Woodruff, Alson

Born: 1806-XX-XX Onondaga County, New York

Died: 1856-06-13 Ottawa, Illinois

Alson Woodruff was a farmer, county sheriff, county commissioner, postmaster, and Republican. In January 1836, he married Emma O. Goodell, with whom he had at least one child. He became an active member of the community of Ottawa, Illinois. From 1836 to 1838, he served as La Salle County's sheriff. In 1840, he served as its commissioner, then as its vice commissioner in 1843. In February 1841, he was appointed postmaster for Ottawa. He remained in the position until at least September 1845. After his wife Emma died in October 1843, he married Elizabeth "Betsey" Burgett in November 1844. He had at least six children in total during his life, although not all survived to adulthood. Moderately successful, he owned $4,000 in real estate by 1850. In 1854, he helped establish the Republican Party in La Salle County.

Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, La Salle County, 7 January 1836, 14 November 1844, Illinois State Archives, Springfield, IL; History of LaSalle County, Illinois (Chicago: Inter-State, 1886), 1:216-17, 267; Elmer Baldwin, History of La Salle County, Illinois (Chicago: Rand, McNally, 1877), 233; Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971, NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls, Records of the Post Office Department, RG 28, 1832-1844, 12b:530, National Archives Building, Washington, DC; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, from the Thirtieth September, 1843, to the Thirtieth September, 1843 (Washington, DC: J. & G. S. Gideon, 1843), 552*; Register of all Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval, in the Service of the United States, on the Thirtieth September, 1845 (Washington, DC: J. & G. S. Gideon, 1845), 394*; U.S. Census Office, Seventh Census of the United States (1850), Ottawa, La Salle County, IL, 178; Emma Woodruff, Alson Woodruff, Gravestones, Woodruff Cemetery, Ottawa, IL.