Brief Life History of Ray
When Ray Woodruff was born on 21 February 1896, in Moultrie, Illinois, United States, his father, Elias P Woodruff, was 34 and his mother, Anna May Hilliard, was 25. He had at least 1 son with Emma Ella Mitchell. He lived in Sullivan Township, Moultrie, Illinois, United States for about 40 years. He died on 22 June 1955, in Sullivan, Moultrie, Illinois, United States, at the age of 59, and was buried in Greenhill Cemetery, Sullivan, Moultrie, Illinois, United States.
Photos and Memories (1)
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Family Time Line
Sources (10)
- Ray Woodruff, "United States Census, 1940"
- Ray Woodruff, "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918"
- Ray Woodruff, "Find A Grave Index"
Spouse and Children
Parents and Siblings
World Events (8)
1898 · War with the Spanish
After the explosion of the USS Maine in the Havana Harbor in Cuba, the United States engaged the Spanish in war. The war was fought on two fronts, one in Cuba, which helped gain their independence, and in the Philippines, which helped the US gain another territory for a time.
1910 · Boy Scouts of America
When W. D. Boyce was visiting London, he encountered a boy that helped him find his destination. The boy refused the tip that Boyce offered to him and told him that he was just doing his daily good turn. Being inspired, Boyce incorporated the Boy Scouts of America to help teach young men how to have an attitude of service always. Since its foundation, The Boy Scouts of America has become one of the largest Scouting organizations in the United States. Around 110 million people have been participants at some time in their life. The BSA was established to help young people make better choices in life and showing selflessness by serving the community.
1912 · The Girl Scouts
Like the Boy Scouts of America, The Girl Scouts is a youth organization for girls in the United States. Its purpose is to prepare girls to empower themselves and by acquiring practical skills.
Name Meaning
English: from Middle English woderove ‘woodruff, sweet woodruff’ (Old English wudurofe), a sweet-scented plant. The leaves of the plant have a sweet smell and the surname may also have been a nickname for one who used it as a perfume, or perhaps an ironical nickname for a malodorous person. Alternatively, perhaps a topographic name for someone who lived at or near a place where woodruff grew. There may have been some confusion with Woodrow .
History: Two English families brought the name Woodruff to the American colonies: those of Matthew Woodruff and of John and Ann Woodruffe. The latter migrated to Lynn, MA, from Kent, and moved to Southampton, Long Island, NY, before 1640. John and Ann's many descendants were established in NJ, NC, and SC by 1790. The city of Woodruff, SC, is named for this family. The name is variously spelled Woodrove, Woodroffe, Woodruffe, Woodrough, and Woodruff in colonial records.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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