N. M. Woodruff was born in Litchfield Co, CT on 7 Sept 1792, son of Roswell and Lois Patterson Woodruff. In about 1805 he came with his father's family to Jefferson Co, and located near Sanford's Corners in the Town of LeRay, where he purchased a thousand acres of land, the farms of Captain Thomas Jewett and Octavo Blanc being part of the purchase. During the War of 1812, he was called out to serve in a cavalry regiment and engaged principally on picket duty. About 1816 he came to Watertown and began a tin, hardware, iron and stove trade. On 5 October 1817 he married Roxana T. Bush, daughter of Eli and Roxana Terry Bush, natives of CT. Roxana T. Bush was born in Oneida Co., NY.

With his sons-in-law, Howell Cooper, Henry Keep and Pearson Mundy, they erected the Woodruff House.

In 1836 with Mr. Stocking and John Jacob Astor, purchased a large tract of land at Green Bay, WI. It did not turn out well and he sold his interest to Mr. Astor. N. M. Woodruff died on 16 January 1857 at age 65 years.

Roxana Bush was a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who survived her husband and lived on the old homestead.
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Soldier of 1812
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Obituary published in the "Schenectady Reflector," (Schenectady, New York) on Friday, January 23, 1867, on page 2:

"Norris M. Woodruff, Esq., of Watertown, died at his residence on Friday last. He was widely known as one of the most enterprising citizens in Jefferson county--as the President of the Rome and Watertown Rail Road, and prior to that, President of the Jefferson County, Bank."

*Thank you to Mary M for providing this information

N. M. Woodruff was born in Litchfield Co, CT on 7 Sept 1792, son of Roswell and Lois Patterson Woodruff. In about 1805 he came with his father's family to Jefferson Co, and located near Sanford's Corners in the Town of LeRay, where he purchased a thousand acres of land, the farms of Captain Thomas Jewett and Octavo Blanc being part of the purchase. During the War of 1812, he was called out to serve in a cavalry regiment and engaged principally on picket duty. About 1816 he came to Watertown and began a tin, hardware, iron and stove trade. On 5 October 1817 he married Roxana T. Bush, daughter of Eli and Roxana Terry Bush, natives of CT. Roxana T. Bush was born in Oneida Co., NY.

With his sons-in-law, Howell Cooper, Henry Keep and Pearson Mundy, they erected the Woodruff House.

In 1836 with Mr. Stocking and John Jacob Astor, purchased a large tract of land at Green Bay, WI. It did not turn out well and he sold his interest to Mr. Astor. N. M. Woodruff died on 16 January 1857 at age 65 years.

Roxana Bush was a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who survived her husband and lived on the old homestead.
___________________

Soldier of 1812
_____________________________

Obituary published in the "Schenectady Reflector," (Schenectady, New York) on Friday, January 23, 1867, on page 2:

"Norris M. Woodruff, Esq., of Watertown, died at his residence on Friday last. He was widely known as one of the most enterprising citizens in Jefferson county--as the President of the Rome and Watertown Rail Road, and prior to that, President of the Jefferson County, Bank."

*Thank you to Mary M for providing this information