California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


ALLEN J. WOODY. The supervisor of Kern county, Allen J. Woody, is a man well 
known throughout this part of the country for the excellent qualities which have marked his 
citizenship, and, coupled with the ability with which he has discharged his official duties, has 
won for him the esteem and regard of his fellow townsmen. Although not a native son of 
the state, his birth having occurred in Christian county, Mo., on the Wilson Creek battle 
ground, December 4, 1866, Mr. Woody came to the west at so youthful an age that he has 
spent practically his entire life among the scenes of his adopted state, and to the ad- 
vancement of every movement calculated to increase the prosperity of whatever community 
he chanced to make his home he has given his best 'efforts and strongest influence. 

Mr. Woody's father, John H. Woody, was also a native of Missouri, where in manhood 
he engaged as a farmer and stockman. In 1859 he came to California, following the precarious 
fortunes of a miner for some time, but returned east upon the death of his father and settled 
up the latter's estate. For ten years following his return to Missouri he engaged in farming 
in that state, but in 1874 he came again to California, locating near Stockton, where he 
engaged in ranching until 1883. Going to Tulare county he engaged in farming and stock- 
raising until he moved into Tulare, where he now makes his home at the age of sixty-six 
years. He married Hester E. Wills, who was born in Tennessee and reared in Missouri, and 
is now sixty-two years old. 

Of the six children born to his parents Allen J. Woody was the eldest, and was seven years 
old when he came to California with the family. His boyhood years were spent on the 
paternal ranch, where he combined the practical duties of a farmer with the studies which 
he followed in the public school in the vicinity of his home. After completing the course of 
the common schools he attended the University of California for one year, then entered 
Woodbury's Commercial College, of Los Angeles, where he fitted himself for a business 
career. Upon attaining his majority he became superintendent of a sawmill in Tulare 
county, in which he had one-fourth interest. Two years later, when the firm failed, he en- 
tered the court house at Visalia as deputy assessor and tax collector, filling these posi- 
tions for one year. Subsequently he filled a clerkship in the Southern Pacific Railroad 
Company for eleven years. A stanch Democrat, and one always interested in the advance- 
ment of the principles he endorsed, he was chosen by his party for the nomination of 
supervisor in 1902. In the election that followed his popularity was attested by the large 
majority which brought him success, and on the 1st of January, 1903, he entered upon the 
duties of his position. 

In San Francisco Mr. Woody was united in marriage with Rose Clarridge, a native of Rio 
Vista, Cal., and they have two children, Allen George and Geneva. Besides the official ca- 
pacity in which Mr. Woody is now serving he acted as town clerk of Kern for four years. 
Fraternally he is identified with Sumner Lodge No. 143. K. P., of Kern.