Biographical HistoryOwen Woodruff was born just south of Salt Lake City on 23 November
1872 to Wilford Woodruff and Emma Smith. One of his earliest memories was of
attending the funeral of Brigham Young and viewing the deceased prophet while
being held in his mother's arms.
Woodruff attended Latter-day Saints' College in Logan, Utah, and is
said to have studied under Professors James E. Talmage and Karl G. Maeser. At
eighteen, he began working for a bank as a collector and assistant
bookkeeper.
In 1893, he was called as a missionary to the Swiss and German
Mission. He was first called to open the mission at Frankfort. After five
months of working single-handedly, he was assigned a companion and they opened
a branch shortly thereafter. Two months later, he was called to the presidency
of the Dresden Branch. He was later assigned to Berlin where he presided over
the conference for one year. While Woodruff was in Berlin, the civil officials
banned Mormon missionaries from proselyting. Hence, Elder Woodruff disguised
himself as a migrant worker and went to work in the fields with the peasants
during the day. Then at night he held cottage meetings in hopes of finding
investigators. At the end of his mission, Woodruff was granted permission by
Church leaders to tour Switzerland, Austria, and Italy.
Woodruff returned home in 1896 and resumed work at the bank. On 30 May
1896 he married Helen May Winters. During October conference of that same year,
he was called to the Council of the Twelve Apostles. He was ordained on October
7 by his father.
As an apostle, Woodruff was given the responsibility of overseeing the
colonization of the Big Horn country of northwestern Wyoming. Mormons had been
in the Big Horn Basin since 1887. In February 1900, Woodruff went with fourteen
other men to look over the land and decide if it was suitable for organized
colonization. Before leaving Utah for Wyoming, the apostle filed an application
with the Wyoming State Board of Land Commissioners to construct a canal along
the Shoshone. Soon after, Governor DeForrest Richards and Secretary Chatterton
of Wyoming went to Salt Lake City and held a conference with church officials.
The results of that conference were that in April the Big Horn Basin
Colonization Company was organized.
During the time of early colonization, Woodruff worked closely with
Colonel William F. (Buffalo Bill) Cody. He also worked with staunch church
members such as Byron Sessions, a frontiersman, and Charles A. Welch, an
accountant. After the land was surveyed, three town sites were laid out at
Byron, Cowley, and Lovell. After Mormons had been in the territory for one
year, a stake of the Church was organized. It was called the Big Horn Stake of
Zion and Woodruff was called to be the president with Byron Sessions, Jesse W.
Crosby, and Charles W. Welch as counselors. Of the Big Horn Stake, Charles
Lindsay wrote:
The stake presidency visited the various wards, supervised their
religious and social programs, instructed them in church doctrines, and advised
them in temporal affairs. The people were urged to keep out of debt, comply
with the "Word of Wisdom," build good fences, attend fast meetings, plant
trees, and pay a full tithing, all in the same sermon.
In January 1901, Woodruff married Eliza Avery Clark Woodruff (9 March
1882 - 8 May 1953). For most of their marriage, she resided in Logan, Utah.
In May of 1904, Elder Woodruff went with his first wife Helen and
their four children to visit the Saints in Mexico. There, Helen contracted
smallpox and died on 7 June 1904 in Mexico City. Woodruff also contracted the
disease and died in El Paso, Texas, on 20 June 1904. Their last weeks are
described by an eyewitness:
The next year [1904], I taught the second grade in Col. Juarez.
We held a school in the basement of the church house. Liza Clayson, Lizzie
Butler, Ernest Hatch and myself were the faculty there. In the spring of the
year, there was an excursion to Mexico City for $50.00, round trip. Brother
Anthony W. Ivins was going with his family--Anna and Florence, and Antonne was
already there studying law. Leona Taylor (Apostle Taylor's daughter), Apostle
Abram O. Woodruff and wife, Helen Mar, Pres. And Sis. Ivins, Liza Clayson and I
were in the party to go. We arrived in Mexico City after two days traveling
from Colonia Juarez. President Hyrum S. Harris was president of the Mexican
Mission at that time, and he made us so welcome at the Mission home. At
conference time, all the elders came in, and we enjoyed them so much. We also
enjoyed visiting the different branches with the Elders and meeting with the
saints.
One Sunday afternoon, after we had visited all day in the little
branch of Amecameca, we were coming home on the train, and Sister Woodruff took
violently ill with a high fever and headache. We arrived in Mexico City at noon
from Amecameca and she was still very sick, and gradually getting worse. They
called in the Doctor who diagnosed her sickness as Black Small Pox. This was
just like a bomb shell exploding in our midst. Pres. Ivins moved his family out
of the Mission home immediately, and headquarters were transferred to Toluca.
Brother and Sister Harris and all the children went over there also. It the
city Health officials had known about Sister Woodruff's illness, they would
surely have taken her to the pest house to die, so they dared not let it be
known at all. Elder Alonzo L. Taylor had just been vaccinated for this dread
disease, and Elder Heming had had it, so they volunteered their services to
Apostle Woodruff to assist him in the illness of his wife. Her baby was just
five months old and they were not able to find a wet nurse to take care of it
for them. This left Liza Clayson and I there alone. After much consideration
she decided to go home with the Ivins family so I volunteered my services to
Apostle Woodruff to help care for the baby. Apostle Woodruff was most grateful
and appreciated so much my offer to help, and he gave me a beautiful blessing
and promised me in the name of the Lord that if I would stay and help him that
I would not contract this dreaded disease. From that time on, I had absolutely
no fear of it. He found me a room with a Mrs. Conley, a lady with whom Edmund
Richardson had stayed during the time he was studying law in Mexico City. This
lady was very kind and good to us and allowed me to do our washing and ironing
there. We had a lot of difficulty in finding food that would agree with the
baby. Brother Woodruff and Elder A.L. Taylor would take turns coming to see us
every other day, and did whatever they could to help us out, certainly they did
much in giving me encouragement and moral support.
Sister Woodruff was getting steadily worse. They didn't have a
doctor and these tow men were taking care of her the best they could. She
finally lapsed into a coma, and after two weeks of illness, she died [7 June].
Plans were made immediately to return to the U.S. after burying her there.
Bishop Derby Johnson and his wife and three daughters were visiting Mexico, and
they held a lovely grave side service for her. That night, Brother Woodruff,
A.L. Taylor, the baby and I got on the train to return to El Paso. He
telegraphed his mother and Brotherin- law to meet him there, which they did.
Brother Woodruff was sick with a high fever all the way to El Paso. He was
breaking out with small pox, too. After travelling 48 hours, we arrived in
Ciudad Juarez and were taken immediately to the home of brother James
Mortensen. The next A.M. arrangements were made to smuggle Brother Woodruff
across the line and he was put in a pest house in El Paso. Brother Woodruff's
mother took the baby, and they took A.L. and me and got us a room in the hotel
in Juarez. A.L. was sick all day, he too was coming down with the dreaded
disease. Still, I was not afraid of taking it, as I had been promised by an
Apostle of the Lord that I would not.
The next morning A.L. was smuggled over to El Paso and put in a
pest house there. Sister Woodruff took the baby and went back to Salt Lake, and
I took the train and came home. Father met me at the train, and I was taken to
the Ranch to stay alone until all danger was past. A.L. and Brother Woodruff
both stayed in the pest house in El Paso. Brother Woodruff was suffering
intense pain and had such a high fever. He passed away on the [20th] of June
1904.[Account of Kate Pearl Spilsbury in Viva Skousen Spilsbury
BrownThe Life and Posterity of Al a Platte Spilsbury(Provo, UT:
Viva S. Brown, 1983). Pp 159-61.]
After his death, theDeseret Evening Newsin Salt Lake City
published the following:
The sad tiding of the death of Apostle Abraham Owen Woodruff . .
. came to the public as a calamity. Following so quickly on the news of his
wife's demise, it is as a heavy blow repeated that causes pain and regret which
cannot be expressed. When it was learned that the bereaved and devoted husband
had contracted the disease (smallpox) which carried off his beloved companion,
there were forebodings as to the result. But his naturally fine physique, his
unusual steadfast faith, and the skill and attention he received, gave hopes of
his speedy recovery. But his great anxiety, constant watching and lack of rest
in caring for his dying wife depleted his system and so the disease took him
when poorly prepared to resist its encroaches, and it was heart failure that
ended his earthly career. He had been removed over the Mexican line into Texas,
and in the hospital at El Paso he received that care and treatment that was
necessary, and everything possible was done for his relief. . . Bro. Woodruff
was a bright and valiant soldier in the army of the Lord, ready to respond at
every call; devoted to the cause in which he was enlisted for life; able and
useful in temporal as well as spiritual things, and calm and judicious in
judgement when wise counsel was needed in the settlement of difficulties in
newly settled places. He was beloved by the Saints and admired for his purity
of life and consistency of conduct. He was a valued member of his quorum, and
there will be universal sorrow through the Church over the loss that is
sustained in his departure.
On 17 July 1993, a Memorial Service for Abraham and Helen was held in
Salt Lake City. Their remains had been returned to Utah for interment in the
Salt Lake City Cemetery. Information on this special occasion has been gathered
in Box 6 folder 22.
Scope and Content NoteThe Abraham Owen Woodruff Collection consists of journals, notebooks,
letters, and other miscellaneous items arranged in six boxes. The first box
contains Woodruff's mission journals (1) from 23 January 1894 to 31 October
1894, and (2) from 1 October 1895 to 26 May 1896, a journal from 1 January 1899
to 31 December 1900, a journal from 1 October 1901 to 24 April 1902, a letter
record book beginning in 1894, a notebook of 1898, and a letter book from 6
March 1900 to 18 April 1900.
The second box contains a scrapbook of various dried plants, a book of
music, and a notebook belonging to Helen Winter, Woodruff's first wife.
The third box contains letters to and from various family members,
including: Wilford Woodruff, Emma L. Woodruff, Helen Winters Woodruff, Avery
Clark Woodruff, Asahel Woodruff, and other family members. Box three also
contains Woodruff's mission correspondence to his family.
The fourth box begins with miscellaneous mission correspondence,
including several letters written in German. It also includes correspondence
with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints living in Mexico
and correspondence with many prominent church figures, including: Heber J.
Grant, George Albert Smith, Joseph F. Smith, and Lorenzo Snow, among others, as
well as miscellaneous religious correspondence. Box four also contains
correspondence with members of the U.S. Congress.
Box five contains correspondence regarding the Big Horn Basic of
Wyoming, including numerous letters from DeForrest Richards, Governor of the
State of Wyoming.
Box six continues the correspondence from the Big Horn Basin and also
contains receipts, announcements and invitations, and miscellaneous
correspondence. Folders 19 and 20 of box six contain photocopies of letters
from the Eliza Avery Clark Woodruff Papers, from Church Archives of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah. Folder 19 also
contains an explanation of codes and references to the letters, prepared for
Church Archives by D. Michael Quinn. Folder 21 contains a photocopy of the
"Autobiography and Recollections of Eliza Avery Clark (Woodruff) Lambert,
1882-1953."
Explanation of Codes and References- Anna = reference to Anna Rosenkilde, a house girl employed by
Helen Winters Woodruff.
- Asahel = reference to Asahel H. Woodruff, brother of Abraham
Owen Woodruff. Asahel was the president of the Northern States Mission between
1902 and 1904.
- Augusta = reference to Augusta Winters Grant, sister of Helen
Winters Woodruff and wife of Heber J. Grant, member of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles.
- Auntie = sometimes a specific reference to Helen Winters
Woodruff.
- Aunties = reference to plural wives on the
"Underground" in the 1900's.
- Avery Eldridge = code for Avery Clark Woodruff.
- B.H. = reference to Big Horn Basin, Wyoming, the colonization
of which was led by Apostle Abraham Owen Woodruff.
- Bethel = code for Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Bishop Bentley = reference to Joseph C. Bentley, bishop of the
Juarez Ward.
- Boise = code of El Paso, Texas.
- Brother C-. = reference to one of three men, depending on the
context of the reference: Matthias F. Cowley and Rudger Clawson, members of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and George M. Cannon, cashier of the Zion's
Savings Bank and Trust Company, Salt Lake City.
- Brother Kelsch = reference to Louis A. Kelsch, friend and
associate of Matthias F. Cowley.
- Brother Romney = reference to Junius Romney, resident of
Colonia Juarez.
- Brother T-. = reference to John W. Taylor, member of the Quorum
of the Twelve Apostles, or to Edwin T. ("Teddy") Bennion,
brother-in-law of Avery Clark Woodruff. Reference depends on context.
- Brother Taylor = reference to John W. Taylor.
- Brother Wilson = most often a code name for Matthias F. Cowley;
occasionally a literal reference to Guy C. Wilson, principal of the Juarez
Stake Academy.
- Byron Sessions = President of the Big Horn settlement of the
Mormons in Wyoming.
- C- House = reference to the border customs house at El Paso,
Mexico.
- California = code for Montana.
- Chicago = code for the settlement of Byron in the Big Horn
Basin, Wyoming.
- Clara = reference to Clara Woodruff Daynes, sister of Abraham
Owen Woodruff, and wife of Joseph J. Daynes.
- Denver = code for Colonia Diaz, Mexico.
- Detroit, Michigan = not a code, but a literal reference to this
city.
- Dr. J.M.T. = reference to Joseph M. Tanner, General
Superintendent of LDS Church Schools, 1901-1906.
- Emma S. = reference to Emma S. Woodruff, mother of Abraham Owen
Woodruff.
- England = code for Canada.
- Europe = code for Star Valley, Wyoming, where Avery Clark's
family resided.
- Father = reference to Hyrum Don Carlos Clark, father of Avery
Clark Woodruff.
- Germany = code for Mexico.
- H.- = reference to Helen Winters Woodruff.
- Heber = reference to one of three persons, depending upon the
context: Heber J. Grant and Heber Bennion, brother-in-laws of Helen Winters
Woodruff, or Heber D. Clark, young brother of Avery Clark Woodruff.
- Henry Westlake = code for Matthias F. Cowley.
- The Horn = reference to Big Horn settlements in Wyoming.
- Illinois = code for Big Horn Basin, Wyoming.
- Isaac W. Brown = code for Abraham Owen Woodruff.
- Ivan = code for Abraham Owen Woodruff.
- Joseph = reference to Joseph J. Daynes, Jr., brother-in-law of
Abraham Owen Woodruff.
- Junius R. = reference to Junius Romney, resident of Colonia
Juarez.
- K. = reference to Katharine Morris Cannon, plural wife of
George M. Cannon.
- Kentucky = code for Kansas City, Missouri.
- Luella = reference to Luella Parkinson Cowley, plural wife of
George M. Cannon.
- M-. = occasionally a reference to May Clark, sister of Avery
Clark Woodruff.
- Mama = reference to Helen Winters Woodruff.
- Mary = reference to Mary Clark, sister of Avery Clark
Woodruff.
- Madge = code name for Helen Winters Woodruff.
- May = reference to Helen Winters Woodruff.
- Matt = code for Avery Clark Woodruff.
- Mattie = code for Avery Clark Woodruff.
- Mrs. J-. = code reference to "Mrs. Jensen," the code
name for Katharine Morris Cannon, plural wife of George M. Cannon.
- Mrs. Jensen = code for Katharine Morris Cannon.
- Nell = code name for Helen Winters Woodruff.
- Nephi = code for Colonia Morales, Mexico.
- New York = code for Ogden, Utah.
- Oaxaca = code for Billings, Montana.
- Our Chief = code reference to Joseph F. Smith, president of the
LDS Church.
- Papa = reference to Abraham Owen Woodruff.
- The President = reference to Joseph F. Smith, president of the
LDS Church.
- Pres. I-. = reference to Anthony W. Ivins, president of the
Juarez Stake.
- Pres. Mc. = reference to Joseph W. McMurrin, one of the First
Seven Presidents of the Seventies of the LDS Church.
- Pres. Roosevelt = code for Joseph F. Smith, president of the
LDS Church.
- Prof. W-. = reference to Guy C. Wilson, principal of the Juarez
Stake Academy.
- Provo = code for Colonia Dublan, Mexico.
- Roxey and Rhoda = reference to Roxey Welling Taylor and Rhoda
Welling Taylor, plural wives of John W. Taylor.
- St. George = code for Colonia Juarez, Mexico.
- St. Paul, Minnesota = sometimes used as actual reference to
that city located in the mission area of Asahel H. Woodruff.
- St. Paul = code for Logan, Utah.
- San Francisco = code for Evanston, Wyoming.
- Sister M-. = reference to May Clark, sister of Avery Clark
Woodruff.
- Springfield = code for Cowley, Wyoming.
- Texas = code for Idaho.
- Theo. Basev = code for Joseph F. Smith, president of the LDS
Church.
- Uncle J.- = reference to Joseph M. Tanner or to George M.
Cannon, husband of "Sister Jensen" (Katharine Morris Cannon).
- Uncle J.M. = reference to Joseph M. Tanner.
- Uncle Marion = apparently does not refer to Francis Marion
Lyman of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who was in England when these
references were made. It does apparently refer to Joseph Marion Tanner, as
above.
- Uncle Wilford = possible reference to Wilford Woodruff, Jr.,
brother of Abraham Owen Woodruff.
- Uncles = reference to men who had plural wives on the
"Underground."