University of North Dakota - Dacotah Yearbook (Grand Forks, ND)

Page 21 text:

IN MEMORIAM PROFESSOR HORACE B. WOODWORTH W'Oodworth, which occurred at his home in Grand Forks on Dec, let, 1906. Professor Woodworth was born in Vermont, March lst, 1830. He was grad- uated from Thetford Academy in 1850, from Dartmouth College in 1854, and from Hartford Theological Seminary in 1861. Between his college and seminary course, he was principal of Gilmanton Academy, N. H., and Chelsea Academy, Vt He served eight years in the Congregational ministry in Connecticut and thirteen years in Towa, when, on account of ill health, he settled on a farm in South Dakota in 1882. From there, in 1885, he was called to the newly establislv ed University of North Dakota, where he continued in active service, chiefly in Philosophy and History until 1904, retiring as Professor Emeritus of History. Professor Woodworth was with the University during all her early struggles and trials and was invaluable On account of his many-sided preparations, his willing- ness to assume any and all work, and his zeal and devotion to the institution. Sacrificing, with others, a large part of his salary for two years, he stood loyally by the University during the dark period following 1895, when her appropriation was vetoed. His was indeed a life of activity-sof labor and of love. Even after his retirement from active teaching, he was never idleAin fact the paralytic stroke which resulted in his death came upon him while he was busy at his work. And his death came, as he had often hoped it might when it should come, calmly and peacefully. It brought to a close a life full of years and fuller still of noble thoughts, kind words and good deeds. Those students and alumni of the older days will mourn his loss as that of a guide, philosopher and friend. No one has impressed himself more on the young people of the University than he, not alone by his pure and lofty teachings, but by the example which he always set and which shed its benignant innucncc into the minds and hearts of youth like that Great Stone Face Of his native region, into the mind and heart of Ernest. Professor VVoodworth practiced the sincere and simple life, and hence could dwell, as he did, intellectually and spiritually in the higher life; simple living and highwthinking were realized in him. He went about, like his great Exemplar, doing good. Straightforward and trans- parently honest himself, he shrank from or instinctively resented duplicity or trickery; and while always kind and charitable toward others in their weaknesses, IT is with profound regret that The Dacotah records the death of Prof. H. B.

Page 20 text:

HORACE B. W OODWORTH. 18

Page 22 text:

J- ' IIIIII-l-lllailI-IIl-III'AI-I-I-l-I-I-IAIIIIIISHEBF gw'eaxinsw' 'Gumwa H'sccmnil l'mtvqu f honesty, large- minded and tolerant yet fearless 1n standing by his fundamental ife-principles. 4 A keen student and interpreter of human nature, Professor Woodworth was g natural teacher. Socratic-like he probed a topic, and sophistry on parade was $6 was merciless toward all shams and hypocrisy. He was the soul of honor and con compelled to doff the mask. He had, too, what all teachers should have, a ein of humor; this ranged in him from the sly and playful smile or twinkle to the humorous outburst of laughter, in which all joined and were the better for. These occasions were the happy Havering of an earnest and dignifled bearing and personality. Taken all 111 all, Professor Woodworth was a rare man. His co-laborers on the Faculty, alumni and students, and indeed all who knew him realize more than ever, now that he has passed from among us, that they shall seldom look upon his like again. He leaves to a wife and two daughters, Mrs. W. A. Gordon and Mrs. C. M. Cooley, of Grand Forkswthe latter at one time Assistant Professor of Educa- tion at the University-the best heritage that a husband and father can leave, not wealth, but the heritage of a good name and a noble life.