BIO: James O. Woodruff, Wyoming Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, PA & NY

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Judy Banja & Denise Phillips

Copyright 2007.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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Chaffee, Amasa Franklin. History of the Wyoming 
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
New York: Eaton & Mains, 1904, pages 266-267.
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  WOODRUFF, JAMES O., D.D., was born in Connecticut Farms, N. J., on 
February 27, 1837, and died in Binghamton, N.Y., on March 30, 1896.  He 
was buried in the Forty Fort cemetery.
  His boyhood was spent on his father's farm.  As he grew into manhood 
his hunger for knowledge increased.  The rudiments of an education he 
received at the academy in Westfield, N. J.  He further furnished his 
mind by diligently grasping the intervals in farm work to gain a 
knowledge of Hebrew and Latin.  He was led to seek Christ as his 
Saviour when about sixteen years old.
  He had a brother, Rev. J. D., who was a member of Wyoming Conference 
for a few years.  He left us and joined the Congregationalists.  After 
preaching for that body a short time he studied medicine.  However, he 
did not live long after graduation to practice it.  Pneumonia cut him 
down.
  In 1855 he married Miss Eliza J. Townley, of Westfield, N. J.  The 
wife, three daughters, and two sons survived him, one of whom, Wesley 
E., is editor of the Wilkes-Barre News.
  In 1893, Grant University conferred the degree of D.D. upon him, but 
he did not accept it.  The following year Wesleyan University conferred 
the degree, which he accepted.
  His pastoral record is as follows:  1860-61, Blakely; 1862-63, 
Sterling; 1864-66, Salem; 1867-69, Carbondale; 1871-72, Honesdale; 
1873-75, Owego; 1876-78, Pittston; 1879-80, Norwich; 1881-82, Kingston; 
1883-85, Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre; 1886-88, Waverly, N.Y.; 1889-
93, Plymouth, Pa.; 1894-95, Presiding Elder on Binghamton District.