My Genealogy Hound

SIMON H. WOLF. The agriculturists of Bath Township, Greene County, have an excellent representative in the gentleman above named, who occupies a valuable estate on section 18. It comprises one hundred and thirty-eight and a half acres of valley land, watered by Beaver Creek, all being rich and tillable, and excellently adapted for the cultivation of grain and hay, to which it is mainly devoted. Mr. Wolf also raises graded cattle and high grade Norman horses, using two teams to operate the farm. The improvements on the estate are such as are common throughout the older agricultural districts, where farming has been carried on for years, and enterprise exhibited by the tillers of the soil.

The family of which our subject is a member is numbered among the earliest settlers in the county, his grandfather, John Wolf, having come hither in 1807. A native of Lancaster County, Pa., and a tailor by trade, he had followed that business in his native State for a number of years ere coming to Ohio and buying land. He afterward brought his family on in a wagon, and while his sons attended to the farm near Byron, he continued to work at his trade. He became the owner of a large tract of land, and was able to start his children in life. He was a member of the Reformed Church.

Simon Wolf, the father of our subject, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., in 1805, and was brought to Ohio when about eighteen months old. Being reared in Bath Township, he had the advantages of but meager school privileges, but did the best possible in his surroundings to acquire information. He followed agriculture, locating after he had reached man’s estate on a farm given him by his father, and becoming more than ordinarily successful. He became the owner of about six hundred acres of land, in four farms, and still owns about four hundred acres. In 1839 he bought property on the Dayton Pike, one mile west of Byron, and locating upon it, he improved and operated it until 1861, when he rented it and retired. In addition to his farming he had operated a sawmill some. In his early days he and his brothers carried on a flour mill and still-house, and hauled their products to Cincinnati, with four horse teams, taking eight barrels of whiskey or twelve barrels of flour to a load, and consuming seven or eight days on the trip. Simon Wolf is now living with his son, Hicks, in Bath Township, of which he is the oldest settler now living. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, and his religious adherence is given to the German Reformed Church.

The mother of our subject, and wife of Simon Wolf, above-mentioned, was born in Frederick County, Md., and bore the maiden name of Christina Kershner. Her father, Daniel Kershner, was a native of Maryland, and a blacksmith by trade. He was one of the early settlers on Massey Creek, Xenia Township, this county, where he worked at his trade, subsequently buying a farm in Bath Township, near Byron, where he died. Mrs. Wolf departed this life in 1876, and was the mother of four children: Martin K., who lives in Gentry County, Mo.; Elizabeth, Mrs. Dr. Parsons, who died in Greene County, Ohio; D. Hicks and Simon H. Martin K. and D. Hicks were in the one hundred days’ service during the late war, as members of the One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio Infantry.

The gentleman with whose name this sketch is introduced, was born April 15, 1841, in the township in which he now resides, received such education as could be obtained in the common schools, and being reared on the farm was early put to work. He remained under the parental roof until he had passed his twentieth birthday, when he entered the Union army, being mustered in at Yellow Spring, as a member of the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, Company C, in October, 1861. The regiment remained at Camp Dennison six months, learning military tactics and cavalry evolutions, after which they were sent South in time to take part in the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862. They fought all day Sunday and Monday on that bloody field, following which, came skirmishes and cavalry dashes through Mississippi and Georgia. Young Wolf served three years and two months, and in December, 1864, was mustered out at Marietta, Ga., by reason of the expiration of his term of enlistment. He was sent to Columbus, Ohio, where he was honorably discharged, having to the best of his ability served his country in her time of need.

Returning to his home, Mr. Wolf began farming for himself on the place he still occupies, and which falls to him upon his father’s death. He has carried on a successful agricultural career, and has also won the esteem of his fellow-citizens for his upright, Christian character, good citizenship, and kindliness in his relations in life. He is a member of Steele Post, G. A. R., at Fairfield, and an active member of the Reformed Church at Byron. In politics he is a straight Republican. As all intelligent, moral citizens are, he is interested in the cause of education and other elevating movements, and gives them his hearty support.

The estimable woman who has presided over Mr. Wolf’s home for many years, and with whom he was united in marriage December 18, 1866, was born in Bath Township, and reared and educated in the county. She bore the maiden name of Kate Schauer, and is a daughter of George Schauer, a native of this county, whose parents came here from Pennsylvania at an early day. George Schauer was a farmer until his death, which occurred in 1889. The marriage of our subject and his wife was celebrated near Oldtown, Xenia Township, and has been blessed by the birth of three children. The two sons, Charles and Clifford, are still with their parents; Josephine the second child and only daughter, is the wife of Walter Fackler, a farmer in Xenia Township.