My Genealogy Hound

ASAPH WOODRUFF, a representative pioneer settler of Berrien County, Mich., locating in Bainbridge Township in 1838, has during these many years been closely identified with the history and progressive interests of his home locality and has with able fidelity discharged the duties of public office, serving for a number of continuous terms as Treasurer of the township. Mr. Woodruff is a native of Broome County, N. Y., and, born in the year 1823, was but a lad when with his parents he emigrated in 1838 to the then far West and settled in the wilderness of Michigan. His father and mother, Levi and Sophia (Spaulding) Woodruff, were of New England birth, the father having been born in Connecticut, and the mother in Vermont. The paternal grandfather, Philo Woodruff, was undoubtedly a native of Connecticut, but the family are of Welsh descent, three brothers, David, Simeon and Philo, emigrating from Wales to America in the early Colonial days. They settled in Litchfield, Conn., and in their new home the brothers changed the name of Forester, which they had borne in Wales, to that of Woodruff.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Philo Woodruff, a true patriot, served with courage and distinction in the War of the Revolution, and was with Washington when Burgoyne surrendered. Previous to his marriage with the mother of our subject, the father had wedded Miss Lois Rossiter, who lived to become the mother of six children: Newton, Philo, Morgan, David, Harriet and Morgan. Asaph Woodruff was the eldest child of Sophia (Spaulding) Woodruff, and following him came Simeon, Lois, and Henry, now a resident of Watervliet. Having attained to manhood, our subject was in 1859 united in marriage with Miss Sarah Woodruff, a native of St. Joseph County, and a daughter of William Woodruff, born in Litchfield, Conn., but later a pioneer of Michigan, locating in 1834 in the State. Mr. and Mrs. Asaph Woodruff resided upon the old Bainbridge Township homestead until 1888, when they removed to Benton Township, and settled upon their fine farm, one and a-half miles from Benton Harbor. Four sons and a daughter blessed the home: William, a resident of Norfolk, Neb.; Robert; Daisy; John, a resident of Oregon; and Ralph, who died in infancy.

Our subject, with energetic industry and native ability, steadily winning his way upward, met and overcame many trials and privations incidental to pioneer days. Associated with all public movements of his locality, he voted at the first election of the township, and is, as have been all his people since the formation of the party, a stanch Republican. A brother, Newton Woodruff, served one term in the Legislature, as did his son A. N., of Watervliet. Aside from his office as Treasurer, our subject has held other positions of trust, and for fifty-five years has been a leading factor in the development and growth of enterprise in Berrien County. He and his entire family contribute to the maintenance of religious organizations. Mr. Woodruff is a believer in the tenets of the Swedenborgian Church, but not a member, and his wife is a valued laborer in the Congregational Church, and both are active in good works. Possessing a wide acquaintance, their lives have been crowned with the high regard of all who know them, and in the evening of their days they may with pleasure review the memories of their well-spent lives.