The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-02-07
GEN. w. H. WOODWARD.
A Sketch of the Distinguished
Senator From Calhoun.

|
Senator From Calhoun.
Gen. W. Il. Woodward, the venerable
senator from Calhoun county, was born
in Todd county, KY, on August
| 80, 1917. He was raised on farm
and educated in the country schools OF
that period, wherein but smatterlng OF
Latin and Greek were taught.
| At II years of age he went INFO his
fathers store, and worked in the mercan-
tile business until 1886, when, thinking
himself accomplished and skilled in bust
ness, as well as posted in worldly knowl-
edge, be went to Nashville and opened
a store of his own, or, as General
Houston said of General Hen
derson, "set up shop on his own
hook" and soon became Wholesale
merchant; but, like the famous Icarus, who
attempted to fly through the air on arti-
fetal wings, after acting the merchant
prince for few brief years, consoled and
enthused with visions of wealth, magnit-
cence and all the pleasures and enjoy
ments of riches, he awoke one morning to
the sad realization of the fact that his
mercantile investment was failure.
Recovering from the unpleasant sensa-
tions and reflections of his mercan-
tile adventure in 1889, he studied law
under that distinguished advocate,
E ohcaim H. Foster, and in less than year
went to the bar and practiced law in Nash
vile for about two years, married
Miss Penelope R. Woodward, his
second cousin, in 1912, came to Texas,
settled in Indianola, formed partnership
with Gov. F. S. Stockdale and afterwards
with d. @. Proctor, Under the firm name
of Stockdale, Woodward d Proctor.
Although fortune had frowned terribly
on his merchandise effort, she now gave
her approving nod, kindly smiled and
helped him with five fine children, much
real property and many servants.
For his negroes he was offered $4,000
in gold during the war, but wife declined
to agree to sale, saying she "would just
as soon sell the children" The negroes
were soon after freed and the $4,000 lost
forever. Then came the storm of 1876
which drowned 400 persons and washed
! away Indianola, making once fourishing
Texas city likeiTroy, Palmyra and Per
sepolis.
Then came the untimely loss of his two
sons, Stephen and Hezakiah, both worthy
Confederate soldiers, twin brothers, and
so much alike as frequently to be taken
one for the other.
| In his professional life and partnership
association General Woodward was very
| fortunate, for ex-Lieut.- Gov. f. S. Stock
dale il not only good lawyer, orator and
statesman, but one of the finest and most
entertaining onversationalists to whom
ever listened. A poor story well told is
said to be more interesting than good
one poorly spoken.
| He related to me several years ago that
when he was state official, one session OF
the Texas house of Representatives act.
ually did all its work without single
prayer for Divine mercy and guidance
duriRg the whole term, and yet was not
struck by lightning, but did good law
making. There was a contest over
the election of chaplain, when q
| popular member from eastern Texas put
in nomination an old Hsrdshell Baptist
named Holloway, of known piety and
sanctimony, who cultivated little farm
for living and preached Christ and Him
crucified to dying, hell-deserving world
for pleasure. When summoned to appear
before the house and hold forth for its
! benefit he was blowing in the field like the
game old Roman, Cipciunatus. To the
messenger who informed him of his cleo
ton and the So day he said:
! $50 back and tell 'em my corn's in the
grass, my neighbors here at home need
| preachin' end I'm not cumin'. Tell 'em
| that I'll prey for 'em here in the field every
day for no pay an the Lord will hear me
| Just as well as if was in Austin gittin' S5
a day."
The way this little incident was related
caused me to think of the invaluable ef-
feet of prayer, and what in the world
would become of Us ali if prayers were
not said for our senate and house at ten
dollars per diem.
General Woodward's mother was a sis
ter of Dudley S. and Thos. j. Jennings, the
latter of whom was attorney general OF
, Texas before the war, and both of whom
attended the famous convention OF the
Jennings family in America, held at Nash.
vile, Tenn, in 1916, to find the he OF
Sir William Jennings of Acton, Eng, in
which convention, after the commit.
tee reported the Jennings genealog,
ical ascending line to the
celebrated Duchess of Marlborough
General Woodward retired, saying to his
assembled kinsmen: swell, gentlemen
you can take all the wealth. 1 am salts.
fed to know that gentle blood flows in nv
VEINS"
Captain Dudley S. Woodward, named
after his uncle, d. S. jennings, and the
chevalier Bayard, of Walters battalion
was a younger brother of General Wood
ward, who died after the war of wound.
received in battle, while the gallant Phi
Herbert, his comrade in many engage.
ments, was shot down while contendinO
with impetuous valor against the invaders
of his native land. Both were brave
chivalrous southern gentlemen.
In concluding this hasty sketch Of
General Woodward, it may be said that he