William P. Wolf
Encyclopedia
William Penn Wolf was a nineteenth century politician, lawyer and judge from Iowa
.
, Wolf attended public schools as a child and later Holbrook Seminary. He moved to Cedar County, Iowa
in 1856, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1859, commencing practice in Tipton, Iowa
. He served as superintendent of public schools and was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives
in 1863 and 1864.
During the Civil War
, Wolf served as captain of Company I of the 46th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
. He was appointed assistant assessor
of internal revenue
in 1865, and was a member of the Iowa Senate
from 1867 to 1869.
On September 30, 1870, William Smyth
, the incumbent Congressman
representing Iowa's 2nd congressional district
, died while seeking re-election. His death left a vacancy on the Republican ticket and created a need for an immediate successor to finish out his term. Wolf was elected as a Republican
to serve out Smyth's term, while fellow Republican Aylett R. Cotton
was elected to succeed him. Wolf served from December 6, 1870, to March 3, 1871, when Cotton's two-year term began.
Afterward, Wolf resumed practicing law in Tipton. He was again a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 1881 to 1885, serving as Speaker of the House
in 1884. He was elected a judge of the eighteenth judicial district in the fall
of 1894 and served until his death in Tipton on September 19, 1896. He was interred in Masonic Cemetery in Tipton.
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
.
Biography
Born in Harrisburg, OhioHarrisburg, Ohio
Harrisburg is a village in Franklin and Pickaway counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 332 at the 2000 census.-History:Harrisburg was founded in 1836 by Joseph Chenowith and surveyed and platted by Frederick Cole...
, Wolf attended public schools as a child and later Holbrook Seminary. He moved to Cedar County, Iowa
Cedar County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 13,956 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,064 housing units, of which 7,511 were occupied.-2000 census:...
in 1856, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1859, commencing practice in Tipton, Iowa
Tipton, Iowa
Tipton is a city in Cedar County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,155 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cedar County.-Geography:Tipton is located at ....
. He served as superintendent of public schools and was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
in 1863 and 1864.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Wolf served as captain of Company I of the 46th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
46th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 46th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was among scores of regiments that were raised in the summer of 1864 as Hundred Days Men, an effort to augment existing manpower for an all-out push to end the war...
. He was appointed assistant assessor
Assessor (property)
An assessor is a specialist who calculates the value of property. The value calculated by the assessor is then used as the basis for determining the amounts to be paid or assessed for tax or insurance purposes....
of internal revenue
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
in 1865, and was a member of the Iowa Senate
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
from 1867 to 1869.
On September 30, 1870, William Smyth
William Smyth
William Smyth was Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield from 1493 to 1496 and then Bishop of Lincoln until his death. He held political offices, the most important being Lord President of the Council of Wales and the Marches. He became very wealthy and was a benefactor of a number of institutions...
, the incumbent Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
representing Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district
Iowa's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that generally covers most of the southeastern part of the state including Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.The district is currently represented by Democrat Dave Loebsack....
, died while seeking re-election. His death left a vacancy on the Republican ticket and created a need for an immediate successor to finish out his term. Wolf was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to serve out Smyth's term, while fellow Republican Aylett R. Cotton
Aylett R. Cotton
Aylett Rains Cotton was a nineteenth century politician, lawyer, judge, teacher and miner from Iowa and California....
was elected to succeed him. Wolf served from December 6, 1870, to March 3, 1871, when Cotton's two-year term began.
Afterward, Wolf resumed practicing law in Tipton. He was again a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 1881 to 1885, serving as Speaker of the House
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
in 1884. He was elected a judge of the eighteenth judicial district in the fall
Autumn
Autumn is one of the four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter usually in September or March when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier....
of 1894 and served until his death in Tipton on September 19, 1896. He was interred in Masonic Cemetery in Tipton.