Earl Cool Woodward, editor and publisher of the Minneapolis "Messenger," and former principal of the Minneapolis High School, was born on his father's farm in Washington county on January 5, 1889, a son of William A. and Mary (Cool) Woodward. The family was founded in Kansas by William W. Woodward, the grandfather of the subject of this article, who removed from Iowa in 1870, and located on Government land in Cloud county, later becoming a resident of Osborne, where he died in 1904. He married Miss Mary A. Bartow, who survived him but one year, her death occurring in Osborne in 1905. William A. Woodward was born at Marshalltown, Iowa, February 18, 1850, acquired his education in the public schools of his native State, and accompanied his parents on their removal to Kansas. He was reared as a farmer and followed this line of activity, with success, in Cloud county, until his retirement. On May 1, 1886, he married, at Concordia, Kan., Miss Mary Cool, a daughter of Simon E. and Catherine (Brown) Cool, who was born at Zanesville, Ohio, December 10, 1867. She came to Kansas with her parents in 1884. Her father was a farmer, located in Cloud county, and died there in 1906. Since giving up active labor, Mr. Woodward has resided in Glasco, Cloud county. To him and his wife have been born six children, viz: Raymond Asa, born August 8, 1888, died in 1891; Earl Cool, the subject of this sketch; Florence Belle, born December 9, 1894, was graduated from the Glasco High School with the class of 1913, and married on May 25, 1913. Clyde Guipre, a farmer of Cloud county; Grace, born December 12, 1896, a graduate of the Glasco High School with the class of 1913, and now a teacher in the Cloud county schools; Ernest Ross, born March 1, 1898; Mary Edith, born July 8, 1902, and Louis William, born February 1, 1905.

Earl Cool Woodward received his early education in the public schools, was graduated from the Glasco High School with the class of 1906, and subsequently entered the Kansas University, from which he was graduated, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in 1910. On completion of his education he engaged in teaching in the schools of Minneapolis, Kan., and was during the last two years of his employment in this profession, principal of the high school. He entered the field of journalism in May, 1913, when he purchased the Minneapolis "Messenger," established in 1875, and since 1885 the property of the late A. P. Riddle. It is the pioneer newspaper of Ottawa county, has been a successful property and is the recognized organ of the Republican party in its home county. Its offices and plant are equipped with modern appliances for the satisfactory conduct of the business. A monthly, devoted to the interests of a fraternal organization, is published from this office, "Sons and Daughters of Justice." It is the aim of Mr. Woodward to so conduct his paper that it will be alive with interest and of real practical usefulness; to the end that it will be welcomed as a personal friend in the homes of its subscribers. While a student in Kansas University, he was one of the organizers of its first student council, was during his four years of residence at Lawrence a member of the varsity basket ball team, and its captain during his junior year. He is a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and Minneapolis Lodge, No. 143, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

On December 10, 1913, Mr. Woodward was united in marriage with Miss Beatrice Reed, of Glasco, Kan. She is a graduate of the collegiate department of Kansas University with the class of 1911, and subsequently was employed as a teacher in the Glasco High School. She is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority.