William Edward Woodward (1874 - 1950)

Born 2 Oct 1874 in Ridge Spring, Saluda, South Carolina, United States

Died 27 Sep 1950 at age 75 in Augusta, Richmond, Georgia, United States

Biography

William Woodward was a South Carolinian.

William Woodward was born on October 02, 1874, in Ridge Spring, Saluda, South Carolina, United States. He was the son of Thomas Joshua Woodward and Etta Gunter.^[1][2]

He graduated from the Citadel in 1893. After his graduation, he worked on the staff of the Atlanta Constitution until 1898. He then worked for the New York Herald for a year.^[3] He opened his own advertising firm in New York which he ran until about 1916 at which time, he became vice-president of the Industrial Finance Corp.^[4] After 6 years, he left that job and began writing.

W. E. first married Lillian Miller on January 16, 1897, in Fulton County, Georgia. ^[5] He next married Helen Rosen on December 15, 1913, at the Holland House in New York, New York. The ceremony was officiated by Rev. Dr. Goldsmith. At the time of their marriage, he was employed by the Publishers' Newspaper Syndicate.^[6][7]

His first book, entitled Bunk was published in 1923 and was a satire of the advertising business. Later, he began writing biographies and created a new style by writing about American heroes as normal people showing their failures as well as their accomplishments. He is known as the creator of the word "debunk".^[8]

He died on September 27, 1950, after becoming critically ill on the train from New York to Augusta, Georgia to visit his brother. He was admitted to the Augusta University Hospital when he arrived.^[9][10]

Sources

1. ↑ 1922 Passport Application: "U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925"
   National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 1916; Volume #: Roll 1916 - Certificates: 149850-150225, 20 Apr 1922-20 Apr 1922
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1174 #920680 (accessed 20 March 2023)
   Name: William Edward Woodward; Gender: Male; Age: 47; Birth Date: 2 Oct 1874; Birth Place: Ridge Spring, South Carolina; Residence Place: New York City, New York; Passport Issue Date: 20 Apr 1922; Father: Thomas J Woodward; Spouse: Helen Woodward; Has Photo: Yes; Certificate Number: 150187.
2. ↑ 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1880; Census Place: Gregg, Aiken, South Carolina; Roll: 1218; Page: 51D; Enumeration District: 004
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6742 #12465499 (accessed 20 March 2023)
   Wilmur Woodward (5), single son, in household of Josh Woodward (26) in Gregg, Aiken, South Carolina, USA. Born in South Carolina.
3. ↑ Yearbook
4. ↑ Obituary
5. ↑ Marriage: "Georgia, U.S., Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978"
   Georgia Archives; Morrow, Georgia; County Marriage Records, 1828–1978
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 4766 #20546812 (accessed 20 March 2023)
   Lillian Miller marriage to W E Woodward on 16 Jan 1897 in Fulton, Georgia, USA.
6. ↑ Marriage: "U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-current"
   The New York Times; Publication Date: 16/ Dec/ 1913; Publication Place: New York, New York, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/20402429/?article=63f8eda0-ac96-4360-9eeb-9e67e51efaeb&focus=0.35447872,0.82814384,0.47712436,0.8822318&xid=3398
   Ancestry Record 62116 #299828542 (accessed 20 March 2023)
   Helen Rosen marriage to Wllmer E. Woodward on 15 Dec 1913.
7. ↑ Marriage: "New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937"
   Index to New York City Marriages, 1866-1937. Indices prepared by the Italian Genealogical Group and the German Genealogy Group, and used with permission of the New York City Department of Records/Municipal Archives
   Ancestry Record 9105 #2345150 (accessed 20 March 2023)
   Wilmer E Woodward marriage to Helen Rosen on 15 Dec 1913 in Manhattan, New York, USA.
8. ↑ Obituary
9. ↑ Death: "Georgia, U.S., Death Index, 1919-1998"
   Georgia Health Department, Office of Vital Records; Georgia, USA; Indexes of Vital Records for Georgia: Deaths, 1919-1998; Certificate Number: 23195
   Ancestry Record 5426 #1032972 (accessed 20 March 2023)
   William E Woodward death 27 Sep 1950 (age 75) in Richmond, Georgia, USA.
10. ↑ "U. S. Satirical Writer Dies," obituary, Tulsa World (Tulsa, Oklahoma), 28 September 1950, p. 44, col. 4; Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121272160/obituary-for-w-e-woodward-debunker/ : accessed 20 March 2023).

• 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1900; Census Place: Manhattan, New York, New York; Roll: 1084; Page: 6; Enumeration District: 0094; FHL microfilm: 1241084
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #18975655 (accessed 20 March 2023)
  Wilmer E Woodward, married boarder, Editor, in household of Adolph Paronsland (28) in Manhattan, New York, New York. Born in South Carolina, USA.

• 1905 Census: "New York, U.S., State Census, 1905"
  New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1905; Election District: A.D. 23 E.D. 16; City: Manhattan; County: New York; Page: 25
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7364 #2317124 (accessed 20 March 2023)
  Wilmas Woodward (30) head of household in Manhattan, New York, New York, USA. Born in United States.

• 1910 Census: "1910 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1910; Census Place: Yonkers Ward 8, Westchester, New York; Roll: T624_1093; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0182; FHL microfilm: 1375106
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7884 #20259570 (accessed 20 March 2023)
  Wilmer Woodward (35), married, Manager, head of household in Yonkers Ward 8, Westchester, New York, USA. Born in South Carolina.

• 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1930; Census Place: Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0833; FHL microfilm: 2339859
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6224 #89494534 (accessed 20 March 2023)
  William E Woodward (55), married, Writer, head of household at 955 N - King's Rd, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA. Born in South Carolina.

• 1940 Census: "1940 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1940; Census Place: New York, New York, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02654; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 31-1287
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2442 #14756766 (accessed 20 March 2023)
  William E Woodward (65), married, Literature Writer, head of household in New York, New York, New York. Born in South Carolina.

• 1950 Census: "1950 United States Federal Census"
  United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: New York, New York, New York; Roll: 4560; Sheet Number: 55; Enumeration District: 31-1261
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62308 #291427750 (accessed 20 March 2023)
  William E Woodward (75), married e, El Wirte Books, in household of Lois Newbacher (42) in New York, New York, New York, USA. Born in South Carolina.

• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #128435598 (accessed 20 March 2023)
  Memorial page for William Edward Woodward (2 Oct 1874-27 Sep 1950); Maintained by Jimmy Morris (contributor 47132742).