This is an ever growing list of Union County Biographies. If there is just the page listed it is one that I have transcribed. Otherwise, it will have the name of the person who donated the biographies.  If you have any biographies you can donate, please drop a line to Janine M. Bork.Your information can help others.

On April 22, 1849, the memorable year of California gold, the subject of this sketch was born in Wapello county, Iowa, to James E. and Mary (Yeager) Woodell, natives of Virginia. The father was a farmer of Iowa, and while our subject was still young the mother died. It was in 1862 that the father gathered his substance together and commenced the weary and arduous journey across the dreary plains that ended when their conveyances halted in the fertile Grande Ronde valley. The father took a homestead near Summerville, and there wrought faithfully until the time of his departure in July, 1892. Our subject was educated in the district schools of the valley, and as early as 1866, went to freighting from Umatilla Landing to the mines in Baker county and the Boise Basin. Two years were spent in this hard labor, then he engaged in general labor on a farm, and rented a farm until 1870. Meanwhile in 1868, he had purchased his present place, securing one hundred and sixty acres at the first purchase. His farm is located three miles northwest from Alicel, and he has increased the acreage from the quarter section to four hundred and eighty acres, besides eighty acres of timber land, three miles west from Summerville. Mr. Woodell has his farm all fenced with hog tight fence and everything about his place is kept in excellent order, demonstrating him to be a progressive and intelligent stockman and agriculturist. He handles three hundred acres in grain and hay, the balance being the pasture of the estate. The pasture land is covered with the native grasses, having never been disturbed. And it is interesting that across the same run the old Indian trails of years gone by, a landmark of other days and times. Mr. Woodell has between one and two acr3es in orchard, raising the hardy apples, and plums. He takes great interest in fine stock, having some excellent registered Shorthorns that were imported, also had a Clydesdale stallion that cost twelve hundred dollars and was imported from Scotland. Since the range has been limited, Mr. Woodell has not raised so many head of stock, but has a goodly number, however. His horses are Clydesdale, Percheron, and Hambeltonian.

On August 20, 1870, the marriage of Mr. Woodell and Miss Isabel, daughter of Duncan and Grace Murchison, natives of Scotland, was solemnized, and to them have been born the following children: James D. in Wallowa; Hattie N., wife of William Blaine in this valley; Junius E.; Rosa Etta; Claude S. Mrs. Woodell's mother died in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Woodell are highly esteemed citizens of our county and valuable members of society. Mr. Woodell is not seeking personal preferment in political realms, although he accepted the nomination for sheriff from the Populist party, and while he ran ahead of his ticket, the Democratic candidate was elected. He has frequently done good service on the school board. He is affiliated with the I.O.O.F., Farmer's Lodge, No. 49, of Summerville, joining in 1874, and has held all the chairs. He is also a member of the encampment and affiliates with the Rebekahs, Jewell Lodge, No. 96, of Summerville. Mr. Woodell has had a rich experience in pioneer ways, and in contrast to his fine barns, one built in 1870, which is in good condition, and one built in 1899, and his elegant eight room house, there is standing on his place the cabin of the pioneers that was erected in 1864, and which is an interesting landmark of those days of sturdy men and noble women.

JUNIUS A. WOODELL. - Among the popular and substantial agriculturists of Union county, mention must be made of the estimable gentleman, whose name initiates this paragraph, and who has been constant in faithful effort for the advancement of the country and aiding its substantial development, since he arrived to the years of maturity, achieving meanwhile, a gratifying success for himself by a careful handling of the resources of the new county and in wise effort and industry, while his integrity, his probity, and his sound principles have always been in evidence in his walk, both public and private.

Mr. Woodell was born in Wapello county, Iowa, on December 25, 1852, to James E. and Mary (Yeager) Woodell, natives of Virginia. The mother died in 1855, and the father came to the Grande Ronde valley in 1862, being one of the earliest pioneers to settle in this favored spot. He took up a homestead, three miles northwest from where Alicel now is situated, and engaged in farming and stockraising, continuing in these related industries until the time of his demise, which occurred in July,1892. He was one of the prominent and substantial citizens of the county, but never pressed for aggrandizement in political matters, although he was active in the interests of good government. The immediate subject of this sketch was educated in the district schools of the county, and remained with his father until he had reached the age of maturity and then he took charge of the old homestead, and he has continued his residence on the home place since. The original holding was one quarter section, but the estate has been increased by purchase until it is now four hundred acres of excellent land, all farmed to grain and hay. Mr. Woodell has four acres in orchard, raising the hardy winter apples. He handles considerable stock and takes great interest in improving the grade of stock, having fine thoroughbred cattle and horses. Mr. Woodell is a member of the school board and has been for some time. He also affiliates with the I.O.O.F., Lodge No. 49, at Summerville, with the Rebekahs, Jewel Lodge, No. 96, of Summerville, and with the Maccabees, Eclipse Tent, No. 84, of Summerville.

Mr. Woodell and Mrs. Cora Hamilton, daughter of Jacob and Arabella Collins, residents of the county, were married on August 18, 1887, and they have become the parents of three children, Claudie, John and Arthur, all at home. Mrs. Woodell had two children by her former marriage, Arlie and Lottie Hamilton. On January 3, 1895, Mrs. Woodell was called from her home and family by the ruthless hand of death, and her departure was sincerely mourned by all, as she was beloved and esteemed.

On October 6, 1898, Mr. Woodell contracted a second marriage, the lady of his choice being Laura Stafford. Mrs. Woodell's parents, John and Harriet Buchanan, were settlers in the county in 1874, but are now both dead. Mr. Woodell has passed through all the experiences of the early pioneers and he has practically grown up in this county and the skill, sound principles, and substantial qualities which he has ever manifested do great credit to him and he is to be complimented that he was one who assisted to found the institutions of our county, where to-day he is esteemed and highly respected by all.

Mrs. Woodell is a member of the Rebekahs No. 96. She owns the old homestead of her father, being a tract of eighty acres one and one-fourth miles north from Island City. Her father died on this place on October 31, 1893, and he was born in 1812. The mother died at Mrs. Woodell's home on April 2, 1900. Mrs. Woodell has her niece, Nettie Murray, living with her, as this young lady's parents died when she was about eight months of age.

WILLIAM E. WOODELL. Deceased. - To grant a memoir to the esteemed subject of this article in the volume of his county's history is one of the most eminently fitting acts in reference to our county work, as William E. Woodell was one of the widely known and highly esteemed men of the county, and one who labored for the welfare and advancement of this section as constantly as day follows night, and with an energy and sagacity that won for him the encomiums of his fellows and the goodwill and hearty approval of all, and it was a sad day when the inhabitants of the county were called to mourn the loss of their beloved fellow and wise counsellor on March 20, 1901.

Mr. Woodell's home place lies one mile south from Summerville. Owing to his care and ability, Mr. Woodell had accumulated a goodly holding of property to leave for the care and sustenance of his loved ones. It consists of a fine farm of four hundred and twenty acres, practically all under cultivation and producing good crops. Three acres are used for orchard, being planted to choice varieties. A fine twelve-room house of modern architectural design, built in 1898, adds comfort to the rural home, and other buildings for the use of the farm stock and machinery and produce are at hand. For two years, the subject of this article was county commissioner of Union county and he acquitted himself in a commendable manner for the interests of the county and his constituency, while his characteristic sagacity and sound principles were brought into action for the solution of the questions that were there brought forward. He also served his fellow's interests many times in the office of road supervisor. In addition to his general farming and other interests he was also taken up in raising fancy stock, having some of the best specimens of this section.

Mr. Woodell married Miss Ida, daughter of Cornelius and Sarah (Parrott) McGuire, in Union county, on August 31, 1883. To this happy union three children were born, Frankie, Mamie and Charlie. Mrs. Woodell's parents were pioneers of Union county in 1882 and the father died in 1901. It would be a pleasure to append a more complete account of the early life of Mr. Woodell, but it is well known by all that he stood among his fellows as a man of integrity and real worth, whom all respected and loved.