Brief Life History of Wilford
When Wilford Woodruff was born on 22 March 1840, in Montrose, Lee, Iowa, United States, his father, Wilford Woodruff, was 33 and his mother, Phebe Whittemore Carter, was 33. He married Emily Jane Smith on 12 October 1867, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 1 daughter. He lived in Salt Lake, Utah, United States for about 20 years. He died on 6 May 1921, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 81, and was buried in Salt Lake City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States.
Photos and Memories (1)
Do you know Wilford? Do you have a story about him that you would like to share? Sign In or Create a FREE Account
Family Time Line
Sources (37)
- Wilford Woodruff in household of Wilford Woodruff, "United States Census, 1860"
- Wilford Woodruff, "Utah, Salt Lake County Birth Records, 1890-1915" entry for Ezra M Woodruff
- Wilford Woodruff Jr., "Utah, County Marriages, 1871-1941" entry for Marie L. Erickson
Spouse and Children
Parents and Siblings
World Events (8)
1846
U.S. acquires vast tracts of Mexican territory in wake of Mexican War including California and New Mexico.
1847
Historical Boundaries: 1848: Mexican Cession, United States 1850: Utah Territory, United States 1851: Great Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States 1868: Salt Lake, Utah Territory, United States 1896: Salt Lake, Utah, United States
1863
Abraham Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation, declaring slaves in Confederate states to be free.
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.
Possible Related Names
Discover Even More
As a nonprofit, we offer free help to those looking to learn the details of their family story.