Marion County
ILGenWeb

Abner M. Woodward

ABNER M. WOODWARD, and prominent jriculturist of Odin Township, Marion County, was at the time of his death carrying on a prosperous trade in the hay, grain and lu.uber business in the village of Odin. He was a public-spirited citizen, widely known and highly esteemed, and entered into rest November 3, 1890, mourned by a host of old-time friends.

Mr. Woodward was born in Preble County, Ohio, April 23, 1825, and was the son of Horace and Clementina (Lloyd) Woodward, natives of New Jersey.

The parents were reared and married in their native state, after which they removed to Ohio. Religiously the Woodwards were Quakers, and the father of our subject was "churched" for marrying a lady who was not of that sect. The old Woodward farm in New Jersey was purchased from the Indians, the deed being made out on parchment. The farm has always been in possession of some member of the family, and on it still stands the old brick residence which was erected in an early day. The mother of our subject was the elder of two daughters born to her parents, her sister being Mrs. Giles Richard, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Abner M. Woodward was deprived of his father's care when quite young, and the family being in limited circumstances, he was compelled to aid in their support. He was very desirous of obtaining a good education, and after completing the studies of the common schools of his native place, he entered an academy near Middletown, Ohio, where he completed his education. In 1845, when twenty years of age, he removed with his mother and brother Lloyd to Des Moines County, Iowa, near Burlington, their household goods being transported by water, but the family making the trip overland in wagons. There he purchased a tract of land and turned his attention to farming until 1849, when, like thousands of others, he "caught" the gold fever and went to California, the journey consuming six months. On arriving in the Golden State, he entered a mine near Hangtown and Coloma, and was engaged in searching for gold for live years, meeting with fair success. At the expiration of that time he returned home, making the return trip by way of the Isthmus and New York.

March 4, 1847, Mr. Woodward and Miss Sylvia, daughter of Joel and Hester (Wakefield) Scogin, were united in marriage. Her father was born in Ohio, where also her birth occurred, while Mrs. Scogin was a native of the Blue Grass State.

To Mr. and Mrs. Woodward were born five children.

  1. Clemma,
  2. Nellie and
  3. Bell are deceased.
  4. Edward Woodward, the younger son, was given a fine education, and after being graduated from the State University at Champaign, ILL., went to Jacksonville, where he took a thorough business course in the Jacksonville Business College. Returning home at the close of the term, he assisted his father in his various lines of business for one year, when he died.
  5. Horace N., the only living child, succeeded his father as senior member of the firm of A. M. Woodward & Co.

After his return from California, our subject gave his entire attention to the cultivation of his farm until 1862, when, the Boston Freedmen's Association wishing to demonstrate to the people that the negroes would wqrk for wages, Mr. Woodward was selected to go south, rent a plantation and hire negro help. This he did, leasing land from Mrs. James K. Polk, near Murfreesboro, Tenn., which he operated greatly to the satisfaction of the company for two years. Then going still further south, he was similarly engaged near Vicksburg, Miss., and although his plans worked admirably as far as the negroes were concerned, his own life as well as that of his family was so greatly endangered that he did not remain very long, but returned north, where he ever after made his home.

After his southern experience, Mr. Woodward sold his property in Iowa, and coming to Marion County, this state, purchased land in Odin Town ship and again settled down to the peaceful pursuits of farm life. He remained upon that tract for eighteen years, and in 1883 removed into the village, where, as before stated, he engaged in the hay, grain and lumber business in company with N. B. Morrison.

He was a man of untiring energy and was sufficiently shrewd to grasp at every opportunity offered for the bettering of his financial condition. He prospered in his mercantile business and invested money in property, until at his decease he owned five hundred acres- of valuable land.

Mr. Woodward was ever ready to aid in all matters of public enterprise, and was one of the projectors and was Treasurer of the Odin Coal Company. Socially he was a prominent Mason, belonging to Odin Lodge No. 503.

He was a true-blue Republican in politics, and was well posted on the issues of the hour.

Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 435 - 436
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer