This was known by the name of Iron Ridge township in the days of the territorial government.  It was reorganized by the Commissioners, Dec. 3, 1806, and named in honor of Gen. Greene, of revolutionary fame.  It is in the south-eastern part of the county.  Beginning at the mouth of Brush creek, it runs up that stream to the mouth of Beasley's Fork, thence on a direct line to the head of Black's run, thence on the highlands, of Ohio and Scioto Brush creek to the east line of Adams county, thence south along said county line to the Ohio river, thence down said river to the place of beginning.  It has twelve miles of river front.
     It contain 495 square miles an 31, 730 acres of land.  The elections were ordered to be held at the house of Obadia Stout.

SURFACE.

     A large portion of this township is high, hilly and rough land.  The highest point of land along the Ohio river within the State, is said to be within this township.  It also contains quarries of the best building stone in the State, or perhaps in the United States.
     This is the Waverly sand stone, and is quarried and shipped in large quantities to various parts of the United States.  The Burnet House and Grand Hotel, of Cincinnati, as well as many of the best houses in that city, are made of this stone.  The Custom Houses of St. Louis and Chicago are built of it.  It is shipped to New York and Boston.
     The road leading from Rome to Buenavista passes along the base of hills that lie a little distance from the river, and rise seven or eight hundred feet above it at low water mark.
     These hills are for a good part of this distance, faced with perpendicular walls of rock, several hundred feet in height.  The action of the elements and frost have from time to time, detached many fragments of these rocks, some of them of huge proportions, which have been precipitated to the valleys below.  The resistless impetus given to these blocks by their rapid descent, has propelled them across the road and into the adjoining fields, some of which are thickly covered with them.

CREEKS.

     The principal stream of water is Stout's run, named from Obadiah Stout, the first settler upon its banks.  This run, which is not of any considerable size, is fed by numerous small tributaries that have their sources in the many springs that issue from the gorges of the mountainous hills that rear their tops in the adjacent country.

SOIL.

     The narrow valley along the little streams, as well as the hillsides facing the north, north-east and east, are rich and productive.  The timber: poplar, basswood, chestnut, sugar, oak, hickory and spice brush, while those facing the south and southwest, contain a great deal of ornamental rock-work, and are covered with pine, cedar, laurel, black gum and sourwood shrubbery, with huckleberry bushes and winter green as an undergrowth.

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PRODUCTIONS.

     The river bottom up towards Rockville, acquires a considerable width, as well as the narrow valleys along the creeks, yield good heavy crops of corn and wheat, while the richer hillsides produce excellent tobacco, potatoes and fruits.  The cultivation of tobacco is receiving considerable attention of late.
     The inhabitants derive considerable revenue from the sale of staves for cooperage, tan-bark and hoop-poles, which they gather from the forests that still cover many of the more barren hills, and which they haul to Rome and ship or sell there.

FIRST SETTLERS.

     The first white settler in Greene township, was Obadiah Stout, who was a native of New Jersey, and served through the Revolutionary war.  After the war was over, he moved to Redstone, Pa., and from that place to Blue Lick, Ky.; fro there he moved to Manchester Island, and thence to Graham Station, at which place he had two children tomahawked and scalped by the Indians.  In the year 1796 or '97 he moved to this township and settled on Puntney's Fork of Stout's run, on a mound near where the Rome and West Union road crosses the run.  This is the farm now owned by Noah Tracey.  Tradition has it that there was a small Indian cornfield just north of this mound, which was the inducement to settle at that particular point.
     Mr. Stout had ten children, seven sons and three daughters; Thomas S., Charity Hubbard, Rachel Pettitt, Josiah S., Isaac S., Sarah Cole, Jesse S., Obadiah and John; the last two were the ones killed by the Indians at Graham's Station.
     In 1796, Obadiah Stout, grandson of Obadiah, and son of William Stout, was born - the first white child in the township
     Shortly after Mr. Stout settled, other families came and located in the neighborhood, among whom were the Colvins, the Pettitts, Montgomerys, Samuels, John Russell, Geo. H. Puntney and his father-in-law, William Hamilton, who taught the first school.
     George Hollingsworth Puntney was a son of Joseph Puntney, whose father was a French Hugenot, who was compelled to leave his native home in France on account of his religious principles.  He left Rochelle, France, two weeks before the elder Marion (father of Francis Mariou of Revolutionary fame), emigrated also to the same place on account of his religious principles.  The ship that carried the Puntney family, landed them on a barren, mountainous island in the West Indies, called Eustatia.  They soon became dissatisfied with it, and the first opportunity, embarked for Ghent in Holland; from there they soon went to Oxford, England, where Joseph Puntney married Mary Hollingsworth.  From there they emigrated in America, and settled at Little Gun Powder Falls in Maryland.  At the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, George H. Puntney was fourteen years old.  His father died in the second year of the war, and his property was sold by the administrator for $22,000, which was paid in continental money that soon became worthless.  The family then moved to Braddock's

old battle-field in Pennsylvania, and George H. Puntney became a scout.  He afterwards became a trader with the Delaware Indians, and subsequently connected with a surveying party in the Greene river country, Kentucky.  He passed Cincinnati twice before there was a stick of timber cut on the site of that city.  He presently married and settled in Bourbon county, Kentucky.  He moved to Greene township in March 1800, and settled on what is now known as the Puntney farm.  On this farm, James Puntney was born, Sept. 1, 1800.  Geo. H. Puntney died in1 853, at the age of 94.

EARLY RECOLLECTIONS.

     At the first settling of Green township, it was the hunter's paradise.  It abounded in bear, deer, turkeys, and all the game common to a new and hilly country.  William Stout, while hunting coons one night near where Rome stands, killed a mother bear and two cubs, with his dogs and an ax.  One of the Colvins killed a wolf with an ax-handle, that he was using as a staff or cane.
     Deer were plenty in the hills of Stout's run, Long Lick and Twin creek down to 1853, or as late as 1857.  They are now all gone.
     At the time William Hamilton taught in the township, which was in 1801, there were four distilleries, one school house and no church.  There are now five churches, thirteen school houses and but one distillery.

VILLAGES.

     There are two villages, Rome and Commericaltown.

ROME,

Which is the principal town, was laid out by William Stout,Sr., Mar. 26, 1835, with thirty lots.  It is situated on the banks of the Ohio river, and is a shipping point for a considerable scope of country back from the river, embracing most of Greene and Jefferson, with a portion of Meigs townships.  It is the great shipping place for the staves, tan-bark, and hoop-poles which those regions supply.  Twelve coopers ship their ware from here.
     Rome contains three dry goods stores, two millinery establishments, one confectionery store, two shoe shops, one harness shop, one tin shop, one blacksmith shop, one steam saw-mill, two cooper shops, two carpenter shops, a boat yard, where barges are built; a wharf boat, a telegraph office, a union school with three departments, two churches: one Methodist Episcopal, one Presbyterian, and a population of about 400.

ROCKVILLE.

     This village is situated about six miles above Rome, on the Ohio river, near the stone quarries, hence the name.  It was laid out Jan. 14, 1830, with a plat of twenty-six lots; S. B. McCall, proprietor.
     John Loughery, an enterprising citizen, who lived adjoining or within the village, not liking the classof citizens that had settled in it, bought out one by one the lot owners, petitioned the court for and obtained an order to vacate the place.  The several houses yet remaining are occupied by tenants, but there is no business carried on any more in the place.  The occupants of the houses are mostly laborers, who work in the quarries.
    Mr. McCall, bound not to be thwarted in his desire for a town, soon after laid off another village, almost adjoining Rockville.  This town he called

COMMERCIALTOWN,

     It was laid out Jan. 13, 1832, in eighteen lots.  It never flourished or did much business.  At present there is one small grocery store, one marble shop, and a small steam mill for grinding corn.  A post office was kept here for awhile, but it was removed to the neighboring village of Beunavista, in Scioto county.

VILLAGES, ETC.

     Greene township contains two villages, four mills, thirteen sub-school districts and two independent districts, five churches and post offices.

THE MILLS.

     Are Pennywitt's flouring and saw-mill, at Wagoner's Ripple.
     Puntney and Smith's Mills, grist and saw-mill, on Stout's run, two and a half miles north of Rome.
     Moore's grist mill, two miles above Rome.
     Patterson's grist mill, at Commercialtown.
     Tracy's saw-mill, near Rome.

PENNYWITT'S MILLS - WAGONER'S RIPPLE.

     This is a steam flouring and saw-mill.  It was built on Ohio Brush creek, in 1858, by Mark and David Pennywitt.  In 1864, David Pennywitt became sole proprietor, and in 1865, removed it from Brush creek, about one-fourth of a mile up Wagoner's run, and attached a saw-mill to it.

POST OFFICES.

     STOUT'S - ROME - This was established before Rome was laid out.  It was called Stout's in honor of Mr. Stout, who was an old citizen and the first Postmaster.  The following is a list of the Postmasters who have held the office:  1, William Stout; 2, John Newman; 3, George Pettit; 4, Lyman Taft; 5, John H. Baird; 6, George M. Lafferty.

     WAGONER'S RIPPLE. - This office was estabed about 1847, and has had the following Postmasters: 1, Jesse Wikoff; 2, Benjamin Naylor; 3, David Pennywitt; 4, John Beach; 5, Luther Collier; 6, John Beach; 7, W. W. Ellison, present incumbent.

CHURCHES - SANDY SPRINGS.

     There are at this place three churches; one Presbyterian, one Baptist, one M. E. church.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

     This is the oldest of these churches.  It was organized Sept. 2, 1826, with three ruling elders, David Mitchell, Robert Russell and Moses Balley; Rev. Robert Dobyns acting as Moderator of the new session.
     The first member admitted to the church was Mrs. Sarah Hiner.

     Many of the original settlers in this neighborhood were from Western Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish stock, and of the Presbyterian faith.
     Occasional preaching had been held at private houses, from the beginning of the settlement.  A log meeting house was soon burned down on Sabbath morning, of Apr. 4, 1869.  The present beautiful brick house was erected on the same plat, and was dedicated May 28, 1871.
     The ruling elders first mentioned, were sided and followed by others, chosen from time to time.  Among those who served the church longest and died within its folds, were Thomas Russell.  James A. Baird, Robert Baird, James Loughery and John Loughery.
     The present and only acting elder is James H. Dobson.
     The present board of trustees are J. C. Loughery, James Hiner and James McKinley.
     The church has been served by various ministers, for a larger or shorter period of time, some being only for a few Sabbaths; supplies furnished by Presbytery, as John Rankin, Dyer Burgess, David Vandyke, Eleazor Brainerd and E. Buckingham, the latter for one year.
     The Rev. Joseph Chester, now of Cincinnati, ordained and installed, June 24, 1840, was the first settled pastor.  The ordination sermon was preached by the Rev. M. H. Wilder, and the charge to pastor and people, given by the Rev. John Rankin, of Ripley, O.  This pastorate of near ten years was the most promising and prosperous in the history of the church.
     Sept. 7, 1852, Rev. J. E. Vance was installed pastor; R. P. Rratt preaching the sermon, and Messrs. Ordway, Kelsey, Chester and Hicks taking part in the services.  His pastorate continued till September, 1857.  Rev. James Wilson preached for the church four months during 1858.
     In May, 1859, Rev. E. P. Adams was employed as a regular minister for the Sandy Springs and Rome churches, and continued in the work until May 1, 1873, a period of fourteen years.
     These churches received the services of Rev. S. P. Dillon and Rev. W. C. West, licentiates, during portions of 1873-74
     In 1875, Rev. G. W. Nichols became acting pastor, and served about  two years.
     April, 1876, Rev. E. P. Adams again became stated supply, which service he still continues, March, 1880.

ROCKVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH - SANDY SPRINGS.

     Baptist meetings were held in the neighborhood of Sandy Springs previous to 1840.
     Hezekiah Johnson and Hiram Pennywitt were the pioneer or missionary preachers, who first preached the Baptist doctrine in the vicinity.  Their meetings were mostly held in the private houses of those who believed their faith - very frequently at the house of Recompense S. Murphy; sometimes they were held in the Presbyterian church.
     Early in 1840, the Rev. ___ Griswold held a protracted meeting here, which continued two or three weeks.  At this meeting, a young lady, named Charlotte McCall, professed the christian faith, as laid down by the Baptists, and was baptized in the Ohio river.  This was the beginning point of this church.  There were a few members of other distant Baptist churches that lived in the immediate vicinity, who united together and organized the Rockville Baptist church, which was readily recognized by the proper council.  The names of the original members of this church were Recompense S. Murphy, Rachel Murphy, Gabriel Pullam, William Harris, Zenas Hayward, Hugh Kelly, Jemima Kelly, members of other churches, and Miss Charlotte McCall, who had just been baptized.  After the organization, the meetings were held at the house of Recompense S. Murphy, until the building of a meeting house.
     In 1844, measures were taken to build a house.  A lot of 64 square rods of land was deeded by Abner Ewing to Recompense S. Murphy, Zenas Hayward and John Murphy, as trustees for the church, and a comfortable frame building was put up the same year.
     The first regular pastor was the Rev. J. k. Bronson.
     Rev. Jacob Lemon, Rev. H. Burnett, Rev. H. Johnson were among its early ministers.
     Present membership, 66.

HAMLINE CHAPEL, M. E. CHURCH.

     About 1820, a class of eight or ten members was formed at the house of George Truitt, about 1¼ miles westwardly from where the meeting house now stands, and regular preaching established.
     Among these early preachers were the Revs. Walker, Pilcher, Beasley, and John Meek.
     The meetings were held at Mr. Truitt's some ten or fifteen years, until a school house was built, when the congregation met at it.  Finally, in 1847, the present meeting house was built.  It is a comfortable frame building 35x45, costing $700.  The membership at present is about 20.

CHURCHES - ROME

     There are two churches at this place, one Presbyterian, one M. E. church.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

     This church was organized Nov. 23, 1844, with 42 members, dismissed from Sandy Springs for that purpose.
     The session consisted of Rev. Joseph Chester, Moderator, and Thomas Russell, J. C. V. Baird and Bennett J. Stout, ruling elders.  Willis Robinson, William Russell, W. D. Blair are its present session.  It has also, as Deacons, George H. Puntney, J. Tracy and J. H. Dobson, and a board of trustees.
     Its ministers since its organization, have always been the same as those of Sandy Springs.
     The house of worship was erected about the time of the organization of the church.

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     The frame first built, was blown down by a storm, and lay a ruin for months, but friends from the other church came to its rescue; it was re-erected and finished, and has been in use ever since.
     Both these churches have been greatly weakened by the emigration of their members to the West, especially to Illinois and Kansas, as well as to the towns and cities in Southern Ohio.  Hence the combined membership is not as great as it was in 1844, and their financial ability is probably still weaker.