Fred Wolf

WOLF

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/20/2009 at 00:37:43

Fred Wolf, is well known is Boone county and in other portions of the state and country as a breeder and dealer in standard bred horses. He owns a farm of 160 acres on Sec 33, Grant township and his fields now return to him good crops, although eh greater part of his time and attention is given to his extensive and successful business of horse raising. He was born upon a farm in Lake county, Illinois, March 6, 1852, and is of German lineage, his father, Philip Wolf, having been born and reared in Germany. Having arrived at years of maturity he married Magdeline Eil, also a native of the fatherland and coming to the new world they took up their abode in Lake county, Illinois were Mr Wolf carried on agricultural pursuits, while upon his farm he reared his family, numbering two sons and two daughters, all of whom are yet living. One son Jacob Wolf owns and operates the old homestead in Illinois. The daughters are Lizzie and Magdeline. The former is Mrs Sexhour a widow living in Chicago, and Magdeline is the wife of Christ Redlinger, of Lake county, Illinois. The youngest is Mr Wolf of this review. These four were born of the father’s last marriage and by a former marriage he also had four children.
Fred Wolf spent his boyhood days upon the old homestead in Illinois. His school privileges were limited, but since attaining his majority he has largely broadened his knowledge in the school of experience. His training at farm labor, however was not meager and when he had reached his majority he rented and engaged in farming on his own account in Lake county for several years. In 1885 he came to Iowa, Settling in Boone county. Here he again rented land for fourteen years and in connection with farming he owned and operated a steam thresher and thus added materially to his income. He also operated a corselet for a number of years. When his labors had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to make investment in land he purchased 160 acres on Sec 33, and has here improved a good farm. For the past nine years he has made a specialty of handling, breaking and dealing in standard bred horses and is one if the leading house dealers of Boone county. He is an excellent judge of domestic animals and is a lover of the noble steed. He has owned many fine horses and his annual sales bring to him a good income.
Mr Wolf was first married in Cook county, Illinois in 1874 the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Hagge, who was born in that state of German parentage and was reared Cook county. She died in that county February 2, 1884, leaving three children, while one child of the marriage has also passed away. The eldest Nellie is now the wife of Charles Sanders of Kansas. Walley W is residing in South Dakota and R R is upon the home farm. One son, Herbert H died at the age of nineteen years. In 1884 Mr Wolf was again married in Kankakee, Illinois his second union being with Lizzie Freie a native of Cook county, Illinois, where she was reared. Mr and Mrs Wolf now have many friends in Boone county, being widely and favorably known.
Our subject is a Republican in his political views and in 1880 his first presidential vote was cast for James A Garfield. Political honors and offices have had no attraction for him and save for service on the school board he has never occupied a political position. Socially he is identified with Dana Lodge I O O F and also is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and has filled all of the offices in the local camp. He deserves great credit for what he has accomplished I the business world and owes his prosperity to his own industry and enterprise. He is today the possessor of a valuable farm and a good business as the result of his labors. In his life he has displayed many of the strong characteristics of his German ancestry, having sound business judgment, perseverance and thrift.

1902 Boone County History Book