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Stephenson County Illinois
Peter Wolf Sr and Peter Wolf Jr
Abraham Wolf, who throughout life followed the occupation of farming, was married in Cumberland county, Penn., to a Miss Shauffner, and to them were born seven children - three sons and four daughters - namely:
(1) Catharine, who married (first) John Hennigh, and (second) Phillip Grove. There was one daughter by her second marriage, who when about seventeen years of age, along with two other children, during the absence of their parents in Penn's Valley, at a camp meeting, was
burned to death, their house it is supposed being set on fire by some men who were fishing at night by the aid of light from pine knots. Mrs. Grove, some years after her husband's death, went to live with her son, Jacob Hennigh, in Illinois, and there died.
Peter Wolf, the father, was a weaver by trade, which occupation he followed through the winter season, while in the summer he engaged in farming. He married Sally Ream, of Penn township, Centre county, after which he located upon the old home farm of his father (at that time deceased), taking the farm at the appraisement. Here his wife died in
1831, and her remains were interred in Tusseyville cemetery. To this marriage there were born five children: Mary, who married Samuel Harter, and died in Iowa; Margaret, the wife of George Newcomer, of Iowa; John, the subject of this sketch; George a prominent citizen of
Freeport, Ill., who served for one term as judge in Stephenson county, and died in September, 1896; and Peter, a resident of Dakota, Ill.
After the death of his first wife, the father married Catharine Karr, of Union county, Penn., who also died on the old homestead, and lies buried at Egghill. Two children were born to this union: Leah, who died when young; and Catharine (now Mrs. Thomas Toot), of Bellefonte, Penn.
After the death of his second wife, the father broke up housekeeping, and died at the home of his son, Peter, near Dakota, Ill., at the age of eighty-six years. He was a tall, robust man, and was successful in his farming operations, succeeding in accumulating a comfortable
competence. In early life he was a Lutheran, but later joined the Albright Church; in politics he regularly supported the Democratic party.
Contributed by Mallory Smith -- From a bio of Peter Wolf Jr's brother John Wolf.
Peter Wolf Jr., of Rock Run Twp. is a man of honest and respectable antecedents, and bears the virtues of his ancestors in a marked degree. His grandfather was Abraham Wolf. He was a farmer by occupation, an demigrated from Germany to this country, locating in Center County pA, where his death took place. The father of our subject was Peter Wolf Sr. He was a native of Center County, PA and was also a farmer, but in early life learned the trade of a weaver, which he followed, however, only a short time. He was the eldest son of a large family and married Sally Ream, also a native of Center County. She came of genuine Pennsylvania Dutch stock, and was the m other of five children, one of whom is deceased.
Our subject is the youngest of the four children living. John is a farmer, and resides on part of the old homestead in Center County PA; Mary married S.N. Harter, Esq., and is now deceased; Margaret married George Newcomber; she is a widow and lives with her children, George resides in Freeport; our subject is the remaining member of the family. The father was married the second time to Catherine Kerr, who dying in 1866, left two children - Leah adn Catherine C. After the death of the second wife, Peter Wolf Sr., came West and lived with his children in Iowa and this State, until his death, thich took place at the ripe old age of eighty-six years and four months. This was in February 1884. He was a good man, respected by all who knew him.
Our subject was only two years old when his mother died. He was born April 10, 1830, was educated in the common schools and lived at home with his father until he was thirteen years old. He then started to learn the trade of a cabinet-maker with his brother-in-law, S.N. Harter of Center County. He was with Mr. Harter two years afterward working at millwrighting for a time. He then followed his trade, and later carpentering. Peter Wolf, Jr. was married in Center County, PA in 1848, to Miss Elizabeth Rowray, who was also a native of Center County, having been born there April 14, 1829. She was the daughter of John Rowray, who came West in 1854, and died in this township in 1865. After the death of her husband Mrs. Rowray made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Wolf, and died here in 1867. Mr. Rowray was a tinsmith by trade. Mrs. Wolf has become the mother of twelve children, two of whom are deceased; George W. married Miss Mary Mallery, and resides on a farm in this township; John P. lives in Dakota Village, this county; James F. is a farmer now living in Iowa; Katie C. is the wife of H.B. Tate, a farmer now living in Lancaster Township, this county; Elizabeth is the wife of Thomas Nible, who is engaged in farming in Ridott Township, this county; Ellen is the wife of F.S. Nestelrode, and lives in Clay County, Neb., on a farm; Frank F., Sadie, Edwin and Orrin reside at home; Mary and Charles died in infancy.
On April 1, 1855, Mr. Wolf, wife and three children, first came to Illinois, locating for a time in Freeport, and then came to this township. He finally purchased land, and later went to Dakota, Dakota Twp. In the spring of 1858 he located on his farm in this township, where he now lives. Altogether he owns 193 acres of land, most of which is under the plow. Mr. Wolf and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a Republican.
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