Woodman: Last rites in Russell, burial in Maine

Alfred J. Woodman stepped off a train at Russell during 1872, age 21, and during the next year launched Woodman Hardware Store, a firm that endured for almost a century --- until the death in 1967 of his son, John.

 Soon after he had established the business, A.J.'s sister and brother-in-law, Eliza Jane and Reuel Fogg, joined him in Russell. Reuel was a carpenter who helped to build much of the early town and launched the town's lumber yard in 1879.

Alfred, it is said, looked so young when he opened his business that salesmen and others frequently asked to speak to his father. But the Woodman parents,  John and Rebecca, by now retired, did not arrive in Russell from their native Somerset County, Maine, to live near their children until 1881.

Three years later, in 1884, their eldest son --- John Wayland Woodman, a physician --- joined the rest of his small immediate family in Iowa, locating in Des Moines.

And so the family circle was complete, with the exception of Eben, who had died during 1863 in his 10th year, and Abbie, dead at 24 during 1871. They were buried in North Cemetery in Skowhegan, Maine, near the family home. 

When death began to unravel the family, it was the wish of Rebecca and John to be buried near their deceased children back in Maine. Alfred had by now added undertaking to his hardware, furniture and implement operation --- and was able to fulfill their wishes. 

Rebecca was the first, passing at her home in Russell on the 12th of September, 1900, age 84. She was the first to make the long journey back to Maine by train.

Two years later, on the 9th of April 1902, John Woodman died in Russell at the age of 89. Then, four days after that, on the 13th of April, John Wayland died in Des Moines after a brief illness, age 63.

So that was why A.J. ended up accompanying the remains of two loved ones across country after funeral services in Russell to their final resting places in Maine.

The Chariton Herald of April 17, 1902, reported this sad chain of events as follows:

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John Woodman was born at Cornville, Maine, January 22, 1813. He was married March 1st, 1838, to Rebecca Jane Simonton,  with whom he lived over 62 years, till her death September 12, 1900. Five children were born to them, of whom three are living, Dr. J.W. Woodman, of Des Moines, Mrs. R.R. Fogg and Alfred J. Woodman, of Russell.

John Woodman lived in his native town, holding many positions of trust in both town and county till the year 1881, when he came to Russell  to be near his children. Converted in early life, he identified himself with the Baptist church at Cornville, Maine, where he held his membership for over 45 years. When he came to Russell he united with the Baptist church and took a deep interest in its early life. 

One sister, Eliza W. Weston of La Crosse, Wisconsin, still survives him at the age of 92. He died at his home in Russell, Iowa, April 9, 1902, at the advanced age of 89 years, 2 months and 18 days. the body will be taken to Skowhegan, Maine, for burial in the family lot.

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Later --- During the funeral service of Mr. John Woodman on last Friday afternoon,  previous to taking the corpse to Maine, a telegram was received from R. R. Fogg, who had been called to Des Moines on account of the serious illness of Dr. Wayland Woodman, the eldest son mentioned in the above obituary --- telling A.J. to postpone starting with his father as his brother might die at any time.

Mr. Woodman and Mrs. Fogg went to Des Moines Saturday and  remained with their brother until death Sunday night, and the body was brought to Russell Monday. One of the saddest funerals ever held in Russell occurred on Tuesday afternoon when a second service was held at the Woodman home over the two bodies, father and brother, thus leaving only two instead of three to mourn. A.J. Woodman left Tuesday evening with the two for Maine, and the deepest sympathy of the entire community goes with him on his sad errand. Below we also give the obituary of the son, John Wayland Woodman.

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John Wayland Woodman was born in Somerset Co., Maine,  the eldest of five children. He commenced teaching school at the age of 17, and at 21 entered Colby University and later, Bowdoin Medical College. From  there he went to Portland, and was connected with the hospital, making his home with the late Senator Fessenden. He finished at last with a full course at Bellevue Medical College, New York.

He entered the army as assistant surgeon, and at the close of the Civil War remained for some time with the regular army as surgeon, being stationed at old Fort Buford, now in the Dakotas. Leaving the service, he went into the drug store business in New York City, where he prospered. In 1884, having met with financial reverses, he decided to follow his father's family to the West. He spent the last 17 years of his life in Des Moines, where he again met with success, and enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who knew him.

He was a man of refined tastes, of an amiable and cheerful disposition, which won and kept the love of many friends. He died after a brief illness at Des Moines, April 13, 1902, at the age of 63. A brother and sister are left to mourn, while he is laid beside another brother and a sister, a father and a mother.