My Genealogy Hound

ABRAHAM N. WOLF, a manufacturer of mill machinery at Allentown, is undoubtedly the most successful man in his line in the city. He is regarded as a citizen of exceptional integrity and standing in the financial world and in the public life of the community. Mr. Wolf was born April 22, 1837, in Northampton County, this state, and is the son of Abraham and Polly (Miltonberger) Wolf, likewise natives of the above county. The father of our subject lived a neighbor to Governor Wolf, and was the representative of a family prominent in the annals of the state. They came originally from Germany, and after locating in Pennsylvania took an active part in the establishment of the free-school system. The mother of our subject, who lived to the extreme age of ninety-two years, died in Northampton County in 1888.

Abraham N., of this sketch, received his education in the public schools of his native place, and after completing his studies apprenticed himself to learn the trade of a millwright, working under John Appel, of Easton. At the expiration of his term of service he became foreman in the shops of his former instructor, having under him a large force of men. He remained with Mr. Appel for five years, or until the outbreak of the Civil War.

August 19, 1861, Mr. Wolf enlisted in Company B, Forty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, which was one of the first companies to volunteer their services, and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. Our subject was given charge of the carpenter department of his regiment, and manufactured the coffin in which General Mitchell, who died of yellow fever at Beaufort, S. C., was buried. He was intimately acquainted with that gentleman, and aided in laying him under the sod. Later the company went to Key West, Fla., and engaged in the Red River expedition under General Banks. Mr. Wolf aided in building the dam at Alexandria. Thence they went to Petersburg, Va., and from there returned to the Shenandoah Valley, under the command of General Sheridan.

September 19, 1864, our subject was honorably discharged from the army and returned to his home in Allentown. Thence he later went to Lebanon County, this state, and after a residence there of six years returned to the city and established his present prosperous business, in which he has been engaged since that time. He is a man of great genius, and has nineteen patents on different kinds of mill machinery. In addition to handling mill machinery he also keeps in his shops every variety of plows and farm machinery, for which he finds a ready market throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Our subject is a stockholder in the Allentown Lock Works, and in 1876 was elected Councilman of the First Ward, which position he held for eight years. In his political relations he is a strong Republican, and always takes an active interest in all public affairs which will prove of benefit to the community.

In 1859 Mr. Wolf and Miss Susan A., daughter of Emanuel Trexler, were united in marriage. The parents of Mrs. Wolf were natives of the Lehigh Valley, but were residing in Allentown at the time of her marriage. By her union with our subject three children were born: Fairman M., located at Seigfried’s Bridge, this county; Abraham L., engaged in business in Myerstown, Lebanon County; and Nora, the wife of Richard Schafer, of Allentown. Mrs. Wolf departed this life January 28, 1893, at her home at the corner of Second and Walnut Streets. In religious affairs our subject is a prominent member of St. John’s Lutheran Church.