Timothy L. Woodruff

Timothy Lester Woodruff (August 4, 1858 – October 12, 1913) was an American businessman and politician. A leader of the Republican Party in the state of New York, Woodruff is best remembered for having been elected three terms as the Lieutenant Governor of the state, serving in that capacity from 1897 to 1902.

Timothy Woodruff was born August 4, 1858 in New Haven, Connecticut. He was the son of a United States Congressman, Rep. John Woodruff and his wife, the former Harriet Jane Lester.

Woodruff graduated from Yale College in 1879, where he was a member of the secret society Skull and Bones. Following graduation from Yale, Woodruff enrolled in Eastman Business College of Poughkeepsie, New York in preparation for a career in business and commerce. In 1880 he would marry Cora Eastman, the daughter of the school's founder.

After leaving Eastman's College, Woodruff went to New York City where he was hired as a clerk for a wholesale salt supplier. Within a year Woodruff was made a partner in the firm. Woodruff also became involved in warehousing on the Brooklyn waterfront, gaining a controlling interest in several commercial frontages and two grain elevators. This warehousing operation was consolidated in January 1888 as the Empire Warehouse Company, which in turn became the Brooklyn Grain Warehouse Company in May 1889.

Woodruff maintained other commercial interests as well, serving as president and principal proprietor of the Maltine Manufacturing Company, as president of the Smith Premier Typewriter Company, and as a director of the Merchants' Exchange National Bank.

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