Looking Back

Ann O’Hara
Posted 8/21/12

George Washington Woodward was born in 1809 in Bethany, PA, to Abisha and Lucretia Kimble Woodward. Admitted to the bar in 1830, he became a successful attorney in Wilkes-Barre, delegate to the state …

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Looking Back

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George Washington Woodward was born in 1809 in Bethany, PA, to Abisha and Lucretia Kimble Woodward. Admitted to the bar in 1830, he became a successful attorney in Wilkes-Barre, delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1837, president judge of the fourth judicial district from 1841 to 1851 and unsuccessful candidate for U. S. Senator in 1845. Nominated to the U. S. Supreme Court by President Polk, Woodward was not confirmed by the Senate due to the machinations of his political opponents. However, he later became a judge of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and ultimately Chief Justice. Woodward served in Congress from 1867 to 1871, but chose not to run for another term in 1870 and moved to Philadelphia, where he continued his law practice and remained active in political affairs. He died in 1875 while on a trip to Italy, and was buried in Wilkes-Barre. To learn more about this son of Wayne County, see “George W. Woodward, Forgotten son of Bethany,” by Albert G. Rutherford, at the Wayne County Historical Society.

From the collection of the Wayne County Historical Society, 810 Main St., Honesdale, open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information see WayneHistoryPA.org or call 570/253-3240.

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