This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website
Marshall
Woodard
1830 -
1924
1864
Watertown Daily Times, 06 12 1976
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.
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.
1923
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.
Cross references:
Washington, N, 400 1910c,
Woodard Home
Washington, N, 400 Marshall Woodward home
Washington, N, 400 2005,
WHS_005_234
