Woodbury, Edmund I. (1830-1913)

WOODBURY

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 1/26/2009 at 13:39:37

Edmund Israel Woodbury
(March 7, 1830 - October 14, 1913)

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.59, Council Bluffs)
E. J. Woodbury, dentist, Council Bluffs, was born in Bolton, Mass., in 1830. Studied his profession in Worcester, Mass., where he lived till 1852, then went to Ohio and remained there until he came to Iowa. He settled in Council Bluffs in 1858, and immediately established dental rooms. The Doctor was married in Townsend, Mass., in the spring of 18855 and has three sons and two daughters. The eldest son, H. A. Woodbury, is a graduate of Boston Dental College; the other children are at home. Dr. Woodbury is one of the most popular and best known dentists in Council Bluffs, having been in business there twenty-four years.
Note: His gravestone in Walnut Hill Cemetery, Council Bluffs, Iowa lists his name as Edmund I. Woodbury.

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.406)
DR. EDMUND I. WOODBURY, of Council Bluffs, is one of the leading dentists of Western Iowa, and an early settler of this city, where he located and began the practice of his profession July 1, 1858. He was born in the town of Bolton, Worcester County, Massachusetts, March 7, 1830. He descended from an early and well-known New England family. The subject of this sketch was born in the same place, as were his father and grandfather, both of whom were named Israel WOODBURY. Both the grandfather and the great-grandfather were soldiers in the Revolution. The family is of English origin. Dr. WOODBURY's mother was Mrs. Olive SNOW before her marriage to his father; her maiden name was Olive BERRY. She was born in the town of Brewster, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. The father of our subject was twice married, and was the father of fifteen children, ten of whom, including the Doctor, were by the second marriage. The parents continued to live at the old home until death. Israel WOODBURY, the father, was a mason and contractor.
Dr. WOODBURY was reared in his native town, where he received a good English education. In 1852, having completed the study of dentistry in Worcester, Massachusetts, he went to Yellow Springs, Ohio, and engaged in the practice of his profession, remaining there nearly six years, when he came to Council Bluffs, There he soon established a good business, and his professional career has been a successful one, and he is numbered among the enterprising citizens of Council Bluffs. In 1890 he erected a fine brown stone block on Pearl Street, a part of which comprises the dental rooms of Woodbury & Sons. He has a fine residence on the corner of Bluff and Story Streets. In 1854 Dr. Woodbury was married to Elizabeth WHITNEY, daughter of Nathan WHITNEY. Mrs. WOODBURY also belongs to an early Massachusetts family. They have six children. The oldest, Edmond N., died at the age of seven years; Herbert A., second, is a graduate of the Boston Medical College in the class of 1889. The third son and fourth child is Charles E., also a graduate of the same dental school in 1887. These sons are now associated with their father in business. The eldest daughter and third child is Olive L., wife of Rev. T. B. GREENLEE, of Hillsboro, Illinois. At the present time, January 1, 1891, Cora L., the fifth child, is at home, Ernest I., the youngest, is at the State University, Iowa City.

(from Biographies and Portraits of Progressive Men of Iowa…, by Gue & Shambaugh, 1899, vol.2, p.589-590)
Dr. Edmund Israel Woodbury, of Council Bluffs, was born in Bolton, Massachusetts, March 7, 1830, in the homestead built and originally occupied by his great-grandfather, afterwards owned by his father, adjoining the estate of his grandfather, who served in the War of the Revolution. His father, Israel Woodbury Jr., was born in Bolton, Massachusetts, November 13, 1785, and died April 6, 1852. His early life was spent on a farm and later he taught school winters while learning and following his trade as a mason during the summers. He was in business in Bolton, Massachusetts, as a contractor and builder for many years, having business also in the surrounding towns and in Boston. He took much interest in military affairs, and in early life was a major of Militia. He was twice married. His first wife’s name was Tabitha Wilder and of this marriage five children were born, one son and four daughters. His second marriage was to Mrs. Olive Snow, widow of Edmund F. Snow of Boston, who died less than a year after her marriage to him. Her maiden name was Olive Berry. Of this marriage ten children were born, five daughters and five sons, among whom was Dr. Woodbury, who was the third child. Israel Woodbury, his grandfather, was born April 13, 1756, and died August 23, 1847. His wife’s name was Annie Morgan and they had ten children. He was a Revolutionary soldier, serving with distinction to the end of the war, when he settled on a large farm, a part of his father’s estate. He received a lieutenant’s commission from Governor Sumner of Massachusetts, September 4, 1797. This commission is now in the possession of Dr. Woodbury. Another historical family document which the Doctor highly prizes is the original muster call issued in his Majesty’s name by Captain Robert Woodbury to his son, Corporal Robert Woodbury Jr., requiring him to call his squad of soldiers together fully equipped for review in Beverly, Massachusetts, June 14, 1731. The Woodbury family are descendants of “Ye Ancient Familie of Woodbury,” Devonshire, England, where a common and castle still bear the Woodbury name, which is represented in America by the numerous descendants of John and William Woodbury, of that part of Salem, Massachusetts, which is now Beverly. John Woodbury, who appeared at Cape Ann, 1623-4, Salem, 1626, was identified with most of the important interests in the early settlement of the Salem Colony, and with Roger Conant, stood next to Governor Endicott in civil matters. In 1627 he was sent as agent to England, returning in 1628, “bringing a comfortable answer to them that sent him.” September 27, 1630, “John Woodbury is chosen constable of Salem.” He was one of the original members of the first church built in Salem, Massachusetts in 1626. In 1635 and 1638 he attended the General Court as Deputy for Salem, and the same year received a grant of land from the ruling magistrate. William Woodbury built the first dwelling house at Beverly, a garrison house, in 1630; and after the death of his elder brother, John, in 1641, succeeded him in many important offices. The Woodbury family were prominently identified with the early civil and military history of New England.
Dr. Edmund Israel Woodbury was educated in the common schools of New England and received his professional education as a dentist at Worcester, Massachusetts, obtaining his degree in September 1852. Thence he went to Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he practice his profession for five years, moving to Council Bluffs, Iowa, July 1, 1858. He was the first established dentist in that place or in western Iowa. He was among the first members of the Iowa State Dental Society, prominently connected with this organization and active in its work. In 1872 he was president of the society. He was a charter member and one of the first presidents of the Missouri Valley Dental Society. Dr. Woodbury is still active in his profession and is one of the instructors and lecturers in the dental department of the University of Omaha. There are few men in the entire West who are better known in the profession. He has invented and is manufacturing several dental specialties of recognized worth. Although busily occupied in his profession, he had found time to devote to public enterprises, being one of the early promoters of the city of Council Bluffs, taking great interest in its growth and prosperity, having built several of the best business and residence properties in the city. For several years he was in partnership with O. H. Brown in the drug business, was also quite prominent in western Iowa as a horticulturist, demonstrating the fact that fruit could be successfully grown on the hills along the Missouri River. In spite of opposition he planted his orchard and lived to see his hopes realized. Dr. Woodbury has been a life long republican, but has never been an aspirant to official position. He believes, however, that it is a duty every good citizen owes to his country to vote his principles at the caucus, primaries and election. He is a prominent and active member of the Presbyterian Church, becoming a member in 1863. He was elected elder in 1873 and in 1893 he was a commissioner to the General Assembly of that church at Washington, D. C. He was married on May 25, 1854 to Elizabeth Whitney of West Townsend, Massachusetts. Her ancestors came from England in 1635 and were prominent in early colonial and Revolutionary history. They had born to them six children: Edmund Nathan, born January 31, 1857, died November 4, 1863; Herbert Arthur, born July 9, 1859, graduated from Boston Dental College in 1880, associating with his father in business at Council Bluffs, Iowa, he helped to organize and was professor of operative dentistry in the dental department of the University of Omaha and was den of that institution. He was married June 6, 1900 to Elizabeth L. Conklin; Elizabeth Olive, born August 9, 1863, graduated at Council Bluffs high school and was afterwards a student of Wellesley College, teaching for several years in Council Bluffs high school and on January 12, 1888 was married to Rev. T. B. Greenlee; Charles Elmer, born Janaury 11, 1866, graduated from Council Bluffs high school in 1883 and from Boston Dental College in 1887; now in successful practice in Council Bluffs, on November 3, 1891, being married to Miss Nellie Webster; Cora Louise, born July 20, 1868, educated in Council Bluffs and Albert Lea College, now living at home; Ernest Irving, born November 25, 1870, graduated from Chicago Homeopath Medical College in 1896 had two years hospital and post graduate course in surgery and is now practicing medicine at Burlington, Iowa.
Surrounded by a devoted family, all successful in the lines of work to which they aspired, Dr. and Mrs. Woodbury find their fondest hopes realized. They enjoy the respect and esteem of all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance and heaven’s richest blessing seems to be with them. Their home is a model of devotion and the writer of this sketch trusts that many more years of happiness will be allotted to them.