Biography of Abner P. Woodruff, Franklin Co, AR

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        Date: 16 Aug 1998
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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed
Publishing Co., 1889.

Abner P. Woodruff is one of the prosperous farmers of Franklin County,
Ark., and was born in Surrey County, N. C., January 3, 1823. His
parents, Samuel and Keziah (Burch) Woodruff, were born in North
Carolina January 24, 1793, and in 1802, and died in Georgia and
Arkansas January 26, 1863, and October 29, 1885, respectively. They
were married in their native State, and there made their home until 1827,
when they moved to Campbell County, Ga., and in 1838 they moved
to Floyd County, where the father died. He was a farmer throughout
life, a member of the Methodist Church for many years, and held the
office of justice of the peace for a number of years. He was of
English birth. His wife, who was of Irish descent, bore him nine
children, five of whom are living, Abner P. being the eldest son and
the second child. He has followed the career of an agriculturist all
his life, and now owns 1,000 acres of some of the finest land in
Franklin County, 400 acres being in a highly cultivated condition. He
has always paid considerable attention to raising stock, and has
acquired his property by his own energy and good management. During
the late war he was engaged in furnishing ammunition to the
Confederate Government. September 5, 1847, he was united in marriage
to Miss Elizabeth Lawrence, a daughter of Bennett Lawrence. She was
born in Floyd County, Ga., in 1828, and died there a short time before
Mr. Woodruff moved to Arkansas. She was a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, and became the mother of five children, two
of whom are living: Alfred U., and Judith E., wife of J. D. Tyson.
Those deceased are Alice, who died November 28, 1885, being the wife
of John T. Greer, and twenty-eight years old at the time of her death;
Charles M., and Nancy J., who died in infancy. September 5, 1872, Mr.
Woodruff married B. A. Plunk, a daughter of James Ingraham, and widow
of A. G. Plunk. She was born in Mississippi November 3, 1839, and her
union with Mr. Woodruff was blessed in the birth of four children: K.
B., T. V., Jim Anna and A. P. Mr. Woodruff has always affiliated with
the [p.1286] Democratic party, and while in Georgia held the office of
justice of the peace for many years. He is a man of push and
enterprise, and has always given his aid in furthering the causes of
education and religion. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, and his wife is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church.