Rochester Era [Rochester, Oakland County, Michigan], January 15, 1880:

After a long and painful sickness, the Hon. Lysander Woodward died at his late residence in Avon yesterday (Wednesday), January 14th, 1880, at 8 o'clock a.m., aged 62 years, 1 month and 25 days.

For many years Mr. Woodward had been troubled with asthma, against which he had fought vigorously, using every means within his power - medicine, change of scene, and everything known as alleviators at least - but without avail. Following close in the wake of this malady and superinduced doubtless by it, came that fell and sure destroyer, Consumption, against whose insidious wiles no mortal when once in its toils has never fought successfully. Being a man of indomitable will and great strength of purpose, Mr. Woodward resisted with all the energies of a determined mind the encroachments of the deadly foe, yet slowly buy surely it relentlessly followed him

"Through every lane of life - nor missing once the track,"

Until no longer able to resist he was finally obliged to succumb to its power.

Mr. Woodward has for years been one of Avon's most honored and respected citizens, having filled several positions of trust in the gift of the people with faithfulness and honesty. A gentleman of strict integrity, uprightness and good, sound judgement, his counsels were often sought after by many who had faith in him, and who considered his opinions worthy of acceptation. He was a good husband and a loving father, being decidedly a "home man" in the strictest acceptation of that word.

Mr. Woodward was born November 19, 1817, in the town of Columbia, State of Connecticut, where he resided until his eighth year, when his father removed with his family to Chili, Monroe county, New York. At the age of 21, which was in the year 1838, Mr. Woodward came to Michigan and located in this village, making a permanent location of the homestead now occupied by the family, some five years later.

He was married May 11, 1843, to Miss Peninah A. Simpson, at that time a resident of Rochester, by whom he was blessed with five children -- two boys and three girls -- all of whom are living and were at his bed-side when the sad messenger came. Their names are as follows: Robert, the oldest, now a resident of Detroit and for many years employed by the United States Government on the Lake Survey; Mrs. John Scott, also a resident of Detroit, Hubert, Hattie and Eva, living at home.

As above intimated, Mr. Woodward had occupied several positions of honor, among which were those of Justice of the Peace, Legislative Representative, Supervisor, Member of the Constitutional Commission of 1873, County Treasurer, and President of the Oakland County Agricultural Society.

The Detroit, Saginaw & Bay City Railroad owes perhaps to a great extent its existence to the energy, persistency and perseverance of Mr. Woodward, who not only being among the first to conceive the project, spent much time, hard labor and money in its construction and completion. As a recognition of his services in this direction he was chosen its first President, which position he filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to the Company.

It was not our purpose in the brief time at our command to enter into a lengthened history of the useful career of our departed townsman, for we will leave that to parties better versed in details and data than ourself, yet we could not refrain from offering our simple tribute to his memory.

The funeral services will be held at the house to-morrow (Friday) afternoon at one o'clock, Rev. M.W. Fairfield officiating.