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It is for the most part rather level, yet sufficient elevations and depressons to afford excellent facilities for underdraining, which has of late years received no small amount of attention, and now there are several thousand rods of tile buried beneath the surface of what was once a non-productive region, covered with stagnant water, producing much fever and ague. Through the medium of the underdraining, the citizens of Jefferson Township have rendered it a fine and productive farming country. The northern portion of the township is level, but as it nears the central part it becomes more rolling, and finally empties the water from the flats into Little Darby, which stream has a few very abrupt and picturesque spots along its banks. The southern portion slopes toward the south and east, emptying its waste waters into the last-mentioned stream.
The territory in question was composed of oak openings and prairie. The soil is of a deep clay loam, capable of the highest fertility, and produces fine crops of corn, wheat, oats and grass. Wool is a staple product of the township, together with cattle, horses, sheep and hogs. Special attention is given to the raising of cattle and wool-growing. The timber of the township, of any value, mainly consists of oak, hickory and elm, whilst other varieties exist, as sycamore and such timber as is often found along streams, and of comparative little value, but not much of the more highly valued timber, such as walnut and poplar with its spreading branches, shaded the surface of Jefferson Township. The township is watered by Big Darby on its eastern boundary, and Little Darby through the center, and their small tributaries, the largest being Price's Run.
Along the aforesaid stream are numerous springs of excellent water, some of which possess mineral substances. Little Darby, the principal stream traversing the township, enters the territory about half a mile north of the Urbana pike, and with its irregular course to the southeast makes a total distance within her limits of about ten miles, passing out of the township southeast of the village of Jefferson, and one mile and a half south of the National road.