ALFRED J. WOODMAN
Since
1873 Alfred J. Woodman has been in the hardware, furniture and
undertaking business in Russell, and during the intervening
years has secured an enviable reputation for integrity and
honor in all business relations. He was born in Somerset county, Maine,
August 23, 1851, and is a son of John and Rebecca J. Woodman,
natives of Maine, where the father engaged in farming and also
in surveying for a number of years. He was well known in local politics,
holding a number of county offices, and was numbered among the
representative men of Somerset county. Both parents passed
away in Russell. On
the paternal side the family is of old American establishment,
representatives of the line having landed at Newbray in 1635. There is still in
the possession of Alfred J. Woodman a deed conveying property
from Richard Hopkins to the Woodman family. The subject of this
review is of the ninth generation of the American branch and
is one of five children born to his parents. The others were Dr.
J. W. Woodman, Mrs. Eliza J. Fogg, Mrs. Abbie Eaton and Eben,
all of whom have passed away.
Alfred J. Woodman was reared in his native county, acquiring his education in the public schools and in an academy in Maine. After completing his studies he came in 1873 to Russell, this county, where he established himself in the hardware, furniture and undertaking business, continuing thus to the present time. He carries a full line of shelf and heavy hardware, farm implements and machinery, and has the best selected stock of furniture in this part of the county. His undertaking business is also well managed and the entire concern is large and important. Mr. Woodman established the first hardware store in Russell and the years since that time have brought him constantly increasing success and prominence, so that he is classed today with the progressive and representative business men of the city.
In
Russell, September 1, 1875, Mr. Woodman was united in marriage
to Miss Alice Butts, who was born in Cuba, New York, March 30,
1852. She is a
daughter of L. A. and Margaret (Young) Butts, the former of
whom was born in New York, June 8, 1825, and the latter in
Herkimer county, New York state, September 8th,
1828. The family
came west in 1867 and settled in Cedar township upon a farm
which the father cultivated for many years. He was a captain in
the Eighty-fifth New York Volunteer Infantry during the Civil
war, receiving his honorable discharge at the close of
hostilities. His
death occurred in Russell on December 30, 1910. His wife survives
him. Mr. and
Mrs. Butts became the parents of four children: Mrs. Woodman, wife
of the subject of this review; Edward, who was born February
7, 1854, and who resides in New York city; Charlotte, born
January 9, 1860, living with her mother in Russell; and Harry
Martin, who was born October 1, 1870, and who is now a well
known capitalist in the City of Mexico. Mr. and Mrs.
Woodman have become the parents of six children: Mrs. Abbie Boyd, of
Russell, born September 1, 1876; Edward, who was born July 28,
1880, and who is now a resident of Denver, Colorado; Bertha,
who was born September 14, 1885, and resides in Russell;
Arthur, whose birth occurred April 6, 1889, and who is
teaching in the State University of Minnesota; Helen, who was
born September 11, 1891, and who is attending Knox College at
Galesburg, Illinois; and John Herbert, born November 29, 1897. All of these
children attended the common schools in Russell and Arthur is
a graduate of the Iowa State Agricultural College at Ames. He is now a
professor in the University of Minnesota. Edward supplemented
his public school education by a course in Des Moines College.
Mr. Woodman is a member of the Baptist church at Russell and was formerly identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has held a number of town and township offices, his official record being characterized always by energetic and farsighted work in the public service. He is a broad-minded and liberal man, always ready to lend his aid or material support to any worthy public enterprise, and during his forty years’ residence in Russell he has made many substantial contributions to community advancement and progress.