Rollin S. Woodruff

Woodruff was born in Rochester, New York on July 14, 1854.{{cite book |last=Taylor |first=William Harrison |date=1919 |title=The One Hundredth Anniversary of the First Meeting of the General Assembly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qio6AQAAIAAJ&pg=PA86 |location=Hartford, CT |publisher=Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co. |page=86}} He was the son of Jeremiah Woodruff, who was a minister; and Clarissa "Clorise" Thompson Woodruff.{{cite book |last=Cutter |first=William Richard |date=1913 |title=New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial, Volume 3 |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_7_UsAAAAYAAJ |location=New York, NY |publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_7_UsAAAAYAAJ/page/n636 1564]}} He was educated in the public schools of Rochester and New Haven.{{cite book |date=1925 |title=Wesleyan University Bulletin, Issues 61-80 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7a9GAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA18-PA20 |location=Middletown, CT |publisher=Wesleyan University |page=20}} He married Kaomeo E. Perkins on January 14, 1880,{{cite web|title=Rollin S. Woodruff|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/woodnutt-woodrum.html#024.51.74|publisher=The Political Graveyard|access-date=11 December 2012}} and they had three children, all of whom died young.

Woodruff was a successful businessman and was involved in several banks and corporations. He was a director of the Mechanics Bank of New Haven, the Connecticut Savings Bank, and the Connecticut Computing Machine Company. He was vice president of the Federal Adding Machine Company. In addition, Woodruff was president of Grace Hospital of New Haven and C. S. Mersick Company, a manufacturer and wholesaler of heavy hardware, railroad supplies, machinist supplies and other metal products.{{cite book |last=Hill |first=Everett Gleason |date=1918 |title=A Modern History of New Haven and Eastern New Haven County, Volume 2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EeknAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA68 |location=New York, NY |publisher=S. J. Clarke Publishing Company |page=68}}{{cite book |last=Warner |first=Donald J. |date=1922 |title=Connecticut State Register and Manual |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8F1IAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA336 |location=Hartford, CT |publisher=Lockwood & Brainard Co. |page=336}}{{cite book |last=Chadwick |first=Earl Leslie |date=1909 |title=The Conservative Advocate: A Book of Biographies of Connecticut's Successful Men |url=https://archive.org/details/conservativeadv00chadgoog |location=Hartford, CT |publisher=Transcript Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/conservativeadv00chadgoog/page/n26 3]}}

Beginning in 1896 became active in the state militia, and in 1899 he was appointed aide-de-camp to Governor George E. Lounsbury with the rank of colonel.{{cite book |last=Geer |first=Elihu |date=1899 |title=Geer's Hartford City Directory, Volume 62 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p98CAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA651 |location=Hartford, CT |publisher=Hartford Printing |page=651}}

In 1902 he became a member of the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

A Republican, he was elected to one term in the Connecticut State Senate in 1903, and was chosen the Senate's President pro tempore.{{cite book |last=Taylor |first=William Harrison |date=1903 |title=Taylor's Legislative History and Souvenir of Connecticut, Volume 4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ArRFAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA25 |location=Hartford, CT |publisher=R. S. Peck & Co. |page=25}}

He was President of New Haven's Chamber of Commerce from 1905 to 1907.{{cite web|title=Rollin S. Woodruff|url=http://www.nndb.com/people/553/000209923/|publisher=NNDB Soylent Communications|access-date=11 December 2012}}

Woodruff became the 71st Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut in 1905. He held that position until 1907.{{cite web|title=Rollin S. Woodruff|url=http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_connecticut/col2-content/main-content-list/title_woodruff_rollin.html|publisher=National Governors Association|access-date=11 December 2012}}

Winning the 1906 Republican gubernatorial nomination, Woodruff became the Governor of Connecticut on January 9, 1907. During his term, he vetoed several acts of the legislature, arguing that they were too costly. Woodruff remained active in his business. He became a member of the Union League Club. He also served as a member of the New Haven Young Men's Republican Club.

Woodruff died in Guilford Center, Connecticut on June 30, 1925, exactly two weeks short of his 71st birthday.{{cite book |last=Cutter |first=William Richard |date=1926 |title=American Biography: A New Cyclopedia, Volume 26 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tnkKAQAAMAAJ&q=%22rollin+s+woodruff%22+1925+guilford |location=Washington, DC |publisher=American Historical Society |page=5}} He is interred at Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut.

{{reflist}}

• Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978. Greenwood Press, 1988. {{ISBN|0-313-28093-2}}

• [http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_connecticut/col2-content/main-content-list/title_woodruff_rollin.html Rollin Simmons Woodruff entry] at the National Governors Association
• [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/woodnutt-woodrum.html#024.51.74 Rollin Simmons Woodruff entry] at The Political Graveyard
• {{find a Grave|12649469}}

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{{s-bef|before=Henry Roberts}}

{{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for Governor of Connecticut|years=1906}}

{{s-aft|after=George L. Lilley}}

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{{succession box |title=Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut | before=Henry Roberts | years=1905–1907 | after=Everett J. Lake}}

{{succession box |title=Governor of Connecticut | before=Henry Roberts | years=1907–1909 | after=George L. Lilley}}

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{{Governors of Connecticut}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Woodruff, Rollin S.}}

Category:1854 births

Category:1925 deaths

Category:Republican Party Connecticut state senators

Category:Governors of Connecticut

Category:Lieutenant governors of Connecticut

Category:Politicians from New Haven, Connecticut

Category:Politicians from Rochester, New York

Category:Republican Party governors of Connecticut

Category:Presidents pro tempore of the Connecticut Senate

Category:American Congregationalists

Category:20th-century members of the Connecticut General Assembly