Nevada Genealogy Trails Carson City Hon. William Woodburn Biography

HON. WILLIAM WOODBURN, thrice a member of Congress from Nevada, and now one of the state's most able lawyers, making his home at Carson City, dates his arrival here in 1863. He was born in Ireland, April 14, 1838, and came to the United States when ten years of age. His education was secured at St. Charles College in Maryland, and in 1855 he went to California via the isthmus. After arrival in the state he mined, meeting with the usual success of those days. He had claims which yielded an ounce per day, and these he sold for two hundred dollars and went in search of something better. While mining one of his claims in Sierra county he found a nugget worth over one thousand, one hundred dollars, but while making money easily he also lost it.

Finally he began to read law in Jacksop, and from there went to Virginia City, Nevada, and was admitted to practice in 1866. In 1869 he was elected district attorney, and being a very active Republican he was elected by that party to Congress in 1874. His campaign against Colonel A. C Ellis was so powerful that it brought the young Irishman before the public very prominently, and gave him a majority of nine hundred. At the end of his term he declined a re-nomination, and was succeeded in Congress by Hon. Thomas Wren. Mr. Woodburn practiced law in Virginia City until 1886, when he was again nominated by the Republicans and ran against Hon. George W. Cassady, who had served a term in Congress and was the most popular Democrat in the state. Mr. Woodburn again made a very able canvass and received a majority of eight hundred and fifty, and at the end of his second term was re-elected to succeed himself. During his life in Congress Mr. Woodburn did much for his state, and was regarded as one of the most enterprising and able statesmen from the west.

Once more returning to his law practice, he was again called upon to serve his people, as he was appointed by Governor Sadler attorney general of the state. In 1902 he was again the candidate of his party for Congress, but was defeated by Newlands. He is now the veteran lawyer of his state. Until 1896 he was a stalwart Republican, but when that party adopted a gold standard Mr. Woodburn felt constrained to advocate principles of free silver, and since then has devoted all his efforts toward the advancement of the new party. He was the nominee for district attorney of the first judicial district and lost by only two hundred and fifty majority. His legal career has been marked by success, and his knowledge of his profession is almost unlimited.

In 1877 he was married to Mary Duffy, a native of Carson City. They have had two children, namely: William, who served in the Spanish-American war and is now in Washington, D. C.; Grace, who is also in the same city. General Woodburn is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and very few men stand higher in the estimation of his fellow citizens.