William E. Woodruff (politician)

William Edward Woodruff was an American politician and publisher who served as the first state treasurer of Arkansas from 1836 to 1838. He also served as the 10th postmaster of Little Rock from 1845 to 1846. Woodruff was the first publisher of a major Arkansas newspaper.

Biography

Woodruff was born on December 24, 1795, in Suffolk County, New York. At age 14, he left formal schooling to become an apprentice for a Mr. Spooner of the Long Island Star in Brooklyn. He stayed for seven years before moving on to New York City as a journeyman pressman for T & J Swords.
In 1818, Woodruff headed west to work in Kentucky, Tennessee, and finally moving to the newly created Arkansas Territory, founding The Arkansas Gazette in October 1819. He published the Gazette from Arkansas Post for nearly two years while it was the seat of government, and moved to Little Rock when the capital was moved there. He left publishing in March of 1853 with the sale of his newspaper to Christopher C. Danley.
On November 14, 1827, Woodruff married Jane Mills at the Stevenson House on 5th Street, between Cumberland and Rock streets; however, a bus station now occupies the block. The Historic Arkansas Museum with surviving buildings of the period lies two blocks north. They had 11 children, eight of whom survived into adulthood.
Woodruff was vocal in his support of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, but took no active part in fighting. Due to these loyalties, he was banished from Little Rock by the Union twice; once by General Steele and again by General Ord. His son, William E. Woodruff Jr., served as second captain of a battery called the Totten Artillery in honor of Dr. William Totten. Woodruff Jr. fled to Texas after the fall of Little Rock to Union forces.
Woodruff died in Little Rock on June 19, 1885, and is buried in the historic Mount Holly Cemetery. Woodruff County, Arkansas, is named for him.