WILLIAM WULF

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Mr. William Wulf and Mrs. William Wulf

Various business interests have claimed the time and attention of William Wulf, whose enterprise has constituted a strong feature in their success. He is now the president of the Durant Savings Bank and to his present enviable position in the business world he has attained through his own efforts, his industry, diligence and honesty constituting the salient points in his substantial progress.

He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, November 4, 1849, and is a son of Christ and Christina Wulf, who were likewise natives of that country, where they spent their entire lives, the father passing away there at the age of fifty-two years, while his wife, long surviving him, died at the advanced age of eighty-six years. Their family numbered four children, one of whom is deceased, while two are still living in Germany.

William Wulf therefore is the only representative of the family in America. His education was acquired in the common schools of his native land and after putting aside his text-books he began learning the blacksmith’s trade, of which he gained a good working knowledge. He had passed the nineteenth milestone of life’s journey when he determined to come to the United States, attracted by the favorable reports which he heard concerning the opportunities in the new world. Crossing the Atlantic, he made his way to Walcott, Iowa, where for three years and three months he worked at his trade.

On the 18th of October, 1872, Mr. Wulf came to Durant, where he opened a blacksmith shop and conducted business on his own account with good success until the 1st of March, 1881. In that year he turned his attention to the coal and weighing business, conducting public scales. He built up a good trade as a dealer in coal, his sales reaching a large figure annually, so that as time passed on his capital steadily increased and in 1902 he retired from that business. He is, however, still actively connected with the banking interests of the city as the president of the Durant Savings Bank, which was organized in 1889 with a capital of thirty thousand dollars. He aided in its organization, became one of its first directors and has since had voice in its management as one of its directors and officers. F. C. Langfeldt is now the cashier of the bank and J. H. Meyhaus is the assistant cashier. The success of the institution is indicated in the fact that the capital stock has been increased to fifty thousand dollars and there is an undivided surplus of fifty thousand dollars. A general banking business is conducted and the methods employed are those which awaken confidence and secure a liberal patronage.

Mr. Wulf was married in Durant in 1873, to Miss Mary Husemann, who was born in Germany, and they have one child, Alvina, now the wife of George Trede, who is an agriculturist of Farmington township. Mr. and Mrs. Wulf occupy a beautiful home in Durant, supplied with all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.

In exercising his right of franchise Mr. Wulf always considers the capability of a candidate and not his party affiliation, thus casting an independent ballot. He has served as township trustee and as a member of the city council and has always been deeply interested in the welfare of Durant, cooperating in many progressive measures for the general good. He belongs to the Turn Verein and to the Kranken Verein and also holds membership with Durant Lodge, No. 265, K.P. He started out in life a poor boy and on every milestone of life’s journey for many years was inscribed the word “labor”. He attributes not a little of his success to the assistance and good management of his wife. His own industry and honorable effort and, moreover, in his business life he has displayed keen discernment, sound judgment and an aptitude for successful management. His prosperity therefor is well merited and the most envious cannot grudge him his success.