This township is bounded on the north by Canaan township, Madison county, and Washington; west by Canaan and Jefferson townships, in the same county; south by Prairie, and east by Norwich, Washington, and Jefferson townships.  The surface presents the same level plain which characterizes the townships comprising this portion of Franklin county, except along the extreme western boundary, where it is cut by numerous small ravines.  It has no stream of water, except Big Darby creek.  This flows along the entire western line of the township, and was considered, in the early settlement, of much importance.
     The soil is mainly gravel, though in some portions a black loam predominates.  In productiveness, the township is fully up to the average.
     Michael Sullivant and Lyne Starling formerly owned much of the land in this township.

SETTLEMENT.

     The first settlement of Brown township was made along Big Darby creek, and began in perhaps, 1808 or 1810.  The eastern portion remained a dense wilderness, until as late as 1840.  the writer is unable to state to whom belongs the honor of having been the first settler in Brown township.  ADAM BLOUNT was one of the earliest settlers.  He was from Virginia.  Joseph Belchey, a son-in-law, came with him.

     JOHN PATTERSON, also from Virginia, located here, about the same time, but, after a few years, returned to his former home.

     JOHN HAYDEN, a native of Pennsylvania, came from Hamilton county, in 1818, locating upon the farm now occupied by Jacob High, in Brown township, and here he died, in March, 1827.  He was twice married.  The children, by the first wife were:  Elizabeth, David, Isaac, and Rachel, who are all deceased, except the eldest, now the widow of Dr. Rathbun, from whom the writer obtained the principal items of early history for the township.  The children of John Hayden, by the second marriage, were: Hannah, William B., Nancy, Joseph, Jeremiah, and Sarah, only one of whom is living.

     JAMES BOYD, from Tennessee, settled in the township

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in 1820.  None of the family now live in the township.

     JAMES RINIER, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in Brown township, in 1822.  After a few years, he moved to Hamilton county.

     KNOWLTON BAILEY settled in the township quite early.

     OBIL BEACH, whose wife was Elizabeth Kilbourn, came from Vermont to Ohio, in 1817, and located near Plain city, Madison county, where he died, as did also his wife.  The children were:  Susan, Amos, Marova, Uri, Ambrose, Rhoda, Sarah, Lorenzo, Roswell, and Obil O. and Orin O. (twins).  two of Uri's children live in Brown township, Malona C. (Mrs. John Kilgore), and Uri, who married Elleanor Downing.  Chauncey Beach, a son of Ambrose, who married Elizabeth Kilgore, also lives in Brown township.

     JACOB FRANCES and wife, Winnie Adams, were natives of Virginia.  Early in the present century they settled in Athens county, Ohio.  After living there a few years, the family located in Madison county, and, in 1825, made purchase of the land in Brown township, now occupied by a son, Henry.  This was covered with a dense wood, but by determined and well directed effort, this has disappeared, and in its stead, we find broad acres, whose product yields in rich return to the husbandman.  Mr. Francis died in August, 1840, and his wife some two years later.  The children were as follows:  Elizabeth, John, Sarah, Mary, Joseph, Henry, Nancy, Winnie, Hester, Jacob, and James.  One only lives in the township: Henry, who married Elizabeth Hunter now occupies the old homestead.  From this gentleman the writer obtained the following names of settlers who were living in the township in 1825; George and Ananias Harris, Benjamin Morris, John Ross, and Samuel Ballinger.  James Huggett came about the same time.

     ABRAM REECE and Theresa King, his wife, were from Virginia, and came to Franklin county in 1812.  Ten years later they removed to Madison county, where they lived until 1831, when they located permanently in this township.  The farm is still occupied by the heirs.  Mr. Reece died May 5, 1875, and his wife Sept. 2, 1860.  There were ten children in the family, six only of whom are now alive, and but three reside in this county; Robert, who married Sarah A. Slyh; David,  not married, and Wilson, who married Jane Walker.  All of these sons were soldiers in the Union army during the rebellion.

     HENRY C. ALDER, whose wife was Elizabeth Patterson, is a grandson of Jonathan Alder, of whom we learn as follows:  In March 1782, he and his brother, David, were in the woods, near their home, in what is now West Virginia, when they were surprised by a party of Indians, and Jonathan, being but a mere boy (nine years of age), was easily captured.  The brother ran, but was thrust through with a spear, killed, and afterwards scalped.  Jonathan was finally adopted by the Shawnee tribe, and lived with the wife of Colonel Lewis, one of the chiefs.  In June, subsequent to his capture, occurred the defeat of Crawford.  After Wayne's victory, Alder, having in the meantime married an Indian woman, came to live on Big Darby creek.  He became dissatisfied with his wife, and, after considerable trouble, succeeded in effecting a separation, when he returned to his family in Virginia, where he married Mary Blount, with whom he returned to his former home on Big Darby creek, in Madison county, and here he died in about 1850.  A son, Henry, purchased in 1835, the farm in Brown township where Henry C. Alder now lives.  Jonathan Alder lived with the Indians twenty-four years, and when he left them could talk but little English.

     THOMAS KILGORE was born in Pennsylvania, soon after which event his parents removed to Kentucky.  In 1798 they came to Ohio, and for a few years, lived at Chillicothe.  Thomas came to Madison county.  He married Jane Patterson, and located in Canaan township, some two miles southwest of Plain city.   Here he died on Jan. 9, 1873.  His wife died June 5, 1863.  Of the eight children composing the family, three settled in Brown township; John, who married Malone C. Beach; Sarah, who became the wife of Jeremiah Sherwood, now deceased, and Elizabeth, who married Chauncey Beach.

     JOHN LLOYD and wife, Margaret Evans, were natives of Wales.  They were married there on Saturday, and the following Monday, took passage for America.  They arrived in Columbus on June 1, 1840, and the latter part of the same month, located in Brown township, erecting the log cabin a short distance from where stands the substantial brick dwelling now occupied by the family.  He now owns five hundred and sixty acres of land, which he purchased in a wild state, paid for by honest labor, and has the greater part of it cleared, and under4 cultivation.  His wife died Aug. 9, 1878.  the children were Mary (who is deceased), John, Elizabeth, Richard, Margaret, David and Anna.

     N. E. FERRIS who married Maria L. Samuels, located in Brown township in 1840.  He became prominent among its best citizens.  He died Mar. 23, 1879. None of his children live in the township.

     JOHN HELSER purchased the farm he now occupies, in 1844.  His wife was Elizabeth Hendell.  Two of his sons live in the township; Levi W., who married Mary Brant, and Frank, whose wife was Mary Schofield.

     WILLIAM WINEGARDNER, and DANIEL and NATHAN WALKER settled in the township about the same period is the above, and now occupy a prominent place in the township.

     JOHN McCOY and wife, Elizabeth Bell, came from Harrison county, Ohio to Brown township in 1849.  He purchased a tract of wild land, consisting of five hundred acres in the southern portion of the township.  This is now occupied by his descendants.  He died in 1864, and his widow now resides in West Jefferson, Ohio.  The children were Jane (Mrs. Judge Clark), John, Colmore, Jacob, James, Alexander, William, Hannah (Mrs. B. Carson).

     CHARLES A. HOLMES came with his parents from New York to Kirtland, Lake county, Ohio, early in its settlement.  The Mormons became unpleasantly numerous, and in 1856 he sold and located in the eastern portion of Brown township, then all woods.  He married Mary J. Ferris, a native of Columbus.  Mr. Holmes died October
 

S. J. Woolley                   Fannie V. Woolley

     SOLOMON JACKSON WOOLLEY

     This gentleman, in some respects, one of the most remarkable characters in Franklin county, is a native of the Buckeye State, born near Zanesville, Muskingum county, on the twelfth day of January, 1828, the first son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Askins) Woolley, poor but very worthy people, to whom our hero owes many of his traits and much excellent early training.  Mr. Woolley describes his mother as "not an educated woman, but a woman of remarkable natural abilities."  On her father's side, she was of Holland descent, and her ancestors, including her father and grandfather, had been people of considerable substance of Amsterdam, where they carried on a large manufactory of silks, linens, etc.  Jacob Askins, her father, during a commercial voyage to England, some time in the last century, was overtaken by a terrible storm, which so disabled the vessel upon which he was a passenger that she drifted for several months at the mercy of the winds and waves, and was finally driven across the Atlantic, and cast a wreck upon the shores of Virginia, nearly all originally on board having perished.  Mr. Askins, then still a young man, was among the survivors, but was deterred by his dreadful experiences from again venturing upon the sea, and decided to settle in the new world, to which he had so strangely emigrated.  He settled in Loudoun county in the Old Dominion, married a Miss Shafer, and after some years, removed to Washington, Guernsey county, Ohio, where he reared his family, including Elizabeth, who was the mother of S. J. Woolley.  Mr. Woolley's ancestors on the father's side were English, but emigrated from the mother country long before the Revolutionary war, and were among the first settlers of New Jersey.  Jacob Woolley, his grandfather, removed to Athens county, Ohio, when that part of the State was almost an unbroken wilderness, and settled upon what is now called Jonathan's creek.  His son, Isaac, father of the subject of this sketch, was bred a stone cutter, and afterwards spent most of his time away from the paternal home, working at his trade.  After his first marriage, which was to a Miss Stokely, of Muskingum county, he settled on a place of his own near Zanesville, from which he removed, when Solomon was but one year old, to another, three miles from Amesville, in Ames township, Athens county, on a branch of Federal creek, where most of his family were reared.  But this marriage he had several sons, half-brothers of Solomon, who, in after years, generously remembered them, as will be presently and more fully recorded.  the mother died while they were young, and Mr. Woolley, in the year 1827, took Miss Elizabeth Askins to wife.  Several years afterwards, he sold the Athens county farm, and purchased another in Star township, Hocking county, where he resided for many years.  Solomon was still very young at the time of the removal, but rendered all the assistance he could in the labors of the farm, and in due time, as the half-brothers, one after another, grew to manhood and went away, he took upon himself its chief burdens, as his father was absent a large part of the time, pursuing his vocation of stone-cutter.  He found little time or opportunity for schooling nine months in all, or three terms of about three months each, in the primitive country schools of that day, comprising the whole of his formal education.  Until he was fourteen years of age, he had never had an hour's training in school.  About that time the people of the neighborhood spontaneously agreed that they ought to have a school-house, and forthwith set about the erection of a rude affair, which was ready for occupancy within a fortnight after the vote to build it was taken.  Mr. Woolley thus pleasantly describes this antique structure:

     The architecture of this school-house did not correspond with that of the present days.  It was made of round logs, with a clap-board roof, laid on loose, with weight-poles on top, to hold the clap-boards down; the floor was laid with what we called puncheons a free split in wide pieces, from two to eight inches thick, and hewn on one side; the chimney was made at one end, of stone, and we gathered up enough news papers to past over the windows, in place of glass; the paper, being oiled, transmitted a very mellow light.  Slabs, or boards, were fastened around the walls, for our writing desks, and pins upon the walls to hang our hats and dinners on.  Our seats were made of small trees, split in two with the split side dressed, and four pins, or legs, underneath, making each of the proper height for a seat."

     The schools kept in such buildings in those days were of the kind, long since passed away in this State, known as "subscription schools."  Miss Rebecca Prindle was the first teacher in this school, and so young Woolley's the preceptor, except his mother, from whom he had already received as he subsequently learned valuable instruction at home.  He was even now remarked as different from other young people of his age, preferring to associate with men rather than boys, and poring over his book at noon-time, during recesses, and in spare hours at home, rather than engage in play as the others did.  He learned rapidly within the limited round of studies to which his opportunities confined him, and has since considerably redeemed his early deficiencies by persistent and careful reading, and is now fairly accounted among well-disciplined and well informed men.
     When but sixteen years of age, young Woolley achieved a notable business and industrial triumph.  Through bad management his father's finances became involved, and he was compelled to borrow four hundred dollars at ten per cent interest, giving a mortgage upon his farm by way of security.  A year rolled speedily around, and nothing was realized toward the extinguishment of the debt.  It was considered in the neighborhood inevitable that the mortgagee would get the place by foreclosure.  At this crisis Solomon came to the rescue, and proposed that while his father should continue at his trade for the support of the family, he would undertake the sole charge of the farm (one hundred and sixty acres) in a vigorous effort to make enough to lift the mortgage.  It as agreed to.  Within eighteen months the full sum must be raised, and Solomon saw that with the best of management it was only possible to effect it by sowing most of the land to wheat, and that then with a good harvest and fair price, success was certain.  He had not only the entire responsibility to shoulder, but almost the entire labor to do, since his adult half brothers and now all gone from home, and his younger brothers were too small to be of much service.  He buckled fearlessly and stoutly, however, to his task.  Beginning his day of labor at four o'clock, he worked three hours until breakfast, and then with brief intermissions for dinner and supper, he he kept on until dark and on moonlight nights until far into the evening.  His faithful toil, though it brought him many hours of weariness and somewhat impaired his health, met with its reward.  It turned out to be "a good wheat year," and Solomon's crop - "good, well filled grains of a superior quality" - was the finest in that region.  Wheat, too, was higher than usual, and he sold for a good price.  Consequently, when the mortgage fell due, he had the proud satisfaction of releasing it in full, and presenting it to his lately burdened and anxious, but now overjoyed and grateful parents.
     His first commercial venture, however - an enterprise which was taken in hand as soon as the troubles and labors induced by the mortgage were well out of the way - was not so fortunate.  In the spring of 1845, he discovered an earthly substance upon his father's place, which turned red in course of burning or baking, and which, after sundry experiments, he concluded would be an acceptable substitute for Spanish brown or Venetian red.  As soon as his big wheat crop was disposed of, he set about the erection of a horse-mill for grinding the stuff, though he had not the slightest experience as a mill-wright, and in his effort incurred the risk of unlimited ridicule from his neighbors.  It was finished in about six months, and did run successfully, notwithstanding the unfavorable prophecies of his friends.  He prepared about twelve hundred pounds of the new "Spanish brown," and soon afterwards started with it on his first visit to a large city.  Taking a steamer at Pomeroy, he went to Cincinnati, and there made diligent and persistent attempts to sell the novel product.  The real article of commerce however was bringing but a small price, and all the dealers were fully stocked with it, so that he did not succeed in effecting a single sale, and finally left the whole for sale on commission with the firm of Springman & Son, form whom he does not appear ever to have received a single remittance on its account.  Young Woolley made no complaint, but returned quietly to is rural home, where he remained, the last of his regular residence beneath the old roof-tree, during the winter of 1845-6.
     The next spring, at his own solicitation, he went to Chauncey to learn the trade of cabinet-making, but left it shortly for the purpose of enlisting among the volunteers in the Mexican war.  Visiting home, however, before enlistment, he there met with so much opposition that he changed his plans, and went to work for two months with Mr. H. Kanode at Logan, Hocking county.  He then served Mr. Alvin Finney as a laborer for a month, when he went to Chillicothe, and obtained employment in a slaughter-house for a short time.  He had now got about twenty dollars ahead, and determined to embark in book-agency.  Arranging with a Hartford (Connecticut0 firm, the publishers of a "History of the United States," for a supply of books, he went to Cincinnati to procure the first lot shipped to him, and returning to Pomeroy, at once began his journey from house to house, in the effort to sell his wares.  It was disheartening work at first, and several days elapsed before a single sale was made.  Meanwhile he had visited home, and in the neighborhood, by giving adequate security - for such was the general want of confidence in his success as a book-canvasser, notwithstanding his financial victory on the farm the year before, that he could get nothing "on time" without giving security - he purchased, on credit, a cheap old horse and the wood-works of a buggy, which he rigged up for his business, and started out again.  He soon began to make sales, and rapidly reaped a tolerable harvest, selling over one hundred and fifty books in a comparatively short time.  He remained at this work until the fall of 1848, traversing parts of Ohio and Virginia, and then intended to launch out more extensively into the business, but was forestalled by a Columbus firm, which secured the general agency for his book for all the western country, and effectually shut him out of the canvass.
     Mr. Woolley now retired, temporarily, from the book business, but in no way discouraged by his various reverses and checks, he determined to make a bold push for the great metropolis of the country, the city of New York, to see what opportunities it had to offer in the way of business.  At Kingston in Ross county, he engaged to accompany a party going with a drove of horses to that city, taking his own horse with the lot.  They started about the first of March, 1849.  It proved a singularly interesting and eventful journey to the youthful adventurer.  He records, with enthusiastic delight, his observations of scenery, especially in the region traversed by the Alleghenies, of the towns and farming country passed through on their slow journey to the seaboard, which was reached in about six weeks.  After staying at Chatham near New York, ten days, to put the horses in suitable order for market, they were sold, and among them the horse owned by young Woolley, for which he realized seventy-five dollars.  He did not engage in any employment in the city, but, after investing most of his means in a lot of brass clocks and some more books, the former of which he had shipped to Fort Wayne, Indiana and the books to Logan, Ohio, he embarked on the river Hudson for Albany.  On the way thither, late at night, the "Empire," the steamboat on which he had taken passage, came in collision with a schooner heavily loaded with lumber, in Newburg bay, and sank with considerable loss of life.  Mr. Woolley had not yet retired at the time of the collision, and with some difficulty made his escape to the schooner, losing all his clothing, except what he had on, but thankful to escape with life, especially when compelled to view the heart-rending scene of terror, panic and drowning that speedily succeeded upon and near the "Empire."  Albany was reached in safety upon another steamer the next morning, where cars were taken for Buffalo, and there he took passage on the steamer "Baltic" for Cleveland, en-route home.  Upon this vessel he was destined to meet with another thrilling adventure.  When about twelve miles out, the "Baltic" collided with a propeller, which did considerable damage, and led the captain of the former to return to Buffalo.  An inspection of the injury, the next morning, however, resulted in a decision that the vessel might safely proceed on her voyage.  She again put to sea, and Cleveland was reached without further incident.  Mr. Woolley proceeded thence homeward on stage, receiving generous aid and hospitality, after his money was exhausted, from Judge Robison and other friends at Wooster.
     After resting a few days at home, Mr. Woolley started for Fort Wayne, to sell his clocks. It was now the middle of August; the wheat crop of the year had failed, and the cholera had broken out in many places.  It was, apparently, a very unfavorable season for such operations as his; and the clock peddlars, with which the neighborhood of Fort Wayne was then overrun, had already made an unlucky and discouraging canvass of the whole region.  But the young speculator was not daunted, and, setting vigorously and intelligently to work, his clocks and books were soon all disposed of, in and about the localities to which they had respectively been consigned.  Returning in November, he was able to make an investment in land to the amount of one hundred and eighty acres, in the same township where his family resided.  He realized at least one thousand dollars from this one operation.  He afterwards made a present of eighty acres from it to Isaac Casey, his half brother.
     He now, in the latter part of 1849, at the instance of a friend, Dr. T. P. Jackson, turned his attention to the then comparatively new business of taking portraits by the daguerreotype process.  Early in this next year, with an apparatus and stock, purchased in Cincinnati, and only four days' instruction, received from Mr. V. L. Richardson, a Zanesville artist, at an expense of as many dollars, he embarked in this business, to which much of his future life was faithfully and successfully devoted.  His beginnings were very small, however.  At New Plymouth, his first point, he took no pictures for a week, but had more encouragement the second week, and then moved on to McArthurstown, where he seems to have become disheartened at his poor success, both in getting orders and in managing his chemicals so as to take good portraits, and sold his apparatus to one G. W. Pitcher.  A siege with the chills and fever followed, which lasted about three months.  Procuring a larger apparatus than before, Mr. Woolley started out again, and operated, with varying success, at Logan and Amesville, where he again sold out.  Purchasing another outfit in Cincinnati, he took it to Virginia (that part of it now West Virginia), where he visited Parkersburgh, Harrisville, Point Pleasant, Buffalo and Ripley, making some progress, but not yet doing very well.  It was now January, 1857, and most of this year was spent in another Ohio tour.  The next year he took his apparatus and stock down the Ohio river, landed at Henderson, Kentucky, and remained there and at other points in that State for several months.  At Madisonville, the county seat of Hopkins county, he saw, for the first time, a slave sold, a young negro girl being struck off at auction by the sheriff.  Another place of interest visited was Russellville, the birthplace of the notorious forger, Monroe Edwards.  From Kentucky, Mr. Woolley pushed into Tennessee, visiting Nashville, Franklin, Lebanon, Gallatin, and Memphis.  At the latter place he took passage on the steamer "Charleston," for New Orleans, where he embarked upon a gulf steamer for Franklin, in the Attakapas country.  In this place he stayed but nine days, returning to New Orleans by way of the Bayou Plaquemine, and thence going o Bayou Sara, where, and at St. Francisville, Morganza, and other places in Northern Louisiana, he operated successfully during the early part of 1853.  On the sixteenth of April, at Springville, Louisiana, he was initiated into the mysteries of the Sons of Temperance.  He returned to New Orleans the latter part of the month, and there re-embarked for Cincinnati, and the dear old home in Hocking county.  A few weeks were passed pleasantly here, and, on Independence day, 1853, he started for New York, to revisit that city and see the World's fair, then being held in the well-remembered Crystal Palace, in the upper part of the city.  During this visit he purchased a new instrument for daguerreotyping, and several hundred dollars' worth of stock, and returned, as from his former eastern trip, by way of Albany, Buffalo, and Cleveland, but without the perils of the trip of four years previous.  He set up his new apparatus at home, and took a large number of portraits, and also operated with much success at Athens and Pomeroy.  At the latter place he dropped daguerreotyping for a time, and entered upon a new and bold undertaking.   Purchasing a flatboat and its load of sash for one thousand and forty-one dollars, he embarked with it, in person, down the river, having, also, two families, a small party of emigrants, on board.  Dropping slowly down the Ohio and Mississippi, at times leaving the frail and uncomfortable vessel and going on to some important point in a steamer, he arrived, with his animate and inanimate cargo, after many adventures and dangers, and a thoroughly disagreeable voyage in general, at Memphis.  He found that he could sell none of his sash here at a profit, but, nevertheless, disposed of a small amount at this place, and, presently, of a much larger quantity at Vicksburgh.  At the latter point he sold the flatboat to the heads of the families on board.
     His total loss by this venture was about eight hundred dollars, but he considered it a decided advantage to him in the long run.  From Vicksburgh, he went to Bayou Sara again, to begin another tour of business as a daguerrean artist.  He operated in a number of towns in this region, and on the twenty-fourth of June reached his first point in Texas, at the pleasant town of Marshall.  He remained here over a month, and thence proceeded to what eventually became an extensive tour of the State, which he found remarkably profitable, and by which he far more than redeemed his recent losses.  At Jefferson he sold his apparatus to a Mrs. Hargrave, and then traveled, by stage, to  Shreveport, where he awaited the arrival of another instrument from New York.  Re-entering Texas, he made another tour of travel and business in the State during 1855 and a part of 1856, visiting a large number of important towns, and everywhere observing men and things with his characteristic shrewdness and care.  About the middle of the latter year, he returned to his father's home, now removed to a farm, fifteen miles northwest of Columbus.  In August, he health having been impaired by his long and arduous labors in a southern climate, he went to New York city, to reside for a time at Dr. Taylor's water-cure establishment, where he soon reaped decided benefit.  He had now accumulated about seven thousand dollars as the gains of honest industry; but aspiring to still higher rank in the profession, he took the opportunity of his short residence in New York city to learn the art of taking portraits on paper and glass, with the then celebrated firm of Meade Brothers.  Upon his return, he opened a photograph gallery in Columbus, and continued in business there for several months.  In October, 1857, he lost, by consumption, his own and only brother, to whom he was very greatly attached.  The next month he bought a tract of seven hundred acres of land in Brown township, Franklin county, about three miles from the present Hilliard's station, on the Columbus, Cincinnati & Indiana Central railway, the same which he has since developed into the beautiful and very valuable "Appledale farm."  During this year he took another professional tour through Ohio, and made a second visit to Kentucky, during which, at the State fair, in Henderson, his photographic work was honored with the first premium offered by the society.  In December, he revisited Louisiana, and operated there, and in Texas, until the last of June, 1858, when he returned to Columbus, and spent some time and money in improving his new place near Hilliard's.  In November, he again went south, and at Pattersonville, Louisiana, formed a partnership with a Dr. Cissna, and with him built a floating gallery, for business along the rivers and lakes of that region.  This arrangement was dissolved the next June, and Mr. Woolley spent the rest of the summer in Ohio a part of it with the erection of a handsome marble monument over the remains of his brother.  In the fall of this year (1839), he made more ample preparations for business, by the engagement of Mr. Asa Bushby, a landscape and portrait painter of some note, to travel with him, color pictures, and perform such other duties as his special talents and training fitted him for.  With him another and final southern trip was projected, and the pair arrived at Alexandria, Louisiana, on the twenty-sixth of December, where they remained two months, and afterwards visited one or two points in Texas, when Mr. Bushby, disgusted with southern experiences, although they paid well, withdrew and returned to his home in Massachusetts.  Mr. Woolley continued the tour in the Lone Star State, with greater success than ever, making in a single month, at Bonham, for example, nearly six hundred dollars net profit.  This trip kept him away from home for many months, being the longest absence he had had; and he did not come north until after the great drama of the Rebellion had opened, when he took passage on the "Grey Eagle," the last boat which was allowed by the rebels to leave New Orleans for the north, and reached Columbus in safety, about the first of June.  By this one trip, extending over something less than two years, he had netted about five thousand dollars.
     His traveling business, now for a time over, Mr. Woolley settled down to the improvement of his large tract in Franklin county.  It had originally been exceedingly swampy and rough - apparently about the most hopeless piece of landed property in that part of the country; and the neighbors scouted the idea of his being able to make any thing of it.  They expected to see him "pour money down a rat hole,' and prophesied that he would sink his entire fortune amid its bogs.  He set resolutely to work, however, clearing, draining, planting an orchard, etc., until, by successive improvements from year to year, he has made this once forbidding tract one of the most productive and valuable farming properties in Ohio.  Early realizing that an immense amount of drainage must be done, he purchased and set up a tile-mill on his own premises, which has been sufficient to equip fifteen or sixteen miles of tile-drain on his farm, as well as to fill numerous orders for his neighbors.  His success in the reclamation of this unpromising purchase (made from Mr. M. L. Sullivant, the great Illinois farmer, at fifteen dollars per acre), is one of the most noteworthy features of his career, and has, of itself, sufficed to make his name known far and wide.
     In 1862 Mr. Woolley determined to do something of his old work inside the army lines.  Proceeding to Fayetteville, Virginia,  he opened a gallery in such rooms as were to be had.  the provost marshal here at this time was Cool. R. B. Hayes, now president of the United States, from whom Mr. Woolley received sundry favors.  Driven from house to house, however by the necessities of military occupation, he was finally forced to fit up a cow shed for his artistic operations.  He remained here through the winter and most of the spring, leaving on the fifteeth fifteenth of May for home.  He now had his aged and infirm parents removed to his own farm, near Hilliard's where they died in due course of nature, and were remembered by their son, by way of external honor, in the erection of a noble monument, of Scotch grey stone, standing sixteen feet high, and built at a cost of eight hundred dollars.  He afterwards operated inside the army lines, at Corinth, Mississippi, having now a photographic tent of his own, one hundred by twenty-five feet in size, the largest of the kind then used anywhere with the army.  He was here during the battle of Corinth, Oct. 3, 1862, in which he lost a nephew, killed in the ranks, whose remains he had decently buried in the cemetery at that place.  His health was very poor while here, and he was unable to work more than half the time; yet, by careful superintendence of four picture-rooms which he had established in and about Corinth, he cleared over three thousand dollars in this one venture.  In 1863 he operated at Memphis and other points; but was compelled,  by the state of his health, to spend part of this and several after years at the water-cure, in New York city, before mentioned.  While on his way to Little Rock, Arkansas, in the fall of the year, he had a narrow escape

from capture by the rebels - a large steamer, in full sight of that upon which he was, being taken and destroyed by them.  At this place he remained until May, 1864, and cleared four thousand dollars.  During he following summer, at the request of his fellow-townsmen and on the commission of the governor, he undertook a recruiting expedition among the negroes at the south, to raise men to fill the quota of Brown township.  He visited many points in Tennessee and Alabama for this purpose; but the field had been too persistently and diligently gleaned, and he returned without success, but generously bearing all his own expenses, and returning every penny of the three thousand seven hundred dollars raised in the township for the procurement of recruits.
     His career in the portrait business was now ended, as he supposed, and he was to give thenceforth his entire time and attention to the development of his home property.  In the fall of 1867, however, his health compelled him to go to Dr. Trall’s water-cure, at St. Anthony, Minnesota, to spend the winter.  He took his photographic apparatus along and opened a room in that place, where it was destroyed by fire shortly aftewards afterwards.  Much sympathy was expressed for him at Dr. Trall’s, and offers of pecuniary aid were made, which he, of course, declined, and returned to his home the March following.  His life since has been comparatively uneventful.  Although an ardent and unswerving Republican since the birth of the party he has declined to go actively into politics, and has invariably refused office, although frequently tendered him, except once, when he accepted a petty township office rather than pay the penalty with which he was threatened; and he has also filled some school offices in his township.  He has not spent much time upon secret societies, but was made a Free and Accepted mason in 1857, at Logan, Hocking county; and is the original granger of Franklin county, having been instumental instrumental in securing the organization of the first grange of the Patrons of Husbandry within its borders.  In religion he has long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is fairly orthodox in his views, yet an independent thinker, with broad sympathies and liberal tendencies.  He is a vegetarian in his dietetic belief; but is by no means rigid or troublesome in the application of his principles, at the home table or elsewhere.  His feelings are strongly with any society for the prevention of cruelty to animals.  While still a boy, he notes the killing by his shot of one of the deer that abounded in the forest adjoining his early home; but declares that “the poor thing made such a pitiful crying that I could never be induced to shoot at another.”  He would not rob or tear up a bird’s nest, or allow other boys to touch one.  Some humane views of his on this subject of killing birds, communicated to the Ohio Farmer a number of years ago, were very kindly received and led to his engagement as regular correspondent of that paper - an arrangement which was maintained with mutual satisfaction for six or seven years.  He has also written much, mainly agricultural topics, for the National Agriculturist; the American Patron; the Western Rural, of Chicago; the Dirigo Rural, of Bangor, Maine; the Western Patron, of Findlay, Ohio; the Southern Agriculturist, of Columbia, South Carolina; the Germantown  ( Pennsylvania) Telegraph; the Ohio State Journal, of Columbus; and the Drainage and Farm Journal, of Indianapolis, Indiana.  to the topic largely treated by the last named, as indicated by its title, he has given especial attention; and his writings thereon, growing as they do out of his large practical experience, have especial value.  One communication of his, traversing an opinion expressed by the Drainage and Farm Journal, converted the editor of that magazine, and brough_ it into harmony with Mr. Woolley's views.  In 1878, an essay upon drainage, prepared by him, took the prise of twenty-five dollars, offered by the State board of agriculture, for the best paper upon this theme; and it will be found printed in full in the report of the Board for that year.  His writings, although devoid of rhetorical effect and making no attempt at exhibition of scholarship, have proved thoroughly acceptable and useful to sensible, practical men.
     Of late years, Mr. Woolley has given much attention to the growth of Devon cattle and Southdown sheep, from the sale of which he has realized large sums.  About the only designation in the way of business which he himself, as indicated by the return-card upon his envelopes, is "Proprietor of the Appledale Herd of Devon Cattle."  With his vegetarian proclivities, he would not be likely to neglect  fruit-raising; an the orchard which was among his first improvements nearly twenty years ago, with subsequent additions, is now in fine bearing condition, and is a very valuable feature of the property.  It comprises about forty acres, mainly set to apples and pears, producing, of the former alone, about four hundred bushels last year.
     Mr. Woolley is a quite, self-contained man, not familiar in his manners, nor easy in the formation of acquaintances; yet he is thoroughly faithful and tenacious in his friendships.  His retiring nature is not the result of timidity or lack of nerve, as his long and courageous battle with the fiickle Dame Fortune would indicate, as also the following incident: About two years ago, while engaged in cider-making, the end of a forefinger was unluckily smashed.  It needing immediate attention, as he thought, and disdaining to await the services of a physician, he had his pocket-knife taken out and opened by a friend, and then coolly and deliberately amputated his finger at the first joint.  It healed up without difficulty, "at the first intention," and presents a more sightly appearance than most of the fingers which the doctors amputate.
     His practical benevolence to his relatives is also well worth a note.  the gift of an eighty-acres farm to a half brother has already been recorded.  To another he presented a farm in Union county, of one hundred acres, worth four thousand dollars; and to a brother-in-law he gave another farm in the same county, of sixty acres, held at three thousand dollars.  In the later years of his parents he also voluntarily relinquished a mortgage which he had taken on their farm, to save it from falling into the hands of designing men, and handed the place over to them unincumbered.

     In response to the great desire of his many friends in Ohio and elsewhere, Mr. Woolley is now engaged in writing am autobiography.  It is almost finished, and promises to be a volume of great interest, not only to those with whom his own life has come in contact, but to those who desire to see the record of a life devoted to the honest pursuit of life's great ends and works, and all beautiful with generosity, kindness, and truth.
     Mr. Woolley was united in the holy bonds of matrimony Aug. 30, 1869, to Miss Fannie Virginia Cromwell, also of Franklin county, by the Rev. Daniel Horlocker, at the residence of the latter, near Groveport.  In August and September, 1876, they took a  pleasant trip to the Centennial exposition at Philadelphia, visiting on their way Harper's Ferry, Valley Forge, Mount Vernon, and other interesting historic points.  In their pleasant home at "Appledale," enjoying the fruits of their labor, and with the promise of a serene and sunny course and ending of life, we now bid them farewell.

Appledale - Devon - Stock - Farm       Res. of S. L. Woolley

Appledale Tile Works, S. J. Woolley, Prop'r. Brown Tp., Franklin Co., Ohio

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4, 1874.  The children were Nancy M. (deceased), Anna E. (Mrs. James Vanschoyck), and Wilbur C., who lives on the home farm.

PHYSICIANS.

     The first doctor, to permanently locate in Brown township, was John Rathbun, in1839.  Dr. Rathbun was a skilful practitioner, and a valued member of the community.  His practice was extensive and lucrative.  At this time but one physician resides in the township, D. H. Welling, who is a graduate of the Eclectic college at Cincinnati, in the class of 1876 and 1877.  Dr. Welling is spoken of as devoted to the profession of his choice, and a rising practitioner.

INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS

     Under the head the writer finds little to record, as Brown is exclusively an agricultural township.  In 1837 Isaac Hayden erected a saw mill on Big Darby creek, the first in the township, not a vestage of which now remains.  Numerous steam saw-mills have had an existence in the township; they were of the portable variety.  The only manufacturing establishment now in this township is the tile and brick works, which were established by S. J. Woolley, some fourteen years since.  The location is on the Hilliard pike, in the northwest part of the township.  Mr. Woolley does a large business; employing twelve men, and having invested, in real estate, buildings, etc., ten thousand dollars.  His sales for 1878, aggregated for thousand dollars.  Mr. Woolley is among the prominent farmers in the township; his farm comprising six hundred acres of land, forty of which is in orcharding.  He also pays considerable attention to the breeding of Devon cattle.

EARLY EVENTS.

     The first frame house in the township was built by Henry Alder, in1834.  It is now occupied by a son, Henry C.  The second frame house was built by Dr. Ruthbun, in 1841.  This is still occupied by his widow, who settled here in 1819.  Henry Francis erected the first brick house in the township, and is still a  resident therein.  A private post-office was established here in July, 1848, and called "Darby."  Joseph O'Harra was the first postmaster, though not commissioned.  The office was, after a few years, abandoned, and none now exists in the township.  The first store in the township was opened by Sylvester Brown, many years since.

ORGANIZATION.

     The territory, as at present embraced within the boundaries of Brown township, was formerly a part of the townships of Norwich, Prairie, and Washington.  It was erected a separate township in the spring of 1830, but o records are now extant showing who were the township offices elected on organization.  The present (1879) officers are: R. K. Reese, Cornelius Beyer, and Levi W. Helser, trustees; Samuel Patterson, clerk; Samuel Francis, treasurer; Samuel Patterson, clerk; Samuel Francis, treasurer; Uri Beach, assessor; Lemuel Rathbun and A. J. Carter, constables, and twelve supervisors.  Following is a list of the justices of the peace for Brown township, from its organization until the present time:  Jacob S. Rogers, James Layton, John D. Acton, Paul Alder, Joseph O'Harra, William Walker; Henry Francis, James Huggett, Chauncey Beach, N. E. Ferris, John Kilgore, George M. Clover, Richard Jones, Robert Bynner, and the present incumbents, Henry C. Alder and Robert K. Reece, who were elected to the position at the spring election of 1879.

CHURCHES.

METHODIST CHURCH.

     The first christian organization in Brown township was that known as the McCoy Methodist Episcopal church, in the south part of the township.  This grew to be a flourishing church, and, in time, a comfortable frame meetinghouse was erected.  This church has ceased to exist, and the building has been converted into a barn.

WESLH WELSH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

     This is now the only christian organization in the township.  The eastern portion of the township is largely settled by people of this nationality.  The writer is indebted to John Lloyd, esq., for the data from which the following sketch is prepared.  As early as the year 1845, services were held in a little log school-house, standing near the present church edifice, and during the same year an organization was effected.  It was composed of the following members: John E. Rowland and wife, Francis Jones and wife, John Bibb and wife, and, possibly, two or three others.  Services were held in the schoolhouse until about 1860, when the present brick meetinghouse was erected.  Its cost was about eight hundred dollars.  The trustees were: John Lloyd, Francis Jones, and Robert Bynner.  A Sabbath-school was formed here, many years since, and has continued, with varying success, until the present time.  The average attendance is small now, perhaps thirty.  This is mainly due to the formation of a school in Norwich township, easier of access.  Thomas W. Jones, is the present superintendent.  The preachers of the Congregation faith who have, from time to time, spoken to this people, are:  First, Rev. Dr. Hoge, of Franklinton, and, later, of Columbus, the pioneer of this denomination in Franklin county; following him - Revs. Seth Howells, David M. Evans, John H. Jones, Reese Powell, John Jones, James Davis, and Evan Jones.  The church has no regular pastor at this time.  The present deacons are: Francis Jones and Edward Evans.

SCHOOLS.

     The first school remembered was held during the winter of 1820, in a little log cabin standing on the farm of Adam Blount.  The teacher was Marantha Adams, and the children comprising the school were mainly of the families of Blount, Patterson, Hayden and Belchy.  The pioneer school-house was erected on the farm of James O'Harra.  Some years later, it was a small affair.  The Welsh church.  The man named Lynn taught a term of school in this building the subsequent winter.  The school was made up from the families of Jones, Huggett, Evans, Roberts, Samuels, Bynner, Richards, Riggs, Rogers, Morris, Wilcox, Clover, Marshall, and a few

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others, all first settlers in this portion of the township.  In, perhaps, the year 1847, a number of colored people formed an association for the advancement of the cause of education for the children of their race.  A tract of land was purchased in Brown township, buildings erected, and a school formed.  It was finally abandoned, but the writer is not conversant with the causes which produced this result.  Nothing is now left to mark the location of this institution.  The present township board of education are:  Willson Reece, president; Samuel Patterson, clerk; Thomas Jones, John Major, F. E. Linn, H. C. Alder, and Benjamin Davis.

ANCIENT REMAINS.

     Along Big Darby creek, in the western part of Brown township, there existed, in the early settlement, many evidences of that mysterious people of whom so much has been written, and so little known - the Mound Builders.  On the farm of Henry Francis there is yet remaining quite an extensive mound, and toward the creek were numerous others, which have now disappeared.  These were evidently tumuli, or burial places, as many human bones were found during the excavation of these works. There was also an enclosure, or fort, on the farm of H. C. Alder, esq., with two circles, enclosing perhaps, one-half acre of ground.  Its location was upon the high bank of the creek, toward which was the usual opening, found in works of this kind.  It was composed of gravel, which has been removed for building and other purposes.  Human bones were also found here.  It is highly probable that this was a favorite camping ground for the Indians, as stone hatchets, arrow points, skinning knives, etc., were found in great number by the settlers.  Mr. Francis has a number of fine specimens found here.

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