Samuel Franklin Woodward
Samuel Franklin Woodward, of Osborn, is now living a retired life, although for many years he was identitied with agricultural pursuits. He was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. December 15, 1830, and is a son of John and Mary (Foster) Woodward. The family is of English lineage and the ancestry can be traced back to one of six brothers. Five of these brothers were over six feet in height and were in the King's Guard. The one who was under six feet came to America, settling in Massachusetts, and was the founder of the family in the United States. John Woodward, who was born in Massachusetts, removed to Vermont when a young man and there operated a farm until 1809, when he took up his abode in Cortland county, New York. Seven years later he removed to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, settling in Spring township, where he purchased land and became a prominent, influential and well-to-do agriculturist. When he was a young man he served for one year with the Green Mountain boys in the Revolutionary war under that brave and intrepid officer, Colonel Ethan Allen. He married into the Washburn family, which is still one of the prominent and well known families of Vermont.
To John Woodward and his wife was born a son named for his father. John. His birth occurred near Rochester, Vermont, in 1795. and he removed with his father to the Empire state when but fourteen years of age. After his parents removed to Pennsylvania he lived for a year in Genesee County, New York, and then joined his father and mother in the Keystone state. Becoming a farmer there, he accumulated some money and became the possessor of one hundred and fifty acres of land. In politics he was a Republican from 1856. when that party was first organized, and held several township offices. while his religious faith was witth tlie New Light. or Christian, church. He remained upon a farm until he reached the age of four-score years, when he sold his property and for two years lived with his daughter in Winneshiek County, Iowa. He then spent nine years with his son, Samuel F. Woodward, and then went to live with another son at Girard. Erie county, Pennsylvania, where his death occurred Fehruary 24. 1889, his remains being interred in Spring township, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, where he had lived for so many years. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary Foster, and was born near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1794. there remaining until she was eight years of age. when she accompanied her parents to Crawford county, where she was married to John Woodward in 1819. She possessed great activity of both mind and body, and was particularly skillful in many kind of housewifely arts, including weaving. She possessed much natural skill as a mathematician and in her life displayed many graces of character and kindly acts which endeared her to all who knew her. She entered into eternal rest in 1856, at the age of sixty-two years. Her father, George Foster, was born in the north of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, was a farmer by occupation and was married near Belfast.
Unto John Woodward and his wife were born six children, of whom Mrs. Mary J. Nicholson, the eldest, died in Hamilton county. Iowa: Charlotte, who became Mrs. Huntley, died in Erie county, Pennsylvania: John, who was a lieutenant in the Pennsylvania militia, is now living in Erie county, that state; Caroline is the wife of H. P. Nicholson, a resident of Winneshiek county, Iowa: and George died in 1863, six months after his marriage. He had great talent as a portrait painter, and had he lived would doubtless have become famous in that line. His own portrait, painted by himself, now hangs in his brother's residence in Osborn as an evidence of his remarkable talent.
Samuel Franklin Woodward was the fifth of the family in order of birth. He received a conimon-school education, and displayed more than the ordinary talent for learning. He seemed to have inherited his mother's mathematical ability and at the age of nineteen he began teaching in his own township. In the summer months he attended Kingsville Academy in Ashtabula county. Ohio, and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1853. While in school he never had but one fellow pupil who was his equal in mathematics, and he earned much of his tuition money by acting as teacher of mathematics and surveying. In 1853 he filled the chair of mathematics in his alma mater for four and one-half months during the absence of the regular professor, and he is still one of the best mathematicians in the county, Among his fellow students in college were J. C. Burrows, who is now representing the state of Michigan in the United States senate; J. B. Burrows, now a lawyer of Painesville, Ohio; also S. W. and A. W. Chapman, E. H. Gilkey and many other prominent men who have attained eminence in national fame.
In 1834 Mr. Woodward started westward, journeying by way of the canal to the Ohio river, thence proceeding down the latter river by steamer to Maysville. Kentucky. He had intended stopping at that place and teaching, but was dissatisfied and soon afterward made his way to Iowa, where he remained two months. During that time he invested some money in real estate, buying government land in Black Hawk county. Two or three years later he purchased more land lying in Webster county. Iowa, and at one time he owned over four hundred acres, but has since disposed of all of it. After two months spent in Iowa Mr. Woodward returned to Pennsylvania and in August, 1854, went to Montgomery county, Ohio, on the opposite side of Mad river from Osborn, in this county. There he began teaching, remaining in Montgomery county until 1859. when he located in Osborn. where he followed educational work until 1860. On the expiration of that period he became principal of the school at Fairfield. In 1862 Mr. Woodward began dealing in fruit trees and successfully followed that business for twelve years. During the first five years he traveled with his men and always came in at the end of the week with the largest sales. His motto was: "One thing at a time and that well done." He was verv successful, and by honest dealing made an excellent reputation for himself and the firm. In one day he delivered seventy-three thousand dollars' worth of goods and received sixty-five hundred dollars and twenty-three cents, in cash. He has done from twenty to sixty thousand dollars' worth of business in one year. In 1874. feeling that the oversight of so large a business was too severe a strain, he retired and invested his money in real estate. On the 1st of April. 1875, he broke ground for his large fine brick home, which is of modern architectural design. He oversaw the erection of this building and on the 24th of November he moved into the house, which is one of the finest in this section of the county, costing about ten thousand dollars. It is surrounded by a beautiful and well kept lawn, and the house in the interior is designed in white walnut. He also has a very select library of many choice volumes.
On the 10th of November, 1856, Mr. Woodward was united in marriage to Mary C. Sloan, a native of Wayne township, Montgomery county, Ohio. She was born in Lycoming county. Pennsylvania, July 3, 1833, and was only a year old when her parents came to Ohio, the journey being made in a one-horse covered wagon. Mrs. Woodward received a good education, and at the age of eighteen years began teaching, but, not finding the work congenial, she discontinued it after nine months. She was a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Crook) Sloan. Her father was born in Lebanon county. Pennsylvania, in that part which was afterward cut off to form Dauphin county. He was a son of John Sloan, a native of that county, of Scotch-Irish descent. In 1833 he came to Wayne township, Montgomery county. Alexander Sloan followed his father's occupation—farming—but being a natural mechanic, able to make anything out of wood, he became a fine cabinet-maker, and also did the carpenter work upon his farm at Jersey Shore, Lycoming county. Pennsylvania. In 1834 he also came to Ohio, locating near his father, where he continued agricultural pursuits for a number of years and then turned his attention to loaning money. Elizabeth Crook, his wife, was born in Somersetshire, England, and came to America when four years of age. She was the mother of seven children, five of whom are now living: James S.. who resides upon the old homestead farm in Wayne township. Montgomery county; Elizabeth S., who resides with our subject; Lucinda R., now Mrs. Powell, of Champaign county, Ohio; and William H., who is a farmer of the same county. Mrs. Woodward has always manifested considerable poetic ability and talent, but she never devoted her time to literary work until 1880, since which time she has given much attention to the writing of poetry. She has published a book of miscellaneous poems entitled, "Roses and Thorns." and has another book almost ready for publication, called "Darkness and Dawn." She writes upon local and national themes and many of her poems have elicited the highest commendation from capable critics. She has a broad mind and deep sympathy added to her artistic temperament, and her literary work is of a very high character. We take pleasure in publishing at the end of this review one of her poems that gives a glimpse of the old educational institution of learning of the pioneer days, and thus possesses historic value. The reader will see that the merit of the poem is so great that no "apologies"' should be made to Woodworth for its copying his metre. It is the equal of "The Old Oaken Bucket" in pathetic description, and will carry the memory of all of our older readers back to the days when they went to the "deestrick"' school in the log house of the early days, with its hewed log benches, succeeded later by rough lumber benches. Mrs. Woodward was a "scholar" in the log schoolhouse she so fittingly describes, and the Rev. D. Berger, of Dayton, Ohio, was there one of her teachers.
In his political views Mr. Woodward is a Republican, having supported the party since its organization. Prior to that time he was a member of the Free Soil party. For five years he served on the Republican central committee, and at various times has been a delegate to the county and state conventions. He was also a member of the first school board of Osborn, and for twenty consecutive years filled that position with the exception of a brief period of two years. He was also clerk of the board at the time of the building of the schoolhouse. He served as a member of the first town council of Osborn and continued in that position for fifteen years. In 1890 he was a member of the state board of equalization. He has always been very active in politics but of late years has largely left political work to younger men. Mr. Woodward is a Rationalist, while his wife is a Spiritualist. He is a Mason, having attained the Royal Arch degree, while with the lodge at New Carlisle he is connected. He has been three times a delegate to the grand lodge and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity of Osborn. Mr. Woodward may well be called a self-made man, as his advancement in life has come as the direct result of his earnest and capable efforts, his judicious management and careful investments. He stands to-day a strong man; strong in his individuality; strong in purpose and in his good name; and his wide acquaintance in Greene county has gained for him many friends who hold him in the highest regard for his many excellencies of character.
The following is the poem written by Mrs. Woodworth:
THE OLD LOG SCHOOLHOUSE
(With a mental apology to the spirit of Samuel Woodworth)
How oft' like a dream of the golden-hued morning,
The visions of childhood rise up to my view,
And backward I hie to my youth's radiant morning
When life was all brightness and skies were all blue;
The sweetest and dearest of all youthful pleasures,
With fondness and love I remember them still,
Came to my young life when I carried my treasures–
My books–to the schoolhouse on top of the hill.
The dear old log schoolhouse.
The time-honored schoolhouse.
The schoolhouse that stood on the top of the hill.
I loved the old schoolhouse, though woodsy and homely,
With long high-backed desks standing back 'gainst the wall.
With little high wnidows to let in the sunlight
And long, narrow benches with no backs at all.
The tall spreading trees, which were scattered around it,
Their tops stretching skyward, I gaze on them still,
And many the pleasures we gleaned from the streamlet–
The streamlet that ran by the foot of the hill.
The beautiful streamlet.
The clear limpid streamlet.
The streamlet that ran by the foot of the hill.
When lessons were ended, and lunch we had taken.
We'd play base and blackman, and have rarest fun;
Or, gather in groups, and tell stories and riddles,
And swift flew the moments till school hours begun.
Blest years of my childhood! O, halcyon school days,
Though long years have flown, how I cherish yon still;
The fondest and sweetest of memory's pleasures,
Cling 'round the old schoolhouse on top of the hill.
The dear old log schoolhouse.
The time-honored schoolhouse.
The schoolhouse that stood on the top of the hill.
The old *pig-pen tree, how we loved to explore it.
And wonder how long since its life first begun;
How long since its branches first swayed in the breezes,
And lifted its head to the life-giving sun.
Though life has been checkered by many a sorrow,
Fond mem'ry turns back to the old places still.
Though gone the old land-marks I fondly remember
The dear old log schoolhouse on top of the hill.
The time-honored schoolhouse.
The dear old log schoolhouse.
The schoolhouse that stood on top of the hill.
The old spelling matches, O how we enjoyed them,
'Twas Anna and David, and Mary and John
Were always first chosen; we vied with each other,
And great was the generous rivalry shown.
Our spelling quartet has been scattered and broken,
And one has passed on, but we think of him still;
We greet him no longer–his form lies enshrouded
Far, far from the schoolhouse on top of the hill.
The dear old log schoolhouse.
The time-honored schoolhouse.
The schoolhouse that stood on the top of the hill.
My teachers in mem'ry all rise up before me.
I look in their faces–their voices I hear;
Their kind commendations when lessons were perfect.
Their generous praise whigh to each was so dear
They all have passed on, and their mem'ry I cherish
The old schoolhouse is gone, yet I gaze on it still,
Like all mundane things, it was destined to perish,
The dear old log schoolhouse on top of the hill.
The time-honored schoolhouse.
The dear old log schoolhouse.
That stood all alone on top of the hill.
*An immense hollow tree in which pigs slept.
Mary C. Sloan Woodward
Osborn, Ohio. June 3, 1902
From History of Greene County, Ohio, by George F. Robinson (S. J. Clarke Publishing Co, 1902)
It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to find another man in Greene County so thoroughly contented with his lot in life as the subject of this sketch, who is one of the most prominent residents of Osborn, and whose portrait appears on the opposite page. He has abundant reason for his contentment, being blessed with the means which enable him to surround himself with every comfort and with all the reasonable luxuries of life, and allows of his retirement from business cares, excepting in so far as he desires, while his lovely home is presided over by a lady of cultured tastes and charming manners, whose companionship is a continual delight. Mr. WOODWARD is thoroughly well-informed on all general topics, is finely educated and has the happy faculty of making his knowledge pleasing to those around him, being a fine conversationalist and the soul of hospitality. His memory is a storehouse of useful knowledge, and an hour spent in his society is a pleasure at any time. Having a leading position in the affairs of the municipality, he looks well to the interests of the taxpayers, and while desirous to improve the place, endeavors to display economy in its government.
The WOODWARD family is of English extraction the first of the ancestors whom we note being John WOODWARD, a native of Massachusetts. He removed to Vermont when a young man, and opening a farm there, operated it until 1809. He then went to Cortland County, N. Y., and about seven years later to Crawford County, Pa., purchasing land in Spring Township. There also he opened a farm, becoming prominent, influential and well-to-do. While yet a very young man, he entered the Revolutionary Army, serving a year with the Green Mountain Boys under the renowned Ethan ALLEN. He died at the age of about eighty-three years. He had married into the WASHBURN family, of the Green Mountain State, descendants of which have become so well-known throughout our country.
To the above mentioned couple, near Rochester, Vt., in 1795, a son was born, who was given the name of John. He went to the Empire State with his parents when fourteen years old, and when they removed to Pennsylvania he remained behind, residing in Genesee County a year. He then joined his father in Spring Township, Crawford County, Pa., where he engaged in farming and was quite successful, becoming the owner of one hundred and fifty acres of valuable land. He held several township offices; in politics he was a Republican, and in religion a member of the New Light Christian Church. He resided on his farm until he was four-score years old, when he sold his estate and spent two years with a daughter in Winneshiek County, Iowa. He then came to live with his son, our subject, with whom he remained nine years after which he took up his abode with another son, at Girard, Erie County, Pa. There he breathed his last February 24, 1888, his mortal remains being deposited in Spring Township, Crawford County, where he had so long resided.
The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary FOSTER. She was born near Pittsburg, Pa., in 1794, and was reared there to the age of eight years, when she was taken by her parents to Crawford County, where she grew to womanhood, and in 1819 became the wife of John WOODWARD. She possessed great activity of both mind and body and could turn her hand to anything—weaving, housework, or any of the arts known to womankind. She was a natural mathematician, computing mentally with great accuracy, and our subject has undoubtedly inherited from her his decided bent in that direction. She entered into rest in 1856, at the age of sixty-two years. Her father George FOSTER was born in the North of Ireland and was married near Belfast. His occupation was that of a farmer. About 1792, having left his native land, he settled in Shermans Valley, Pa., the next year removing near Pittsburg. About 1802 he settled in Spring Township, Crawford County, to which his son William had gone the year before on foot. The son had selected a tract of land, bought four hundred acres, and remained there during the summer, clearing a portion of it and constructing a rude log house. He was but sixteen years old at the time, and once a week walked six miles to an aunt, from whom he secured bread, cooking for himself the other necessaries of life. The family included six brothers and two sisters—William, Thomas, John, George, Robert, James, Isabell and Mary, the mother of our subject. John taught the first school in Spring Township and was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving as Captain in two different companies.
The subject of this sketch is the fifth in a family of six children. The first-born, Mary J., Mrs. NICHOLSON, died in Hamilton County, Iowa; Charlotte, Mrs. HUNTLEY, died in Erie County, Pa.; John, who was Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania militia, resides in Erie County; Caroline is the wife of H. P. NICHOLSON, of Winnesheik [sic] County, Iowa; George, who died in 1863, six months after his marriage, possessed a decided talent for portrait painting, and studied that branch of art in Dayton.
The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch was born December 15, 1830, in Spring Township, Crawford County, Pa., and being reared upon the farm, acquired a rudimentary knowledge of agriculture in early boyhood. He had good common school advantages and displayed more than ordinary ability for learning all branches of study seeming to be easy for him, but mathematics being his special forte. At the age of nineteen he began teaching his own township, conducting the school during two winters and spending the summers in attendance at Kingsville Academy, Ashtabula County, Ohio, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1853. The previous winter he had taught near Girard, Erie County, and the winter after his graduation he filled the Chair of Professor of Mathematics in his Alma Mater during the absence of the regular professor for four and a half months. He was well advanced in that particular branch of study and has never found his superior, being still one of the finest mathematicians in the country.
In the spring of 1854 Mr. WOODWARD started westward, journeying on the canal to the Ohio River at Beaver, and thence taking passage to Maysville, Ky., on a river steamer. He had thought of remaining at that place and continuing his professional labors, but being dissatisfied, made his way to Iowa, where he remained a couple of months, investing the money he had saved in Government land in Black Hawk County. Some two years later he made a second investment, buying in Webster County, his landed possessions in the State being then over four hundred acres, which he disposed of in after years. After the short sojourn in the Hawkeye State, he returned to Pennsylvania, where he remained until August, and then took up his abode in Montgomery County, Ohio. He continued his work as a pedagogue, his first school in that county being two and a half miles from his present home. He resided there until 1859, being employed in various pursuits during the summer, and teaching in winter. Upon locating in Osborn, he taught school for a time and then became principal of the schools at Fairfield.
In 1862 Mr. WOODWARD abandoned pedagogical labors and became a dealer in fruit trees, continuing in the business twelve successive years. During the first five years he traveled with his men, and always came in at the end of the week with the largest list. This gave his employes confidence in him, and they did their best, his success being due to his ability to lead them and to his excellent knowledge of human nature. He followed but one thing at a time and pushed the tree business with all his might, demonstrating the worth of the old problem, “One thing at a time and that well done.” He sold extensively both in the East and West, doing a business of from $20,000 to $60,000 per year. The trees were bought by large contracts from a Geneva nursery, and he thus made a nice profit each year. On one occasion he delivered $7,300 worth in a day, receiving $6,500 in cash of the first day of delivery.
Feeling the severe strain upon his nervous system which the oversight of so large a business had produced, and having made enough to allow himself the desired rest, Mr. WOODWARD retired from the business in 1874, investing his means in lands. The following year he busied himself with the erection of the handsome residence which he now occupies, the ground for which was broken the 1st of April. He was constantly on hand to oversee the work until the edifice was completed and ready for occupancy, November 24. The architectural design is Mr. WOODWARD’S own, and reflects credit upon his taste and judgment. The building is by far the finest residence in Osborn; it is built of brick, is large and conveniently planned, the rooms being commodious and airy and the home furnished in fine style. It was erected at a cost of $10,000, and its value and attractiveness are further enhanced by the beautiful lawn and tasteful adornings which surround it. The library contains a fine selection of books, including the works of the leading authors on literary and scientific topics, and whatever branch may be the favorite, a visitor is sure to find works at his hand which will afford him enjoyment.
Mr. WOODWARD finds as much occupation as he desires in attending to his farms and other investments. He owns two places in Bath Township, summing up about two hundred acres, and he also owns three hundred and twenty acres in Fremont County, Iowa, near the county seat, the latter piece of property being an improved stock farm. In 1876 he and his wife attended the Centennial Exposition. Their social traits draw around them a large circle of acquaintances and friends, and they find abundant enjoyment in the society thus afforded them, in dispensing the hospitality of their beautiful home and in quiet pursuit of the recreations to which their tastes lead. Mr. WOODWARD is temperate in all things and never has used tobacco or liquor in any form. In religious views he is a rationalist and agnostic, while his wife is a spiritualist. In politics he is a Republican, but not an active partisan. He belonged to the Republican Central Committee for five years, and has at various times been a delegate to county and State conventions, this being the extent of his political activity. He cast his first vote for John P. HALE. He was a member of the first School Board of Osborn, holding the position fifteen successive years, and having been Clerk when the schoolhouse was built. He was also a member of the first Town Council, and has been a member of the Board for about twenty years, including his entire residence here except two years. He is undoubtedly one of the most influential members, and to his shrewdness and sympathy the taxpayers owe much. As would be naturally supposed, he is interested in the social orders; he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, at Osborn, and a member of the Royal Arch Mason lodge, at New Carlisle, and has been a delegate to three different Grand Lodges. It is needless to multiply words regarding the influence which he possesses and the respect which is felt for him by his fellow-men.
The marriage of Mr. WOODWARD and Miss Mary C. SLOAN took place at the bride’s home, in Wayne Township, Montgomery County, November 10, 1856. The lady whom our subject had chosen as his companion in life was born in Lycoming County, Pa, July 3, 1833, and was but a year old when she came to Ohio with her parents, the entire journey being performed in a one-horse covered wagon. As she grew toward maturity, she received good educational advantages and became well informed in an extended curriculum, while her home and social training was such as to promote in her the fine manners which lend an added charm to cultured womanhood. She began teaching at the age of eighteen years, but not finding the profession to her taste, abandoned it after nine months’ labor.
The father of Mrs. WOODWARD was Alexander SLOAN, who was born in Lebanon County, Pa., in the part that was afterward cut off for the formation of Dauphin County. His father, John SLOAN, was also a native of that county, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He was a farmer, and became well-to-do through his understanding of his occupation. About 1833 he left his native State and located on a farm in Wayne Township, Montgomery County, Ohio. The son followed his father’s occupation successfully, but being a natural mechanic and able to make anything in wood-work, he became a fine cabinet-maker as well as a carpenter and builder. At these occupations he labored at times, also doing coopering on his farm at Jersey Shore, Lycoming County, Pa. In 1834 he also came to Ohio, locating in the township where his father had taken up his abode, and there occupying himself in the pursuit of agriculture, and afterward in money loaning. In addition to his Ohio property, he owned two hundred and forty acres of land in Jay County, Ind. In politics he was a Whig. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The wife of Alexander SLOAN bore the maiden name of Elizabeth CROOK and was born in Somersetshire, England. She came to America with her when four years old, their settlement being made in Lycoming County, Pa. Her father, Malachi CROOK, operated a farm until his death, which was occasioned by the accidental discharge of his gun when he was getting over a fence. Mrs. Elizabeth SLOAN died at the home of one of her daughters in Champaign County, Ohio. She belonged to the Methodist Church and was the mother of seven children, five of whom are still living. Elizabeth, who was the first-born, is the wife of the subject of this sketch; James S. is living in Wayne Township, Montgomery County; Elizabeth S. lives with our subject; Lucinda R., Mrs. POWELL lives near Urbana, Champaign County; William H. is a farmer in the same county. Mr. and Mrs. WOODWARD have never been blessed with any children.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Clark and Greene Counties, Chapman Bros., Chicago, published 1890