John H. Woodward was born on April 14, 1837, in Pennsylvania to John Woodward and Keziah Henry. His father was a farmer who owned $3,600 of real estate in 1850. Woodward grew up and attended school in North Buffalo, Pennsylvania, and he moved to Pittsburgh by the early 1860s. He enlisted in the Union army on August 25, 1861, and mustered in as a private in Company E of the 105^th Pennsylvania Infantry on September 4. According to his service records, he was 5 feet, 9 inches tall, with blue eyes and a “light” complexion. He was promoted to drum major on October 1, 1861, and he eventually earned a promotion to captain. The regiment took part in the Battle of Seven Pines, the Battle of Chancellorsville, the Battle of Gettysburg, the Battle of the Wilderness, and the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. Woodward mustered out on October 8, 1864, when his three-year enlistment expired.

 

Woodward returned to Pennsylvania after leaving the army, and he married Mary C. Fleming there around 1864. They had at least six children: George, born around 1866; James, born around 1868; William, born around 1870; Jessie, born around 1872; Mary, born around 1876; and Edith, born around 1879. By 1870, the family was living in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, and Woodward was working as a book keeper. He owned $4,000 of real estate and $600 of personal property. They moved to Allegheny, Pennsylvania sometime in the 1870s. They moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the 1890s, and by 1900, Woodward was working as a city inspector. He died in Pittsburgh on May 26, 1917.

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