On September 10, 2022, I attended the St. Martin's Annual picnic and auction.
On September 10, 2022, I attended the St. Martin's Annual picnic and auction. Little did I know that there was one item in the auction that had major historical importance to our county. A rocking chair, simply described as, donated from the estate of Ken Whelan, and once resided at Doe Run Inn until some 50 years ago when Ken purchased it.
On the stage of the Flaherty gymnasium, prior to the beginning of the auction, guests were allowed to look over items covering the stage. I watched while others glanced at the rocking chair and caressed the small quilt that was laying across the chair back. When no one was looking, I glanced under the quilt to inspect the back of the rocking chair. Doing so, I spied the original label stating, "Manufactured by H.C. Woodson, Brandenburg, KY". Unable to get an internet connection from inside the gym, I raced up the stairs and into the parking lot, where I googled Woodson’s name. Accessing my Newspapers.com subscription, I was able to quickly find 15 articles about him. His obituary from the Meade County Messenger was titled "Heart Failure Causes Death of H.C. Woodson" with the sub-heading "Meade County's Wealthiest Citizen Expires Suddenly". His full name was Henry Clay Woodson Sr., president of the Farmers' Deposit Bank, the largest landowner and reputed to be the wealthiest man in Meade County when he died suddenly at his Brandenburg home at 8:30am on 1916JAN15. Mr. Woodson had been in the hardware business in Brandenburg for about 35 years and was well known in Louisville business circles. He was born near Kansas City, Missouri in 1852, and was survived by his widow, who before her marriage was Miss Hester Elizabeth Woolfolk, one daughter, Mrs. Eugene Hardman, and one son, Henry J. Woodson. Mr. Woodson was a member of the Methodist church and a Mason. The Masons were charged with the funeral services, held at 3pm on January 16, 1916. Mrs. Woodson was a niece to our former Meade County Judge James Fleming Woolfork, whose image is proudly displayed right outside the Judge Executive’s office in the Meade County Courthouse. Judge Woolfolk had a stellar political career, first as a Magistrate, then Meade County Judge Executive, a term he held for eight years. Judge Woolfolk was also Meade County's representative in Frankfort for the signing of Kentucky's 1st Constitution. As I dug deeper into this family, I discovered that I was related to the Woolfolk family through my great great grandmother Ethel (Mamie) Barnett Foushee. Judge Woolfolk is my 1st cousin 5 times removed, making Hester my 2nd cousin 4 times removed. After finding all this Meade County history, I realized that, with the approaching bicentennial of our county, this rocking chair should be permanently displayed in our local history museum, so I donated it. You can see the Woodson rocking chair, made in Brandenburg prior to 1911, in the Meade County History Museum. Gerry Fischer, of the History Museum, said of this donation, “This is the only permanent donation of an item from Doe Run Inn. The museum attempts to acquire as many artifacts as possible, coming from Meade County. Come to the Meade County History Museum Thursday through Saturday from 9:30am-3pm and rediscover our local history and see the Woodson rocking chair and many other fine pieces of Meade County history. |
Woodson, Henry Clay (H.C.)
H.C. Woodson's obituary, from the Meade County Messenger was titled "Heart Failure Causes Death of H.C. Woodson" with the sub-heading "Meade County's Wealthiest Citizen Expires Suddenly".
His full name was Henry Clay Woodson Jr., president of the Farmers' Deposit Bank, the largest landowner and reputed to be the wealthiest man in Meade County when he died suddenly at his Brandenburg home at 8:30am on 1916JAN15.
Mr. Woodson had been in the hardware business in Brandenburg for about 35 years and was well known in Louisville business circles. He was born near Kansas City, Missouri in 1852, and was survived by his widow, who before her marriage was Miss Hester Elizabeth Woolfolk, one daughter, Mrs. Eugene Hardman, and one son, Henry J. Woodson. Mr. Woodson was a member of the Methodist church and a Mason. The Masons were charged with the funeral services, held at 3pm on January 16, 1916.
His full name was Henry Clay Woodson Jr., president of the Farmers' Deposit Bank, the largest landowner and reputed to be the wealthiest man in Meade County when he died suddenly at his Brandenburg home at 8:30am on 1916JAN15.
Mr. Woodson had been in the hardware business in Brandenburg for about 35 years and was well known in Louisville business circles. He was born near Kansas City, Missouri in 1852, and was survived by his widow, who before her marriage was Miss Hester Elizabeth Woolfolk, one daughter, Mrs. Eugene Hardman, and one son, Henry J. Woodson. Mr. Woodson was a member of the Methodist church and a Mason. The Masons were charged with the funeral services, held at 3pm on January 16, 1916.
Mr. Woodson had been in the hardware business in Brandenburg for about 35 years and was well known in Louisville business circles. He was born near Kansas City, Missouri in 1852, and was survived by his widow, who before her marriage was Miss Hester Elizabeth Woolfolk, one daughter, Mrs. Eugene Hardman, and one son, Henry J. Woodson. Mr. Woodson was a member of the Methodist church and a Mason. The Masons were charged with the funeral services, held at 3pm on January 16, 1916.
1916JAN06 - Wedding Announcment of Woodson-Hartman
A pretty home wedding was solemnized at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Woodson, December 22. The contracting parties were Miss Louise Woodson and Dr. E.C. Hartman. Rev. C.R. Crowe was the officiating clergyman who tied the nuptial knot pronouncing the ceremony which united the lives of these estimable young people. The bride is the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Woodson and is a young woan of attractive personality and possesses a wide circle of friends.
The groom is one of the best-known physicians of the county. Their many friends extend congratulations. --Meade County Messenger.
A pretty home wedding was solemnized at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Woodson, December 22. The contracting parties were Miss Louise Woodson and Dr. E.C. Hartman. Rev. C.R. Crowe was the officiating clergyman who tied the nuptial knot pronouncing the ceremony which united the lives of these estimable young people. The bride is the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Woodson and is a young woan of attractive personality and possesses a wide circle of friends.
The groom is one of the best-known physicians of the county. Their many friends extend congratulations. --Meade County Messenger.
1914AUG01 - Brandenburg, July 31, (Special) - Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Woodson Jr., and baby, spent several days in Louisville last week.
1894DEC29 - George Woolfolk is spending the week with his sister, Mrs. H.C. Woodson.
1896AUG22 - Mrs. Jo Woolfolk and Mrs. George Clarkson are visitors of Mrs. H.C. Woodson
1909DEC11 - H.C. Woodson and E.L. Fontaine were in Louisville on Tuesday.
Gleening information from newspapters.com, I found the following news clips.
1900MAR09 - Mrs. H.C. Woodson entertained the Woman's Missionary Society Friday afternoon.
1911MAR25 - Mrs. H.C. Woodson and daughter, Miss Louise Woodson, were in Louisville several days last week.
1912NOV02 - Nov.1 (Special) Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Woodson Jr., spent several days in Louisville last week. Mrs. Woodson spent several days with her daughter, Miss Louise, who is attending school at Shelbyville.
1918JUN08 - Jun.7, Mrs. Hugh Phillips, of Toronto, Canada, was the guest of Mrs. H.C. Woodson Jr. last week.
1884OCT07 - H.C. Woodson, Brandenburg
1913FEB01 - Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Woodson spent several days in Louisville last week.