Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

W. R. Woodward, who in connection with David Clarkson owns the Maple Valley Evergreen Farm, consisting of seven hundred and twenty acres, situated in Maple Valley township, is numbered among Buena Vista county's well-to-do and prosperous citizens.  Mr. Woodward is a native of the neighboring state of Illinois, born near Aurora, in Kane county, September 11, 1847.  He grew to maturity in Kane county and acquired a limited education in the district schools but is largely a self educated man.  He was a young man of twenty-two years, when, on the 28th of January, 1869, he was married in Cook county, Illinois, to Miss Deborah Rosecrans, a daughter of Horace Rosecrans, and a distant relative of General Rosecrans, who won fame in the Civil war.

Following his marriage Mr. Woodward engaged in farming in Kane and Cook counties for several years and in 1876 made his way to Buena Vista county, Iowa, where he purchased eighty acres of land, situated on section 3, Maple Valley township.  As he prospered in his undertakings and his financial resources permitted he added to his original purchase from time to time until his farm embraced four hundred and forty acres.  He built fences, set out a grove and in other ways improved the place until it became a valuable property.  After retaining possession of the same for nineteen years he sold the property and invested his money with Mr. Clarkson in a tract of land which is known as the Maple Valley Evergreen Farm.  This tract consists of seven hundred and twenty acres, located in Maple Valley township and is one of the best improved farms in Buena Vista county.  Their time is chiefly given to raising and feeding stock, of which they annually ship to market from one to four hundred head of cattle and from three to four carloads of hogs.  They are the most extensive feeders in Maple Valley township, buying from twenty to thirty thousand bushels of corn, in addition to feeding that of their own raising.  In addition to his interest in this farm, Mr. Woodward also owns one hundred and sixty acres on section 30, Maple Valley township, so that he is one of the largest landowners in this section of the state.  In the spring of 1908 Mr. Woodward removed to Alta but still gives his attention to his stock-raising interests, making daily trips to the farm.  This place[,] aside from being one of the most valuable in the county, is also one of the most attractive, for it is supplied with a good residence, barns and outbuildings and has a large grove of evergreen, pine ash and maple trees.

Politically Mr. Woodward is a republican but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to give his undivided time and attention to his private business affairs.  He was reared in the faith of the Baptist church, while his fraternal relations are with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.  He has spent a busy, active and useful life and his labors have been crowned with that measure of success which ever comes by honest, earnest effort, and today he finds a place among the prominent citizens of Alta and Buena Vista County.