Galloway is a small unincorporated village located just southwest of Columbus and still in Franklin County. Officially residents of Galloway live in Prairie Township. The land was originally owned by a Revolutionary War veteran, but like many veterans who were given land in Ohio, he sold his claim to others rather than risk life and limb by settling the land. Eventually, the land was purchased by Samuel Galloway and when the train line decided to make tracks through their community, the place was named after Galloway, although ne never lived here either.
The village prospered for many years until the railroads decided to eliminate the community as a stop.
Samuel Galloway was born in Pennsylvania, but moved to Ohio when he was 19 years old. He graduated from Miami University in Oxford and later taught school in Hamilton Ohio. During the Civil War Galloway was appointed judge advocated of Camp Chase by Abraham Lincoln and after the war, he was appointed by President Andrew Johnson to investigate conditions in the south during the infamous Reconstruction. Galloway died in Columbus in 1872 just about the time the new Columbus, Springfield and Cincinnati Railroad Company was laying track through Prairie Township. So in honor of his service and the fact that he owned the land where a little village was coalescing the village elders decided to call their community Galloway Station.
The town of Galloway grew up around the Columbus, Springfield and Cincinnati Railroad Company that had a station here. That railroad was incorporated in 1869 and began operating in the 1870s. An interurban that connected Columbus with Troy also ran through Galloway but it was a one way trip to Troy.
One of the areas best watering holes is the Galloway Tavern. This is one of those historical buildings that dates back more than a few years and has all the charm you might expect in a bar that used to be a General Store
Perhaps one of the most notable central Ohio residents, John W. Galbreath, a real estate developer and philanthropist, established a large farm in Galloway known nationally as Darby Dan Farm. The farm was named for Darby Creek which runs through his property and his son Dan Galbreath. Darby Dan Farm had numerous race horses, two of which won the Kentucky Derby.
One of the more unusual museums in the state is the Trap History Museum that was once featured on CBS' Sunday Morning Show. This museum contains a vast array of more than 4,000 traps used by trappers and homeowners. The collection includes both European and American traps of all kinds from the humble mouse trap to the more threatening bear traps. The museum is open to the public, but according to the owner, the hours are flexible and visitors should call prior to visiting (614-878-6011),
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