HERBERT D. WOLFF
Virginia: Rebirth of  the Old Dominion, pg 210

A man of wide education, having a mind well stored with knowledge 
gained mainly by study, observation and experience, Professor 
Herbert D. Wolff, principal of the Petersburg High School is 
numbered among the more energetic and successful educators of 
Dinwiddie County, the pupils under his charge bearing visible 
evidence of his excellent physical and mental training.

A son of Rev. James H. Wolff, he was born and bred in 
Springfield, West Virginia, the descendant of an early family 
of that section of the state.

His paternal grandfather, John Wolff, was as far as known a 
life long resident of Berkeley County West Virginia.  He had 
a vigorous constitution and lived to a venerable age, passing 
away at his West Virginia home at the age of four score and 
ten years. Of his four sons, two of them became ministers, 
preaching the Gospel in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Rev. James H. Wolff was born in Martinsburg, Berkeley Co. Wv 
and as a young boy united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
in this manner making a public profession of his religious 
faith. Having acquired a good education in the common branches 
of learning, he studied theology.  When thoroughly fitted for 
the ministry he was ordained as a preacher at a Baltimore 
Conference and subsequently held pastorates in different 
places.  On his retirement from the pulpit he located in 
Charlestown, West Virginia where he resided until his death. 
He married Miss Selma Hout, who was born in Shepherdstown, 
West Virginia, a daughter of David and Ann (Miller) Hout.  
Two children blessed their marriage, Eldridge E., a well 
known physician of Cambridge, Maryland and Herbert D. of 
whom we write.

After laying a wise foundation for his future education under 
private tutors Herbert D. Wolff attended first the public 
schools of Winchester Virginia, later becoming a student in 
the Shenandoah Valley Academy, from which he was graduated 
with an excellent record for his scholarship.  Entering then 
the University of Virginia, he was graduated from that 
institution with the class of 1900 and with the degrees of 
B.A. and M.A.  Beginning his career as a teacher, he taught 
for a year in Strasburg, Virginia, the ensuing year being 
similarly employed in York, South Carolina.  Going north, 
he taught for a year in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after which 
he located in Berryville, Virginia where he taught school 
until 1907.  He subsequently taught for two years in a 
private school in Petersburg, Virginia and later in 
Petersburg High School until 1913.  Being then appointed 
principal of the Petersburg High School, Professor Wolff 
has since performed the duties falling upon him in this 
capacity in a highly efficient and satisfactory manner, 
having won the love and respect of his pupils and the 
confidence of their parents.

On December 23, 1903 Professor Wolff was united in marriage 
with Harriet Louise Lowry, who was born in York, South 
Carolina, a daughter of Ernest and Julia (Bratton) Lowry 
and into their home two children have made their appearance, 
Herbert D. Jr., a student in medicine of the University of 
Virginia, class of 1929 and Louise Lowry, a student at the 
Randolph-Macon Woman's College at Lynchburg, Virginia, 
class 1932.  Mrs. Wolff was formerly an Episcopalian, but 
now both she and the professor are members of the 
Washington Street Methodist Episcopal Church South.  The 
professor is secretary of the Appeal Board of the church. 
He is a past treasurer of the Virginia State Education Assoc. 
and vice president of the R.E. Lee Council, Boy Scouts, a 
position of importance and influence.

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