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JOSEPH WILLIAMSON, deceased, was born in
New Castle, England, Sept. 27, 1843. His father was
EDWARD WILLIAMSON, also a native of England,
who was married at an early age and was the father of seven
children, namely: Joseph, of our sketch; John
Edward, Jr.; Mary, Jane, Matthew, Opodias and Harriet; of
these, five are still living. The father died when sixty years
old. His eldest son, Joseph, the subject of this
sketch, was given a fair schooling, and then learned the
stone-cutter's trade. At the age of twenty-three (1867) he
decided to leave the parental roof and seek his fortune in the great
land to the westward, America. He landed in New York in fair
circumstances and immediately went to work at his trade. After
remaining there a while he went to Pittsburg, Pa., where he
continued at his trade; later on he moved to Mansfield, Ohio, and
there he met and married Anna Profit, Feb. 6, 1870.
After marriage he worked at his trade in the following mentioned
places: Cleveland and Sandusky, Ohio; Pontiac Mich., and then
at Sandusky, Ohio, again. He then moved to Toledo, Ohio,
afterward to Fort Wayne, Ind. and then to Van Wert, Ohio.
After remaining here some time he moved his family to Marysville,
Ohio, and finally back to Van Wert, where he remained and worked at
his trade until death called him away Oct. 4, 1881. Although
he moved from place to place as a rolling stone, yet he accumulated
quite a good deal of property and left his wife in very good
circumstances. Mr. Williamson was a good Christian of
much liberality, and of considerable ability, was honored and
respected by all, and was much liked by those with whom he walked.
He was the father of three children, viz.: Victoria,
who died while the parents were living in Sandusky, at the age of
seven months and five days; Edward, who was born in Sandusky
on May 16, 1874, and when grown to manhood learned the molder's
trade and followed it for three years, and then accepted a position
in the Harris laundry in Van Wert; here he worked until he learned
the business thoroughly, and then bought out Mr. Harris, and
now owns the laundry himself. He has a finely equipped
establishment with the latest improved machinery, and enjoys a very
large patronage not only in Van Wert, but in many of the
neighboring towns. He gives employment to quite a number of
persons. Fred, the youngest son, was born in Sandusky on March
18 1877, and is now with his brother in the laundry.
MRS. WILLIAMSON, the wife and
mother, was born in New York April 26, 1847. Her father,
Jacob Profit, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1827, and was a
weaver by trade. In 1847 he left the fatherland and came to
America, and worked at his trade in New York a while. He had
married Maggie Bark in 1842, in Germany, and after leaving
New York lived in Mansfield, Ohio. Their children were five in
number and named as follows: Peter, who died in 1877;
Jacob; Philip, who died when quite young, and Anna (Mrs.
Williamson) now lives in Van Wert, and is comforted by her two
sons, who are young men of exemplary habits.
A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert Counties, Ohio
- Publ.
Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., 1896 - Page 892 |
JOHN
WOLFE, M. D., a well-known physician and surgeon who since
the spring of 1900 has been settled at Wetsel, was born in Jennings
township, Van Wert County, Ohio, Sept. 17, 1866, being a son of
George and Mary J. (Williams) Wolf. The father of Dr.
Wolfe was born in Licking County, Ohio, and the mother in Van
Wert County, both being early settlers and valued residents of
Jennings township, where the father died in 1896. The maternal
grandfather settled in Jennings township in 1840.
John Wolf was reared in Jennings township and
during boyhood and early youth attended its common schools.
After his own school days were over, he engaged in teaching, and
continued in the profession for seven years, mainly in his native
township. In the meantime he had been preparing himself for a
professional life, and in 1896 was graduated from the Ohio Medical
University, at Columbus.
For several years Dr. Wolfe was engaged in
practice at Burkettsville, Darke County, Ohio, but in 1900 he
settled at Wetsel. Here he has built up a large and
satisfactory practice, having become endeared to the community
because of his skill and highly respected for his good citizenship.
He is president of the Board of Education of Jackson township and is
also a member of the Board of Health for Jackson and the east half
of Hoaglin township. Dr. Wolfe keeps closely in touch
with all the important movements within the profession and is a
valued member of the Van Wert County Medical Society.
Politically he is a Democrat, and, even outside his profession is
one of the town's most intelligent, progressive and enterprising
residents.
On June 30, 1892, Dr. Wolfe was married to
Mary Jane Clark, a native of York Township, this county, and a
daughter of Henry and Francis (Slentz) Clark,
residents of York Township, where the father is a respected farmer.
Dr. and Mrs. Wolfe have three children, as follows:
Harold Grover, born June 12, 1893; Zoa Ruth, born Oct.
10, 1895; and Clayton Clark, born Oct. 2, 1905.
History of Van Wert County, Ohio - Publ. by Richmond &
Arnold - Chicago, Illinois - Publ. 1906 - Page 716 |
