Lockley, Fred.  "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the
Sea." Vol. 3.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.  p. 474.
 
SAMUEL L. WOODWARD

     In matters of large importance, affecting the welfare and prosperity of
Kenton and North Portland, Oregon, Samuel L. Woodward has been a conspicuous
figure, and is honored for his outstanding achievements in various lines of
endeavor. He was born in Indianola, Iowa, February 15, 1856, and is a son of
James and Elizabeth (Laverty) Woodward, natives of Vermont and Indiana,
respectively. Their families moved to Iowa in an early day and there they met
and were married. For many years Mr. Woodward was engaged in the sawmill
business and later in life came to Oregon, where his death occurred. The mother
died in Iowa.
     Samuel L. Woodward received his educational training in the public schools
of Iowa, and in 1877 went to California. In September of the following year he
came to Portland, in which city lived an uncle, Tyler Woodward, who had come
here in 1870, after spending five years in Montana. He was at the head of the
Portland street railway system and Samuel L. Woodward entered his employ on that
line. In 1883 he became superintendent of the street railway, filling that
position until 1891, when he turned his attention to the ice manufacturing
business, which he followed for several years. He served two years, 1896-97, as
a member of the city council, and then made large investments at Kenton, which
community he helped to develop, taking a special interest in the establishment
of the schools. He has also been actively interested in North Portland
enterprises, in all of which he has been enabled to realize a fair degree of
success. Mr. Woodward's outstanding achievement, however, as relating to the
public welfare, was in securing the construction of the Columbia river bridge.
He was president of the North Portland Commercial Club at the time and devoted
himself tirelessly to promoting the proposition, which required much hard and
continuous work to put through. He has been highly commended for his successful
efforts in securing what has proven a distinctive benefit to the public. The
Columbia River bridge, which has heretofore been operated as a toll bridge with
substantial profits, was opened in 1915 and the income derived therefrom has
paid off all bonds and interest and all operating expenses and, moreover,
Multnomah county will profit to the extent of four hundred thousand dollars as
its proportionate share of the net surplus, this being a three-fifths share,
while Clark county, Washington, will receive its two-fifths of the surplus. Mr.
Woodward and J. H. Nolta were the prime movers in promoting the building of the
bridge. There were many difficulties to meet and much opposition to overcome.
They began agitating the project in 1909 and worked through several legislative
sessions in Oregon and congressional sessions in Washington to secure the
necessary legislative enactment. Finally success crowned their effort and the
bridge has proven to be the greatest boon to interstate traffic. In January,
1929, it will cease to be a toll bridge.
     In 1891 Mr. Woodward was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Helfst, who
was born at Dutch Flat, Placer county, California, and whose father, Ferdinand
Helfst, was a pioneer miner of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Woodward have a
daughter, Constance, who is the wife of A. R. Bohoskey, represented elsewhere in
this work. Mr. Woodward is a member of Washington Lodge, No. 46, A. F. & A. M.;
Washington Chapter, No. 18, R. A. M.; Washington Commandery, No. 15, K. T.; Al
Kader Temple, A. A. 6. N. M. S.; Portland Camp, No. 77, W. 0. W.; and the Kenton
Business Men's Club. He is also a member of Lang Syne Club of Portland, Oregon,
whose requirements are that members must have been in some business prior to
1891, or held some important position. Politically he is a stanch republican and
has taken an active interest in public affairs, particularly such as concern the
prosperity and welfare of his community. Strong mental endowment, invincible
courage and a determined will, coupled with honesty of purpose and high ideals,
have so entered into his composition as to render him a dominant factor in the
business world and a leader in important enterprises, and he commands the
unqualified confidence and respect of his fellowmen.

 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.