My Genealogy Hound

Frederick Wolfinger, successful farmer, extensive land owner and veteran of the Civil war, was born on his father’s farm in Marrs township, Posey county, Indiana, June 4, 1841, the son of John Wolfinger, a pioneer settler of that township and a native of Germany. There were six children in the family, all of whom, including the subject of this sketch, are deceased. The others were: John, Lewis, Charles, George and Elizabeth. John Wolfinger and his sons were important factors in the agricultural development of Marrs township, possessed energy, were thrifty, and enjoyed the esteem of their neighbors. Frederick Wolfinger was reared on the farm of his father, assisted in its carrying on, and secured his education in the district schools of his native township. Lincoln’s call for volunteers found him ready for his country’s defense and he enlisted in the Tenth Indiana cavalry. With his regiment he participated in many important engagements but was never wounded. His service in the Union cause covered a period of three years, and his record was excellent. On conclusion of his military service he returned to Posey county and engaged in farming and remained in this field of endeavor until 1902, when he retired from active labor and became a resident of the city of Mt. Vernon, his place of residence until his death, which occurred on November 9, 1909. As a farmer, Frederick Wolfinger was one of the most progressive and successful men of his section of Posey county. As a man of affairs, he was equally prominent. He possessed financial judgment, was an expert judge of land values and productiveness, seemed to sense the knock of opportunity and avail himself of it, and withal, possessed thrift. He was throughout his lifetime a buyer of farm lands and became the owner of a number of choice farm properties. Public office never appealed to him. He was a member of Mt. Vernon Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and of the General Baptist church. Mr. Wolfinger married, on December 16, 1868, Miss Nancy Benner, who was born in Marrs township, Posey county, on December 9, 1850, the daughter of John and Mary (Mills) Benner. Her father was a native of Germany, who came to America with his parents when but three years of age. He was a prosperous farmer of Marrs township. His wife was born in Black township and her parents were pioneer settlers in Posey county. Mr. Wolfinger is survived by his widow and the following children, viz.: Mary Elizabeth, born October 2, 1869, the wife of Robert Dixon, of Mt. Vernon; Joseph Welborn, born October 24, 1871; Otis Alvin, born June 20, 1878; James Arthur, born November 24, 1880, graduates of Lockyear’s Commercial College, Evansville, and all three prosperous farmers of Marrs township; Fred B., born September 20, 1889, a graduate of Mt. Vernon High School, class of 1910, ticket agent of the Louisville & Nashville Railway at Mt. Vernon, Ill.; and Eleanor, born June 2, 1894, who graduated from the Mt. Vernon High School with the class of 1913. The third child of Mr. and Mrs. Wolfinger, a son, died in infancy.