Martin L. Wolf Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 1081-1082

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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MARTIN L. WOLF, one of the prominent early settlers of Brown county, 
has a well-improved farm in Garden Prairie township, which he has 
acquired by his own efforts and good management. He entered Dakota 
without means, and is now one of the substantial men of his calling in 
the community and is held in the highest esteem by his fellow men. 

Mr. Wolf was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in September, 1856. 
His parents, Henry and Margarette (Hood) Wolf, were natives of 
Pennsylvania, and the father was of Dutch descent. He was a miller and 
followed his trade throughout his life. He died when our subject was 
still too young to remember him, and the mother died when he had 
reached the age of thirteen years. Martin L. was one of twins, and 
there was one child older in the family. After the mother's death he 
and his brother had a guardian appointed, and after that time he worked 
for his livelihood. He had attended the village school previous to his 
mother's death and gained a good common school education. He spent four 
years as an apprentice to the carriage painter's trade, and at the age 
of eighteen left the shop and traveled through the eastern states, 
working at his trade, spending some time in Iowa, where he conducted a 
shop for himself. He went to Brown county in 1886 and purchased a 
relinquishment to the southeast quarter of section 27, township 125, 
range 60, and erected a shanty 8 x 12 feet, wherein he "bached" nine 
years. He had a team and wagon, and soon after his settlement built a 
board barn. He has added to his possessions from time to time, and is 
now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land and operates six 
quarter-sections of land. He engages in wheat raising and also the 
raising of horses, and his farm is well improved, and all modern 
machinery is used on the farm. He had but one dollar and thirty-five 
cents in money when he reached Groton, and he and his brother engaged 
in the furniture business in that town from 1886 to 1889. He has made a 
success of every business venture, and is comfortably situated. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wolf have one daughter, Emma Gladys, who was born April 5, 
1898. Our subject is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. 
He is an ardent worker for the upbuilding of his community, and has 
held various local offices. He served four years as township treasurer 
and six years as assessor, and since taking up his residence in Brown 
county has held office continuously on the school board. 

Politically he is a Republican, and his popularity is best evidenced by 
the fact that he has been elected each time to the township offices in 
a strong Populist township, running ahead of his party ticket.