Francis B. and Mary E. Woodruff , Sterling
In 1850 Floyd County, Indiana,
Hezekiah Johnson is
37,
Hannah Johnson
30,
Archibald Johnson
18,
Sarah J. Johnson
17,
Mary E. Johnson 10, and
Rebecca Johnson
1
.
Mary's brother Hezekiah P. Johnson
BIRTH
1855
DEATH
1898
Kansas,
BURIAL
Lenape Cemetery
Lenape, Leavenworth County, Kansas,
MEMORIAL ID
109882369.
Another brother George W. Johnson
BIRTH
26 Jan 1853
New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana,
DEATH
11 Feb 1924
Sharon, Woodward County, Oklahoma,
BURIAL
Fern - Mount Olive Cemetery
Harper County, Oklahoma,
MEMORIAL ID
66058853.
Another brother, Archibald, was in Huerfano County, Colorado in 1870 (when Huerfano took up most of the south-central part of the Territory)
A. B. Johnson is farming, 39,
Lucy Ann Johnson 28, born in Wisconsin and
John E. Crawford
17 born in Ohio.
FRANCES AND MARY
Mary E. Johnson and Francis B. Woodruff married on 17 May 1858 in Marion County, Illinois.
In 1870 Huron County, Ohio,
John Gregory is a laborer, 24, Frank B. Woodruff 37, an engine builder, both born in New York,
Mary Woodruff
30, Indiana,
Annie Woodruff
11, New York,
Ellen Woodruff
9, Illinois
Minnie Woodruff
7, and
Edwin Woodruff
.
In 1880 Marshalltown, Iowa,
Francis B. Woodruff 47 is superintendent of an oil mill,
Mary E. Woodruff
40 Wife,
Ella A. Woodruff
18 Daughter,
Edward F. Woodruff
11 Son, and
Julia M. Woodruff
3 Daughter.
Mary E. Woodruff
BIRTH 11 Feb 1840 DEATH 11 Apr 1907
BURIAL
Greenwood Cemetery
Chadron, Dawes County, Nebraska, MEMORIAL ID 88955816.
May 11, 1916 "The Princess theater has been sold by J. E. Dahlberg to Mrs.
Anna Washburn from Lincoln, Neb. The house is now being operated by the F. B. Woodruff
company, consisting of Mrs. Washburn and her father, Mr. Woodruff.
Mrs. Washburn arrived in Sterling Tuesday and on Wednesday she purchased the house,
paying cash and at Mr. Dahlberg's figure. One night's glance at the large patronage of
the house was sufficient to convince her that the Princess was a paying proposition.
Mr. Dahlberg has been making good money with the place in less than a year's time
he has owned it and the fact that Mrs. Dahlberg's health is not the best in this
altitude alone induced him to give it up. During the regime of Mr. Dahlberg,
the Princess has won an enviable reputation for the high class and clean character
of the pictures produced, and friends therefore have crowded around him in large
numbers."
April 1917 " Mrs. Ella Mack of Miles City, Mont.,; who has spent several months in Los
Angeles, Cal., is the guest of her sisters, Mrs. Anna Ashburn and Mrs. Hamilton. "
March 1919 "Julia Hamilton has sold her one-third interest in the Princess theater
in Sterling to her father, R B. Woodruff, and her sister, Mrs. Anna M. Ashburn.
Mrs. Hamilton will go to Chadron, Nebraska, where she will operate a
moving picture theatre. Mrs. Hamilton lived at Chadron before coming to Sterling
two years ago."
March 1919 "F. B. Woodruff, one of the proprietors of the Princean theatre
in Sterling, has received a letter from his son, Kdwin F. Woodruff, who has
been stationed at Hoboken, New Jersey, with the Y. M. C. A.
The letter states that he will soon sail for France on the ship Calumares,
which has a crew of 300, and which on its return trip will bring home 2,000
American soldiers.
Mr. Woodruff was one among nine Y. M. C. A. workers to be
chosen for overseas duty. He was first located ai Douglas, Arizona.
He has traveled over 10,000 miles in his work of entertaining the soldiers
wiih music and motion pictures.
Mr. F. B. Woodruff has also a grandson in the service, statiound at
Port Au Prince, Haiti, with the submarine forces.
He is at the head of the radio department, and it is stated, is expecting
to be promoted to chief of this branch."
June 5, 1919, Sterling
"
Francis Butler Woodruff, age eighty-six years, died in his sleep at the home
of his daughter, Mrs. Anna M. Ashburn, 324 North Second street Friday.
Mrs. Ashburn entered the room about 7 o'clock to find that he had died
peacefully some time early in the morning. Mr. Woodruff and Mrs. Ashburn
have been proprietors of the Princess theater for the past three years,
and the kind, energetic old gentleman was a familiar figure to the people
of the business distrlct of Sterling.
Mr. Woodruff was born in Chenango county, New York, April 19, 1833.
He was married May 16, 1858 to Mary E. Johnson of New Albany, Indiana.
To this union five children were born. They are Mrs. Anna M. Ashburn of
Sterling; Mrs. Ella A. Mack of Miles City. Montana; Mrs. Minnie O. Place.,
of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Edwin F. Woodruff of Fort Stockton, Texas,
and Mrs. Julia Hamilton of Chadron, Nebraska.
In 1872 he moved with his family from Ohio to Marshalltown, Iowa, where for many years he was general master mechanic of shops for the Iowa
Central railroad. Later they moved to Dawes county, Nebraska, at which place Mrs. Woodruff
passed away about twelve years ago.
After the death of his wife. Mr. Woodruff made his home with his daughter,
Mrs. Ashburn, who was associated with him in business. On May 1, 1916, they purchased the Princess theatre, which has been under their management since that time.
The body was sent to Chadron, Nebraska, for burial beside his wife, and
left Sterling Sunday morning at 7. Funeral services were held at the
Congregational church at Chadron Monday morning. Three daughters
accompanied the body to its last resting place.
His son is now on his way home from France.
ANNA
July 1916 "Mrs. Ashburn is in receipt of a postcard this morning from her only
daughter, who says she is enjoying her second honeymoon. The daughter lives in Morristown, N. J.,
and she and her husband had considered coining to Colorado to spend a vacation with her mother,
but because of lack of time, are touring the White mountains."
November 1918 "Mrs. A. Ella Black of Miles City, Montana, is
a guest of her sisters, Mrs. Anna Ashburn and Mrs. Julia M. Hamilton in Sterling.
She will probably spend the winter months here."
June 1919 "Mrs. C.W. Michner of Llanerch, Pennsylvania arrived Saturday for a
visit with her mother, Mrs. Anna M. Ashburn."
October 1922 "Mrs. Anna M. Ashburn of Los Angeles, Calif., arrived in Sterling
Sunday and will remain here indefinitely at the home of Mrs. Anna McCormick on
North Second Street. Mrs. Ashburn will attend to business matters while here."
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