[2][3][4] Jackson & Woodin grew under this combined leadership to become the largest railroad car builder in the eastern United States, and was one of the 13 companies that merged in 1899 to form American Car and Foundry Company (ACF).

[1] They had three daughters and one son: Mary, Annie Jessup, William Hartman Jr., and Elizabeth Foster Woodin.

Woodin was involved in major decisions that the new Roosevelt administration made to combat the Great Depression.

On March 4, 1933, when Roosevelt first took the oath of office, banks were closing their doors all over the United States as waves of panic led depositors to demand immediate payment of their money.

With "seals of approval" from the examiners, depositors regained confidence, and the vast majority left their money in bank deposits.

[clarification needed] Treasury Under Secretary Dean Acheson opposed FDR on the latter two decisions and was forced to resign in November 1933.