US Congressman. He became a printer and proofreader in Maryland and Washington, DC, and in the years immediately prior to the Civil War he was employed by the National Intelligencer newspaper. Woodward moved to La Crosse in 1860 and studied law, winning admission to the bar in 1861. Rather than beginning to practice, he enlisted in the Second Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, serving throughout the Civil War, rising through the ranks from Private to regimental adjutant, and receiving a wound at Gettysburg. After the war he established a law practice in La Crosse. From 1866 to 1873 he was La Crosse County District Attorney. He served as a city Alderman from 1868 to 1874. In 1872 he was a Delegate to Liberal Republican convention that nominated Horace Greeley for President. Woodward was Mayor of La Crosse from 1874 to 1875, and City Attorney from 1876 to 1882. In 1880 he was a Delegate to the Democratic national convention. In 1882 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Democrat and served one term, 1883 to 1885. Woodward ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1884, afterwards returning to his law practice. In 1886 he was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Wisconsin Governor, and he served as a Delegate to the 1888 Democratic national convention.
US Congressman. He became a printer and proofreader in Maryland and Washington, DC, and in the years immediately prior to the Civil War he was employed by the National Intelligencer newspaper. Woodward moved to La Crosse in 1860 and studied law, winning admission to the bar in 1861. Rather than beginning to practice, he enlisted in the Second Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, serving throughout the Civil War, rising through the ranks from Private to regimental adjutant, and receiving a wound at Gettysburg. After the war he established a law practice in La Crosse. From 1866 to 1873 he was La Crosse County District Attorney. He served as a city Alderman from 1868 to 1874. In 1872 he was a Delegate to Liberal Republican convention that nominated Horace Greeley for President. Woodward was Mayor of La Crosse from 1874 to 1875, and City Attorney from 1876 to 1882. In 1880 he was a Delegate to the Democratic national convention. In 1882 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Democrat and served one term, 1883 to 1885. Woodward ran unsuccessfully for reelection in 1884, afterwards returning to his law practice. In 1886 he was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for Wisconsin Governor, and he served as a Delegate to the 1888 Democratic national convention.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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