[1] Following the war he spent some time in New York and while there he saw the potential of using vulcanized rubber to set up letter molds.

Eventually he was able to succeed with the help of his uncle, Urial D. Woodruff, who was familiar with the vulcanizers through his work as a dentist.

[2] He subsequently moved to Indianapolis where he proposed to the city council to install a system of water works.

[3] After completion of the water works he purchased 77 acres of land and started the development of Woodruff Place, on of the first suburbs on Indianapolis which he envisioned as an exclusive suburban town.

It was originally scheduled as a two year voyage departing in October 1877 with John W. Philip as the commanding officer, Daniel McCauley as Secretary and with a number of notable professors acting as academic faculty including W.L.B.