Early Memories of Saugatuck, Michigan : 1830-1930
Author: Heath, May Francis
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Grand Rapids, Mich: 1930

W. A. WOODWORTH

Warren A. Woodworth, son of Augustus and Violetta (Bowker) Woodwoith, natives of New York, was born in Alleganey County, New York, May 26, 1836, and after the death of his mother in 1850, he came to Michigan with his grandparents, and when a young man to Pier Cove, then a part of Newark, and engaged in various occupations, as clerking, teaching school and for two years lectured on phrenology and temperance. His education was acquired by his own effort, always reading the best books and he was a really deep student and finally became a student in the Baptist Theological Seminary and later in the Law School at Ann Arbor during 1862 and 1863. He opened up an office in Ganges, being one of the first attorneys in the county. He owned a fruit farm in Ganges and lived there until 1876 when he came to Saugatuck where he spent the remainder of his life, engaged in his profession.

Oct. 24, 1864, he was married to Miss Mary Miller who was at that time the school-mistress at Glenn. Three children blessed this home, Charles, who died at the age of ten, Mrs. Nellie Naughtin and Mrs. Saburna Zwemer who reside in Saugatuck.

In the spring of 1879 Mr. Woodworth purchased the house on the Public Square which was his home for forty-two years. He was bereft of his wife in 1891 and in 1894 he was married to Mrs. Alice C. Mather.

Mr. Woodworth was a self-made man, has by his uprightness and honesty made his clients feel that he was a man of great reliance. He was an honored member of the Allegan County Bar Association and has held various local offices. He died Jan. 9, 1922 at the age of eighty-five years, and eight months.