George W. Woodworth Biography


	This biography appears on pages 779-780 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" 	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and 
	was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				GEORGE W. WOODWORTH. 

	George W. Woodworth, a farmer and stock-raiser living on section 
9, Spirit Mound township, Clay county, was born in Sauk county, 
Wisconsin, a son of Samuel G. and Julia A. (Skinner) Woodworth. The 
father was born in Connecticut, of Scotch and English stock, and the 
mother was a native of Ohio and of German extraction. Both came west in 
their youth and were married in Wisconsin, where they lived from 1837 
until 1856, when they removed to Minnesota, which remained their home 
until 1870, in which year they came to this state. The father proved up 
on government land on section 4, Spirit Mound township, Clay county, 
and operated his farm until his death, which occurred in 1881. He had 
survived his wife for eight years, as she passed away in 1873. They 
were the parents of three daughters and seven sons, five of whom are 
yet living, as follows: Henry W., James H., George W., Charlotte E. and 
Wesley C. 

	George W. Woodworth received his education in Wisconsin and there 
grew to manhood. When twenty-seven years of age he removed to Clay 
county, this state, and purchased a quarter section of raw prairie 
land. He immediately began the work of its development and improvement 
and the highly cultivated fields and the commodious and substantial 
buildings indicate how efficient his labors were. He has bought 
additional land from time to time and is now one of the largest 
landowners in the county, owning nine hundred and twenty acres. eight 
hundred of which is under cultivation. It is all productive, being 
situated in a river bottom, and his labors yield him a handsome income 
annually. He follows general farming, raising both grain and stock. He 
is also interested financially in the Farmers Elevator Company of 
Vermillion, of which he is a charter member. His wife owns a fine 
residence in Vermillion. 

	In 1874 Mr. Woodworth was united in marriage with Miss Perrilla 
Morey, a native of New York state and a daughter of Milton Morey. She 
accompanied her parents to Minnesota and resided there for fifteen 
years but in 1866 the family removed to Yankton, South Dakota. The 
father was a farmer and met with success. To Mr. and Mrs. Woodworth 
were born seven children: Ollie, who died when one year of age; Milton 
M., a resident of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and manager of the Western 
Supply House of that place; Elsie P., the wife of Fred G. Carr, a 
druggist of Madison, this state; Raymond F., who is financially 
interested in the Western Supply House of Sioux Falls, where he 
resides; George, deceased; Harry L., an attorney of Sioux Falls; and 
Lloyd J., who is also interested in the Western Supply House of Sioux 
Falls. 

	The family are members of the Congregational church and Mr. 
Woodworth is a republican in his political belief. He has served on the 
township board on a number of occasions and is active in local public 
affairs. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order and has passed 
through all the chairs of the blue lodge. He is one of the 
representative agriculturists of his county and his energy and sound 
judgment have enabled him to acquire a considerable fortune, which no 
one begrudges him as it has been fairly and honorably won. He is public 
spirited in his citizenship and holds the confidence and goodwill of 
all who know him.