William E. Woodruff (politician)
William E. Woodruff | |
|---|---|
 Woodruff, c. 1830 | |
| 10th Postmaster of Little Rock | |
| In office October 17, 1845 – September 3, 1846 | |
| Nominated by | James K. Polk |
| Preceded by | Barnett Williams |
| Succeeded by | Lambert Reardon |
| 1st Treasurer of Arkansas | |
| In office October 1, 1836 – November 20, 1838 | |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | John Hutt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Edward Woodruff December 24, 1795 Suffolk County, New York, U.S. |
| Died | June 19, 1885 (aged 89) Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. 34°44′15.3″N 92°16′42.5″W / 34.737583°N 92.278472°W |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Jane Eliza Mills (m. 1827) |
| Children | 11 |
| Signature | .png){kind=small} |
William Edward Woodruff (December 24, 1795 – June 19, 1885) was an American politician and publisher who served as the first state treasurer of Arkansas from 1836 to 1838. He also served as the 10th postmaster of Little Rock from 1845 to 1846. Woodruff was the first publisher of a major Arkansas newspaper.[1]
Biography
William Edward Woodruff was born on December 24, 1795, in Suffolk County, New York.[2] At age 14, he left formal schooling to become an apprentice for a Mr. Spooner of the Long Island Star in Brooklyn.[3] He stayed for seven years before moving on to New York City as a journeyman pressman for T & J Swords.[4] In 1818, Woodruff headed west to work in Kentucky, Tennessee, and finally moving to the newly created Arkansas Territory, founding The Arkansas Gazette in October 1819.[1] He published the Gazette from Arkansas Post for nearly two years while it was the seat of government, and moved to Little Rock when the capital was moved there.[5] He left publishing in March of 1853 with the sale of his newspaper to Christopher C. Danley. On November 14, 1827, Woodruff married Jane Mills at the Stevenson House on 5th Street, between Cumberland and Rock streets; however, a bus station now occupies the block. The Historic Arkansas Museum with surviving buildings of the period lies two blocks north. They had 11 children, eight of whom survived into adulthood.[6] Woodruff was vocal in his support of the Confederacy in the U.S Civil War, but took no active part in fighting in the war. Due to these loyalties, he was banished from Little Rock by the Union twice; once by General Steele and again by General Ord.[7][8] His son, William E. Woodruff Jr., served as second captain of a battery called the Totten Artillery in honor of Dr. William Totten. Woodruff Jr. fled to Texas after the fall of Little Rock to Union forces.[9][10] Woodruff died in Little Rock on June 19, 1885, and is buried in the historic Mount Holly Cemetery.[11] Woodruff County, Arkansas, is named for him.[12]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Encyclopedia of Arkansas. William Edward Woodruff
- ↑ The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. VIII. James T. White & Company. 1924. pp. 463–464. Retrieved January 28, 2021 – via Google Books.
- ↑ "About the Long Island Star". Chronicling America. Washington D.C.: Library of Congress. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
- ↑ "The Founder of the Gazette". Little Rock, Ark: Daily Arkansas Gazette. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Our Historical City". City of Little Rock. Little Rock, Ark. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
- ↑ "The Founder of the Gazette". Little Rock, Ark: Daily Arkansas Gazette. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
- ↑ "The Founder of the Gazette". Little Rock, Ark: Daily Arkansas Gazette. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
- ↑ Ross, Margaret (1972). "Retaliation against Arkansas Newspaper Editors during Reconstruction". Arkansas Historical Quarterly. Little Rock, Ark.: Arkansas Preservation Society.
- ↑ David Sesser. "William E. Woodruff Jr. (1831–1907)". EoA. Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
- ↑ Woodruff, William Jr (1903). With the Light Guns in '61-'65; Reminiscences of Eleven Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas Light Batteries in the Civil War. Little Rock, Ark.: Central Printing Company. p. 9. ISBN 9780941651011.
- ↑ "Death of William E. Woodruff, Founder of the Gazette, and the First State Treasurer". Public Ledger. Memphis, Tenn. June 19, 1885. p. 1. Retrieved January 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Woodruff County". Arkansas Counties. Association of Arkansas Counties. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
External links
- William E. Woodruff at Encyclopedia of Arkansas
- William E. Woodruff at Find a Grave
- William E. Woodruff at The Political Graveyard
- Works by or about William E. Woodruff at the Internet Archive
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- 1795 births
- 1885 deaths
- 19th-century American male writers
- 19th-century American newspaper editors
- 19th-century American newspaper founders
- 19th-century Arkansas politicians
- Arkansas Democrats
- Postmasters from Arkansas
- Burials at Mount Holly Cemetery
- People from Arkansas County, Arkansas
- People from Long Island
- Politicians from Suffolk County, New York
- Politicians from Little Rock, Arkansas
- Polk administration personnel
- State treasurers of Arkansas