Lawyer/U.S. Congressman/Lieutenant Governor of N.Y.
Centurion, 1905–1913
Born 3 September 1835 in New York (Manhattan), New York
Died 14 February 1913 in New York (Manhattan), New York
Buried Woodland Cemetery, Stamford, Connecticut
Proposed by William A. Jenner and William Bispham
Elected 2 December 1905 at age seventy
Century Memorial
A picturesque career closed with the death of General Stewart Lyndon Woodford. No son of New York had passed through a wider range of public service, as lawyer, soldier, politician, diplomat. From his admission to the bar in 1857, at the age of twenty-two, he was actively interested in public affairs until the year of his death. He was a delegate in 1860 to the National Convention which nominated Lincoln, and some time afterwards was appointed Assistant United States District Attorney; but resigned to enter the army in August, 1862. His war-record was one of bravery and efficiency until he was mustered out a brevet brigadier-general in 1865. Lieutenant-Governor of New York in ’66, elector-at-large in ’72, at National Conventions twice withdrawing his name as candidate for the winning vice-presidential nomination, Congressman, United States District Attorney, the tale of service is a long one. He was appointed by President McKinley Minister to Spain in 1897; and honor and gratitude are due to this old soldier for his efforts to avert the Spanish war. His last public function was the presidency of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission.
Henry Osborn Taylor
1914 Century Association Yearbook