WOLFE, Moses Lafayette (1856-1935)

WOLFE, BIRDSONG, WOODS, MARLEY

Posted By: Kathy Weaver (email)
Date: 5/4/2016 at 17:46:49

Glenwood Opinion-Tribune
Thursday, Dec. 5, 1935

M.L. WOLFE, WELL-KNOWN PIONEER OF COUNTY, PASSES ON - - Mr. Wolfe Was Born in Mills County Eighty Years Ago and Lived Here His Entire Life; Was Licensed Preacher in M.E. Church - - Moses Lafayette Wolfe was born in Mills county, Iowa, January 5, 1856, and departed this life at his home on North Walnut street, Glenwood, Sunday, December 1, 1935. Had he lived one more month he would have been eighty years of age.

"Lafe" Wolfe lived his entire life in Mills county. Many of the years of his adult manhood were given in tender devotion to his mother. This response to a call of duty which he felt he owed his mother deferred his marriage until late in life.

February 8, 1915, M.L. Wolfe and Daisy Mae Birdsong were married. They lived on Mr. Wolfe's farm eight miles south of Glenwood until moving to Glenwood in 1917. One daughter, Beulah Mae, was born to this union. Mrs. Wolfe died in November, 1926.

Mr. Wolfe was converted when a young man and united with the Methodist church. In his young manhood he felt a call to the ministry, but he felt unable to give his entire time to the ministry because he was needed at home. He was licensed as a local preacher in the Methodist church and gave much of his spare time to preaching in his local community. One of his neighbors has written of his part-time ministry:

"In the early part of his manhood Mr. Wolfe gave a great deal of his time to the ministry. The country churches and the country school houses throughout this community swung open their doors to welcome M.L. Wolfe to preach the Gospel in their midst. His way of going was usually on foot. It never got too muddy nor the snow too deep, but he was always there to fill his appointments, and never tardy. In his ministry he always had a smile and freedom of the spirit. There are not many country homes in this part of the county where he has not called to visit and to read the Scripture."

Mr. Wolfe has been known in his community as a successful stock and grain farmer. One who has been a neighbor through his life said of him: "People who knew 'Lafe' Wolfe had great confidence in him and called on him for advice, and always found his advice and judgement sound and conservative."

Near relatives who survive are: One daughter, Beulah Mae, at home and a senior in the high school; one step-daughter, Mrs. Gertrude Woods, Glenwood; one brother, A.J. Wolfe, Glenwood, and one sister, Mrs. John Marley, Glenwood. There are many more distant relatives, and a large company of friends and brethren in his church who mourn the loss of the gracious personality.

Funeral services were held in the home on North Walnut street Tuesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Martin H. Keast, pastor of the Glenwood Methodist church. Music for the service was furnished by a quartette composed of W.H.T. Wellons, W.B. Eaton, S.M. Criswell, and E.G. Johnson, accompanied by Mrs. Clyde Rhoads. The flower ladies were Mrs. F.V. Kemp, Miss Josephine Daniel and Mrs. John Sprague. Those serving as pallbearers were Will Daniel, Homer Daniel, Andrew Buckingham, J.W. Brower, Elmer Stacy, and Josh Hayter.

The body was laid to rest in the family lot in the Glenwood cemetery.