Ancestor of Abby Balderama
MARION U. WOODRUFF - Marion Ulysses Woodruff, a member of the Springfield bar, was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, June 24, 1865, a son of Thomas J. and Mildred (Tackett) Woodruff, the former a farmer by occupation. The paternal great-grandfather, Nodiah Woodruff, served on General Washington's staff in the Revolutionary war.
M. U. Woodruff acquired his early education in the public schools and afterward attended the Northwestern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana, and was also a student at Champaign, Illinois. He read law in the office of Captain Thomas Smith, of the latter city, and was admitted to the bar on the 5th of May, 1888. He makes no pretensions toward being a great lawyer, and in fact disclaims all prominence, and yet the fact that he is accorded a good clientage is indicative of the faith which the public have in his legal ability and his power to present a cause before court or jury in a strong, forcible and impressive manner. He bases his success upon industry, which in the professions, as well as in agricultural and mechanical pursuits, is the basis of all prosperity.
In citizenship he is public-spirited and has made a close study of many questions affecting the municipality, giving his support where he felt that it would be most effective for the general good. His prominence and popularity in political circles and among his fellow townsmen is indicated by the fact that he was elected, upon the Democratic ticket, in 1895, to the position of mayor for a two years' term, and during his administration he made a successful fight for municipal ownership of the light plant and a reduction of gas rates to residents. Fraternally he is connected with several societies, including the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias Lodges of Springfield.
On the 23d of May, 1894, Mr. Woodruff was united in marriage to Miss Sara McClain Smith, whose father was
for many years a wholesale merchant of Springfield. They have two children: Marion Francis and Clark Waldo.