salesman for his step-father, J. D. Nichols, who had a special contract to sell stationery, etc., on the Pan Handle line of railroad; after one year's experience, he discontinued that business, as it did not prove as profitable as he had hoped; after spending eighteen months at Davenport, Iowa, he went South and spent the winter of 1857-58, and in 1859 he was induced to purchase a book store here in Springfield, which business he continued until September, 1861, when he engaged in the same business in Lima, Ohio; there Mr. Woodward became prominently identified with the local religious interests, being the honored and trusted Superintendent of the Sunday school connected with the Presbyterian Church, and his wife, nee Miss Lizzie A. Crooks, formerly from Lowell, Mass., but at the time of their marriage, April 12, 1860, a teacher in the Springfield public schools, was an active and prominent member of the Women's Christian Commission, gratefully remembered by every soldier of the late war; but in 1865 his wife died, and the five years which followed were filled with bitter experiences; dispirited by the loss of his wife, his partners took advantages of him, and, in the spring of 1868, he returned to Springfield, to retrieve, as far as possible, the losses he had sustained. In 1869, he, in partnership with his step-brother, W. G. Nichols, bought his old bookstore, and, with the proceeds of that stock, credits, and some money Mr. Woodward was able to borrow, they started a job printing office, and in eighteen months, by dint of careful management and at the expense of severe wear to his constitution, they sold out and were clear of debt. From this time Mr. Woodward was variously employed until 1877, when he was appointed City Librarian. When he entered upon his duties, he found matters in a chaotic state; but, by his usual energy and industry, he has brought system and order into all the details, and no better regulated public library ean be found than that over which Mr. Woodward presides; he is ably assisted by his wife, nee Miss Harriette DeWitt, formerly of Fostoria, but, at the time of their marriage, Oct. 10, 1866, a teacher in the Springfield schools.

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.