Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Woodruff, Simeon ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 12:23 am Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County SIMEON WOODRUFF was born in Watertown, N. Y., October 21, 1833, a son of Luther and Sarah (Kyes) Woodruff, who were also natives of that city. His paternal grandfather, Simeon Woodruff, was born in Connecticut and settled on a farm near Watertown, where he died at eighty years of age. The maternal grandfather, Aaron Kyes, also a native of Connecticut, settled in New York, where he followed farm pursuits and also engaged in the cooper's trade. In 1845 Luther Woodruff brought his family to Illinois and settled on the southwest quarter of section 2, Joliet Township, now adjoining the city limits. He died in Joliet in 1891, when eighty-seven years of age. His wife died in this city in 1887, when seventy-five. They had two children, Simeon and Mary F., the latter of whom married C. H. Nichols, of Joliet. After coming to Illinois our subject resided on the home farm until 1859. In the spring of that year he left for Pike's Peak, determining to seek his fortune in the gold fields of the mountain regions. He outfitted with ox-teams and crossed the Missouri at St. Joe, thence took the Platte route across the plains. As he proceeded farther he met large numbers of people returning, discouraged and disappointed, having met with hard luck in their efforts to find gold. He and his friends were therefore drawn from their original intentions and decided to pursue their way to California. The five men, with three yoke of cattle and six months' provisions, went up the Sweetwater route, crossed the mountains to 21 Downeyville, Cal., reaching that place after a four months' trip from St. Joe, and at once began placer mining. At the time of the Civil war Mr. Woodruff was still in California. In 1864 he enlisted for three years (or during the war) in Company K, Seventh California Infantry, and was sent from Presidio to Arizona, where his company was stationed at Fort McDowell. They located the site and erected the first adobe buildings there, being the first soldiers in that part of the territory; this fort was inspected by General McDowell while they were there. They remained there until April, 1866, when they were relieved by regulars and went back to San Francisco, where they were mustered out of the service. Mr. Woodruff then resumed mining. He remained in California until 1875, when, after an absence of sixteen years, he returned to Illinois. This journey was made in a manner far different from the first one. Then, he had traveled with ox-teams; now, he came via the railroad, enjoying all of the conveniences of rapid travel and attending comforts. When he arrived in Will County he engaged in farming at the old homestead, and continued thereuntil 1888, when he embarked in the real-estate business in Joliet. He has been interested in the laying out of subdivisions to the city. Woodruff & Nichols and Fuller & Woodruff laid out subdivisions from his father's homestead, the latter firm platting eighty acres on section 23. Mack, Woodruff & Cowles platted eighty-five acres on section 26, and Fuller & Woodruff laid out the Forest park addition of forty acres, giving two and one- half acres for the site of the Forest park school. He has personally laid out Dewey Bluffs, comprising thirty acres. With his sister he gave the site for the Windsor wire mill. Few residents of Joliet are more familiar than he with the real-estate business; he is thoroughly posted concerning values and has conducted his enterprises in a manner indicating good ability on his part. From the organization of the Republican party in 1856, when he cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, Mr. Woodruff has been a supporter of the Republican party and believes firmly in its platform and principles. Fraternally he is connected with the Patriotic Order Sons of America. He was married in Milwaukee, Wis., to Miss Eunice W. Whitney, who was born in New York and accompanied her parents to Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff reside on Macomber avenue. Additional Comments: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/woodruff1046gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 4.8 Kb