E. S. Woodworth
Hon. E. S. Woodworth, son of Thomas J. Woodworth, was born in Fenner, N. Y., August 24, 1841. His boyhood years were spent on the farm and in the district schools of the neighborhood. In 1858 he entered Oneida Conference Seminary, and completed a three years' course in 1860. In the winter of 1858-59 he taught his first term of school in Lenox, N. Y., and so well did he succeed that the next winter he was employed to take charge of one of the principal school in Cazenovia, the village of his home, his parents having moved to this place in 1859. In July, 1860, after leaving school, he came to Windham, Ohio, his parents having made their home there in May previous. He at once began labor on their farm. In the winter of 1860-61 he taught in Ravenna, and for many succeeding winters in different schools of Windham. In 1862 he spent some time in school at Hiram, thinking to enter the Junior Class of Michigan University in 1863, but the events of the war and other circumstances changed that plan, as well as his ideal for life-work—the study of law. In 1864 he was a member of Company I, One Hundred and Seventy-first Regiment Ohio National Guards, and in the battle of Kellar's Bridge, Ky., he was severely wounded by a ball shattering his right leg below the knee. On the morning of this battle he volunteered at the request of Gen. Hobson to gain what knowledge was possible of the situation of the Rebel force under John Morgan at Cynthiana, some two miles away, who earlier in the day had an engagement with a small detachment of our men under Col. Garis. He was to advise Col. Garis to fall back to Kellar's Bridge if practicable. However, it was found that our force there had already been forced to surrender, and Woodworth, who succeeded in getting within the enemy's picket line and almost in the town, was happy to get out much faster then he went in, after a close range encounter with a calvary-man who followed him and after exchanging several shots got the benefit of a ball from Woodworth's revolver. On reporting to Gen. Hobson he received his thanks as well as much credit by all who knew the circumstances of the exploit. Being much exhausted on his return to his company the officers advised him not to go into the right that was commencing, but he insisted on going, and was wounded as stated. With the wounded from this battle he was taken to Covington, Ky., where he remained nearly four months before he was able to be removed home. He refused to have his leg amputated when advised to do so by the post surgeons, and so saved his limb. In 1871 he married Belle C, daughter of William Rudd, late of Sullivan, Ashland Co., Ohio, who, while a member of the Forty-second Ohio (Garfield's regiment), received a wound at Champion Hills, from which he died. The William Rudd family at present reside at McMinnville, Tenn. The children of this union are Nellie E., born October 20, 1873; Glenn R., born January 29, 1877, and Clyde W., born November 26, 1880, but who died March 19, 1885. He was an attractive child who won all hearts. Mr. Woodworth is in politics an ardent Republican, and enjoys the remembrance that his first vote was cast for Garfield on his first election to Congress, and his first Presidential vote was for Lincoln on his second election. He has held many positions of trust, among them Justice of the Peace some eight years, which position he resigned on his election to the Legislature in 1881. In that body he was esteemed for his strict and assiduous attention to the duties of his position, and for a new member was more highly honored than is usual by being placed in important positions on committees. In the County Convention of 1888 he lacked only seven votes of a re-nomination. Like many others of the Sixty-fifth Ohio General Assembly he suffered because of his vote favoring the "Scott Law " and kindred temperance legislation. However, his friends believe he has nothing to regret, for even in defeat is sometimes high honor. He has been an active worker politically for several years, and in the campaign of 1884 served his party as member of the Republican County Central and Executive Committees. Mr. Woodworth lives in the enjoyment of an attractive farm-home, made so by the joint labor of his father and himself, he having added to his paternal acres. He is at present Senior Vice-Commander of Earl-Milliken Post, No. 333, G. A. R. , and is a member of Silver Creek Lodge, F. & A. M. He is a member of the Congregational Church of Windham, in the Sabbath-school of which he is an active worker. Wherever known he enjoys the confidence and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact, and in all the relations of life he sustains such a character as to stand high in the esteem and honor of the people of Portage County.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885