Hawthorne, Julian, Ed.  History of Washington the Evergreen State: 
From Early Dawn to Daylight.  Vol. 2.  New York: American 
Historical Publishing Co., 1893.  p. 671

WOODRUFF, FRANK B., of Tacoma, is a living evidence of the value
of self-help, showing how persevering effort may raise a man by 
slow but sure degrees from the lowest round of the business ladder 
to position and opulence.  Mr. Woodruff was born in Bridgeton, 
Cumberland County, N.J., August 29th, 1848.  Receiving his 
preparatory education in the public schools of his native town, he 
completed his studies at the West Jersey Academy.  At the early 
age of sixteen he became an errand boy in the employ of Reeves, 
Parvin and Co., of Philadelphia, wholesale grocers, and remained 
with them for a quarter of a century.  Thanks to his faithful 
attention to business, he was gradually promoted from time to time, 
until after sixteen years of serve he became in 1881 a partner in the 
house, and so continued up to February 1st, 1890, when he 
withdrew from the firm, disposing of his interest to his partners.  
Imbued with the idea that there was a larger field for the acquisition 
of wealthy in the Northwest, he came to Tacoma and after a 
thorough examination of various locations, finally purchased an 
interest in the Tacoma Grocery Company.  He sold his interests and 
retired from that company March 1st, 1893.  On March 12th, 1893, 
he was elected President and General Manager of the Pacific 
Commercial Company, an institution organized for doing an export 
and import business with China and Japan, in which business he is 
now successfully engaged.  Mr. Woodruff was married October 
30th, 1871, to Miss Martha L. Harned, of Philadelphia.  Five 
children--three sons and two daughters--have been born to them, of 
whom a daughter and a son have passed away.  He is the President 
of the Commercial Club, and was one of the founders of that 
organization.  Though often urged to accept political office, Mr. 
Woodruff has invariably declined such overtures.

Submitted by: Jenny Tenlen

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.