John S. Wolfe

 

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: WOLFE, SIMMS, YOUNG

JOHN S. WOLFE, attorney at law in Champaign is a native of this State ans was born in Morgan County, Sept. 21, 1833. His parents were George and Mary (SIMMS) WOLFE, natives respectively of Greenbrier County, Va., and Spartanburg, S.C. George WOLFE, in 1812, removed with his parents to Ross County, Ohio, the family locating near Chillicothe, where the father, Henry, engaged in farming until his death, in 1825. He was a man of deep piety and marked ability. He served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and late in life united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he remained a consistent member for many years. The children of the household were Elizabeth, Jacob, Henry, Catherine, Daniel, John, Mary, George and Joseph, all now deceased. George WOLFE, the father of our subject, was reared to farming pursuits, which he followed in Ohio until 1826, in which year the entire family came to this State and were among the early pioneers of Morgan County. The father located upon a tract of Government land where he remained until 1839, when he sold out and moved into Macoupin County, where he still pursued his former occupation until his death, which occurred in 1874. The mother also died that same year. Of their seven sons, two died in infancy. The others are as follows: James is a resident of Macoupin County, Ill.; J. S. of our sketch, was the second; Thomas lives in Barton County, Mo.; George is a resident of Gerard, this State; Peyton lives in Barton County, Mo. George WOLFE politically was a staunch Republican, a strong Prohibitionist, and especially interested in the establishment and maintenance of schools. The subject of this biography remained on the farm until twenty-two years old, and pursued his early studies in the pioneer log school-house, which, however, was different from some others of that early period, having a long window on each side. They, however, used slabs for writing-desks and the system of teaching as well as the structure itself in which it was carried on, were widely different from those of the present day. Mr. Wolfe early in life began to lay his plans for the future. After leaving home he purchased five yoke of oxen and commenced breaking the prairie, and was occupied at this laborious work for two years, in the meantime keeping in view the intention which he had formed of commencing the study of law as soon as possible or practicable. In 1857, he went to Carlinville, entered a law office, and became a thorough student of Blackstone, and was admitted to the bar two years later. Mr. W. commenced the practice of his profession at Carlinville, but the following year removed to Champaign, of which city he was then a resident for four years. In 1864 he took up his abode in Chicago, where he remained until 1867, and then, on account of the death of his father-in-law, William YOUNG, returned to Champaign, where he has since lived. He has been Attorney for the Illinois Central Railroad Company, a number of years, and socially belongs to Western Star Lodge No. 240, A. F. & A. M., and Urbana Commandery No. 16, K. T. Mr. J. S. WOLFE was married, May 15, 1862, to Miss Celestia A. YOUNG, of Lorain County, Ohio. Their residence, to which a host of warm friends and acquaintances often resort, is pleasantly located on Church street, and the office of Mr. Wolfe is located in the Burnham Block. Our subject is independent in politics. Mr. and Mrs. W. are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which the former is Class-Leader and a member of the Official Board. He is a careful, painstaking lawyer, a man of the strictest integrity, and enjoys the confidence of his fellow-citizens.