Louis Wolf

Four Wolf brothers decided to bring their families from their homeland, Bavaria, Germany, to America. The reason they came to this country was the many wars and the occupation of others of their land and this was the time of the French Revolution, and Napoleon's occupying countries.

The Wolf brothers came from the city, Zweibricken, Germany, and after seven weeks on the ocean they landed in Utica, New York, in the year 1831. Two of the brothers stayed in New York while the other two brothers, Louis and Daniel, brought their families to St. Marys, Ohio, where there was work at the reservoir.

There was an outbreak of malaria fever. A friend, David Dewritter, asked them to come north to a new country in Pleasant Township, Henry County.

In 1839 Louis and Daniel each were given a tract of land by the Government in Pleasant Township. Louis' log cabin was cut from timbers, set on the high land east of the highway from the home of Alvin Zachrich, formerly the Philip Wolf homestead.

A big event of that day was a house raising. Men and women for miles and miles would go at daybreak. Men cutting logs, women cooking food, and by evening the house would be finished. Plaster and pieces of wood were used to fill chinks between the logs, not one nail was used. (The loft had port holes in it to watch for Indians). There was no window glass, so greased paper was placed over the window openings. Of course, all the cooking was done over the open fireplace. The loft was a place for sleeping; in the winter the children would lay on a feather tick and cover with another tick, and in the morn would need to shake the snow off, which had covered them in the night.

A wedding was another big event for all to celebrate. Logs were heaped high and made into a huge bonfire. Nearby another huge log pile was seen to be added to the fire. Here all the rifles were placed so they were handy, if needed. After the parson performed the wedding ceremony, he began to call for the dances. Music was a lone fiddler. They would dance all night until their moccasins wore thin. They also had foot races, throwing of tomahawks, and the women cooked huge meals for all. The newlyweds' cabin was made by the hands of all the neighbors. The cost of household goods was near $20.

"My great-great-grandfather, Louis Wolf, was born in 1797 and married Elizabeth Becker in 1820. They came to America with their two children, George age 4, and infant daughter Susan, in 1831. Louis cleared his own land and became one of the pioneer farmers of America. Three more children were born in Ohio, Catherine in 1835, Caroline in 1840, and Philip in 1842.

My great-grandfather was George Wolf, born in 1827. He married Elizabeth Wolf, born in 1834. Besides being a farmer he worked on the canal out of Defiance, Ohio. They lived in Henry County for a few years until George decided to move from this scene where his wife was so depressed after losing four of their five small children. They moved back later to the home where Harold Wolf lives today. (They are buried in the Ridge Cemetery east of New Bavaria, Ohio. The four generations of my father are all resting in the Ridge Cemetery.) Twelve children were born of this union: Jake, Mary, Benjamin, Frank, Catherine, Young George, Dan, Elizabeth, Louisa, Cindy, Susan, and Charlie.

My grandpa, Young George Wolf was born in 1860 and married Fannie Gertrude Fenter. Grandpa owned a partnership in a sawmill with his Uncle Philip and also farmed. They lived on the Fenter homestead. Five children of this union were: Alma, Nora, Gertie, Earl, and Ruth. Grandma died in 1911 and Grandpa remarried, in 1914, Margaret Rose Hornung. He served as a county commissioner.

My father Earl Nicholas Wolf was born January 29, 1896, and married Emma Sofia Helena Setzer (born Sept. 21, 1896) on October 19, 1920. He was engaged in farming and they made their home on the George Wolf homestead near Pleasant Bend, and my mother still lives on this farm. Mother taught piano and they both loved to sing and entertain in the area. Father died February 17, 1969, and he too is resting in the Ridge Cemetery with his ancestors.

Their two children are Marian Lucille, born in 1921 and Jerald Louis, born in 1926.

Marian and Charles Robert Meeks (born in 1915) were married September, 1941, and they live at R.R. #1, Continental, Ohio. Charles is owner of an appliance and general store in North Creek, Ohio.

Their three children are Linda (born in 1942), Robert Lee (born in 1947), and Darrell Richard (born in 1955).

Linda was married to John Hill in 1961 and live at R.R. 1, Continental, Ohio, and John is employed at North Creek Elevator. Linda is a piano teacher. Their two children are Cynthia, 1962, and Debra, 1966.

Robert Lee Meeks and Sue Ellen Klingler were married in 1967. They live in Findlay, Ohio, where Bob is an accountant for Marathon Oil Company. They are parents of two children, Angela in 1968 and Brian in 1969.

Darrell Richard Meeks and Patricia Ann Porter were married in 1975 and live at R.R. # 1, Continental, Ohio, and Darrell is employed at Defiance Grocery Company.

Jerald Louis Wolf and Rozena Carder were married in 1947. They built a new home on the George Wolf farm where Jerry farms and has a modern dairy. Their three children are Christine Ann born in 1949; Natalie Mae, 1953; and Thomas Jerald in 1954.

Christine Ann Wolf and Michael D. Boutwell were married in 1971 and live at R.R. # 1, Jenera, Ohio, and Mike is a social worker in Findlay, Ohio. They have one son Derek Jason born in 1973. Chris is a home economics teacher at Vanlue, Ohio.

Natalie Mae Wolf married Thomas L. Stober in 1974 and they live in St. Paul, Minnesota, where both attended the University of Minnesota.

Thomas Jerald Wolf and Darlene Kay Vandemark were married in 1975 and they live at R.R. #6, Defiance, Ohio. They both are attending Ohio State University and Tom helps his father on the farm in summer.

The George Wolf homestead on which my mother, Emma Wolf lived, burned completely in April, 1975, and a mobile home has been located in the same place and my mother now lives in it.

(A family history was compiled by Marian Meeks and a 70 page book was published in 1971 and is the source from which most of the above information was taken, this being done in honor of her father, Earl N. Wolf.)

Submitted by Marian (Wolf) Meeks