Lapeer County MI Archives Biographies.....Woodruff, Edward T. 1853 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 2, 2007, 5:43 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

EDWARD T. WOODRUFF. We are pleased to incorporate within our RECORD the
following brief account of the life of Mr. Woodruff, of Lapeer, which is
furnished by him self:

  Being asked to briefly sketch my life, and realizing what an addition it will
be to the work, here goes:

  June 30, 1853, in Olean, N. Y., about 3 A. M. I raised my first hiccough and
the village doctor. For my existence and subsequent life I am largely indebted
to the Rev. and Mrs. J. A. Woodruff, and dear Mrs. Winslow's soothing syrup. My
birth in the East was among my earliest indiscretions, as by being born in
Michigan, whither I soon removed, I might have saved traveling expenses.

  Being the child of a clergyman, I was of course expected to demonstrate the
truth of that trite saying, "Ministers' sons are the worst in the world." In
this I am compelled to admit that I have always been a signal disappointment.
  Like other illustrious characters my boyhood was spent in the "pursuit of
knowledge and wood-chucks," principally the latter. In my father's ministerial
work and pioneer labors at Burnside, Goodland and other parts of Lapeer County,
I was of valuable assistance, as may be understood by the fact that I often
strided the pony behind him as he rode to his appointments. As the years passed,
my brilliant achievements at the various schools, colleges and institutions of
learning were only equalled by later triumphs in administering scientific
"sproutings" to the youth of literary inclination in the locality where I taught.

  Through the kindness of the dear people I was permitted to inscribe beautiful
specimens of my Spencerian penmanship upon the county records in the office of
the Register of Deeds, which position I held for four successive years. After
this I drifted into the newspaper habit, and am at present writing, still
a-drifting. As editor of The Clarion I take pride in the growth and prosperity
of the paper, its surprisingly large circulation as compared with other weeklies
in this and adjoining counties, its moral tone, its newsy columns, the value in
which it is held by advertisers and the regard and eagerness with which it is
welcomed in every Republican as well as many other households through out Lapeer
County, and vicinity.

  In closing I may say that I am striving to develop the true editorial spirit
of cannibalistic regard for brother publishers. That I am making progress in
this is evidenced in that I can now look forward with a degree of satisfaction
to inscribing upon the tombstone of a contemporary the following fraternal epitaph:

     "Here lies my good 'cotemp', the man who swore to circulation,
     Although deceased he has increased his worldly occupation.
     In life he lied ten times a day, a petty little crime,
     But since in death he's lost his breath, he now lies all the time."


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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