Eli A. Wolfe

As printed in 1902

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 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.