Success is
determined by one's ability to recognize opportunity and to pursue this
with a resolute purpose and unflagging energy. It results from continued
labor, and the man who thus accomplishes his purpose usually becomes an
important factor in the business circles of the community with which he
is connected. Mr. Woodmansee, through such means, has attained a leading
place among the representative men of Starrucca, Wayne county, and his
well-spent and honorable life commands the respect of all who know
him.
A native of Wayne county, Mr. Woodmansee was born April 30, 1832, in
what was then Preston township, but is now a part of Buckingham
township. His father, James Woodmansee, was born 1786, in Rhode Island,
but was reared in Connecticut, and as early as 1816 came to Wayne
county, Penn., accompanied by his brothers, Thomas and Jeremiah, and
also by their father, Gideon Woodmansee, who died and was buried here.
He had aided the Colonies in their struggle for independence, and for
his services as a soldier in the Revolutionary war he drew a pension.
His son James took part in the second war against England -- the war of
1812. The latter and his brother-in-law, Rufus Green, were among the
first to locate in Preston township, Wayne county, their nearest
neighbor at that time being four and five miles distant, while wolves
and other wild animals were quite numerous. James Woodmansee married
Miss Polly Underwood, who was born in 1792, and they became the parents
of fourteen children, namely: James M., Jedediah, Samuel, Betsy, Carlos,
Caronine, Phoebe, Lyman, Amy Susan, Mary Jane, Huldah, Rhoda, Mahala and
our subject. In political faith the father was a Whig, and his religious
views was independent, while his wife was identified with the Baptist
Church.
In an old log school house near his boyhood home Mr. Woodmansee
pursued his studies, but training in farm work was much more proficient
than his literary education. He early became an excellent hunter, and
many a deer has fallen before his rifle. For some time after starting
out in life for himself he engaged in rafting on the Delaware river,
making about 100 trips, and for forty years he also successfully
followed the carpenter's trade, being one of the leading contractors and
builders of his community. During that time he constructed many of the
bridges in both wood and stone, of Wayne county, and his work, being of
a substantial kind, always proved satisfactory. He is now the owner of
the Woodmansee Switch stone quarry, and for the past seven years has
been a successful dealer in both flag and building stone. He furnishes
employment to ten men, and in promoting his own interests thus
materially advances the general welfare of the community.
In 1853 Mr. Woodmansee was married to Miss Mercy Williams, who has
proved a true helpmeet to him. She was born in Porter township,
Susquehanna Co., Penn., a daughter of S. B. and Victorine (Kingsbury)
Williams, early settlers of that county. She is the eldest child in
their family, the others being M. F., a resident of Buckingham township,
Wayne county; C. H., of Preston township; Mrs. Sophronia Monagh, of Lake
Como, Wayne county; Mary, wife of J. H. Taylor, of Lake Como; and Maria,
wife of Mr. McAvoy, of Mt. Pleasant, Wayne county. The father died in
Preston township, where the mother is still living at the ripe old age
of seventy-eight years.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Woodmansee are as follows: (1)
Polly married E. A. Sherwood, of Parksburg, Va., and died leaving two
children -- Ruel E., of Parksburg; and Edith May, who finds a pleasant
home with her paternal grandparents. (2) Dell is the wife of James
Kelly, of Honesdale, Wayne county, and has six children -- Lotta, Daisy,
Minda, Ralph, Etta and Ivy Louise. (3) S. B. is married and has two
children -- Warren Webster and Edith Lucinda. He operates the old home
farm of 116 acres of well-improved land, on which is located High Lake.
(4) John married Lena Koehler, and is engaged in the stone business with
his father in Starrucca.
Since 1862 Mr. Woodmansee has been a stanch supporter of the
Democratic party, and has been honored with most of the offices in
Buckingham and Preston townships, as well as those of Starrucca, serving
as constable two years, collector three years, a member of the school
board fifteen terms, and auditor of Starrucca two terms. Socially he
affiliates with Lake Como Lodge No. 965, I. O. O. F..
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