Woodruff, William Edward, 1795-1885

American soldier and editor.

William Edward Woodruff, Sr., newspaperman, publisher, editor, and land agent came to Arkansas Territory in 1819. Born in Bellport, Suffolk County, N.Y., 24 Dec.1795, he was the first child born to Nathanial Woodruff and Hannah Clarke Woodruff. At eighteen he became an apprentice of Alden Spooner of the Long Island Star, which was published in Brooklyn, N.Y. During that time he also served as a private in the War of 1812. He was in a volunteer battery of heavy artillery, which was to defend the City of New York. After his apprenticeship was finished, Woodruff. was determined to travel west for opportunities. In 1819, with a printing press in tow he decided to come to Arkansas Post, the capital of the new Arkansas Territory. He published the first newspaper on 20 Nov.1819. When the territorial capital was moved to Little Rock in 1821 Woodruff his paper to Little Rock. The Arkansas Gazette was the only newspaper in the Arkansas Territory. After moving to Little Rock Woodruff met and then married Jane Eliza Mills on 14 Nov.1827. Woodruff continued with the paper until 1843 when he sold it to retire. He was already involved as a land agent, buying, selling, renting, and brokering property. In 1846, he started a new newspaper, the Weekly Arkansas Democrat.Then in 1850 he gained control of the Arkansas Gazette, again merging the two papers under the name Arkansas Gazette and Democrat and later dropped the Democrat. By 1853 he decided to permanently retire from the newspaper business. He died 19 June 1885.

William Edward Woodruff, Sr., newspaperman, publisher, editor, and land agent came to Arkansas Territory in 1819. Born in Bellport, Suffolk County, N.Y., 24 Dec. 1795, he was the first child born to Nathanial Woodruff and Hannah Clarke Woodruff. At eighteen he became an apprentice of Alden Spooner of the Long Island Star, which was published in Brooklyn, N.Y. During that time he also served as a private in the War of 1812. He was in a volunteer battery of heavy artillery, which was to defend the City of New York. After his apprenticeship was finished, Woodruff. was determined to travel west for opportunities. In 1819, with a printing press in tow he decided to come to Arkansas Post, the capital of the new Arkansas Territory. He published the first newspaper on 20 Nov. 1819. When the territorial capital was moved to Little Rock in 1821Woodruff his paper to Little Rock. The Arkansas Gazette was the only newspaper in the Arkansas Territory. After moving to Little Rock Woodruff met and then married Jane Eliza Mills on 14 Nov. 1827. Woodruff continued with the paper until 1843 when he sold it to retire. He was already involved as a land agent, buying, selling, renting, and brokering property. In 1846, he started a new newspaper, the Weekly Arkansas Democrat. Then in 1850 he gained control of the Arkansas Gazette, again merging the two papers under the name Arkansas Gazette and Democrat and later dropped the Democrat. By 1853 he decided to permanently retire from the newspaper business. He died 19 June 1885.