Biography of William Wolfe, pages 816/817.  History of 
DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., 
Indianapolis, 1914.



There is no calling, however humble, in which enterprise and 
industry, coupled with a well directed purpose, will not be 
productive of some measure of success and in the pursuit of 
agriculture the qualities mentioned are quite essential. 
Among the well known and highly respected farmers of DeKalb 
county who have attained to a definite degree of success in 
their line and who, at the same time,  have greatly 
benefited the community in which they live, is the gentlemen 
to a review of whose character the reader’s attention is now 
directed. William Wolfe was born on February 24, 1866, on 
the old Wolfe homestead in Franklin township, DeKalb county, 
Indiana, where he was reared and he received his education 
in the Franklin Center school. He has never made but one 
move from the old homestead and that was to the place where 
he now resides. His father died when the subject was but 
eighteen years old and thereafter he lived with his mother 
five years, or until his marriage in 1889, and then he and 
his wife lived on the old homestead until the year 1901, in 
which year Mr. Wolfe moved to his present attractive place 
of forty acres in Franklin township, where he now resides. 
This place when he acquired it was without improvements of 
any sort, the farm being badly run down,  but by dint of the 
most persistent energy, strenuous effort and sound judgment 
he has improved the farm, increased its fertility and by 
proper attention to its operation has developed it into one 
of the good farms of the township. In addition to his own 
operations, he is associated with his brother, Samuel, in 
the operation of a corn husker and wood saw and other lines 
which are required by the farmers of the community and they 
have been successful in these things. Mr. Wolfe has built a 
fine barn, thirty-two by forty-four feet in dimensions, has 
set out an orchard, erected many substantial fences and in 
all things possible has made his farm what it should be. On 
February 17, 1889, at Waterloo, Indiana, Mr. Wolfe was 
married to Minnie Gurtner, who was born in Steuben county, 
Indiana, on August 1, 1868. Later the parents moved to 
DeKalb county, where she became acquainted with her future 
husband. To them have been born the following children : 
Bessie Leone, born March 12, 1890, became the wife of Lee 
Hodge, and they have one child; Mary May, who was born 
January 14, 1892, married Bruce Lower, and they have one 
child; Dellie R., born September 7, 1896, died at the age of 
two years, and Clarence, born September 3, 1903.  
Politically, Mr. Wolfe is a Democrat, although he is not a 
hide-bound partisan in any sense, as in local elections he 
generally votes for the man whom he deems best qualified to 
fill the office, irrespective of party lines. Fraternally, 
he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at 
Hamilton, in which lodge he has passed through the chairs 
and he maintains a live interest in the working of this 
order.  Mr. Wolfe, is a man of many praiseworthy traits, 
being scrupulously honest in all his dealing with the 
business world, generous and pleasant, possessing rate 
fortitude and good judgment, advocating wholesome politics 
and clean living and honesty in business,  and it is 
needless to add that such a man has hosts of friends and 
stands high in the estimation of all who know him.

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com