Columbia-Luzerne County PA Archives Biographies.....WOODIN, Clemuel Ricketts 1844 - living in 1899 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 1, 2005, 7:38 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. CLEMUEL RICKETTS WOODIN is too well-known throughout the Seventeenth Congressional District to need an extended introduction to the readers of this volume. His name is known and respected throughout the United States wherever any attention is paid to the rolling-stock of railroads. His present and past connection with car-manufacturing places him among the most prominent men of the Keystone State. For twenty-two years, until 1894, he served as president of The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company, of which his father was one of the founders, and of which his son, William H. Woodin, is now vice-president. He is now living a retired life, because of failing health brought on by business cares, and resides in his palatial residence on Berwick Heights, than which there is no finer nor more completely-appointed home in Central Pennsylvania. Mr. Woodin was born in Cambria, Luzerne County, Pa., December 26, 1844, and is a son of the late William Hartman Woodin, a grandson of David Charles Woodin, and a great-grandson of Milo Woodin, a native of Connecticut. Our subject's grandfather was an architect by profession who settled in Pennsylvania; he died October 21, 1825, a young man in years. He was married in 1819 to Sarah Hartman, who was born in Catawissa, Columbia County, Pa., in 1792, and who died the same year as her husband. Their children numbered three, as follows: William Hartman; Joseph B.; and a daughter. William Hartman Woodin was born in Salem, Luzerne County, Pa., November 4, 1821, and married Elizabeth Foster, daughter of John and Ellen Foster. Among the first of his business ventures was the building of a foundry at Foundryville, Briarcreek township, Columbia County, where he manufactured pig iron, and, later, stoves and plows. In 1849 he united his interests with those of M. W. Jackson, who had in 1840 with George Mack established a foundry at Berwick. Mr. Jackson bought out Mr. Mack and the united strength of the firm of Jackson & Woodin, under which style they did business from the start, was such as to assure full and complete success. Both gentlemen possessed extraordinary ability and shrewd business judgment and each had a practical and thorough knowledge of the iron industry. They started in business in a building, 40 by 25 feet, at the corner of Market and Third streets, where they manufactured the Robb stove, with open grate, and a round stove with a bake-oven on top; also plows, a specialty in this line being the old Bull plow. The stoves and plows were among the best of that time, but would be considered crude at the present-day, because of the many improvements that have been made. In 1850 they began the manufacture of iron pipes; in 1858 they commenced making bridge castings for the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad. In 1861 the firm of Jackson & Woodin received a large contract from Mr. Creveling, a large lime manufacturer of Espy, Columbia County; the order was for sixteen four-wheeled cars, which they constructed in a shed; when the cars were finished the sides of the shed were torn down, and the cars drawn to the railroad by horses. In this work the two partners demonstrated that they were men of exceptional ability, whom no obstacles could overcome or drive from their original purpose. The result was that from that time forward they never lacked orders and their business grew pleasingly, many new departments being added to the rapidly growing plant. One of the specialties that Messrs. Jackson and Woodin developed was the manufacture of mine cars and mine castings, and in this branch of work they have held their own with many competitors to the present time. The partners were greatly aided in their work by their mutual friend, A. C. Whitney of Philadelphia, who gave them timely advice and lent them patterns and chills for the mouldings of car wheels. It may also be said that the man who mixed the iron for the wheels made at that time is still in the employ of the company and serves in the same capacity as then. In 1872 the D., L. & W. R. R. built a switch in Second street and connected it with all parts of the Jackson & Woodin plant, and so from that time on the firm's goods were loaded on cars in its own yards. On March 1, 1872, The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company was organized, with C. R. Woodin, our subject, president, his father retiring. William Hartman Woodin was a man beloved by all. He was strict and exact in business affairs and had little patience with those who were disposed to shirk obligations or to slight their work. But, with all his adherence to the sterling rules of business, he never lost sight of the fact that he had been blessed abundantly and that it was his duty to make bright and happy the lives of those whose lot, otherwise, might have been wretchedness and want. He gave liberally as a friend and not as one dispensing alms. In his life there was nothing artificial, nothing out of harmony. He was loved and respected by all who knew him and his death on November 10, 1886, was mourned as a public calamity. The memory of his nobly spent life is still green in the minds of all with whom he was associated in varied walks of life. His wife, who is now aged seventy-seven years, is living in Berwick, Pa. Their children were as follows: Joseph B., deceased; Sarah A., deceased; C. R., our subject; Eudora W., widow of the late S. P. Hanly of Berwick; Mary, deceased; John Foster, of Arkansas; and Elizabeth, deceased. C. R. Woodin, at the age of sixteen years, left Kingston Seminary on account of his eyes, and began work under his father. In 1863 he served one year in the Pennsylvania Emergency Reserves, Company C, 28th Regiment. Upon his return to Berwick he applied himself to learning and becoming familiar with every detail and development of the business. He was made president of the company upon its organization, March 1, 1872, and filled that office until 1894, when, his health having been overtaxed by business, he resigned. The company is now officered by the following men: Fred'k H. Eaton, a nephew of the subject of this sketch, president; William H. Woodin, vice-president; W. F. Lowery, secretary; W. M. Hager, treasurer; and H. F. Glenn, general manager. It has a capital of $1,100,000. The business has increased yearly until now the Jackson & Woodin cars are seen on nearly all railroads of the United States and Canada. Employment is given to 1,500 workmen, most of them skilled in their department of work. Descriptions of the various departments, such as the car-wheel foundry, pipe foundry, rolling mills, and car, casting, paint, car-building, and forging departments, are on. other pages of this work in the biographical sketches of the different foremen and superintendents. Mr. Woodin has lived the greater part of his life in Berwick, only making his home at Hazleton for a short time for the benefit of his health, as a high elevation was required. In 1890 he bought the Van Pelt and other farms located on an elevation north of the town of Berwick. A few acres having been cleared on the highest part of an elevation of 1,200 feet above the sea, and 700 feet above the railroad track at Berwick, Mr. Woodin decided to build residences for himself and son there. A fine graded road 2 8-10 miles in length leads to the summit from which a broad, open view of the Susquehanna Valley may be had, with mountain after mountain piled up for a background and with the fertile valley in which Berwick is located for an immediate foreground. Besides Berwick, which is one of the most progressive boroughs in the state, several small villages may be seen. To the southwest is a magnificent scene of forest-covered peaks and cuts and ravines, that is scarcely surpassed in beauty and grandeur. To the north on a clear day can be seen the Glen Summit Hotel, 30 miles distant, and still farther the Pocono Mountains. In the summer, one escapes the sultry valley air and enjoys the mountain breezes, receiving health and invigoration the year around. In 1891 Mr. Woodin built his beautiful home on this charming spot, constructing it of stone and wood, with spacious verandas. His son also built a residence near by, and both are of Queen Anne style. The houses are furnished with all the conveniences that minister to the comfort of its occupants, both in summer and in winter. Three cottages were erected for his employees, and a water tower 50 feet high was built of stone and timber, stone being used for the first story; this tower is supplied with pure spring water which is forced to it by pumps located at the spring 1,600 feet below at the foot of the hill. Also attached to the tower, and located on its first floor, is a chemical engine and hose-cart, for emergency use in case of fire. A large barn was also built for each house: one of them burning recently, it was rebuilt into a handsome structure, 33 by 40 feet, finished throughout with Norway pine. The borough of Berwick supplies the necessary means of illuminating the premises. Sixteen arc lights disposed about the house and on the walks and drives are lit every night, and give to one, who may be miles away, the impression that a city is located there. As many trees of the natural forest growth were left standing, the grounds do not lack for abundant shade. Beautiful lawns, tennis courts, flower gardens, fruit orchards and gardens make up the rest of the prospect, which is truly a delightful one. Mr. Woodin lives quite closely at home throughout the year, except during the severest weather, when he makes a trip to the South to avoid the chilling blasts of winter. Mr. Woodin married Mary Dickerman, daughter of Dr. Charles and Adelia Dickerman of Hartford, Pa., and to them was born one son, William Hartman, named after his noble grandfather. William Hartman Woodin, the only child of our subject, was born May 27, 1868, in Berwick, where he received his early education in the public schools. At the age of fourteen years he entered the preparatory department of the Woodbridge School of Mines, New York City, and completed his technical education in the School of Mines of Columbia College. Returning to Berwick, he made himself master of the practical workings of the great institution of which his father was then president and acquainted himself with every detail, so that now he is the best informed of the stockholders. He was made a member of the executive committee, and, after two years in that position, became general superintendent of the plant and a director of the company. In 1896 he was chosen vice-president, and is most efficiently filling his father's place. He has won the highest esteem of his employees and the residents of Berwick. On August 25, 1898, Mr. Woodin was made the nominee of the Republicans of the Seventeenth Congressional District for Congress, Representative Monroe H. Kulp retiring at his own request. At the ensuing election in November, Mr. Woodin was defeated. He represents the young element of his party, and also the business interests of Berwick, in which he figures both modestly and prominently. He was married October 9, 1889, to Annie Jessup, daughter of Judge William H. Jessup of Montrose, Pa., and to them two children have come, namely: Mary, Louise, born in Scranton, Pa., October 31, 1891; and Annie Jessup, born in New York City on April 10, 1894. William Hartman Woodin is a director of the Berwick Water Company, is secretary and director of the Berwick Electric Light Company, and takes an active interest in every public-spirited movement directed toward the benefit of Berwick and its commercial development. It has been a pleasure to him to support liberally all churches, charitable institutions and schools in Berwick, and no worthy cause need lack in him a friend in need and a friend indeed. On March 1, 1899, the entire plant of The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company was sold to the American Car & Foundry Company, an organization with $60,000,000 capital, practically embracing all the car manufacturing companies in the United States. The new company took possession on that date, and is now operating the business. Fred'k H. Eaton, Esq., nephew of C. R. Woodin, and former president of The Jackson & Woodin Manufacturing Company, was elected vice-president of the new company with headquarters at New York City, and William H. Woodin was elected district manager to operate the plant at Berwick. Thus the great organization, founded by William Hartman Woodin and M. W. Jackson in 1842, passes out of existence, and C. R. Woodin, after an active and successful business career, permanently retires from car manufacturing. The publishers of this work take pleasure in announcing that a portrait of William Hartman Woodin, the founder of The Jackson & Woe din Manufacturing Company, appears on a preceding page, in connection with the above sketch. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 13.5 Kb