Abijah Baker Woodruff (aka A. B. or Baker) was a Defiance citizen for about a decade following his Civil War service. Born in Columbiana County on June 7, 1842, he actually was on the Civil War registration of Middleton, Wood County, Ohio, when he was 21.
He enlisted on August 28, 1862, as a Private in Company L, 3rd Ohio Volunteer Cavalry for a three year term. His actual service record is an enigma as it only claims he was sent out from Camp Chase, Columbus on September 12, 1862. This was following the capture of his unit by Captain John Hunt Morgan in Kentucky. The prisoners were detained and sent back to Columbus where they were eventually exchanged and sent out again.
The 3rd Ohio Cavalry went on to fight in Tennessee in the Battle of Stones River, A page by page search of the 1890 veterans census did not turn up A.B,, Baker, or Abijah Woodruff, but luckily, his record at the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Sandusky noted his discharge on March 4, 1863 at Nashville, Tennessee, on a surgeon's certificate of discharge. This disability noted on the Home record was rheumatism.
He married Katie Levering Jones on April 19, 1868, in Holland, Lucas County, Ohio. The couple settled in Alliance, Stark County by the 1870 Federal Census. Abijah Woodruff was 27 and a fireman at a pottery company, while Katie L. was 24.
By 1880, the couple had reached Defiance and they had a home on Broadway Street. A. B., 34, worked in a produce house, while Katie, 30, kept house. They had one son, Frank, 9 years old, who was born in Michigan. This couple stayed on the move!
A reference to Mr. A. B. Woodruff in the Defiance County Express on November 11, 1880, noted that he "makes an excellent policeman." In 1885, a few city financial reports in the newspapers listed him as police with a salary of $10 a month. In 1887, he represented the Bishop Post at an event, but by August, 1890, he had a new, perhaps more prestigious job waiting for him.
The Defiance Democrat reported on August 21, 1890, that "Mrs. A. B. Woodruff went to Columbus on Monday to join her husband who has assumed his position as a guard in the penitentiary. His superior officers speak highly of Mr. Woodruff."
By 1894, he was in Sandusky and admitted to the Soldiers Home on January 2 of that year, living in Cottage D. According to their records, his previous residence was Columbus and his wife was still there, living at 657 Broad Street. He received a pension of $12.00 a month.
In 1899, the Democrat reported A. B. Woodruff's brief return to Defiance on July 13:
"A. B. Woodruff, who is visiting here from the state soldiers' home at Sandusky, gave a talk in which he eulogized the Sandusky Home."
From the 1900 and 1910 censuses, Abijah and Katie were settled in Perkins Twp, Erie County. A land transfer in 1903 to Kate established her prescence there, and an obituary stated that she lived in Homeville during the time A. B. was at the home.
In 1920, A. B., listed at home in the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Sandusky, did not find it smooth going.
The Sandusky Register reported on January 1, 1921:
"Comrade Baker Woodruff, Co. L, O.V.C., who has been in the hospital for several months, suddenly became violently insane in Ward D. Friday morning about 3 o'clock and proceeded to break everything within reach.
He first started by placing his cot upright against the door and then smashed the glass in a large double window. A large mirror above the mantel was his next object of attack, which shared the same fate.
During all this time, he kept up an incessant yelling which could be heard in every ward. Entrance to his room was finally secured. He was subdued and quieted somewhat, but his condition is still unchanged."
January 4 -" Comrade Baker Woodruff, who suddenly became violently insane a few days ago and smashed everything in sight in his room, is reported as being more quiet, but still far from a sane comrade."
Abijah Baker Woodruff died on January 21, 1921, at the home. The paper reported that he had been there since 1894, perhaps with freedom to travel at first since he came to Defiance in 1899 and again in 1909. His wife resided there or nearby.
His obituary from the Sandusky Star Journal, January 18, 1921:
"SOLDIERS HOME. BAKER WOODRUFF DIED IN HOSPITAL
Veteran Was Continuous Member Since 1894; From Columbus
Baker Woodruff, 78, and one of the oldest members of this Home in point of continuous membership, passed away in the hospital Monday night. He came here from Columbus Jan. 2, 1894, and was never discharged.
Mrs. Baker, who survives him, has resided in Homeville much of that time. Comrade Woodruff served in Co. L, 3rd O.V. Cav. and for a time was sergeant of police here. A brother recently resigned as sergeant of Cottage F."
From the Sandusky Register, January 19, 1921, p. 11:
"Baker Woodruff, Co. L, Third O.V.C., aged 78, died at 5 a.m. Tuesday. He is survived by his wife who resides at W. Millgrove, Wood Co., O., and a brother, Comrade Everette D. Woodruff, of Cottage M. The deceased had for several years been mentally deranged. He was admitted Jan. 2, 1894. Burial will be in Fostoria."
In the Federal Census of 1920, Katie, 74, was living alone in Perkins Twp, Erie County, in a home that was owned free of mortgage. Although the obituary stated that she was in Wood County at the time of A.B.'s death, that is somewhat questionable.
Fountain Cemetery, Fostoria, Ohio
Katie L. Woodruff died in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois,and is in the death records there. At 81, she died on April 13, 1926, at 604 N. LeClaire Avenue, the home of her son, Frank, who was the informant on the death record. Her body was taken back to Fostoria, Ohio, to be buried with her husband of over fifty years.
(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city. Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle. The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived. If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)
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