The subject is now practically living retired in Salem, Illinois. Through
his long connection with agricultural interests he not only carefully
conducted his farm, but so managed its affairs that he acquired thereby a
position among the substantial residents of the community. Moreover he is
entitled to representation in this volume because he is one of the native
sons of Marion county, and his mind bears the impress of its early
historical annals, and from the pioneer days down to the present he has been
an interested witness of its development.
W. R. Woodard was born in
Marion county, about five miles northwest of Salem, August 8, 1844, the son
of Charles Woodard, a native of Ohio, who came to Illinois in 1840, settling
on the farm where our subject was born, and he continued to live there until
1904, developing an excellent farm and reaping rich rewards for his toil
from year to year, for he was a thrifty man of the best type of
agriculturist. In 1904 he moved to Salem where he spent his old age,
surrounded with the comforts of life, which his manhood years, in the youth
and "noon" of life had accumulated, having passed to his rest in Salem,
February 10, 1907, more than eighty-seven years old. He was at one time
postmaster at Tonti.
He worked in a carding mill in Salem for some
time, and had the weave made up into clothes. The paternal grandfather of
the subject was Joshua Woodard, who was a native of Pennsylvania and who
migrated to Ohio and then to Illinois with his son, the father of our
subject. He made a success of whatever he undertook, being a man of sterling
qualities, like most of the pioneers of the country of those early days. He
finally went back to Ohio where he died.
The mother of our subject
was Ann Allmon in her maidenhood, the representative of a fine old family in
Tennessee. Her people finally moved to Marion county, Illinois, where she
passed to her rest in 1884. Four children were born to the subject's
parents, W. R., our subject; A. J., who lives on a farm near the old home
place; Elizabeth Ann, widow of J. H. Scott, living near Tonti; Ann, who died
in infancy.
Our subject was reared on his father's farm and attended
the country schools in that neighborhood, having applied himself in such a
manner as to gain a fairly good education for those primitive school days.
He lived on the old farm where he made a decided success at agricultural
pursuits until he moved to Salem in 1904. He erected a house on the old
homestead for himself, where he spent his years of labor in comfort and
plenty. Mr. Woodard was united in marriage in 1871 to Mrs. Martha N. (Deeds)
Nichols, whose parents came to this state from Virginia when she was one
year old. She was always known as a woman of many fine personal traits. Four
children were born to the subject and wife, all deceased, three having died
in infancy, and the fourth after reaching maturity. Our subject always took
considerable interest in public affairs and he was appointed postmaster of
Tonti after his father gave it up. He has also been honored with township
offices in Tonti township.
Mr. Woodard is a faithful member of the
Methodist Episcopal church of Salem, and his wife is also a consistent
member of this church, both ranking high in the congregation of the same.
Our subject has spent his long and useful life in Marion county, and it is
interesting to hear him tell of the early days when Salem was a small hamlet
with but a few houses and much wild game was in the great forests and on the
uncultivated prairies roundabout. He has been a man of good business
judgment and a hard worker, consequently he has made a success of his life
work which has always been carried on in an honest manner. He owns a good
residence in Salem, where he is regarded as a good law abiding citizen, and
where he has many personal friends.
Extracted 03 Nov 2017 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 375-377.