El Dorado County

Biographies


 

 

JAMES GARFIELD WOODWARD

 

 

            James Garfield Woodward, the proprietor of the Placerville Garage at Placerville, California is rated as one of the successful businessmen of El Dorado County.  He was born in Sacramento County, this state, June 9, 1881, a son of John and Alice (Welch) Woodward.  The father was born in England in 1837, and in that country was educated.  At the age of nineteen years, he came to the United States, first going to Wisconsin, and later coming to California.  With his brother William he engaged extensively in the stock business, resided most of the time at Sacramento, and at other periods in El Dorado.  John Woodward was killed by an employee on August 7, 1884, and the murderer was afterward hanged for the crime at Donnerville.  John Woodward was one of the best known cattlemen of his day, especially in the Folsom section.  His wife, who survives him, and who came to El Dorado when she was six and a half years of age, is a daughter of William and Rebecca J. (Yocun) Welch.  There were three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Woodward, namely:  James G., of this review; Alice Maude, who is the wife of J. E. Fox; and John, of Woodland, California.  There are now six grandchildren.  John Woodward was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and his wife is now a member of the Church of Christ, Scientist.

            James G. Woodward attended rural schools, and also Howe’s Academy in Sacramento.  In 1898 he moved to Placerville, where he was in the livery stable business for a time, then worked at gold dredging for a period of seventeen years.  In 1923 he established a garage, and has been very successful in this, doing a general repair business, and handling a complete stock of gasoline, oils, tools, and other automobile accessories.

            Mr. Woodward has been twice married.  He married Miss Eleanor Sanchez of Monterey, California, a descendant of an old Spanish family, who died in 1918.  Two children, Alice and James S., were born to this union.  In 1921 Mr. Woodward married Miss June Yost, a daughter of an old California family, and they have three children, Robert, June and John.  Mr. Woodward is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Native Sons of the Golden West.

 

 

Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.

Source: Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley California, Vol. 3, Pages 406-407. Pioneer Historical Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.

© 2010  Gerald Iaquinta.

 

 

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