JOHN C. WOODIN.

JOHN C. WOODIN.—Connected with the industrial interests of Allen county, Mr. Woodin is engaged in the manufacture of brooms in Iola, having followed this enterprise during the greater part of an active business career. He was born in Painesville, Ohio, December 29, 1844, his parents being J. H. and Rachel (Hitchcock) Woodin. The father was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1811, and in that city spent his boyhood days, the grandfather there following the blacksmith's trade. The latter died when his son was only thirteen years of age, at which time J. H. Woodin was practically thrown upon his own resources. In 1828, at the age of seventeen he removed to Ohio, in company with his brother-in-law, George Mygatt, an architect, under whose direction he learned the trade of a carpenter. In the spring of 1847, Mr. Woodin went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was employed as a journeyman, and also worked in the machine shops of that city until 1853, when he removed to Peoria county, Illinois, making his home upon a farm there until 1866, when he came to Allen county, Kansas. He took up his abode in the western part of Iola township, and there died in 1892. He was married in 1834, in Painesville, Ohio, to Rachel Hitchcock, who was born in New York, in 1811, a daughter of James Hitchcock, a Methodist minister, who removed from the Empire State to Ohio. Mrs. Woodin died in Kansas in 1891. By her marriage she became the mother of two sons and three daughters: James L., who died in Iola in 1895, and was an ex-sheriff of Allen county; Mrs. Mary E. Hurt, of Farmington, Illinois; J. C., of this review; Eliza-

beth, deceased, wife of William Best, of Neosho Falls, Kansas; and Frances J., deceased, wife of Robert Works, of Humboldt, Kansas.

J. C. Woodin was reared on the home farm. Through the winter months he pursued his education in the district schools, and in the summer months he followed the plow and assisted in the work of the harvest fields. After he had attained his majority he began farming and stock raising on his own account, but later turned his attention to the manufacture of brooms, which business he is still following. As the output of his factory is of a superior grade he receives a liberal patronage and is therefore enjoying a good income.

On the 23rd of December, 1874, Mr. Woodin married Miss Kate McCullough, who was born in Waterproof, Louisiana, March 18, 1856. Her father, William McCullough, was a native of Ireland, and emigrated to the United Stated in 1846. In 1848 he was married in Rondout, New York, to Jane Duncan, also a native of the Emerald Isle. With his family he removed from New York to Indiana, where he followed the brick mason's trade. For a time he resided in Louisiana, engaging in the same business, but on account of his union sentiments he was compelled to leave there at the time of the Civil war, making his way to Texas, and thence to Mexico, where he took passage on a sailing vessel for New York. From the last named place he went with his family to Illinois and subsequently to Kansas City, where he resided for about twenty years, when, hoping to benefit his health by a change of climate he came to Allen county. Here his death occurred in 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Woodin have become the parents of three sons and two daughters: William J., Fred, Anna, James and Lettie, who are still under the parental root.

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