Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-14
THE DEAD MANS CAREER.
PROMINENT IN STATE POLITICS AT AN
EARLY AGE.
An Interesting Review of His Life Written
by One of His Associates A Man
Whose Independence Was Very Promi-

/
| nent.
Hon George E. Mapes, the Chairman of
the Independent Republican Committee of
| last fall, recently wrote the following
sketch of his former associate in the Leg
islature and political work:
Among the men who figure as leaders in
| the Prohibition party in Pennsylvania, none
are more prominent than Charles Spyker
Wolfe, of Union county. Although younger
by many years than several of the we'll
known Prohibitionists of the State, his long
and brilliant career in the Legislature has
served to bring him into closer relations to
| the people as a whole and his speeches are
| listened to and read by men of all parties.
Mr.. Wolfe was born at Lewisburg, which is
still his home, April g. ls45
His father Samuel Wolfe, was of Pennsyl-
vania .German extraction, his ancestors
having emigrated to this section from Berks
county before the Revolution. Samuel
Wolfe married Catharine Lawshe, who was
descended from Huguenot family, and set
tied down to business as the leading grain
dealer of the West Branch Valley. His bust
ness was carried on by means of the canal,
over which he shipped his wheat to Balti-
more and Philadelphia. His reputation for
honesty was so well established in the Sec
tion in which he dealt that his word was
never questioned. This reputation stood
his son in good stead when the latter be-
came candidate for the Legislature, as he
was often greeted while making his first
canvass with the remark that "if he proved
as good man as his father the district
would have reason to be proud of him.
Samuel Wolfe died in 1850, when his son
Charles was but years old, but he had been
SO successful in business that his family was
left in good circumstances.
AN AMBITIOUS STUDENT.
Charles early became an ambitious stu
dent, and in 1861 entered Lewisturg Univer-
sity, of which his father had been a princi-
pal founder Although but l6 years of age
he was awarded.the highest prize given his
class at the preliminary examination. Nat
urally of a delicate constitution, close ap-
plication to study undermined his health,
and he was obliged to leave college for a
year, spending the time in Minnesota with a
party OF civil engineers who were surveying
the WinOna and st. Peters Railroad. Re-
stored to health by n year of vigorous out
door work, he returned to Lewisburg and
finished his college course, graduating in
1866 with the highest honors of his class
During his college course he was q member
of an independent cavalry company, serv-
ing in the famous Fishing Creek mpaign
and in one of the Cumberland Valley cam
paigns, where he acted as orderly to Cen
eral Couch. He kept up his studies during
his term of military service and did not fall
behind his class. After graduation he en- |
tered the Harvard Law School, taking the |
complete course required by that institu- |
tion. He was married to Martha Z. Meixell |
February &C. 1865 and upon the completion |
OF his law course returned to his native |
town and engaged in the practice OF his |
chosen profession, in which he soon |
achieved marked success. His strongest |
characteristics as lawyer were his indie |
fatigable industry, marvellous powers OF en- |
durance and clearness of statement He |
prepared his cases thoroughly and presented |
his points in terms that are remarkable for /
clearness and precision.
But while achieving far more than an aver |
age success as u lawyer, Mr.. Wolfe is best /
known to the people of Pennsylvania as a |
brilliant, courageous and Observation-Disclosures
lator- He was first elected to the PennsyI- |
vania House of Representatives as Republic
an, in 1872, from the counties of Union and |
Snyder, and reelected in the following wear
Although one of the youngest members of
that body, be soon forged to the front Dur
ing this period be gave the first indication
OF his production for temperance reform by
offering and occurring the passage OF q reso- l.
luton prohibiting the keeping of liquor forsI
sale or free distribution in the coat rooms of.I
the House.
HIS LEGISLATIVE RECORD.
Union county now became separate
legislative district and Mr. Wolfe was
elected to represent it for the session of 1874.
This session prepared the body of legislation
required to put in force the new Constitu-
ton of 1872. Associated with him during
this session were John l. Mitchell since |
United States Senator: Judge Orvis, of Cen
han, of Mercer. and others of like ability
and experience VINO have since risen to
higher distinction. In the debates of this
session Mr.. Wolfe bore a conSpicuous mart
securing the reputation of being the best.
posted man in the House upon the new Con-
stitution, which he studied until he prac-
tically knew il by heart. Reelected for the
sessions of 1876, Mr.. Wolfe found himself
Tor the nrst time in party minority, the |
Democrats controlling the House. 1t was |
during this session, however, that he en- |
tered upon his real career as q legislative
The famous Boom bill contest |
occurred during this session and Mr. Wolfe |
LED the investigation, which struck the first |
blow at bribery in the PENNSYLVANIA Legisla- |
ture- Two members, Petroff and Lynott, |
were expelled for participation in q corrupt
attempt to pass the bill as the result of his |
determined fight for honesty in legislation |
Mr. Wolfe did not become a candidate for
the House in lS76, resuming the practice of
ms profession tor couple of years. The |
resignation OF Simon Cameron as United
states senator in 1871 and the election of his
son Don 70 succeed him, however, induced |
him to offer himself in the following year as
4 candidate upon the distinct issue that he |
would not vote to return Don Cameron to |
the Senate ut the eX piration of his term in |
1873 Upon this issue he was elected by an
overwhelming majority and was one OF q |
members and Senators who refused to 90
INTO caucus for the nomination of a Sena- |
tor. But five of the q possessed the stay- |
ing qualities necessary to defeat Mr.. CT M
eron and he was elected in spite of the bolt
THE PITTsBURG RIOT BILL.
Mr.. Wolfe now looked forward to q session |
n which he would take a very important |
part and exercise no influence whatever. In
his he was mistaken, however, as in the |
ong struggle over the bill appropriating