I. E. Woodcock of Stanton presented the office with a water melon weighing 21 pounds and received the paper one year free. It was the largest melon brought in. 10/8/1875

     I. E. Woodcock and Thos. Manion were in Union and called on Editor Brown. After they got through talking politics and wore out the question of raising big watermelons and prize babies, they started to tell  the editor that in their opinion each one had the best wife in the county. Editor Brown in those days was a young bachelor who thought the sum rose and set only at the divine command of the lovely school marms. He told his visitors that he could believe what they said; but was willing to bet that their wives did not reciprocate the sentiments they expressed. 6/14/1892

     I. E. Woodcock, A. W. Frasure and Nat Nettell were among our callers Tuesday. The two former indulged in a talking match while in this office. Albert came out best but we think "Ike" must have been sick.
     Don't forget the Saltpeter Cave Picnic on Saturday of next week, the 18th. The larger Saltpeter Cave on the Meramec, near Stanton, is the finest summer resort in the county and it will be especially prepared for this occasion. 5/10/1898

     I. E. Woodcock, the best natural grumbler on earth, was in Union Saturday and gave his many friends his customary talk. Mr. Woodcock has been road overseer continuously in one district for twenty-five years and will likely be appointed again this week. 1899

     Our old friend, I. E. Woodcock, of Stanton was a pleasant caller on Wednesday. Mr. Woodcock has been a steady reader of the Tribune for 35 years. Can any of our readers beat this record? 11/11/1910

       I. E. Woodcock of Stanton was in Union Tuesday on road business before the county court. He called at the Tribune office to pay his respects to the editor. Mr. Woodcock has been a reader of the Tribune since he was first appointed road overseer of road dist. 32, nearly forty years ago. Being the oldest reader of the Tribune he takes a fatherly delight in raasting us about our homely though classic physiognomy. If Mr. Woodcock would shave off his whiskers he would not have anything on the lold man of the Tribune for good looks. Ever since Mr. Woodcock left our office at 3 o'clock, Tuesday, we have been anxious to know whether he arrived home safe and sound. He departed in good spirits smoking a pipeful of our famous kill-me-quick navy, and it is doubtful if a man could find his way through the timber after taking whiffs of the weed. 12/12/1913

TRIBUNE'S OLDEST SUBSCRIBER
     In our "Forty Years Ago" column published a few weeks ago we announced that I. E. Woodcock of Stanton brought the largest water melon of the season to the printing office and received the paper free for the year. That was in 1875. During that year Mr. Woodcock received the paper free but ever since he has been prompt in paying in his little old iron dollar every year for Franklin county's leading and best paper-The Tribune. Up to this time he has paid in forty dollars and forty times he has gladdened the heart of every editor of the paper since 1875. Mr. Woodcock's name will now be placed on the Tribune "pension list" and will receive the paper free hereafter, for the next forty years. We hope he will be with us that long. He will, for no man is going to shuffle off this mortal coil as long as he receives the Tribune without money and without price. Mr. Woodcock, as far as we know, has bee on the Tribune list continuously longer than any other man and is no doubt our oldest subscriber. Just think what changes have taken place in our county since 1875. When Mr. Woodcock brought the water melon. 10/20/1915

     I. E. Woodcock and son A. R. Woodcock of Spring Creek were callers at the News office Wednesday. They report a good rain of Spring Creek Tuesday night. Mr. Woodcock was in poor health all winter and says this is his first trip to Sullivan since Christmas except when he came to S . H. Sullivan's funeral. Not very many men of his age get around as well as he does. 7/1/1920

     The editor took advantage of the fine weather last Friday and took a horseback ride around rural No. 3...
     We came upon a bunch of men working the road and, sure enough, their foreman was I. E. Woodcock, the veteran of road overseers. He has been road overseer of that district forty-six year, or it will be next February. And he takes hold of the tools and makes a hand himself at the work, although he is seventy-four years old. We doubt if his record can be surpassed in the state. 11/26/1920

     Isaac E. Woodcock reported that there were at least 35 wild hogs running at large and never tasted corn, and one old sow in particular he had seen six years. He says Wm. Bell told him that he saw one jump ten feet and catch a quail. Uncle Ike is considered a truthful man now days. We don't know what his reputation for truth and veracity was in those days. It might be added that Ike said there were many things said and done on Spring Creek that it would be hard to explain to an editor. 1/13/1922

I. E. Woodcock and Thomas Manion and their wives were in Union one day. Ike claimed he had a better looking wife than Tom, and Tom claimed he had a better looking wife than Ike. 6/29/1922

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