The Wolfe Families of Knox County, Ohio

ALBERT I. WOLFE.

Albert I. Wolfe, proprietor of the Danville Bank, of Danville, Knox county, Ohio, is a native of this county and a worthy representative of one of its sterling pioneer families, having been born on the old homestead farm, in Butler township, on the nth of June, 1858. His paternal grandfather, Peter Wolfe, was a native of the Keystone state, was of German descent and became one of the early settlers of Butler township, Knox county, Ohio, the land on which he originally located, in the early pioneer epoch, being still in possession of the family. His first residence was a primitive log cabin, in which he and his family made their home for a number of years. He married Nancy Richmond and they made their home in that section of Virginia which is now West Wirginia until the year 1814, when Mr. Wolfe came to Knox county, taking up a tract of government land, clearing a field and putting in com, while he also erected his little cabin which was to serve as the family home. He returned to West Virginia at the expiration of six months and on his return to the frontier home in Ohio was accompanied by his wife and seven children. At this period there were neither churches nor school houses in this locality, and the settlers were few and far between. Four children were born to this honored pioneer couple after their removal to Ohio, and of the eleven children all but one were reared to years of maturity, all being familiar with the incidents, privations and hardships which attended life on the frontier and each contributing a due quota to the work of development and progress. The sons assisted in the construction of roads through the forest wilds and in the reclamation of the homestead farm, while in the early days the corn raised was utilized for food by being pounded into hominy, there having been no mills accessible; and in securing the necessary supply of salt and other provisions it was necessary to go to Zanesville, a distance of thirty-six miles, a road being blazed through the dense forest, requiring no little engineering skill and implying herculean labor. In the present day, with the wonderful facilities available, it is hard to realize the conditions which existed in the pioneer days and to have a full comprehension of the arduous labors, courage and self-denial of those noble men and women who laid the foundations of our great and prosperous commonwealth.

Isaac Wolfe, the father of our subject, was the eighth child in the family and was born in Butler township, this county, on the 1 8th of July, 1 81 6, being reared to the sturdy discipline of the pioneer farm and receiving such educational advantages as were afforded in the district schools of the place and period. The other children established homes of their own, all, save one of the sons, devoting their attention to agricultural pursuits and all being worthy of the highest confidence and esteem. Isaac Wolfe devoted his early years to farming, but the greater portion of his business career was in connection with the banking business, in which he was associated with two of his sons, Albert I., and Willis M. He was for more than a half a century a devoted member of the Christian or Disciples' church, being an active worker in the cause of the divine Master and doing all in his power to promote the same among his fellow men. On the 20th of May, 1847, lie was united in marriage to Miss Harriet McVey, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, on the 28th of January, 1828, the daughter of Henry and Mary (Jones) McVey, both of whom were born in the state of Pennsylvania, where their marriage was solemnized, and whence they removed to Coshocton county, Ohio, in the year 181 3, locating in the immediate vicinity of the present town of Carlisle, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Henry McVey was of Irish lineage, his father having emigrated, in company with his brother, from the Emerald Isle to America, both taking up their above in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Upon his removal to Coshocton county he began the work of clearing and improving his farm, the original home having been the little log cabin in common to the locality and period. He became the father of thirteen children, of whom only four survive at the present time. Henry McVey died in 1850, his widow surviving him about twenty years. They were types of the sterling men and women whose lives counted for good and whose names deserve

3i6 a lasting place on the scroll where are inscribed. the names of Ohio's honored pioneers. Henry IcVey died at the age of sixty-seven years, and his widow passed away at the venerable age of eighty-seven. Isaac and Harriet (McVey) Wolfe became the parents of five children, concerning whom we enter the following brief record: Lucina M. was first married to Martin Lubarger, and they became the parents of two sons, the elder of whom died at the age of twenty-three years, leaving a widow, while the younger son, Orley, who is an artist, resides with his mother at Hicksville, Defiance county. Seven years after the death of her first husband Mrs. Lubarger married Hugh Nelson, who died on the ist of March, 1901, his widow having a good farm near Hicksville and a pleasant residence in the village. Peter R., the second child of j\lr. and Mrs. Wolfe, is a prominent lumberman and esteemed citizen of IVIarshall county, Kansas, where he has resided for nearly thirty years, his father having purchased land in that locality many years ago. He has three children. Landora, the third child, is the wife of Denton Burton, of Baldwin, Kansas, who is the owner of a fine farm in that section, and they have one son and two daughters. Albert I. was the next in order of birth and is the immediate subject of this sketch. 'ills M. married Jennie Smith, in July, 1889. and his death occurred in 1896. His wife now maintains her home in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Isaac Wolfe, the revered father of these children, died on the old homestead farm September 19, 1891, secure in the respect and esteem of the community where his long and useful life had been passed. He thus was not permitted to take up his residence in his new town house. His devoted and cherished wife still resides in the attractive home in Danville, the residence having been erected by her husband only a short time prior to his death, while she also retains possession of the old farm. Air. 'olfe was a man of stanch integrity of character, was ever active iil good works and a citizen of prominence in the community. He was not active in politics, but gave his support to the Democratic party. In the church Mrs. Wolfe is still an active worker and she retains the love of a large circle of devoted friends in the county where she has practically passed the greater portion of her life. She was a liberal contributor to the erection of the new church.

Albert I. Wolfe, whose name introduces this review, was reared to agricultural pursuits on the old homestead farm in Butler township, receiving his educational discipline in the public schools. After putting aside his text-books to assume the active duties of life on his own responsibility, he those the vocation with which his father had been long identified — that of banking — and this has figured as his life work. He first entered a bank at Utica, Ohio, where he was employed about six months, after which, in July, 1884, he associated himself with his father and brother, Willis ]\I., in the establishing of a banking business in Danville. After the death of their father the two brothers continued to conduct the business until the death of Willis, since which time our subject has individually continued the enterprise, which is one of importance, the institution standing in high favor and being known as one of the solid financial concerns of the county. In addition to his extensive interests in the village of Danville Mr. Wolfe also owns much valuable country property, having farms in Butler, Union, Brown and Pike townships, with an aggregate area of four hundred and fifteen acres. His life has been one of industry and enterprise, and his untiring and well directed efforts have been attended with a splendid and well merited success, while he holds the confidence and respect of all who know him, in either business or social relations. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Democratic party, and his religious faith is that of the Christian church, in which he has served as trustee and treasurer. He is a worthy representative of one of our honored pioneer families and as a man and a citizen certainly merits the esteem and warm regard in which he is uniformly held in the county where he has passed his entire life.

In the year 1895 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wolfe to Miss Pearl V. Swigert, who was born in Millersburg, Holmes county, the daughter of H. W. and Ellen Swigert, the latter of whom died when Mrs. Wolfe was twelve years of age. Her father subsequently married Eldora Beckley, and they still reside in this county. One little daughter, Rosalie, has come to brighten and bless the home of our subject and his wife.

Probably the most exciting night ever experienced by citizens of Danville had greater interest for Mr. Wolfe than for any other resident of the place. In the early morning hours of October 15, 1901, the stillness was suddenly broken by the noise of an explosion, which was quickly succeeded by others, rousing the people from their slumbers and soon calling many citizens on to the streets, when it was learned that a desperate attempt was being made to secure the contents of the bank safe. Armed citizens soon appeared on the scene, only to be met by a fusilade from the burglars, of whom it was learned there were eight. The exchange of shots between the citizens and the guards of the robbers soon became so furious that those inside the bank found it necessary to abandon their nefarious work, though they had succeeded in blowing the doors from the safe. They had secured none of the valuable contents and now realized the imperative necessity of attempting to escape with their lives, as many men, armed with such weapons as were available, were pushing forward to protect the bank. The robbers beat a retreat to the southward, one of them being apparently wounded and being assisted by two of his companions. Horses had been tethered just outside of Buckeye City, and four of the robbers took flight in one buggy, while the horses of the other four broke loose, making it necessary for each to seek safety as best he might. Horses were secured by the citizens and a ready pursuit was instituted, resulting in the capture of four of the men on the following day, near Utica, about eighteen miles distant. At the ensuing trial all pleaded guilty and were given sentences varying from six and one-half to eight years. The bank safe was badly wrecked, one large piece of the same being driven completely through a thirteen-inch b'rick wall. Mr. Wolfe has recently installed in the bank a burglar-proof safe of Moseler's latest pattern, and thus the greatest possible security is assured to the funds in the care of the institution.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

A character like John Wolfe, well known farmer and stockman of Jackson township, Knox county, is always deserving of special mention in a biographical compendium of the character of the one at hand, for he has led an eminently useful and honorable life. He is a connecting link between the pioneer epoch and the present, and he has lived to see the development of this section of the Buckeye state, taking much more than a passing interest in the same. He recalls many interesting reminiscences of the early life here and has sought to keep fully abreast of the onrushing tide of human affairs, for while he deplores the passing of many of the good customs of our forefathers, the old hospitality, neighborliness and sterling every-day honesty, vet he likes to see new accomplishments in all the avenues of life and is an advocate of progress in material, civic and moral affairs, withholding his support from nothing that is calculated to be for the general good of his locality.

Mr. Wolfe was born in Butler township, Knox county, Ohio, on September 13, 1843, and is the son of Simon and Nancy (Karnmer) Wolfe. The paternal grandfather was George Wolfe, and the maternal grandparents were Samuel and Nancy Karnmer. The father of the subject was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, and the mother was born in Knox county, Ohio. They spent their lives on their farm of one hundred and eighty acres, having a very comfortable home in this county.

To Simon Wolfe and wife eleven children were born, five of whom are living at this writing, three sons and two daughters. Politically, the father was a Democrat until after the Civil war, when he turned Republican. He held a number of township offices, but was not much of a public man, preferring to give his attention exclusively to his farm and home. His death occurred in June, 1868, his widow surviving until about 1905 or 1906.

John Wolfe was educated in the common schools and reared on his father's farm and when a young man he turned his attention to farming for a livelihood, working at home a great deal.

In December. t86i, Mr. Wolfe proved his patriotism by enlisting for service in defense of the Union, in Company K, Forty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he served gallantly until the close of the war, taking part in many of the great battles with the Army of the West, being with troops in Missouri at the outset, and he served at the front from New Madrid until he was discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, on July 13, 1865. He was with Sherman on his Atlanta campaign, being one of the famous “Sherman Bummers." whose duty it was to get supplies for the army.

After the war Mr. Wolfe returned home and resumed farming, buying a part of the home place upon the death of his father, later selling out and going to Nebraska, where he remained less than a year, then returned to Ohio and bought one hundred and sixty acres in Jackson township in 1883 and here he has remained to the present time, having put on many valuable improvements and met with much success as a general farmer and stock-raiser, making a specialty of feeding sheep.

Politically, Mr. Wolfe is independent, and while he has never sought office, he has held a number of minor offices in Butler township. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, also the Grange, and he and his wife belong to the Presbyterian church.

Mr. Wolfe was married in 1867 to Hannah M. Hayden, a native of Licking county, daughter of Samuel and Roxanna (Hall) Hayden, old settlers of that county, he being a native of Pennsylvania.

Five children have been born to the subject and wife, namely: Everett

L. is engaged in the hardware business; Adclie M., wife of Clark Schooler, farmer of Jackson township, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume; Virgil S.; Eiva married Guy Taylor, who is deputy clerk of Knox county: Viola is the wife of Charles Porterfield, of Bladensburg.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CARY E. WOLFE.

America has so many self-made men that often it is hard to point one out as especially deserving of notice. Self-made men vary in kind as widely as in the sum total of their individual achievements, and if there is any representative of the class who should receive attention in a work of this kind it is the man whose childhood was marked with misfortune and poverty and who in spite of numerous obstacles and discouragements has made his way to noteworthy and respectable success. Such a man is Cary E. Wolfe, a prominent farmer on section 19, Harrison township, Knox county, Ohio.

Mr. Wolfe may be said to be a product of Harrison township, having been born there May 9, 1856. He is a brother of Eli A. Wolfe, of Howard township, a biographical sketch of whom appears in this work. Mr. Wolfe, who is the eldest of his parents' family of two sons and a daughter, was reared in Harrison township, where he received scanty schooling in the Dudgeon district. When his father died he was only six years old, and being the oldest of the family the care of the farm and a great deal of hard work devolved upon him in his effort to keep their little household together and place the family on a substantial footing. He developed into a practical and successful farmer, and he is now the owner of one hundred and twenty-six acres of good land, which is under a high state of cultivation, is well provided with buildings and is in every way well equipped for successful operations. He is a breeder of thoroughbred American Delaine sheep, of which he has a fine herd, more than twenty-fivQ of his sheep being registered.

February 7, 1878, Mr. Wolfe married Miss Mary J. Ulery, daughter of Valentine and Lydia Ann (Uhl) Ulery. Mrs. Wolie, who was the second of the five children of her parents, was born at Killbuck, Holmes county, Ohio, but was reared in Harrison township, Knox county, where she was educated in the common schools. Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe began housekeeping in a log house on the site of their present residence. The latter was built in 1881 and is a substantial frame structure in every way adequate and comfortable. Mr. Wolfe, who is an ardent Democrat, has filled the office of justice of the peace for more than six years and has for many years been a member of the township school board, in which capacity he was influential in improving the standard of the schools of the township and in erecting modern school buildings. He was received as an Entered Apprentice, passed the Fellow Craft degree and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Ohio Lodge, No. 199, Free and Accepted Masons, of Bladensburg; is a member of the order of Woodmen of America, and is actively identified with the Patrons of Husbandry. He has- long affiliated with the Christian church, in which for many years he has filled the office of deacon, and in the good work of the church he has participated most helpfully. Gary E. and Mary J. (Ulery) Wolfe have two daughters — Cordia May, who married Walter Earlywine, a contractor and builder in Harrison township, and Estella M., who is the wife of Willis Beboutt, and has a daughter named Mary Elizabeth, who is the only grandchild.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ELI A. WOLFE.

Eli A. Wolfe now ranks as the leading business man of Howard and is classed among the most energetic and progressive citizens O'f Knox county, where he has spent his entire life. An analyzation of his character shows that he owes his success not to inheritance or the aid of influential friends, but to his own well-directed efforts. Realizing that in America "labor is king,'' with resolute purpose he set to work to achieve prosperity and earnest toil has secured his steady advancement.

Mr. Wolfe is a native of Harrison township, this county, December 30. 1857, and comes of a family of German lineage, which, however was planted on American soil at an early period in the development of this country. His grandfather, John Wolfe, was born in Pennsylvania and became one of the pioneer settlers of Knox county, where he followed his chosen occupation of farming. His son, Jacob Wolfe, the father of our subject, was born in Harrison township and when he had attained to man's estate followed the occupation to which he had been reared — that of cultivating the soil. His death occurred in 1861.. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Mary A. McArtor, was born and reared in Howard township. Her father, Jonathan McArtor, was a native of Virginia, and became one of the first settlers of Knox county. He was of Irish descent and provided for his family by following the plow. His daughter, Mrs. Wolfe, is still living and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Holmes, in Mount Vernon. By her marriage she became the mother of two sons and a daughter, all of whom are living: Cary E., a resident farmer of Harrison township; Eli A.; and Celesta, the wife of Harry Holmes, of Mount Vernon.

On his father's farm in his native township Eli Wolfe spent the days of his boyhood and youth and began his education in the home district. After mastering the common branches of English learning he became a student in the Normal at Utica, Ohio, where he completed a three-years' course and was graduated in 1881. He then engaged in teaching school for a year in the village of Bladensburg, and on the 4th of July, 1882, he began dealing in general merchandising in Howard, where he has since conducted a store, carrying a large and well-selected stock of goods. His reasonable prices, his straightforward business methods and his earnest desire to please have secured to him a liberal patronage and made the business profitable. Since 1891 he has been associated with J. G. Critchfield in the undertaking business and since 1897 has been an active representative to the grain trade. It will thus be seen that his efforts have not been confined to one line. He is a man of resourceful business ability and his capable management, enterprise and laudable ambition have won him prosperity. It is true that like other business men he may not have found all the days equally bright. Indeed, in his commercial experience he has seen the gathering of clouds that threaten disaster, but his rich inheritance of energy and pluck has enabled him to turn defeats into victory and promised failures into brilliant successes. His strict integrity, business conservatism and judgment have been so uniformly recognized that Mr. Wolfe has enjoyed public confidence to an enviable degree and naturally this has brought him such a lucrative patronage that through times of general prosperity and general adversity alike, he has witnessed a steady increase in his business until to-day it is one of the most flourishing in this part of Knox county.

Mr. Wolfe has been twice married. In

1 88 1 he wedded Blanch McKee, who died leaving one son, Frank L. In 1895 he was again married, his second union being with

Edna Ellis. He has filled some local offices, has been notary public since 1885 and in that year was appointed postmaster and again in 1892 under President Cleveland.

i Altogether his service as postmaster and as-

[ sistant postmaster has covered fourteen

[ years, and his public service, like the record

1 of his business career and his private life, is

I alike above reproach. For nine years he was

I township clerk and in his political views he

I is a stanch Democrat. Fraternally he is a

; member of Danville Lodge, F. & A. M., and is also identified with the Modern Woodmen

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FREDERICK C. WOLFE.

For many years Frederick C. W'olfe has been numbered among the citizens of Knox county. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, on the 25th of October, 1849, a son. of Jacob and Dorothy (Hizerman) Wolfe, who were parents of five children, namely: Jacob, a railroad engineer at Dayton, Ohio; Charles, of Mattoon, Illinois, and an engineer on the Big Four Railroad; Frederick, the subject of this review; Minnie, the wife of William Reese, postmaster at Qiillicothe, Texas; and Anna, the wife of John Immel, of Vernon, Texas. In the fall of 1862 the father removed with his family to Russia, but after a short residence in that country, with a returning countryman, the family made their way back to Germany, and in the following spring, on the 12th of May, they started for Australia. The vessel on which they sailed, the Australia, landed at New York after a voyage of six weeks, and he decided to remain in America. From that city the Wolfe family came by rail to Huron county, Ohio, where a brother of Mr. Wolfe resided. On passing through Crestline he met a fellow countryman, whom he paid a short visit, and afterward joined a sister in Delaware county, Ohio. At the latter place he began work at his trade, that of butchering, and his two sons, Frederick and Jacob, were bound out for their board and clothing, while his daughter, Anna, lived in the home of a hotel man in Crestline.

Frederick C. Wolfe, of this review, remained until his fifteenth year with the gentleman with whom he had been placed, and he was then taken by his father to Greenfield, where he was apprenticed to a brickmaker, receiving eight dollars a month and his board. In the following fall, however, he was taken to Delaware, Ohio; where he was, employed in a flax mill during the succeeding winter, and in the spring he worked in a brick yard, at one dollar per day. Thus he was employed during the summer season, after which he entered a flax mill at Delaware, where he learned the weaver's trade. In Octobr, 1870, he came to Alount Vernon, as a weaver for Kelley & Welsh, who had established their flax-bagging mill here the year before. Messrs. Kelley & Welsh had both been connected, as superintendent and bookkeeper, respectively, with the mill at Delaware, where Frederick had learned his trade. The easter weavers in their mill lacked the ability to work the looms to their full capacity, and the services of Frederick were sought, his energy and expertness imbuing such a spirit of rivalry that within a few weeks the output of the looms was more than doubled and the mills placed upon a lucrative basis. In 1871 he secured a brick yard, which he conducted during the summer months, in partnership with his future father-in-law, John Welsh, while during the winter season he worked in the factory. In 1873 he rented a yard at Delaware, Ohio, where he followed brick-making during two seasons, during which period he was also engaged, in company with his brother, Jacob, in manufacturing brick in Mount Vernon. In 1875, in partnership with Benjamin Martin, he purchased a half interest in the Mount Vernon flax mill, Kelley & Welsh having failed, and this they conducted successfully for five years as a tow mill. For more than thirty years Mr. Wolfe has been the foremost brick manufacturer in the vicinity of Mount Vernon, no one in this part of the state being more extensively known in this special line of manufacture. His annual output is about one million of the best quality of building brick, and, employing some twelve men during the season, the amount of money placed in circulation through his industry is considerable. His energetic nature, strong determination, sagacity and capable management have brought to him a comfortable competence and his business methods have ever been in strict conformity with the ethics of commercial life. In 1883 he became the owner of the old homestead of his wife's family, and to this, just ten years later to a day, was added the Evans homestead, making a most desirable suburban home of one hundred and sixty-seven acres.

On March 16, 1875, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Wolfe and Miss Sarah J. Welsh. Fouir children have blessed this union, namely: Fred W., who is an employe on the Big Four Railroad and is a veteran of the Spanish-American war; Charles, who is engaged in business with his father; Arthur, who is a graduate of the high school and is now a student in the State University; and Lucretia Beall, the eldest, at home. Fred is of the third generation who has served in the famous Fourth Ohio Regiment. His great-uncle, Dr. David L. McGuigan, was its surgeon during the Mexican war, and his two uncles, William and Zephaniah Welsh, were in its ranks through the war of the Rebellion. Fred went with his regiment to Porto Rico, and as a result another member has been added to the Wolfe family in the person of a bright Porto Rico youth, named Domingo Ramo. The Democracy receives. Mr. Wolfe's hearty support and co-operation, and he is now serving his second term as the trustee of Clinton township, having been elected to that position by a handsome majority, in a strong Republican district. In his social relations he is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity, belonging to Timon Lodge, No. 45, and religiously he is a member of the Congregational church. He takes deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his town and count), and contributes liberally to the support of all measures for the public good.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.