This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website
Marshall Woodard
1830 - 1924
M. J.
WOODARD, manufacturer; was born in New London, Merrimack Co., N. H., and came to
Wisconsin in 1854, locating at Oak Grove, where he farmed for eight years; in
March, 1865, he came to Watertown and started a retail bakery, in connection
with his brother George, under the firm name of Woodard Bros., which continued
for two years, when they commenced the manufacture of crackers, at first with a
hand machine and after, as their business increased, added steam-power and put
in improved machinery; this business is now being carried on with the most
pleasing and profitable success. Mr. Woodard
was School Commissioner of the Fifth Ward about two terms, was also Alderman of
said ward. He married, in 1855, Mary
Spaulding, of Maine, and has five children—Frank,
Dura, Lottie, William and Myron. [C W
Butterfield, History of Jefferson County,
Wisconsin, 1869.
1864
Marshall
J. Woodard was born in New Hampshire, came to Wisconsin in 1854, and to
Watertown in 1864. He began the manufacture of crackers, at first rolled out by
hand, but soon with new and improved machinery. WDT
06 12 1976
Woodard & Stone
Later
he was a partner in the firm of Woodard &
Stone, as owners of the City Steam Bakery & Confectionary Store.
Woodard
was active in civic affairs in Watertown, and served as a school commissioner
for two terms. He is reported also to have had lumber interests on the west
coast.
1902
04
15 Promoter
of Free Public Library
1923
Dedication of Memorial Bridge - Marshall Woodard, pioneer
resident, forded the Rock River at the spot, where in 1923 Woodard, 93 years
old, was the first man to drive across the new bridge.
1924
Obituary
Watertown Gazette, 09 29 1924 (Picture)
MARSHALL JOHN WOODARD
PASSES AWAY AFTER
LONG RESIDENCE HERE
Marshall
John Woodard, pioneer resident, banker and for many years a prominent financier
in Watertown passed away at the family home, 400 North Washington Street on
Saturday afternoon at 5:30 o’clock. Mr.
Woodard lived to a ripe old age for on September 2 of this year he observed his
ninety-fourth birth anniversary.
His
death followed an illness of about ten days and he was confined to his bed for
less than a week. Pneumonia developed
early during the illness and although there was a strong hope for his recovery
by members of his family his end came peacefully and brought to a close a long
and useful life. His death will be
learned with regret by all and especially by his close relatives as in the
environment of his family home was his worth and kindness especially known.
Marshall
John Woodard first saw the light of day in New London, New Hampshire, September
2, 1830. He was a son of John King
Woodard, who died here November 20, 1873.
His mother was Mehitable (Sargent)
Woodard who died in Oak Grove on January 14, 1862. Mr. Woodard came west to seek his fortune and
located on a farm in the town of Oak Grove, Dodge County, in 1855. He followed farming pursuits until the spring
of 1864 when he came to Watertown where with his brothers, George and Stephen
Woodard, he established a small bakery business in North Water street under the
firm name of Woodard Brothers, which they continued until 1871, when the late
Lieutenant Governor Jesse Stone entered the firm which was then called the Woodard Brothers & Stone and thereafter
the business was conducted under the firm name of Woodard & Stone, which
title it held until the business, which had grown to immense proportions, was
sold to the National Biscuit company.
Mr. Woodard retiring from active business pursuits.
Besides
his many other business enterprises he has been one of the leading bankers in
the city. He entered the directorate of
the Bank of Watertown in 1883 and for many
years was the vice president of this financial institution, his sound judgment
and good business qualifications making him a valued member of the
directorate. He retired from the vice
presidency of the bank ten years ago.
Mr.
Woodard exemplified the type of a self made man. By industrious methods and strict attention
to business he rose rapidly in the commercial world and was looked upon as a
man whose advice was well worth considering in business matters and it was
eagerly sought and followed. As a
partner in the business firm which bore his name he had much to do with the
rapid growth and development of this industry, its fame being known all over
the middle west and even to more remote points.
Mr.
Woodard was strictly a home man and there is where his loss will be felt the
greatest, as his devotion to his wife and children was well known and on the
latter will fall the heavy burden of his loss.
In his business life his word was as good as gold and his honesty was
proverbial. He began life as a farmer’s
boy and never allowed a legitimate opportunity for improvement to escape him,
and following this line of action he honorably worked his way up and won the reward
which follows a diligent exercise of the qualities of character made potent by
the force of application, industry and integrity. He goes to his Creator, hopeful of the reward
of a well spent life. His was a noble
Christian character and when confined by sickness bore his suffering patiently,
and when the end came was ready to meet it.
Mr.
Woodard had been prominently identified with the material and social life of
Watertown for more than half a century and his death is likened unto the
severing of a link which united the present and the pioneer past. He played well his part in promoting the
industrial life of Watertown and he possessed the respect and esteem of all and
won the warm regard of all with whom he came in contact. He was a loyal citizen and a true
friend. He never aspired to office,
although he held several local offices of trust and responsibility. He was
school commissioner of the Fifth ward and also served as alderman of that ward.
Prominent Mason
He was
a member of the Congregational church and
was also a member of several Masonic bodies, Watertown Lodge No. 49, F. A. and
M.; Watertown Chapter No. 11, R. A. M.; Olivet Commandery
No. 18, K. T.; Wisconsin Consistory; and the Mystic Shrine.
In all
of those positions of trust and responsibility he was never found wanting and
filled honorably and conscientiously every niche in which duty placed him. He was the soul of integrity and always had
consideration for his fellow man. No
mind was more fair or just and was distinctly a safe, patriotic gentleman and a
model in every relation of life – at home, in business and in church.
Mr.
Woodard was united in wedlock with Mary Spaulding, October 7, 1855. She preceded him in death December 31,
1900. He is survived by four sons and one
daughter, F. E. Woodard of this city, D. M. Woodard of Los Angeles, Cal., W. H.
Woodard of this city, M. C. Woodard of Portland, Ore., Mrs. W. L. Cheney of
Milwaukee. There are ten grandchildren.
The
funeral will be held on Wednesday afternoon.
Services will be held at the home at 2:30 o’clock. In the absence of the Rev. Earl W. Foster,
Dr. Henry Faville of Lake Mills will officiate. Burial
will be in Oak Hill cemetery. Friends are asked to omit flowers.
____________________________________________________________________
Woodard Home
Early
in his Watertown business career he built a large Watertown brick home at 400 North Washington Street (listed in
directories of the late 60’s as being at West Washington and the SW county
line).
Many
of the beautiful old homes in Watertown have fine woodwork and this is particularly
evident in the Woodard home, now owned by Mrs. Robert E. Wills. Mrs. Wills
tells of the different woods used in rooms of the home, one bedroom has
birds-eye maple, another cherry wood, hardwood maple floors are throughout the
home, and the large foyer is paneled in quarter sawn oak for a particularly
fine grain. There are fitted shelves in the closets and cedar closets in the
house. There are five stairways in the home, two up from the basement, two to
the second floor, and one to the attic. Many of the bedrooms originally were
fitted with marble sinks.
The
Wills family retained the beautiful hardware used - brass and copper doorknobs
and plate are on the doors in the home.
Mr.
and Mrs. Wills bought the home in 1959. Previous owners were the John Jayes and the Herbert Langes.
Carriage House
The
barn or carriage house is still on the property. Woodard family carriages were
kept there and handsome horses in the stable part, these carriages and horses
were frequently on call for Watertown's big parades in those years.
2009
05
15 Mary Woodard Lasker
Stamp Ceremony
Ceremony will be held on the front lawn of the
Marshall Woodard home on N. Washington St where Mary Lasker
was born and grew up.
Cross References:
1910c,
Woodard Home, 400 N Washington
Marshall Woodward home, 400 N Washington
2005,
WHS_005_234, 400 N Washington
2007, Birdseye, 400 N Washington
