John Wolfe

As printed in 1912

JOHN WOLFE.

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 Past and present of Knox County, Ohio (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.