Rollin Simmons Woodruff (July 14, 1854 – June 30, 1925) was an American politician and the
62nd governor of Connecticut.
Biography
Woodruff was born in
Rochester, New York on July 14, 1854. He was the son of Jeremiah Woodruff, who was a minister; and Clarissa "Clorise" Thompson Woodruff. He was educated in the public schools of Rochester and
New Haven. He married Kaomeo E. Perkins on January 14, 1880, and they had three children, all of whom died young.
Career
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.
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.
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
The Connecticut State Senate is the upper house of the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The state senate comprises 36 members, each representing a district with around 99,280 inhabitants. Sena ...
in 1903, and was chosen the Senate's
President pro tempore
A president pro tempore or speaker pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer. The phrase ''pro tempore'' is Latin "for the time being". ...
.
He was President of
New Haven's Chamber of Commerce from 1905 to 1907.
Woodruff became the
71st Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut in 1905. He held that position until 1907.
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.
Death
Woodruff died in
Guilford Center, Connecticut
Guildford is a town in Surrey, England. It gives its name to the Borough of Guildford, the Diocese of Guildford and the Parliamentary constituency of Guildford.
Guildford, Guilford, or Gildford may also refer to:
Places
Australia
* Guildfor ...
on June 30, 1925, exactly two weeks short of his 71st birthday.
He is interred at Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut.
References
Further reading
* Sobel, Robert and John Raimo. ''Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978''. Greenwood Press, 1988.
External links
Rollin Simmons Woodruff entryat the
National Governors AssociationRollin Simmons Woodruff entryat
The Political Graveyard
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Woodruff, Rollin S.
1854 births
1925 deaths
Republican Party Connecticut state senators
Governors of Connecticut
Lieutenant governors of Connecticut
Politicians from New Haven, Connecticut
Politicians from Rochester, New York
Republican Party governors of Connecticut
Presidents pro tempore of the Connecticut Senate
American Congregationalists