Albert I. Wolfe

As printed in 1902

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 Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.