Charles C. Woodward was born in 1857 in Illinois. He moved to Todd County as a child with his parents and siblings and was located in 1870 onwards at Long Prairie. He married Almina Boadway in Todd County on Jan 16, 1878. They lived at Staples in 1895.
C.C. Woodward was one of Bemidji’s earliest businessmen and purchased and sold several pieces of prime property during his residency here between 1899 and 1909. He and his family were mentioned frequently in the Bemidji Pioneer. His son Harvey Woodward was on the Bemidji Firemen’s Association team, which consisted of fourteen men. Harvey was also a businessman and an actor who performed at the City Opera House. Daughters Lulu and Blanche were also mentioned frequently in the society pages of the newspaper. The family moved to Oregon in 1909, but Mr. Woodward retained several of his business holdings in Bemidji and made visits back to Bemidji over the next decade or so.
1870 & 1875– Long Prairie, Todd County, MN. C. C. Woodward resided with parents Harvey and Rebecca and siblings
During his time in Bemidji, he owned several pieces of property including 208 Beltrami Avenue — Charles Woodward purchased Lot 5, Block 17, Original Plat on Nov 1, 1899 for $100.
A NEW BRICK BUILDING. James McNair and Chas. Woodward are at work excavating a basement for a store building that is to be erected on 3rd street next to Dudley & Graham’s meat market. The building will be 50×100 feet—one story of solid brick, with a large basement. The walls will be 22 feet high on the outside, and 16 feet from floor to ceiling inside. The lot was purchased of Mrs. Ruth Bissett, and the tailor shop adjoining the lot was removed to give ample room to the new structure. The building is to be used for a dry goods and hardware store, and the firm’s name will be McNair & Woodward. Here Chas. Woodward will set up his son Harvey in business, and it is he and not the old man that will be connected with said firm. The work of construction that has commenced will be pushed ahead as fast as possible and the building will be ready for business before fall. (July 19, 1900)
Harvey Woodward has purchased the confectionery business of Mr. Grant on the landing, and the latter has leased the Remore Hotel, assuming charge the last of the month. (July 19, 1900)
Up-To-Date Establishment.
The completion of the new Woodward & McNair building on Third street and the fitting it up for a strictly modern store building marks the beginning of a new commercial era in Bemidji. Heretofore, buildings have been erected with the chief idea to put it to immediate use, and the subject of convenience and lasting qualities has been largely overlooked. But these two qualities have been made paramount by the builders of this new business place. Good taste and a careful preparation marks very inch of the Woodward & McNair building. The building is 100 feet long by 50 feet wide with a basement of the same dimensions. The interior is divided lengthwise, making two rooms 25 feet wide, with a double deck across the rear end of the building. The floor is of polished maple and the counters of solid red oak. Solid plate glass covers the front and ample space is allowed for display windows. A large skylight in the roof towards the rear of the building and rear windows will make the store equally light in all parts. An acytelene gas plant will be installed in the basement, and later on a furnace.
The west half of the store will constitute a department for hardware and groceries, the east half for dry goods and shoes. The elevated floor to the rear will be principally used by Misses Stewart & McDonell as a millinery department. The basement will offer an immense storage capacity. McNair & Woodward expect to carry over $50,000 worth of stock, and the shelving room alone ought to accommodate that amount of goods. In a short time the stock will begin to arrive, and Bemidji will soon sport a regular city store, with cash carriers and other appliances of novelty to the back woods.
The new firm are to be congratulated not only upon their display of energetic plans, but upon their exalted faith in Bemidji which prompts their starting out upon such a magnificent scale. (Oct 11, 1900)
C.C. Woodward was a witness in the Russ Whipple court case in 1900. C.C. Woodward testified to being handed the revolver by Whipple immediately after the shooting. Whipple Murder Trial, Nov 29, 1900
The Fair, McNair & Woodward (April 25, 1901) — James McNair has purchased the interest of C. C. Woodward in the large mercantile business in which they were engaged. Mr. Woodward may enter into business of some other character in the city in a short time. (April 25, 1901)
Monday forenoon at nine o’clock, the Catholic church occurred a quiet ceremony, performed by Father Murphy, which made Miss Lulu Woodward and E. J. Ryan man and wife. Only the relatives and a few intimate friends were present. Wesley Ryan and Miss Blanche Woodward acted as bridesmaid and best man. Miss Woodward, the charming daughter of C. C. Woodward and wife, is one of the most popular and amiable ladies of the town, and counts her friends by the score. The bridegroom is a popular traveling man for the shoe house of Foot, Shultz Co. The young couple departed on the afternoon train for St. Paul by way of Duluth. They will be at home at St. Paul after March 5, 1902. (Dec 26, 1901)
E.J. Ryan, one of the oldest men of the Foot-Schultz Shoe company, is one of the members of the new fruit firm recently organized and known as Mulrooney, Ryan, Clark Fruit company. This firm is establishing four new branches in the west and promises to do a thriving business. Mr. Ryan’s friends in this city are pleased to hear of his success. (Mar 26, 1903)
High School Notes: Blanche Woodward is again attending school after being absent for over a year. Blanche was one of the “old school,” that is, one of the school which was the first in Bemidji, and it seems good to have her at school again. (Jan 23, 1902)
Sale of C. C. Woodward residence to Mrs. Peterson of Buena Vista. (Oct 30, 1902)
Miss Blanche Woodward, formerly chief operator in the telephone exchange here, is taking a four months’ business course in the Hess Business college in St. Paul. (Mar 26, 1903)
C.C. Woodward will make extensive improvements on his residence on Bemidji avenue. (Mar 26, 1903)
C.C. Woodward, one of the pioneers of Bemidji, is moving fixtures into a room in the building opposite the Markham hotel where he will run a real estate and loan office. Mr. Woodward has for some time past been in this business, although he never before has had an office, and his business has increased to such an extent that it has become necessary for him to rent one. (Feb 13, 1904)
Spent winter in Oregon with wife and daughter Blanche in 1904.
A letter received yesterday from C. C. Woodward, who has spent the winter at Portland, states that he expects to come to Bemidji this spring to make arrangements for erecting a brick block upon the lot formerly occupied by the Brunswick saloon, destroyed by fire Jan 15. Mr. Woodward does not state in the letter what size the building will be, but it is probable that it will be two stories high. The other property owners affected by the fire have nearly all decided to rebuild, and it is expected that before the summer is over all the wooden buildings destroyed by the fire will be replaced by modern brick structures. (Mar 27, 1905)
C, C. Woodward: “I do not as yet know how soon I will start the erection of a building on my lot on Third street. I will remain in Bemidji during the summer and, providing I decide to build a block during that time, the building will be finished before next fall.” (April 4, 1905)
Clyde M. Bacon and C. C. Woodward, who own lots on Third street which were formerly the sites of buildings burned in the fire on January 10, state that for the present they will not erect brick blocks upon the lots because the property on the street has not advanced in value to the extent they had expected. (Apr 24, 1905)
Blanche Woodward married George Fleming on Aug 27, 1907 at Bemidji. Married at St. Anthony Chapel in Bemidji. Miss Woodward has been working as deputy clerk of court, and Mr. Fleming is upcoming young businessman. Harvey Woodward arrived on Aug 27, 1907 from Ardmore in Indian Territory, where he was currently making his home. He returned to Oklahoma City in Oct 1907 where he held a responsible position in a bank.
C.C. Woodward is offering for sale his residence property on Bemidii avenue, between Fourth and Fifth streets. This place is one of the most modern in the city, well built and good property for one looking for a modern home with all conveniences. (Jan 1908) For Sale: Bedroom set complete, lounge, chairs, and sewing machine. Must be sold at once. Inquire C. C. Woodward, 421 Bemidji avenue. (June 1, 1908)
C.C. Woodward has been on the crippled list since last Sunday when he sustained two broken ribs. Mr. Woodward says that he fell from the platform at the M. & I. depot and that the injury he sustained is a very severe and painful one. He also says that it is possible that he will sue the M. & I. railway company for damages. (Oct 9, 1908)
Moved to Oregon in 1909.
Quotes from the Bemidji Pioneer, and the Bemidji Daily Pioneer, 1899-1909.