Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1079 - 1080

WILLIAM WOODMAN, one of the self-made men of Park Township, whose early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, commenced in life without other capital than his strong hands and resolute will, and has attained to a fine position, socially and financially, among his fellow-citizens. His homestead, one of the most noticeable in Park Township, embraces a fertile tract of land under thorough cultivation, and is finely located on section 26. Both as a business man and a citizen the proprietor stands well among the men of his township and vicinity as having materially assisted in the development of one of the richest sections in the Southwest.

             Mr. Woodman was born in Devonshire, England, July 6, 1850, and until a youth of eighteen years, spent the greater part of his time amid the scenes of his boyhood. His school advantages were exceedingly limited, but he gained a thorough knowledge of farming under the careful supervision of his honored father. Not contented, however, with his prospects or his condition upon his native soil, he resolved to emigrate to America, and embarking at Liverpool, landed two weeks later at Quebec, and in the vicinity of Thornhill Station, twelve miles from Toronto, engaged as a farm laborer eighteen months, and in the meantime also supplemented his education by a further attendance at school during the winter season.

             Mr. Woodman, in the spring of 1869, came to the States, and making his way directly westward, crossed the Mississippi and located first near Charles City, Iowa. That section of country, however, did not quite meet his requirements, and he proceeded eastward again as far as Morgan County, Ill., where he engaged first as a farm laborer, and subsequently became the employe of Andrew Russell, in the city of Jacksonville, with whom he continued for a period of seven years.

             In the spring of 1878, still bent upon a permanent location in the farther West, young Woodman once more crossed the Father of Waters, and traveled over the greater portion of this State. The outlook in Sedgwick County appeared the most favorable of anything he had met, and returning to Illinois to complete his arrangements for a final removal, he subsequently made his way back to Sedgwick County and located in Park Township, where he has since remained. He began operations here on the farm of his brother, where he continued six years, bringing the land to a good state of cultivation and effecting many improvements.

             Mr. Woodman had now provided himself with sufficient means to secure property of his own, and invested his capital in an uncultivated tract of land, which is included in his present farm. Here he began at the very foot of the ladder, tilling the crude soil, building fences, and gradually gathering around him all the appliances required by the skillful and progressive agriculturist. From general farming, at which he made good headway, he finally launched into stock-raising, and now has a herd of over fifty head of fine cattle, for the purpose of feeding and shipping to the Eastern market.

             The parents of our subject, John and Grace (Moore) Woodman, were also of English birth and parentage, and the father engaged in farming in a small way in his native county. He died there in 1887, when nearly seventy years of age. The mother is still living in England, and will probably spend her days on her native soil. Of the eleven children comprising the household circle, eight grew to mature years. Elizabeth, the eldest daughter, died in England when about three years of age; John is a resident of Jacksonville, Ill.; William, of our sketch, was the fourth in order of birth; Thomas is farming in Park Township, this county; Robert came to the United States some years ago, but after a brief stay returned to his native Devonshire, where he now resides; Edward is farming in Morton County, this State; Mary Jane is the wife of William Herrneman, and continues to live in her native England, together with Elizabeth (2d) and James. A younger child died when about one year old.

             While a resident of Jacksonville, William Woodman was united in marriage, Oct. 17, 1876, with Miss Mary E., daughter of John and Hannah (Morton) Wheeler, who were also of English birth and ancestry. Mrs. Woodman was born in Somersetshire, Nov. 18, 1854, and came with her parents to the United States about 1872, settling in Jacksonville, Ill., where the latter died after a few years. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler were the parents of three children, namely: Anna, Mrs. John Woodman, of Jacksonville, Ill.; George A., also of that city, and Mary E., Mrs. William Woodman. To our subject and his wife there have been born four children - William George, Jennie Louisa, Bessie and Amelia. The eldest is ten years of age and the youngest one. Mr. Woodman usually votes the straight Republican ticket, but at the local elections supports the man whom he considers best qualified for office. Religiously, he was reared a Presbyterian, to the faith of which he still loyally adheres.

             After remaining in America nine years, William and Thomas crossed the Atlantic to the home of their birth, and visited their parents, remaining there about four months. They then boarded the steamer "Algeria," of the Cunard line, for their home.

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