Woodward, Brinton Webb, merchant and author, was born on Feb. 14, 1834, a son of Caleb and Mary (Webb) Woodward. His father was of Pennsylvania Quaker ancestry, descended from Robert Woodward, who settled in what is now Delaware county, Pa., soon after the grant was made to William Penn. His mother was of English-German descent. He was reared on his father's farm in Chester county, Pa., part of an estate that had been in the family for over a century; entered the academy when eleven years of age, and upon completing the course there began teaching. In 1854, while visiting in Illinois, he heard Stephen A. Douglas speak, became interested in the struggle of Kansas for freedom, determined to cast his lot with the territory, and arrived at Lawrence on May 20, 1855. He purchased a stock of books and drugs in St. Louis and started one of the oldest continuous business houses west of St. Louis, on Massachusetts street. He acted as secretary of the first territorial convention held by the free-state party. During the Wakarusa war he was a member of the "Kansas Guards" and took an active part in the defense of Lawrence. In 1857 he was a delegate to the free-state convention which nominated Marcus J. Parrott for delegate to Congress. When Quantrill raided Lawrence in 1863, Mr. Woodward's stock of goods was destroyed and he narrowly escaped death. In 1866 he was instrumental in organizing the St. Louis, Lawrence & Denver railroad company and acted as secretary of the company until the completion of the road to Lawrence. In 1878, in connection with two partners, he opened a wholesale drug house in Kansas City, of which he was a partner until 1897, when he retired. Mr. Woodward always took an active interest in directing the educational matters of Lawrence. In 1876 he was appointed a member of the board of regents of the state university; was one of the founders of the Old and New club, and in 1890 published a volume of poems, sketches and essays entitled, "Old Wine in New Bottles," dedicated to the club. Mr. Woodward also served as president of local art societies, university extension associations, the Kansas Academy of Language and Literature, and was one of the organizers of the Kansas State Historical Society. He was especially interested in art and had the finest private art gallery in Kansas. While on a visit to his sister, at West Chester, Pa., Mr. Woodward was stricken with paralysis and died there on Oct. 9, 1900.