Alfred Woodcock was born to Freeman and Elizabeth (Bass) Woodcock near Prescott, Ontario, Canada on July 6, 1829. The family emigrated to the United States in 1845 and settled near Lighthouse (Ogle County), Illinois. Alfred Woodcock attended the Rock River Seminary before graduating from Union College in New York. While in New York, he married Lucy Lucretia Dake (1830-1872). The couple had two children, John Andrew and Frank. After his first wife's death, Woodcock married Jennie McDade (1846-1882). He returned to Illinois after graduation, where he taught school and read law. Woodcock was admitted to the bar and practiced law until being elected treasurer of Ogle County in November of 1857. He held this post until his election as county clerk in 1861. He served in this capacity for sixteen consecutive years, with his brother, John B. Woodcock (1825-1912), performing his duties while he was absent during the Civil War.

Woodcock enlisted in the 92nd Illinois Infantry as a Captain on April 9, 1862. In order to assign companies, the captains met and drew letters out of a hat. Woodcock drew K and served as captain of this unit until being promoted to Major on June 28, 1864. Woodcock mustered out at Greensboro, North Carolina on June 21, 1865 and returned to his family in Illinois. He resumed his duties as county clerk, where he served until being elected county judge in November of 1877. Woodcock left this post in May of 1881 in order to accept a Presidential appointment as U.S. Counsel to the Port of Catania, Italy. He returned to America in 1883 and lived in Washington, D.C. for two years before being appointed general land commissioner of the Union Pacific Railroad. He held this post for two years, after which he settled in Los Angeles, California and married Sarah Augusta (Petrie) Hitt (1846-1928). Albert Woodcock died of pelvic cancer on June 15, 1894 and is buried in Riverview Cemetery in Oregon, Illinois.