Brief History

“Wooldridge was incorporated into a town in 1902. Before that time the people of the community completed most of their business at Gooch's Mill. The people of the community decided to build a town near the railroad, which has been built through that part of the country in 1901, because it would be more convenient for them. Most of the goods bought at Gooch's Mill had to be brought there from Boonville. The town was named Wooldridge after H.H. Wooldridge, father of H.H. Wooldridge, Sr. of Boonville. Mrs. Elizabeth Nixon and W.J. Wooldridge, Sr, surveyor, laid out the plat on land owned by Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Wooldridge. ”—Ann Beckner Betteridge. Discover Cooper County by looking back. Interstate Studio Sedalia, MO. 1995. Chapter 10.