Lying 12 miles south of Malad City, is the southernmost community in Oneida County, the center of which is situated just three miles North of the Utah-Idaho border. 

Initially known as “Muddy Creek” because of the heavy spring runoff waters making the creek running through the area muddy, the community was later named Woodruff in honor of Wilford Woodruff, the fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Families originally settled near the creek on a rising overlooking the lower end of Malad Valley. The first man to file a claim in the area was John H. Williams who stopped on the south side of Muddy Creek on his way to Montana on October 10, 1865. Williams made a dugout and lived there for two weeks, and then proceeded on to Ogden, Utah, leaving his two sons, David and William D. Williams. In the spring he returned with his family; and in November if 1865, Christopher Gardner and his family settled on the north side of Muddy Creek.  

In the spring of 1870, George Ward, the predecessor of almost all of the Ward families that currently live in Oneida County, moved with his wife and his small son, Joseph, to Muddy Creek, from Willard, Utah, where he secured a farm and raised cattle. It took the family two days to make the trip. In 1872 they moved to Curlew Valley where they lived until 1874, at which time they returned to Muddy Creek and established themselves permanently. 

George’s wife, Eunice Alice Nicholas Ward, was only 16 when they were married. When they moved to Muddy Creek almost a year later, Eunice was still a young girl with her first child, frightened of the snakes, grasshoppers, and Indians.  

Eunice and George suffered through the hardships of pioneer life. Eunice recorded in her diary that there were only two other homes, log huts with willows and dirt for a roof, and a dugout, all of which had been vacated. She said that it was a lonely looking place, but that the Malad River, which ran through the valley, was the only beautiful sight with green meadows and a few cattle roaming about. 

In 1889 George and Moroni Ward purchased the first header ever used in the Muddy Creek area, and they cut grain for many of the area farmers and ranchers. Prior to the purchase of the header, all of the grain was cut with a cradle and the hay with a scythe. 

George and Eunice had fourteen living children, Joseph Welton, George Trulock, Eunice Ann, Jessie Nicholas, Nancy Helen, Ida Paulina, James Gordon, Charles Williams, Richard Alvin, Rosa Elizabeth, Thomas John, Owen David, Marintha Pearl, and Arthur Miner.  

The George and Eunice Alice Nicholas Ward home located in Woodruff, Idaho is still standing and being lived in today. After living for many years in a small cabin, their son, Joseph, sold his cattle herd to provide the money to build their home. Steve Wight sawed lumber for the home, which came from Indian Mill Canyon, northwest of Malad City in the East Daniels area. It took all day to get to the canyon. Approximately two trips were made. After arrival they loaded the lumber then returned home the next day. The home was moved into on November 30, 1893. The home is still standing and being lived in today.  

George Ward died at his home in Woodruff on September 7, 1902, as a result of injuries sustained in a fall from a haystack. Eunice passed away at her home on May 23, 1933. Both were buried in Willard, Utah. 

This photo was taken in 1897. Pictured from left to right: On the horse is Arthur Miner Ward (Sarah Cecil Moss). By the horse’s neck is Marintha Pearl Ward (Henry Evans Thomas). In front of the horse is Jesse Nicholas Ward with his wife, Julia Ann Moon who is holding their baby daughter, LaVern; In front of Jesse is a cousin, Isabel Moss. Next standing from left to right are Rose Elizabeth Ward (Thomas James John) and Richard Alvin Ward (Marinda Irene John). In front of the window is Charles William Ward (Sarah Sophia Jones), and next to Charles is Eunice Ann Ward (Robert Wilford Harris). Next to Eunice is a neighbor, Al Green, and in front of the tree is Ida Pauline Ward and her husband William Henry John. At the far right is George Ward. Eunice Alice Nicholas Ward is sitting on the porch, and standing on the porch rail is Owen David Ward (Sarah Rose Ann Allen and Ellen Parry). 

The only living family member not pictured is Joseph Welton Ward (Elizabeth Christana Allen and Annie Adams Evans) who provided the funds to build the home.