NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

One of the most arduous, as well as one of the most honored and glorious of all the professions, is that of medicine. No profession makes such constant and unremitting demands upon mind and body, and unless the nerves are under absolute control the desired results cannot be achieved. The self-sacrifice of the men engaged in this profession is not to be overestimated. There is scarcely a day when a physician does not encounter risks which endanger his own life, yet all this is done voluntarily – for the sake of suffering humanity and to further the cause of science. Among those who have distinguished themselves in the medical profession in Morris county, New Jersey, the name of Dr. William J. WOLFE takes high rank. Had he devoted himself to any special branch of medical science he would undoubtedly have become a leader in it, but general practice claimed so large a share of his time, and he felt that he was accomplishing worthy work along those lines, so that his practice never became a specialized one. He is a descendent of an old and well known family of Pennsylvania, and the name was originally spelled WOLF. In 1870, however, the final "e" was added, and has been retained since that time.

George WOLF, the American founder of the family, and the great-grandfather of Dr. WOLFE, was born in Germany, and became an American citizen about the year 1759. He had two sons: George and Philip. George WOLF, the son, took up the study of law with the Hon. John ROSS, and served as postmaster of Easton, Pennsylvania, for two years under the administration of Thomas JEFFERSON. He was elected to the lower house of the State legislature in 1814, was elected to Congress in 1824, and served three terms. In 1829 he was elected the seventh governor of Pennsylvania, and was re-elected to succeed himself. Through his instrumentality a law was enacted by which the banks were compelled to loan money to the State for public improvements, and by this procedure, the State treasury, which was in a very depleted condition at the time, was not called upon. In association with the Hon. Thaddeus STEVENS, he organized the free school system of the State, and instituted various other measures, the benefits of which are still felt at the present day. He served for a period of two years as the first comptroller of the treasury of the United States, having been appointed to the office by President JACKSON in 1836, and President VAN BUREN appointed him collector of the port of Philadelphia. His death occurred March 11, 1840.

Philip WOLF, son of George WOLF, was a farmer and lumberman of Bath, Pennsylvania. He took no conspicuous part in the public life of his township, but was honored throughout the community as a worthy citizen of sterling integrity. He married Susanna SNYDER, and had five children.

William WOLFE, son of Philip and Susanna (SNYDER) WOLF, was born in Bath, Pennsylvania, 1818, died in April, 1889. For a number of years he was engaged in business as a cooper, then turned his attention to agriculture, and during the last years of his life had lived in retirement. He married, in 1836, Anna Maria VAN HORN, who died in 1893, daughter of Cornelius VAN HORN, a soldier of the War of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. WOLFE became the parents of fourteen children, all of whom lived to maturity.

Dr. William J. WOLFE, son of William and Anna Maria (VAN HORN) WOLFE, was born in Bangor, Northhampton county, Pennsylvania, April 28, 1859. After leaving the public schools in which his early education was obtained, he was prepared for the university at Mount Bethel College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1880. He commenced teaching in his native State, being given charge of his home school at the early age of seventeen years, and continued there for a period of two years. He was then appointed to the East Bangor grammar school, which he served as principal for three years. The medical profession had always had a peculiar fascination for him, and he studied under the preceptorship of Dr. E. D. COLLIER, of Bangor, Pennsylvania, and also at the New York University. He entered this institution in 1881, and was graduated in March, 1884. He at once established himself in the practice of his profession in his native city, continuing there until June, 1885, when he removed to Chatham, New Jersey, where he has since been located. His patronage is a large and lucrative one, and he has not alone won the gratitude of the numerous patients whom he has restored to health, but he has gained their confidence and affection as well. He has done considerable research work along independent lines, and has been able to contribute extensively to scientific data.

The political affiliations of Dr. WOLFE have been with the Democratic party, and he was appointed postmaster of Chatham, New Jersey, by President WILSON, in June, 1913. He has served as trustee of the village schools, was elected one of the original five village trustees under the village government, and has acted in the capacity of treasurer. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church of which he is a deacon, and his wife is active in church work, and is a member of the Chatham Reading Circle and Society. He is a member of the following organizations: Member of the Morris County, State and American Medical societies; Summit, New Jersey, Medical Club; was one year president of Morris County Medical Society; delegate to State conventions; member of the Morris District Medical Society; State Pharmaceutical Association; Madison Lodge, No. 93, F. and A. M.; Chatham Lodge, No. 245, I. O. O. F.; J. O. U. A. M.

Dr. WOLFE married, December 16, 1885, Clara, born in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, daughter of Thomas M. and Catherine (MAJOR) McILHANEY, the former a well known attorney and for eighteen years prothonotary of Monroe county, Pennsylvania. Children: 1. Walter McIlhaney, graduated in 1908 with the degree of Civil Engineer from the Virginia Military Institute, at Lexington, Virginia, and is now a subway construction engineer in the city of New York. 2. Van Horne D., graduate B. A., class of 1913, collegiate department of the University of Pennsylvania; made a special study of agriculture; member of Sigma Phi Sigma, was one of a crew in the intercollegiate regatta at Poughkeepsie, New York, where he won his letter. 3. Catherine M., graduated from the Summit High School, New Jersey, and is now employed in the Newark Public Library. 4. W. Clare, in his first year at the Chatham High School. Dr. WOLFE has never ceased studying. He keeps well abreast of the times, not alone as far as current events are concerned, but in all matters connected even remotely with the profession he has chosen to make his life work. His warm hearted and sympathetic nature has not become hardened in the course of years by the scenes of suffering he has been called upon to witness while in the presence of suffering he has been called upon to witness while in the performance of his professional work. On the contrary, he appears to have an ever deeper sympathy with his fellow beings as the years glide by, and is ever more and more desirous to do all that lies in his power to alleviate suffering.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).

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