[1] Originally from Massachusetts, he also lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota and West Superior, Wisconsin, where he was mayor, before moving to Arizona.
[5][6] In 1892 he moved to West Superior, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the clothing business, and was elected as the president of the chamber of commerce.
[15] In 1905 he was part of a group of men who incorporated the National Mining Exploration Co. (NME), headquartered in Boston, with Woodward as the secretary and treasurer.
[21] In 1920 he ran for one of the two seats in the Arizona State Senate from Gila County, winning in November's general election.
[22][23] Woodward ran for re-election in 1922, but lost in the general election to Democrat Alfred Kinney.