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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.
1893
07 26 PRIVATE FORTUNE PLEDGED in case of
bank bankruptcy
1899
05 09 SON
DURA WOODARD NEW ALDERMAN
Alderman
Dura Woodard made his first appearance as a member of the council at its last
meeting. Alderman Woodard is yet a young
man, thoughtful in appearance, conservative in action, and has promise of
making a most desirable member. WR
10 10 DURA
WOODARD MIGHT LEAVE CITY
Our
people generally will regret to learn that Dura M. Woodard and family will in
all probability soon leave Watertown.
Mr. Woodard has secured a thirty days’ option on a half-interest in the
candy manufactory of Kopp, Dreibus & Co., at
Omaha, Neb., and the prospects are that he will purchase it, Mr. Dreibus retiring.
This business is in a very flourishing condition and Mr. Woodard
considers that he has a splendid opportunity to go into business for
himself. He goes to Omaha next week to
thoroughly investigate matters before consummating the deal. WR
1902
04
15 Promoter
of Free Public Library
1923
AT NEW MEMORIAL BRIDGE DEDICATION
A
feature of the dedication of the opening of
Memorial bridge was the presence of Marshall J. Woodard, pioneer resident
of this city, who forded the Rock River at the spot where Woodard, who is 93
years old, was the first man to drive across the new bridge. He is one of the oldest and best known
residents of this city and was one of the early day bankers in this city.
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.
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.
____________________________________________________________________
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.
In 2007 Jonathan and Melissa Lampe became owners.
Built
in 1894 for Marshall and Mary Woodard, this landmark residence retains many
original elements from the time of its construction including high ceilings,
brass hardware, stained glass windows, hardwood floors and an elaborate golden
oak staircase. The home also retains its
original butler’s pantry with a pass-through window to the dining area as well
as two large built-in glass china cabinets.
Since purchasing the home in 2007, the Lampe’s have installed several
period light fixtures, refinished woodwork and have decorated the home to
reflect its late Victorian style.
Much
has been written about the life of Marshall Woodard and his family. He was born in New Hampshire in 1830 and came
west to seek his fortune arriving in Oak Grove, Dodge County, in 1855. In 1864
he moved to Watertown and began a cracker and confectionery business on North
Water Street with his brothers George and Stephen. In 1871, Jesse Stone (who later served as Wisconsin
lieutenant governor) joined Woodard Bros. as a partner thus resulting in the
firm’s name change to Woodard & Stone.
Woodard & Stone became so successful that it caught the eye of the
National Biscuit Company, to which it was later sold.
In
addition to his business pursuits, Marshall Woodard served as a Watertown
school commissioner and a city alderman and was both a director and vice
president of the Bank of Watertown.
Marshall
Woodard married Mary Spaulding of Maine in 1855 and together they had five
children — Frank, Dura, Lottie, William and Myron. Mary died at home on Dec. 31, 1900. Upon her death, Frank, his wife, Sara, and
their two daughters, Mary and Alice went on to live with Marshall in the family
home until the late 1920s. Marshall
Woodard died at age 94 following a brief illness on Sept. 2, 1924.
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.
1894 BY FAR THE FINEST HOUSE IN THE CITY
10 12 M. J. Woodard and family have moved into
their new brick residence on North Washington Street. It is by far the finest
house in the city. The exterior presents
a fine and imposing appearance, and the interior is a model of convenience and
beauty. All of the rooms are finished in
hardwood; walnut, oak, birds-eye maple and yellow pine. It is heated by hot water, and has every
modern improvement. The reception hall,
parlors, dining room and library are so nicely arranged and fitted out that
every good housekeeper cannot help growing envious on seeing them. We know of no family that are more deserving
of a beautiful home than they, and with their many friends we wish them long
life and happiness in it. WG
12 05 The new residence of Marshall J. Woodard,
on North Washington Street, was the scene of a notable reunion on Thanksgiving
Day, when were gathered together by bonds of consanguinity and marriage
relatives to the number of twenty odd.
The families of the host and his brother, S. F. Woodard, of this city,
participated, while from out of town the following were present: Mr. and Mrs. G .S. Woodard and daughter,
Mrs. C. H. Ferry and D. J. Woodard, of Appleton; the latter’s son, H. B. Woodard,
and Dr. and Mrs. C. J. Fellows of Chicago.
WR
2012 photo
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
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin