The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-11-25
Obituary..

David Woodman was born March q
1918, in Wheelock, Caledonia county,
Vermont, and departed this life at his
home in the village of Paw Paw, Novem-
Der %, 1904, aged So years. six months
and two days. Mr.. Woodman had been
in failing health for some time, but it
was only few days before his death
that his relatives and friends realized
that the end was so near.
In 1881 he removed with his fathers
family to Riga, \. Y. In 1885 he in
company with party of friends, came
to Paw Paw, where he arrived in the
month of October, 1888, the journey
having occupied % days. The party con
sisted of % persons; their outfit being
five covered wagons, each drawn by two
yoke Of oxen aud was known as the big
OK train. Mr.. Woodman was present at
the first election ever held in Van Buren,
county and also at the first term of the
circuit court. He began on his farm
west of this village in 1899, keeping
bachelors hall. In 1914 he married Miss
Jane Harris, who had come from the
state of New York a couple of years pre-
vious to such marriage The couple
lived happily together until her death,
which took place in this village, July ID,
1887. In 1852, Mr.. Woodman removed
his family to Paw Paw and himself made
an overland. trip to California, the
journey occupying 100 days. He returned
home via the isthmus of Panama in the
spring of 1853 and resumed the manage
ment of his farm.
Five children were born to Mr.. and
Mrs Woodman, four of whom, two sons
and two daughters, survive him, all liv-
ing in Paw Paw except Celia, who re-
sides in California. Mr.. Woodman was
ore of the most successful farmers,
considerable stakeholder in the First
National Bank of Paw Paw, and has
held many positions of trust and conf
dence and in 1873 was nominated for
governor of Michigan on the greenback
ticket and received the full and hearty
support of mis- party. Ie became a
member of the church of Christ in Paw
Paw in March, 1857, and has ever since
been very active in church work and for
many years has been an elder in the
church, to the prosperity of which he
has contributed largely, both Of time and
money. Those who knew him best know
the upright, earnest christian life he
lived for nearly 30 years. He was a man
of rugged physique and seldom knew a
sick day until his last illness
Mr. and Mrs. Woodman removed from
their farm to this village in 1888, since
which time he has continued to reside
here. a little more than two years after
the death Of his first wife be married
Mrs. Almira J. Abbott. They lived to-
gether pleasantly and happily until her
death, which occurred May 20, 1901.
Since that time he has lived with his
daughter, Mrs. Dora Richmond
Mr.. Woodman was a man of great con-
scientiousness, and one who never hest
tated to do what he thought was right,
but notwithstanding the firmuess with
which he held to his own convictions.
politically, religiously or otherwise he
was tolerant of the opinions of others
and never attempted to impose his own
ideas upon his friends and acquaintance
in such way to he at all Objectionable.
He was man who will be greatly
missed in this community. A gooo man,
an upright citizen, an affectionate father,
a sincere christian has gone to his we'll
earned reward. If David Woodman was
not fully prepared to meet his Maker, it
would be difficult to find person who