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Samuel C. Woodruff, Jr. was born in Hong Kong Sept. 28, 1858 while his father was the surveyor of the Port of Shanghai. At 6 years old, Woodruff came with his family to settle in Olympia within the Washington Territory. His early career included printing press operator and book vendor. He later became an accountant at, and eventually a secretary to the trustees of the State Insane Asylum, now commonly known as Western State Hospital. In 1889, Woodruff returned to Olympia and purchased land on Olympia's westside from Edwin Marsh. This land, known as Woodruff's Addition, was platted and sold except for Woodruff's donation of one city block to the city, which built Woodruff Park. Woodruff engaged in several other real estate projects including Woodruff's Block in downtown Olympia, as well as platting the town of Gate, Washington.<ref name="auto"/>
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