Portage County, Ohio - Biographical sketches, 1885 (part 14 of 14)

THOMAS J. AVOODWORTH (aPconsed\ a younger brother of William, was bom at Rensselaer vi lie, Schoharie Co., N. Y., June 9, 1808. His pHrents remoTed to Madison CSonnty, Y., when be was about eight years old. When about nine he was afflicted with what was known as the putrid ^idemio, and of a large nnmhor of oasps in that region, he was the only one who survived. But from its effects he never recovered, his hearing being permanently aflfected and in other respects he suflered. Growing up amid the rugged activities of pi<me6r life^ he waa thrown upon hia own resoaroee, and waa thna trained to habits of paneteiring industry and self-reliance. Having secured uuch intellectual training as was afforded by the district Kchool, he entered Oneida Con- I ference Seminaiji Cazenovia, N. Y., where he spent some time in study. His name appears on the reeorda of that instiiotiofk 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 meana thna obtained in the employ of Ool. Sage he made the firat payment in the purchase of a farm in Fenner in the same county. In 1838 he was united in marriage with Sarah S. "Wager, daughter of Philip Wager, Esq., of Sullivan. Her fatber was in early life a pioneer preacher of the Methodist Bpiaoopal Chnroh He joined the itinerancy in 1790t In 1792 he was one of the eight ministora who formed the first New England Conference as organizkI by Bishop AsViury, 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 abont 1800. He was brother of Rev. David Wager, of Colombia Oounty, N. Y., and of Henry Wager, father of Hon. David Wager, law partner of Horatio Seyraonr, and graTulfatlier of (len. Henry Wager Halleek. Immediately after his mnrriap^e Mr. Wood worth removed to his Fenner farm. Twenty-six years were passed here in the enjoyment of the respect of the oommmiity, shown by the many positicoa of honor and tmst he held in townahip and county; among them Commiaaioner 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 cireomstanoes, 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 savin:" his farm. But he at once sold off everything except the bare necessarien foi fanning purposes, and with an industry that knew no flagging, set to work to pay off the debt, a task which took more than ton of the beat yeara of hia life to aoeomplidi. In 1850 he sold his farm and removed to Cazenovia in the same ooonty, and from there to Windham, this county, in 1860. His deafness increasinj^, he led a more retired life in Windham than in former yeara Home was the most attraetiTe place to him and to make it enjoyable he gave his beet energiea. He waa a neil observer of men and things, and all his actions and words evinced a aonnd 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 Bupporting Lincohi in 1860, and ever after the Republican party with seal. During the Rebellion he was a m«nber of fbe War Com* mittee of Windham, and did what lay in bis poAver to support the Union cause. Mr. Woodworth was of an inquiring, active ca.st of mind, wan a threat reader during the intervaln from more active duties, always seeking informatios. His Imowledga of the political history of onr country was exteosi^ He delighted in discussion, and his sword of argument was edged with a satire and wit which rendered it keen and cutting. Though finn and decided in his convictions, he extended to others in the sphere of thought the snfirage ha ssoniad to hinMolf. In early life he became a Methodist, he while hero holding a certificate of memberdiiip from the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Cazenovia, N. Y. Thorough honesty was his admiration, and for hypocrisy he entertained the highest contempt. To be more than ho seemed rather than less was bin highest aim. These traits were exemplilied in his character. In bnsinees he was sooceesfnl in spite of his misfortunes, and he aoomniilated a handsome oompetency, 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 made his home in Fsnner an atiraotire place, and his Windham home will long bear the impress of bin encigy and loTe of ordnr. He died suddenly of paralysis, Januaiy_80, 16^4.

HON. B. S. WOODWORTH, son of Thomas J. Woodworth, was bom in Fenner, N. Y., Angost 24, 1841. His boyhood years were spent on the furm and in the district Fchools of the neighViorbood. In iSriR he entered Oneida Conference Seminary, and completed a throe years" course in 18('>0. In the winter of li>i>b-59 he taught his first term of school in Lenox, IS.Y., and so wall did he socoeed that tibe nest winter he was employed to taka charga of one of the principal school in Casenoria, the village of his home, his parents having moved to this place in 1859. In July, 1S60, after leaving school, he came to Windham, Ohio, his parents having made their home there in May prerions. He at once began labor on theb faun. In the wintsr of 1860>4)1 ha tanght 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 ClaHs of Michigan University in 1863, bat the events of the war and other circumstances changed that plan, as well as his ideal for life-work - tiia study of law. In 1864 be was a member of Company I, One Hundn^d and Seventy- first Regiment Ohio National Guards, and in the battle of Kellap'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 Gea Hbbeon to gain what knowledge was possibla of the situation of Uia 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 Keller's Bridge if practicable. However, it was found that our force there had already be«i fonsed 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 lie went in, after a cloBe range encounter with a calvary man who followed iiim and after exchanging several shots got the beuc'lit of a ball from Woodworth's revolvw. On reporting to Gen. Hbbson he reeeiTed his thanks as well as much credit by all who knew the circumstances of the exploit Being mudi exhausted on his return to his etmpuaj the officers advised him not to go into tile tight that was (xmunencing, but Le 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 BO by the pooi anrgeons, and so saved his limb. In 1871 he married Belle O., daughter of William Rndd, late of Sullivan, Ashland Co., Ohio, who, while a member of the Forty second Ohio (Gartieid's regiment), received a wound at Champion Hills, from which he died. The William Kudd family at present reside at MoBfinnville, Tenn. The ohildren of this nnion ore Nellie born October 20, 1873; Glenn R., bom January 29, 1877, and Clyde W.,,born November 20, 1880, but who died March 19, 1885. He was an attractive (shild who won all hearts. Mr. Woodworth is in politics an ardent Republican, and enjoys the remembrance that his first vote was oast for Garfield on his first eleotion to Oongreea, and his first Presidential vote was for Lincoln on his second eloction. Ho has held many jiositions of trust, among thom Justice of tho Foace some eight years, which ]sosition he reeif,'ned on his election t< » the Legislature in 1881. In that body he was esteemed for his strict and aseidnotiB ateentlon to the duties of his position, and for a new member waa mora highly honored than is usual by being placed in important positioilB OH oom* mittoos. In tho County Convention of 1883 he lacked only seven votes of a re- nomination. Like many others of the SixW-fifth Ohio General Assembly he suffered because of his vote favoring the *^Soott Law" and kindred temperance legislation. However, his &iendu l>elieve he has nothing to regret, for even in defeat ih sometimes high honor. He has been an active worker politically for several years, and in the CHra[>ai^n of 1884 served his party as member of the Republican County Centaal and iixecutive Committees. Mr. Woodworth livee 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 pre«^ent Senior Vice-Commnnder of Earl Milliken Post, No. 333. G. A. R.. and IS u member of Silver Creek Lodge, F. & A. M. He is a member of the Gongregational GbnMik 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 suBtnins Hucli a character as to stand high in the esteem and honor of the people of Portage County.

in Windham Township, this county, son of Edmund and Nancy (Russell) Tale, the former born in 1806 in Mahoning County, Ohio, and the latter in 1809 in Hamilton County, N. Y. They had a family of live ohildren: Edwin, Celia, Sanford 8. (died in the army during the late war of the Rebellion), Samuel and an infant (deceased). Edmund Yale was a good farmer, a thorcnigh bnsi* nees man and an influential citizen. He died in 1878. and his loss was not only felt in his family but by the whole community. His widow still Biirvives. Our subject was reared on a farm, his educational advantages being limited to the oommon sefaools of his township. He wae married September 8, 1867, to Miss Savilla S. Shihley, born in Windham Township, this county, March 30, 1848, and by her he bns three children: Edmond, Alta C. and Edith A. Mr. Yale has made farming the principal occupation of his life, having no specialty but growing the nsnal crops and handling stoek He is a consistent member of the Congregational Church, energetic and enterprising. Mr. Yale is one of the subetantial men of this townshipw