William Frank Woodcock

WOODCOCK, BREEN, MCKAY

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 5/14/2007 at 16:02:51

William Frank Woodcock, who is the proprietor of a well patronized general store in Buffalo Center, was born in Kossuth county, four miles west of Algona, August 15, 1872, and is a son of William and Barbara (McKay) Woodcock, natives respectively of New Brunswick and Maine. They were among the first settlers of Kossuth county and the father took up under the homestead law the east half of the northwest quarter of section 12, range 95, township 30. He farmed until 1894, when he retired to Buffalo Center, where he passed away. He was buried in the first cemetery laid out in the town. Of the family five children survive and our subject is the fourth in order of birth.

William F. Woodcock completed his education at the age of sixteen and from that time until he was twenty years old assisted his father in the operation of the home farm, but in 1892 came to Buffalo Center with his brother, John W. Woodcock, in partnership with whom he engaged in the hay business for six years. Later he turned his attention to the real estate field and was active as a dealer in realty until 1908, when he bought out Charles Leibsohn, a general merchant of Buffalo Center. He has proved very successful in the management of his store and his stock of dry goods, shoes, clothing and groceries is complete and well adapted to the needs of his patrons. His well earned reputation for reasonable prices has been an important factor in building up the large trade which he enjoys and his store is recognized as the largest and most important one in the town.

Mr. Woodcock was married in 1895 to Miss Catherine Breen, a daughter of Cornelius and Catherine Breen, who homesteaded land near Titonka, Iowa, in the early days of that section and later removed to Wesley, Iowa, where they lived retired. Both are deceased and are buried at Algona. Mr. and Mrs. Woodcock have two children, Leo and Arnold, both at home.

Mr. Woodcock supports the republican party at the polls but has never been an aspirant for office. He has filled all the chairs in the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, in which he is now trustee, and has also been a member of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, and in the Modern Woodmen of America he has held all the chairs and is now serving as banker. He began his independent career without capital, but as the years have passed his resources have steadily increased until he is now in excellent circumstances and he takes justifiable pride in the fact that all he has is the direct result of his own industry and the wise direction of his business interests.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, 1917, Vol. II, page 142.