New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-17
MINISTER TO SPAIN CHOSEN
GENERAL STEWART L. WOODFORD
NOMINATED BY THE PRESIDENT.

NOMINATED BY THE PRESIDENT.
Washington June 16.--The President to-day
nominated Stewart L. Woodford. Of New-York.
N be Minister to Spain.
The nomination has been foreshadowed In
gossip about the office for some weeks. but the
actual decision TO appoint General Woodford
was not reached until to-day. The Cabinet
talked the matter over yesterday, and the Presi-
dent referred to several persons suggested for
the post and intmated that his preference was
for General Woodford. The question was
brought up again to-day. and late this afternoon
Secretary Bliss was called to the White House,
and shortly afterward the nomination was sent
N the Senate Mr.. Woodford has been sum-
uoned here and will arrive tomorrow. when he
will have a talk with the President. There is
excellent authority for the statement that he
will accept the office,
Stewart Lyndon Woodford was born in New York
r,,y on Septenber g. 1885. He is a descendant from
Puritan stock In the eighth American generation.
The family records show that among his direct an
cestors two captains In the Indian wars; his
ercat-grandfather served in the Revolution. and
his grandfather In the War of 1872 His father was
Josiah Curtis Woodford Of Hartford County.
Conn and his mother Susan Terry, of South
o'd Long Island When fourteen years ola he en-
Tered Columbia College, but in January. lS9-r ne
entered the sophomore class in Yale lie retu'ieu
TO Columbia in 1853. and was graduated there Ill
June 1851 receiving the highest honors In MS cIdss.
After his graduation he read law in the once Oh
brown. Hall & Vanderpool and in 1851 was admit
ted the bar.
General Woodford took his first active interest
In politics in 1860 when he was delegate 10 the
convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln.
He was also the messenger of the electoral college
10 carry New-York's vote for Lincoln ana haihii'i
TO Washington. In 1861 he was appointed Assistant
United States Attorney for the southern DlsUic'
of New-York. When the Civil War broke Out ne
was placed in charge of the bureau for the specia
prosecution Of cases arising out Of seizures under
the blockadng regulations. In this office he maue
a record which attracted the attention Of President
Lincoln In 1862 he resigned his civil office ana en-
ysted as private in the 127th Regiment. NeW-l orK
Tdnnteers He rapidly rose TO the rank or heuteh-
fn,-coone In the autumn OF 1861 he had charee
ffthe exchange OF prisoners at Charleston Harbor
He had been promoted 10 the rank OF coione' loi
fallantry in action. brevetted brisadier-senerai
and assigned 10 duty according 10 his brevet rank
ty a special order OF President Lincoln After the
evacuation OF Charleston he was the nrst ohloh
commandant at that place. and the duty OF or
ganizing its provisional government devoved upon
Savannah. Ga Among his noteworthy acts at ina
time the assistance ne gave the colored pe0p!e
in founding schools and re-estaoiishing theF
General woodford resigned his commission in 1865.
sIsctce in NewYoyE city In october it5 he was
dominated by the Republicans for Judge OF the
Court OF Common Pleas. but he declined the nom-
ieaantGovernor of the State at the age OF thirty
one years, being the youngest man VINO had ever
held the Office In 1865 he declined nomination for
Congress- and two years later was the Republican
candidate for Governor against John i. Holman.
His friends believe that he was counted out by the
Tweed ring.
In 1872 General Woodford delegate TO the
National Republican Convention which gave General
Grant his second nomination He made the speech
seconding General Grants renomnat ton, and was
afterward elector-at-arge on the State ticket. He
leCe OF the State At the same general election he
was sent to Congress to represent the 1IId District
In 1877 General Woodford became United States At
torney for the Southern District of New York and
I In 1881 was reappointed He PLACED General Arthur
in nomina ton for the Vice Presidency IN 1880
General woodford has held no public office since
~ He Is member oi tne In IaM hrn & OF Aph6ux: &
married October 15 1857 10 Miss Julia f. Capen.
laughter Of Henry T Capen. of New-York. and has