Contra Costa County CA Archives Biographies.....Woodruff, David S. 1829 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com November 29, 2005, 6:45 pm

Author: W. A. Slocum & Co., Publishers (1882)

DAVID S. WOODRUFF. — Was born in Bergen, Genesee county, New York, May 19, 1829.
When eight years of age his parents moved to and located in Brainbridge,
Michigan, where he attended the common schools and afterwards, entered Olivett
College, same State, from which he graduated in 1852. Immediately on the
completion of his school life he embarked in teaching, which he followed until
February, 1858, when he sailed from New York with his wife for the Golden State
via, Panama, arriving in San Francisco in the latter part of the above month. On
landing on this coast he came direct to Contra Costa county, and located at Bay
Point, where he engaged in teaching school, which he followed for a few years.
His next move was to Antioch, where he opened a drug store. In 1871, Mr.
Woodruff paid a visit to his old home in Michigan, and on his return located at
Nortonville, there engaged in his former business of druggist until his removal
to Martinez, which event occurred June 25,1880, when he opened the drug store,
at the corner of Main and Ferry streets. In 1861 Mr. Woodruff was elected County
Superintendent of Schools for two years, and held the office of Public
Administrator during the following two years, and for two years more was Justice
of the Peace of Nortonville. All the above offices he filled with credit to
himself and satisfaction to the people. Mr. Woodruff was twice married; first,
in Marshall, Michigan, in January 1854, to Miss H. Angeline Woodruff, a native
of New York. She died at Antioch October 20, 1864. By this union they had three
children, Otto N., Mary and Jay. His second marriage occurred in Pacheco,
December 30, 1866, to Mrs. Narcissa H. Clark (daughter of Senaeca Foster, of
Hamilton county, Ohio), a native of Butler county, Ohio; they have no children.
Mrs. Woodruff may be considered a pioneer woman, having crossed the plains three
times, twice with wagons and once by rail. The first time crossing in 1854, she
drove a four-mule team most of the way, sometimes standing guard a portion of
the night; arrived at Antioch September 18th of the same year (1854); camped
under a live oak-tree until a tent could be erected, in which she lived for one
year; then removed to Mitchell's canon, and lived in a cave on the side of Mount
Diablo. When night came on she could hear the tramp of the California lion,
whose howls were anything but pleasant when nature felt need of repose.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
INCLUDING ITS GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION;
TOGETHER WITH A RECORD OF THE MEXICAN GRANTS; THE BEAR FLAG WAR; THE MOUNT
DIABLO COAL FIELDS; THE EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT, COMPILED FROM THE MOST
AUTHENTIC SOURCES; THE NAMES OF ORIGINAL SPANISH AND MEXICAN PIONEERS; FULL
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY; SEPARATE HISTORY OF EACH TOWNSHIP, SHOWING
THE ADVANCE IN POPULATION AND AGRICULTURE;
ALSO,
Incidents of Pioneer Life; and Biographical Sketches
OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
AMD OF ITS TOWNS, VILLAGES, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO: W. A. SLOCUM & CO., PUBLISHERS
1882.



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