L. B. Wolfe

As printed in 1881

WOLFE L. B., dealer in white, bronze monuments, statuary, etc., 139 Second street, Coshocton, Ohio; born June 2, 1834, in Evansburgh, Oxford township; son of Philip and Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Jacob Meek, of Tuscarawas county. He spent his early life at the tanning, saddlery and harness business. In December, 1866, he enlisted in Company K, Captain G. H. Stewart, Fourth U. S. C., Colonel, later General E. V. Sumner. He reported for duty in the spring of 1857, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and assisted in the survey of the southern boundary of Kansas, which required exactly six months. This was the first to succeed, after two previous attempts had failed, from the hostilities of the Indians and scarcity of water in the American desert.

The subsequent fall and winter, the command was engaged to keep the peace and guard the elections in Kansas. March 18, 1858, he started for Utah under command of Col. Huflfman, to escort supplies for Col. Johnston, at Fort Bridger. At Laport creek, sixty miles west of Fort Laraamie, on the morning of April 1, the snow was three feet deep, all having fallen the previous night. One quart of corn for each horse was all the grain they had; and for ton days the only feed the horses got was the bark from Cottonwood poles which were cut and carried to the horses. Only one horse died; the others kept in good condition. Going through the South Pass, they arrived at Fort Bridger July 4, in a severe snow storm. They returned under command of Capt.. Dessashore, through Bridger's Pass, via Fort Laramie, to Fort Leavenworth, having been absent eight months and traveled 2,200 miles. Remaining about two weeks, they started for Fort Riley under Major, afterward General, Sedgwick.

In 1859 the command was ordered to the Santa Fe crossing of the Arkansas, to guard the Santa Fe travel from Kansas City to Santa Fe, from the Kiawa and Comanche Indians. Returned in the fall to Fort Riley for winter quarters. After remaining about two weeks, were ordered back to the Pawnee fork of the Arkansas to establish a post, guard mail stations and mail trains from that point to Santa Fe. At this place the command remained about one month, and built a sod corral and winter quarters. Leaving a detachment of thirty men, they returned to Fort Riley, On this march they were caught in a " northwestern," which froze their horses so badly that they could not stand, and had to be shot. One man's lower limbs were frozen so that they had to be amputated.

In the spring of 1860, he was ordered, under Major Sedgwick, to scour the plains for Comanche find Kiawa Indians. In the fall, their command was ordered to " Big Timber " of the Arkansas, where they built Fort Lyons, where they remained during the winter and next summer. In the fall, he was discharged, having served five years and witnessed many thrilling incidents, among which was the fatal shooting of Pawnee, a war chief, while attempting to escape, after having been captured. Returning home, he resumed his trade, learned when a youth. In the summer of 1863, he was unanimously elected captain of Company E, Sixty-ninth Battery, and was ordered out in the 100-days' service, and served four months. At the close of the war, he again resumed his trade, and continued until the spring of 1880, when he assumed his present business, in which he has succeeded beyond his most sanguine expectations. His first job was put in the Waggoner cemetery, in Oxford township, over the remains of Mrs. Switzer and family. Captain Wolfe was married, September, 1862, to Miss Sarah J., daughter of Adam and Rebecca (Wiggins) Loos, of Oxford township. They have had five children, viz: Adam Cooper, deceased; Lanna Jane, Ivan Milton, Esther Ella and Chat Lambert.

As printed in History of Coshocton County, Ohio: its past and present, 1740-1881. Containing a comprehensive history of Ohio; a complete history of Coshocton County ... a history of its soldiers in the late war ... (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.