Representative William Penn Wolf View All Years

WILLIAM PENN WOLF, whose death occurred at Tipton, September 19, 1896, was born December 31, 1833, at Harrisburg, Stark county, Ohio. He was of Quaker parentage. The family removing later to a farm near Marlboro, he attended the common school and seminary, and afterward taught in the Union School and at Lunaville. He was also principal of the Edinburgh High School in Portage county. He chose the law as a profession and entered the office of Bierce & Pease of Canton, Ohio. In 1856, at the age of twenty-three, he came with his parents to Cedar county. Here he engaged again in teaching school, and also studied law with Hon. Rush Clark of Iowa City. It was during these years that John Brown spent some time at Springdale. Mr. Wolf was an abolitionist, and knowing Brown well aided him in helping fugitive slaves escape to the north. In 1859 he was married to Miss Alice Macy. They removed to Tipton where Mr. Wolf began the practice of the law and where he afterward resided. He also taught in the schools and served as County Superintendent. In 1863 he was elected as representative in the State Legislature. In 1864 he formed a law partnership with Hon. J. H. Rothrock, which continued until Mr. Rothrock went upon the bench. In May, 1864, Mr. Wolf assisted in raising Company “I,” Forty-sixth Iowa Infantry, and was elected Captain. At the expiration of his military service he resumed the practice of law with Judge Rothrock. He was assistant Collector of Revenue under Lincoln’s administration. Later, he edited The Tipton Advertiser. He was elected State Senator in 1867, serving until 1870, when he was chosen to Congress to fill an unexpired term. In 1881, he was again elected representative in the State legislature—re-elected in 1883, and at the opening of that session chosen speaker of the house. He presided with marked ability and impartiality. He was elected Judge of the eighteenth Judicial district in the fall of 1894, which position he held at the time of his death. Judge Wolf was a man of much ability, widely informed, popular in manners, active and brave as a soldier, ready and resourceful as a lawyer, and just and impartial on the bench—a pioneer settler who will long be held in grateful recollection.