My Genealogy Hound

LEONARD P. WOODWORTH, M. D., was born in Compton Center, Canada East, July 12, 1839, and is a son of Commodore Perry (who was a cousin of the great Commodore Perry) Woodworth. The father was born also in Canada; moved in 1847 to Indiana, and settled in LaGrange county, where he lived till 1859, when he moved to Columbia county. Wis., residing there until 1883, and thence moved to Iroquois county, Ill., where he died in 1887, aged seventy-five years. By trade he was a cabinet-maker, for many years was engaged in the furniture business, and towards the latter part of his life also in farming. Subject’s mother was Drusilla Stearns, who was a native of Massachusetts, died in the fall of 1889, in Iroquois county. Ill., aged seventy-six.

Leonard P. Woodworth is the fourth of eleven children — Julia, Mary, Sarah, L. P., Rosanna, Levi, William, Cornelia, Susan, an infant that died unnamed, and Carrie. The Doctor educated himself, and has done for himself since he was twelve years old. He attended Delton academy at Delton, Wis., and began reading medicine, in 1860, with Dr. G. W. Jenkins, but at the first call to arms entered the Union army in 1861, entering Company E, Twelfth Wisconsin infantry, as a private. He was immediately detailed as a hospital steward, and served as such for three years. He first went to Weston, Mo., and then to Kansas City, Mo., having been ordered to New Mexico, but got only as far as Fort Riley, Kas., when he was ordered back to Columbus, Ky. He was in the Kentucky and Tennessee campaigns of that date, then the Vicksburg campaign, then the Meridian campaign, and afterwards on the “March to the Sea.” Later he was commissioned second lieutenant of the regular army, on duty with the Sixty-fourth colored infantry, and was president of the commission appointed to investigate the claim of Joe Davis for damages for property destroyed; and still later was provost marshal of the district of Yazoo, and located at Yazoo, Miss. He remained at Yazoo till March 13, 1866, and was then mustered out. Returned to Wisconsin, he opened a drug store at Necedah, Juneau county, where he also practiced medicine for two years. He then attended lectures at the Rush Medical college at Chicago, from which he graduated in 1870, taking a special course on diseases of the eye and ear. Returning to Necedah he resumed practice and the drug business, and continued at these till 1880, when he went to Milford, Ill., and engaged in the practice of medicine, in that place, in connection with Dr. J. C. Rickey, remaining there till 1883, when became to Kearney, where he has since resided. He practiced alone after locating in Kearney, till 1887, when he admitted Dr. B. F. Jones to a partnership, the firm becoming Woodworth & Jones, and so continuing.

Dr. Woodworth owns about sixteen hundred acres of land in Buffalo county, has farming carried on extensively, and owns a number of fine horses and fine cattle — some thoroughbreds.

Dr. Woodworth, while still in the army and while at home on a brief furlough, was married January 5, 1865, to Miss Maggie A. Darling, but the honey-moon lasted only two short weeks when the groom, in obedience to the stern demands of military discipline, returned to the front to resume his duties in behalf of this struggling country, while the bride betook herself again to the class-room to prosecute with undiminished faithfulness and vigor her daily labor of love and kindness. They were reunited after four months, and since have borne each other the cherished companionship which they sought with each other’s hand, and have realized in a large measure the fervent hopes and happy expectations promised them as the full fruition of their wedded life. Mrs. Woodworth is a lady of culture and refinement, being a graduate of Bunson Institute of Point Bluff, Wis., and keeping up even in her maturer years an interest in the studies of youth. At the time of her marriage she and her sister had charge of the Delton academy, at Delton, Wis., which school reached a high rank, under her able numagement, among the educational institutions of the state. Two children born to Dr. and Mrs. Woodworth are now living, a son and daughter — Herbert L. and Emma L.

Dr. Woodworth has always exhibited great zeal and interest in matters pertaining to his profession and he has, whenever opportunity offered, allied himself with all associations seeking the promotion of the good of the profession, and to help to the extent of his means and ability all purposes of that nature.

While a resident of Wisconsin and Illinois he was an active member of the county and state medical societies where he resided, and took an active part in the workings of these societies. He is and has been for years a member of the Masonic order, having taken all the degrees up to and including that of Knight Templar, being a member also of the Mystic Shrine. He, his wife and children are members of the Methodist church and give liberally to charity. In personal appearance Dr. Woodworth, while small of stature, is large of head and pleasing in address, being generous of heart, with a kindly face, and a voice which has been attuned in tenderness to the many varying forms of sorrow which he has witnessed in his ministrations among the afflicted. Unlike many of his professional brethren he does not believe in the all curing power of drugs, but believes in carrying common sense into the sick room and making use of many of the so called simple remedies. Ever bearing with him an air of cheerfulness he inspires hope and confidence in his patients, and to the weak and despondent he prescribes liberally of the “medicine of mirth.” Yet withal is he positive, requiring the strictest compliance with his orders and instructions, and that done he holds himself responsible for the rest, so far at least as an honest conscientious physician who knows the limits of his profession and the bounds of his own knowledge and skill — can hold himself responsible for final results.