WOLFE, F. M.

WOLFE, AHMEREIN, GATES, LAWRENCE

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/3/2003 at 18:51:50

Biography reproduced from page 485 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

General farming and stock-raising engage the attention of F. M. Wolfe, who for twelve years has owned and operated one hundred and twenty acres of fertile land located on section 10, Prairie township. He was born in Putnam county, Illinois, on the 7th of December, 1867, and is a son of Michael and Eva (Ahmerein) Wolfe, natives of Germany. The father was one of the pioneers of La Salle county, Illinois, where he settled shortly after his arrival in this country in 1848. That continued to be his place of residence for fifteen years, at the expiration of which time he removed to Putnam county, where he passed away at the age of fifty-eight. The mother emigrated to America in the early ‘50s and located in La Salle county, where she was subsequently married. She is still living and now resides on her father’s old home place in La Salle county. To Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe were born the following children: Victor, who is residing in La Salle county, Illinois; Jacob, who engages in farming in Bancroft, Iowa; Theresa, the wife of Anton Gates, of Wesley township, Kossuth county; F. M., our subject; Peter, who is a resident of Putnam county; and Lizzie, deceased.

F. M. Wolfe was reared on the farm where he was born and educated in the common schools of his native state. At the age of twenty-two years he left the parental roof and began farming for himself in Putnam county, where he continued to reside until 1900. In that year he came to Kossuth county and bought his present farm on section 10, Prairie township. The majority of the improvements on the place have been made by him including tiling, and his fields are under high cultivation. In addition to the operation of his own property, Mr. Wolfe rents one hundred and eighty acres of land, which he farms. He is an indefatigable worker, of practical ideas and systematic methods, and is meeting with the success that invariably rewards capably and intelligently directed effort.

In 1890, Mr. Wolfe was married to Miss Barbara Lawrence, and to them have been born twelve children: Henry, who is a resident of Minnesota; Adam, who resides in Putnam county, Illinois; and Julius, Cornelius, Esther, Louis, Otto, Frances, Louisa, Leander, Hertola and Harold, all of whom are at home.

The family are ardent Catholics and Mr. Wolfe also holds membership in the Knights of Columbus of Algona, and the Western Catholic Union. His political support he accords to the democratic party, and for the past year has been serving as school director. Mr. Wolfe’s strongest characteristics are diligence and perseverance and to these qualities must be largely attributed the prosperity he is now enjoying, as such success as has come to him is the result of his individual effort.