Was born in Morris County, New Jersey, May 14, 1822. His father was born in New Jersey, and his mother in Massachusetts; she died in the year 1827, and his father died in 1845. Young Woodruff was brought up on a farm and educated at the district schools. At the age of nineteen years he learned the trade of a carpenter, and, after working in his native place two years, he went to Franklin County, Ohio, where he remained about seventeen years, then removed to Marion County, Indiana, and lived seven years, and in 1868 came to Missouri and located in Daviess County. He was married, May 29, 1845, to Miss Esther Albrey, of Franklin County, Ohio, born November 18, 1821. By this marriage five children were born:: Amanda, wife of R. Valandingham; Hermann T.; Lucy Bell, wife of L.. C. Grantham; Alice J., wife of Absalom Frazier; and Anna Maria, who died at the age of eleven years. Mrs. Woodruff died July 8, 1878. She had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty years and a lady highly respected. She was of the noted family of Albreys, prominent lawyers in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Woodruff was united in marriage, on April 14th, 1880, to Mrs. Mary L. Stearns, widow of William Stearns. She was a native of Virginia, and her maiden name was Mary L. Lloyd. Mr. Woodruff has a fine farm of forty acres which he cultivates in addition to working at his trade. He has served as County judge for three years; also, as township register and school officer. He served as a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, and for thirty years has been a local preacher in the church.
