The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1907-07-19

The citizens OF Paw Paw were shocked
last Saturday afternoon 10 receive the
sad Dews that Hon. J j Woodman had
passed away lie had been in rather
feeble health for several ears, as old age
gradually crept upon hiul, yet he Mas
able to superintend his business affairs
to the last. n the forenoon of the day
of his death he had been out 10 the hay
field with his son TO give some directions
in regard to the cutting OF the hay. He
returned to the house and ate his din
ner as usual, after which he retired to
the sitting room and sat IN his large arm
char, as was his custom after dinner
About one o'clock Mrs Woodman went
into the room and spoke TO him but got
no response, and upon going to him
found that his spirit had taken It's flight.
Hon j. j. NUOJnau was born iu Sut-
ton, Caledonia county, Vermont, May -,
1928, and came to Antwerp township
with his parents at the age Of 10 years.
His early life was spent in teaching
school during the winter months and
working on his fathers farm during the
summer, completing his school educa
ton at private academy before he was
81 years of age. In 1852 be resigned the
position of principal Of the Paw Paw
union school to meet and overcome, as
best he might, the hardships of a two
years life in California. He saved
enough out of the venture TO enlarge his
farm.
He was married to Miss Harty II.
Hunt Oh the 30th Of March, 1856. As
result o. this union one child was born.
Mrs. Woodman passed away in 1894. 10
1896 Mr.. Woodman was again married
to Rev. Olivia J. G. Carpenter, who was
at that time pastor of the Universalist
church at Pennington Michigan, who,
with the only child, L. X. Woodman, Of
Paw Paw, remain to mourn his death.
The entire community IN which he
lived, aud many friends throughout the
state extend their sympathy to the sor-
rowing family in their hour of bereave-
ment.
The funeral was held from the late
residence Tuesday, at 2 o'clock p. M.
and was one OF the largest funerals ever
held in Paw Paw. Revs. r. II. and III
w. Harvey officiated Interment was at
Prospect cemetery. Z
1t is difficult for those who knew him
only during his declining years to have
just conception Of the Jonathan j.
Woodman of 30 years ago. From boy
hood he had taken an active part in pub
lie affairs. Originally Jacksonian dem-
ocrat, at the beginning of the first great
anti slavery campaign, he was nominated
by the democratic party for county
clerk. which at that time was equivela Mt
to an election. The convention that
nominated him adopted series of reso-
lutions on the slavery question that was
offensive to him and he rendered back
the nomination given him saying, "lf it
is necessary to subscribe to those reso-
lutions in order to remain in the demo-
cratic party, then | am no longer a dem
ocrat." Afterwards, as delegate from
this county to the first republican con-
vention ever held, "Under the Oaks" at
Jackson, he took part In the delibera-
tions OF that great historic gathering and
was one Of the founders of the republi-
can party. In 1860 he was elected to the
legislature. He was a member contin-
uously for II years, length OF legisla-
tive service never equalled in this state
except by Senator Charles Smith OF
Houghton. Mr.. Woodman from the be-
ginning was a legislative leader During
the war of the rebellion he served as
member and chairman of the commit
tee on military affairs, at that time the