Norman M. Wolfe
Today is the birthday anniversary of Norman M. Wolfe, who was born in Monroe township, this county, July 6, 1849. After completing his college course and devoting several years to teaching he took up the study of law in 1876 and was admitted to the bar in 1878. He served two terms as city solicitor of Mansfield, from 1879 to 1882. In 1891 he was elected common pleas judge in this subdivision and remained on the bench for two terms. He is a member of the law firm of Cummings, McBride & Wolfe.
From The Mansfield News Wednesday, July 6, 1910, p. 7
Norman M. Wolfe, attorney at law of Mansfield, was born in Monroe township, Richland county, Ohio, July 6, 1849. His grandfather, Adam Wolfe, was a soldier of the Revolution. He was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1760, enlisted with the Pennsylvania volunteers, served his country with distinction and was honorably discharged. On the 16th of January, 1790, he married Rachel Oldham and in 1816 removed to Ohio, settling in Monroe township, Richland county. He died April 24, 1845, and the mortal remains of this soldier of the Revolution repose in the little cemetery at Newville, Richland county.
His family numbered ten children, of whom Joseph Wolfe, the father of Norman M. Wolfe, was the seventh. He also was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, November 26, 1801, and on the 1st of December, 1846, was united in marriage to Sarah Mecklem, a native of Beaver county. They had three sons and one daughter. The eldest son and the only daughter, the oldest and the youngest, are deceased, leaving Norman M. Wolfe and his brother, L. L. Wolfe, as the only survivors. The latter now resides on a farm in Monroe township. The father died January 28, 1875, at the age of seventy-three years, and the mother followed on the 21st of December, 1895, nearly eighty-three years of age. Both are buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Lucas, Ohio. Joseph Wolfe was a man of superior education and of great mental powers. His mathematics included trigonometry and he was of wide and varied experience as a teacher in the public schools of his time. He was a member of the Baptist church. An accident in early life caused him always to be very lame, almost depriving him of the use of one of his limbs, but notwithstanding this he never relinquished agricultural pursuits, and the pioneer of 1816 thenceforth was a farmer resident of Monroe township, where he died and was buried, honored and respected by the entire community.
Judge Norman M. Wolfe was reared on his father’s farm and acquired his early education in the old district school a mile away. He afterward prepared for college at Greentown Academy in Perrysville, Ohio, under the able instruction of Professor J. C. Sample, pursuing his studies there for several years. He taught school much of the time during the winter months and thus secured the funds necessary to meet the expenses of his academic course in the summer, and eventually was promoted to the position of assistant teacher of mathematics in the academy. His college work was commenced in the University of Wooster which he entered in 1873, there spending two years. He further pursued his studies in Amherst College, Massachusetts. During the time he was engaged in teaching he became the principal of the high school at Lucas, Ohio, and also of Mahoning Institute, a select school then located at Ellsworth, Mahoning county.
Judge Wolfe began the study of law April 14, 1876, first at Shelby, Ohio, and afterwards with the firm of Dickey & Jenner at Mansfield, Ohio, being admitted to the practice of his profession by the supreme court of Ohio on the 7th of May, 1878. Mr. Wolfe has held the following elective offices: township clerk of Monroe township from April, 1872, until April, 1874,--two terms of one year each; city solicitor of Mansfield from kApril, 1879, until April, 1883,--two terms of two years each; member of the board of education of Mansfield, from April, 1886, until April, 1892,--two terms of three years each and during that time was favored by his associates with the position of clerk and president of the board; judge of the court of common pleas for the second subdivision of the sixth judicial district of Ohio for two terms of five years each. He was first elected to the bench in the fall of 1891, assuming the duties of his office in February, 1892, and terminating his second term on the 9th of February, 1902. Twice during this period he was selected by his associates as presiding judge. It is said of Mr. Wolfe that in the discharge of the high and important duties of his office he was always fearless, prompt and impartial, displaying at all times careful study and distinguished ability.
In 1877 Mr. Wolfe was appointed by the court of common pleas one of the members of the first board of trustees of the memorial library board for the city of Mansfield and Madison township, just then created by act of the general assembly, which position he held until his election to the bench. In 1903 he was again selected and appointed by the mayor one of the members of the first board of five trustees of the municipal library of Mansfield, and at its organization he was elected president of the board, and still continues its presiding officer.
On the 1st of December, 1879, Judge Wolfe formed his first law partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. W. H. Pritchard, under the firm name of Pritchard & Wolfe, which association continued until December, 1884, when Mr. Pritchard removed with his family to the territory of Washington, whereupon Mr. Wolfe formed a partnership with Mr. J. P. Henry under the firm name of Wolfe & Henry. This continued until his accession to the bench in 1892. Immediately after his retirement from the judgeship in 1902, he again entered actively into the practice of his profession at Mansfield, forming a partnership with Messrs. Cummings and McBride and adding the name Wolfe to the old firm. He forthwith entered an active field where he yet be found. He has been a well known factor in connection with the public buildings in the city of his residence, being a member of the board which erected the Memorial Library building and playhouse attached. He was also a member of the school board when the magnificent structure known as the high school was erected on Fourth street. Indeed he enjoys the distinction of first pointing out the hitherto unthought of site at the corner of Fourth and Rowman. He was also a member of the municipal library board which purchased the site and erected the free public library between Walnut and Mulberry on West Third street.
Judge Wolfe was married on the 22d of September, 1877, to Miss Jennie Leiter, daughter of Jacob Leiter, of Monroe township. They became the parents of six children, four of whom still survive: Grace M., wife of Dr. George W. Kenson, residing in Mansfield; and Fred W., Fay F. and Norman L., who reside with their parents in Mansfield. Mr. Wolfe is an active member of substantially all the Masonic fraternities, including Mansfield Commandery and the Dayton Consistory, and is likewise identified with the Mystic Club. He is also a member of Beta Theta Pi, the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Golden Eagle, and a member of the Presbyterian church. He is a man free from ostentation or display. His jovial nature and fund of humor, combined with strong and sterling qualities and his unimpeachable integrity, have gained him a favorable place in the regard of his fellow townsmen.
From History of Richland County, Ohio From 1808 to 1908, vol. II, by A. J. Baughman