Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 652 - 654 

WILLIAM D. WOODRING. This honored pioneer of Sedgwick County was one of those home-seekers of eleven years ago who beheld with admiration one of the finest garden spots of the West, and recognized in the soil the materials from which could be built up with comparatively little effort a commonwealth second to none in the United States. He was particularly susceptible to the fact that here was a country which deserved to be settled up by an energetic and intelligent class of people. He had himself been born and reared in the wealthy and populous State of Ohio, whose sons were almost invariably imbued with the spirit of enterprise calculated to build up, upon a similar soil, the institutions which had made his native State one of the most prosperous of those lying east of the Mississippi.

             Mr. Woodring is the scion of an excellent old family, his parents having been John and Hannah (Isley) Woodring, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Tennessee. They settled in Preble County, Ohio, soon after their marriage, where the father carried on farming, and where the mother departed this life about 1857. The father is still living at the old homestead, and is now arrived at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. The parental household included seven children, of whom the following survive: Catherine, the wife of Henry Oiler, of Carroll County, Ind.; William D., our subject; Elizabeth, the wife of George Wysong, of White County, Ind.; Hannah, the wife of Henry Folick, of Preble County, Ohio. The deceased are Joseph, Jacob and Margaret. His grandfather Isley lived to be one hundred and ten years old, and was married the second time at the age of eighty years to a young girl eighteen years old. Mrs. Woodring's grandfather was the father of twenty-one boys and three girls, born to him by two wives, and they all grew to maturity.

             The paternal ancestors of our subject were of German descent, and his grandfather, John Woodring, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War fighting against the British during the struggle of the Colonies for independence. He began his military career at the early age of seventeen, and continued in the ranks for a period of six years, and until the close of the war. Upon the outbreak of the troubles of 1812, he re-entered the service, and after the Britishers had been whipped the second time, settled in Preble County, Ohio, among the pioneers of 1820. He there spent the remainder of his days, and died at the age of fourscore and ten years.

             Our subject has in his possession a Sharp's rifle which was carried by Grandfather Woodring when he was serving as a Revolutionary, soldier, and which it is believed caused many a Britisher to bite the dust. As may be supposed it is preserved in the family as a priceless relic, and is still in serviceable condition and. frequently used by the sons of our subject in their pursuit of game. It carries a half-ounce ball and is very accurate in its aim. This old firearm is probably the only one of its kind in Sedgwick County, and the very day upon which the biographer "interviewed" it, illustrated the manner in which it had retained its usefulness by sending four "bulls-eyes" directly to the point at which they were aimed. The family have also in their possession an old rocking-chair that has been in the family for generations.

            William D. Woodring was reared to manhood in the Buckeye State, having been born Oct. 11, 1826, and was favored with the advantages only of a limited education, picking up his book knowledge principally in the pioneer school, which was conducted but a few weeks during the winter season. The balance of the year his time was employed, in common with his brothers, as the assistant of the father in building up the homestead. He was married after reaching the twenty-sixth year of his age, on the 4th of July, 1852, to Miss Barbara Shock, also a native of Preble County, and who was born Oct. 6, 1828. Mrs. Woodring is the daughter of Daniel and Sophia (Crowl) Shock, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. They moved to Preble County after their marriage and during its early settlement, beginning life in a cabin in the wilderness, when the father was obliged to cut away the trees with his ax in order to provide a shelter for his family. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. W., Jacob Crowl by name, served as a soldier all through the Revolutionary War, fighting sturdily for truth and justice. After the conflict had ended he settled in Montgomery County, Ohio, where he spent his last days. Magdalena Crowl, his wife, lived to be ninety-six years old.

             To the parents of Mrs. Woodring there were born eight children, of whom the following survive: Catherine, the wife of Frederick Ockleman, of Darke County, Ohio; Barbara, of our sketch; Lucinda, the wife of John Brubaker, of Ohio; Sophia, Mrs. Elias Huff, of Carroll County, Ind., and Aaron, of Howard County, Ind. The deceased are: Susan, Mary, Elizabeth and Jacob. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Woodring seven are living, namely: Mary, the wife of Jeremiah Haynes, of Pratt County, this State; John, Daniel, Cornelius and Edward, of Salem Township; Elizabeth, Mrs. William Taylor, of Stafford County, this State, and Aaron, at home. George A. and Amos died in infancy.

             Mr. and Mrs. Woodring after their marriage continued to live in Ohio until 1859, when he moved to Indiana, where he remained until the spring of 1877, and then came with their family to this county, locating on their present farm. The land at that time was in an uncultivated state, no improvements whatever having been made, and they first began housekeeping in an unpretentious dwelling. Providence smiled upon their labors, and their homestead now includes 240 acres of as fertile land as is to be found on the southern line of Sedgwick County. The buildings are tasteful and substantial, and around them are all the evidences of civilization, a fine orchard with the smaller fruit trees, convenient out-buildings, and a choice assortment of live stock. The farm machinery is of the most approved pattern, and, the smiling fields give evidence of the thoroughness and skill with which they have been cultivated.

              As neighbors, friends and citizens, our subject and his estimable lady are held in the highest regard. Both are members of the German Baptist Church, in which Mr. W. has held the office of Deacon for a number of years and is still serving in that capacity. They are passing quietly down the sunset hill of life, enjoying the esteem and confidence of their neighbors and the affection of their children and friends. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Woodring also served as a Revolutionary soldier, and was the son of Jacob Crowl.

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