Seth Thomas Woodard

Seth Thomas Woodard. Pioneer, Historian, Philanthropist. , Seth Woodard was born in Manhattan, Kansas, on October 14, to Civil War veteran Joseph Saunders Woodard and Sarah Amanda Dyer. With five children, the Woodards left Kansas in a covered wagon in April 1882, arriving in Spokane in October. After spending the winter in the Palouse, the family settled on 170 acres five miles east of Spokane in an area now called Millwood. There, they formed a friendship with Chief Spokane Garry and he and other Indians occasionally camped on their land., Education was important to the Woodard family. The children rode horses to school but since it was so far they only attended once or twice a week. Joseph donated land in order to build a school in the valley so future generations would not have to suffer the hardships that his children had endured to obtain an education. In 1912, the Orchard Park School was built, and Seth helped form the first school district, serving as clerk and board member for over two decades. He later donated land for West Valley High School. Until his final days, Seth lectured at local schools and provided several generations of students with original research for papers and projects., When it was time to round up their cattle, the Woodard boys carried two blankets, a slab of bacon, and coffee. The boys also carried guns for protection, and they depended on their acumen as hunters to supplement their meals., Seth married Celin Larson on December 31, 1897. The couple had twelve children. Four streets in the valley are named after his children: Ella, Marguerite, Edna, and Francis. Dale Street was named for a cousin. Originally named Woodard Road, Argonne Road was renamed in 1920 for the soldiers who lost their lives in the Argonne Forest in World War I., By the time he was twenty-seven years old, Seth had one of the most successful farms in the Millwood area. He and his brother Howard owned and raised wheat and cattle on 320 acres. Seth also owned 160 acres near Elk, Washington. Their gardens and timber supplied the family's needs, farming 800 acres in all., In 1903, Seth donated land for an electric railroad right-of-way and station. At his urging, Seth’s neighbors also donated land, and the area was named Woodard Station. Later, when the paper mill was established, the name was changed to Millwood, honoring both its largest industry and its largest benefactor. Seth was deputy assessor for one term and served as road supervisor of his district. He was also instrumental in forming and managing the Millwood irrigation system as water superintendent until his retirement in 1955., Seth belonged to the Salvation Army from its inception in Spokane, playing his cornet on the street corners in downtown Spokane. He was an active member for over 50 years. Seth was a founding member and president of the Kiwanis Club and the Spokane County Pioneer Society. He was also a member of the Spokane Historical Society, Sons and Daughters of the Pioneers, the Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Grange, and the Masonic Lodge. History was one of his many interests and, with the Pioneer Society, he traveled around the state creating and dedicating historic monuments to tell of early life in the area. Many of the monuments around Spokane bear his wording. He was also a frequent contributor of historical articles for local news publications., In later life, after the death of their spouses, Seth Woodard and Sonora Smart Dodd, the founder of Father’s Day, traveled all over the country garnering support to ratify Father’s Day as a national holiday. They formed the International Father’s Day Association. Seth wrote the dedication for the plaque honoring Sonora Dodd that was donated to the YMCA by the Spokane County Pioneer Association., Seth earned many awards throughout his life. The best legacy came in 1953, when the Seth T. Woodard Elementary School was dedicated in his honor. A time capsule of his life was laid with the cornerstone of the school. Seth died on June 9, 1960.