Biographical Sketch of

Elisha Woodworth

Transcribed by Suzanne Folk for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 390 - 391

Elisha Grant Woodworth, a pioneer of Marquette of 1846, now living in Berlin was born in the town of Madison, Geauga 
Co., Ohio, April 13, 1823, and is a son of Rowland and Ruth (Stevens) Woodworth. His father was born in 1798 in New 
England, and died in Berlin, Aug. 9, 1881, at the age of eighty-two years; but the mother, who was born in Kennebec 
County, Maine, Nov. 17, 1788, is still living, at the advanced age of one hundred and one years. She resides with her 
son Elisha, and the history of her life is given elsewhere in this work.

Our subject was reared on his father's farm, but at the age of twenty years left the parental roof and started out 
to seek his fortune in the West. He went by way of the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, from there to Chicago, and then on 
to Galesburg, and finally settled near Knoxville, Ill., but being a single man, he wandered about from place to place 
until Sept. 17, 1844, when he was married at what was then the town of Henderson, Know Co., Ill. Miss Susan Burner, 
the lady of his choice, was a daughter of John and Bertha (Witt) Burner, and was born in Overton County, Tenn., Jan. 
25, 1821. Her parents were natives of the same State, and removed from there to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1824.

Soon after his marriage, Mr. Woodworth returned with his young wife to the Buckeye State, making his home in Cleveland 
until the spring of 1846, when he came to Wisconsin, then a Territory, and entered land near Lake Marie, in the town 
of Manchester, Green Lake County. He then turned his attention to farming, which he followed until 1856, when he 
embarked in mercantile business in Mackford, to which he devoted his energies for four or five years, when he resumed 
farming. He again changed his place of residence in 1866, becoming a farmer near Davenport, Iowa, where he made his 
home until 1869, when he sold out with the intention of going to California. Changing his mind, he returned to Green 
Lake County, Wis., and located in Berlin, at the same time purchasing the Berlin City Flouring Mills, in company with 
Mr. Forbes. He also bought a mill in Eureka, which be subsequently traded to Mr. Dunham for the hotel in Berlin now 
known as the Woodworth. For the succeeding three years he was then engaged in the hotel business, when he sold out to 
F. A. Clark & Co. His health having become impaired, he has not since been actively engaged in business, but still 
resides in Berlin at his fine residence on the west side of the river.

Mr. and Mrs. Woodworth have had eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom six are living: Josephine is the 
wife of Alverton Pierce of Oshkosh; Le Roy married Melissa Pendel, and is engaged in farming near Randolph, Columbia 
County; Warren is living in Berlin; Frank died at the age of eleven years; Alice is the wife of Frank Aplin of Berlin; 
Theresa died at the age of four years; Monroe resides in Berlin; Theresa., the second of that name, is the wife of 
Horace Wines, of Denver, Col.

In politics, Mr. Woodworth was a Whig in early life and on the breaking up of that party, joined the new Republican 
party, with which he continued to affiliate until the presidential election of 1884, when he voted the Democratic ticket,
believing that the time had come for a change in party control of the government. He was so well pleased with the 
Cleveland administration that he voted for his re-election in 1888, and continues to act with the Democracy. Mr. 
Woodworth was for many years a member of the M. E. Church, but is not now connected with any denomination, though he 
is a professing Christian. His wife has been a life long Methodist and belongs to the Church in Berlin. He has led an 
active and useful life, and has carried on some extensive business operations and accumulated a large property. His 
course has been marked by uprightness and correct business principles, and he has always commanded the respect of his 
fellow men.






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