My Genealogy Hound

Francis M. Woodward, of Edina, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., December 7, 1838, and is a son of John and Fannies (Clark) Woodward, natives of Connecticut. The parents of our subject both died in Oneida County when he was but a lad of ten. Five sons and four daughters were raised to maturity, viz.; Susan, wife of Elijah Caswell, of Oneida County, N. Y.; Abbie, deceased; Asa C., M. D., of Spaulding, Greeley Co., Neb.; Samuel R., who died in this county; Daniel N., of Knox County; Weltha Ann, wife of Elijah K. Harris, of this county; John H. Woodward, of Shelby County, and Fannie, widow of Alonzo Heller, late of Baltimore, Md. Francis M. was reared to manhood in his native State, where he learned the carriage and sleigh-maker’s trade in his youthful days, but, after serving four years’ apprenticeship, never followed the business. He also studied medicine in his youth, and came west to Iowa in the winter of 1857, studying and practicing medicine in that State about two years. In the spring of 1859 he came to Knox County, and located at Novelty, reading with Thomas Rockwell, M. D., and; remained at that place until the war broke out, when, in January, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Third Missouri Cavalry (John N. Glover) Regiment, but on account of poor health, served as clerk in the quartermaster’s department until the expiration of his term of three years’ service. After the war he spent four years working in Quincy, Ill., and in the spring of 1870 engaged in the agricultural implement business at Novelty, Knox County, but removed to Edina in 1874, where he has conducted this business, and handled grass seed in a highly successful manner up to the present, being one of the largest dealers in this line of trade in Edina. December 22, 1874, he married Eliza Clark, a native of Quincy, Ill., and to this union two children are now living: Charles A. and George F. Two sons were lost by death. Mr. Woodward has been a Republican since the existence of that party, but of late years has been strictly independent in his politics. He is a member of the G. A. R., and in religion is liberal. Besides being a prominent business man, Mr. Woodward owns and manages a good farm in Bourbon Township.