Woodson Slater was born on November 18, 1858, in Corvallis, Benton County, Oregon Territory to Elizabeth (Edna) Gray and later Congressman James H.

[1] There in Union County Woodson received his primary education in the public schools.

[1] Slater married in 1885 to Mary Price Howe and the couple would have four children.

[1] Upon becoming a lawyer Slater moved to Pendleton, Oregon, and began practicing law in 1886.

[4] Woodson T. Slater died in Portland, Oregon, on November 30, 1928, at the age of 70.