by Charles W. Bowman

Biographies

GILBERT M. WOODWORTH

   Mr. Woodworth is a prominent sheep-raiser in Bent County. He came to Colorado in 1873, to the old town of Las Animas. In the spring of 1874, he engaged in the livery business at West Las Animas, in which he continued until the fall of 1877, when he sold out and bought a herd of sheep. Mr. Woodworth is improving his herd with the best stock. He has found, from experience, that sheep do not do well when carried beyond a certain degree of fineness. Mr. Woodworth has four ranches, in different parts of Bent County. In 1876, he was on the Republican ticket for State Senator. He has been Chairman of the party organization in Bent County. He expects to remain in the Arkansas Valley. Mr. Woodworth was born in Lycoming County, Penn., November 5, 1840. His parents removed to Wayne County in 1842. There he lived eleven years. For four years afterward, he resided in Virginia, and then removed to Kansas. During his boyhood, he attended school and worked on a farm. In August, 1860, he went to Denver from Atchison and Leavenworth, with a train of freight wagons. From the latter place, he made five trips to Old Fort Lyon. Mr. Woodworth served three years in the war. He enlisted in the Eighth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, serving his time west of the Mississippi River; was stationed a portion of the time at Helena, Ark. He was in thirteen general engagements and many skirmishes. During the three years, he was on duty all the time, he was not sick, nor did he have a furlough. He was detailed to carry important dispatches from Springfield, Mo., to Rolla. The route was through the enemy's country, and he was obliged to frequently ride out of the road in order to escape detection. He rode the distance, 110 miles in twenty-four hours. He was discharged form the service at Pine Bluff, fifty miles below Little Rock, Ark.