thought to be the wealthiest man in the county. Many are curious to know how it was possible for him to acquire so fine a competency under such adverse circumstances. His answer to the question is, "By the rigid practice of industry, economy, promptness and the avoidance of debt," and we might add, shrewd management and a desire to excel. Mr. Large is quiet and reserved in manner, and possessed of no distinguishing characteristics, exceptexcepting his financial ability and his extraordinary mathematical acquirements; his gift in this respect is wonderful, and like that of Pascal and Colburn, is a God given faculty, as his education was almost wholly confined to that school in which the teachers are observation and experience.

In politics he is a Republican; in religion a Methodist, although not a member of any church. He is classed among the foremost men of the county in wealth, brains and intelligence.

Mr. Large was married early in life to Miss Maria, daughter of Edward Cleary. She was born in King's County, Ireland, in 1823 She has been to Mr. Large a help meet in all that the word implies. They have had nine children: Mary A. (McClintock), John, Sarah J. and Emma (died in infancy), Eliza II., Clara I. (Guiler), George E., Emma J. and Joseph H.

HON. L. W. FINLEY, one of the prominent agriculturists and representative men of the county, was born near the village of Mt. Ephraim,

Noble County, Ohio, March 11, 1844. Like most other farmer boys of that day, his opportunities for education were quite limited. He succeeded, however, in obtaining a good English education, and at the age of eighteen commenced life as a teacher. Soon after he enlisted as a private soldier in the Eighty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into the United States service with the regiment, which for the greater portion of the time was stationed at Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio. The last year of the war he was detailed as clerk at the headquarters of the northern department, commanded by Generals Hooker and Heintzlemein. He remained in the service until the close of the war, when he resumed his former vocation. In 1867 he began merchandising in Sarahsville, which he followed successfully for six years, when, in consequence of failing health, he sold out his stock and engaged in farming in Center Township, where he remained until the purchase of the farm on which he now resides, in Marion Township, to which he removed in 1880. Mr. Finley has been quite prominently identified with State and county politics. In 1876 he received the nomination for auditor of the county on the Democratic ticket, but the county being largely Republican, he was defeated by J. F. Knouff.

In 1883 he was again complimented by a nomination for representative, and was elected by a handsome majority over one of the strongest men in the Republican ranks. In the legislature Mr. Finley made an

enviable record, and in 1885 was renominated, but the question of the election of a United States senator being prominent in the canvass, and the Republicans having a majority of about three hundred, he was defeated by Hon. T. C. Williams by a small majority. While a member of the legislature he framed several import ant measures; notably among the number were two affecting railway corporations, one an amendment of the law governing liens, the other a law compelling railroads to use "spark arresters" to prevent fires along their lines. But perhaps the most valuable bill introduced by Mr. Finley was one providing for the clothing of the indigent poor in the various eleemosynary and penal insti

tutions of the State, which passed both houses with but little opposition. While comparatively a young man, but few gentlemen in the county have a larger personal following, or wield a stronger influence in matters of public import. He is possessed of marked social qualities, which, with an unexceptional recorl as a business man and politician, gives him a conspicuous place among the best citizens of the county.

In November of 1866 Mr. Finley was married to Miss Jane, daughter of Hon. William J. Young, whose biography will be found in the chapter devoted to Center Township. The union has been blessed with six children, three boys and three girls, all of whom are living but one.

ORGANIZATION

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BOUNDARIES

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original townships of Morgan County, organized in 1819. The commissioners of Noble County, May 1, 1851, altered its boundaries, making them as follows:

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Commencing at the southeast corner of section 35 in township number 7, of range 10; thence north along the section line to the northeast corner of section 2, in said township and range; thence west along said township line to the northwest corner thereof; thence south along said township line to the southwest corner thereof; thence east along said township line to the place of beginning containing thirty sections."

When organized in 1819, Brookfield was a full township, containing thirty-six sections. A row of sections on the east are now included in Noble Township.

With the exception of the Dyes and a few other families from Pennsylvania and Virginia, nearly all the pioneers of the township were New

sachusetts, and a large number from Worcester County. They were intelligent, thrifty citizens, friends of churches and schools, and were generally permanent settlers. Their posterity have inherited their characteristics, and the well-improved farms and high moral tone of the people generally, shows that the inhabitants of the township are worthy sons of their worthy sires.

Probably no township in the county has had a more permanent population than Brookfield. The greater portion of the farms are still in the possession of the descendants of the original settlers.

The earliest route of travel through the township was the so-called Federal trail, said to have been made by a portion of St. Clair's army, who were unable to obtain boats for transportation to Fort Washington. The trail began at Grave Creek, on the Ohio River, and running westward crossed Dye's Fork of Meigs Creek,