From A
Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. II, p. 1339
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902
GEORGE W. WOHLFORD
George W Wohlford is a retired farmer living in Lyons. Through years of active connection with agricultural interests he won a very desirable competence that now enables him to rest from the more arduous duties of life and enjoy the comforts of former toil. He is numbered among the highly respected citizens of Rice county, where he has made his home for seventeen years, having located within its borders in 1884, at which time he took up his abode in Atlanta township.
Mr Wohlford is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Knox county, near Mt Vernon, on the 1st of August, 1850, and he is a son of George and Priscilla (Stohl) Wohlford. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and was of German lineage, his ancestors being honorable and reliable citizens of the Keystone state. He was reared in Pennsylvania and in Ohio, and after attaining his majority wedded Miss Stohl, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, and represented an old Pennsylvania family. They became the parents of ten children, of whom six are now living, namely: Mrs Catherine Burger, of Ohio; Henry, who is also living in that state; Mrs Malinda Wise, of Knox county, Ohio; George W, of this review; Anthony, who makes his home in Harper county, Kansas; and William, who is living in Knox county, Ohio. Three of the family died in early childhood, and Lovina passed away when a young lady. The mother died at the age of sixty-five years and the father reached the very advanced age of eighty-four years. He gave his political support to the Democracy, and both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church – earnest Christian people, who enjoyed the respect, confidence and good-will of all with whom they were associated.
In his early boyhood George W Wohlford took his place in the fields to assist in the work of plowing, planting and harvesting. Lessons of industry and integrity were early instilled into his mind, and thus the foundation for an upright character was laid. His literary training was received in the public schools of Ohio. As usual with young men when they start out in life for themselves he sought a companion and helpmate for the journey through life, and on the 17th of April, 1873, was united in marriage to Miss Lavina Daub, who was born in Knox county, Ohio, a daughter of George Daub, whose birth occurred in Germany, in 1811, and he was of German lineage. In an early day he removed to Pennsylvania, and there married Miss Mary Burt, also a native of Germany, her girlhood days, however, being partly passed in Pennsylvania. She died at the age of fifty-eight years, and Mr Daub departed this life in Knox county, Ohio, when seventy-six years of age. Throughout his business career he carried on agricultural pursuits and was an industrious man of sterling worth. In his religious views he was a Lutheran and in political belief was a Democrat. Mr and Mrs Daub had a family of ten children, namely: Elizabeth, deceased; Mrs Catherine Hazlett, of Knox county, Ohio; John, who died in that county; Mrs Margaret Spearman, a resident of Knox county; Mrs Mary Tilton, who is living in the same county; Mrs Sarah Ferguson, of Rice county, Kansas; George and Fred, who make their home in Knox county; and Mrs Amanda Ferenbaugh, now deceased.
Mr and Mrs Wohlford began their domestic life in the Buckeye state and retained their residence in Knox county until 1884, when they came to Kansas, locating on a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres, which he still owns. In his farming operations he was very successful, and as his financial resources increased he added to his property until he now owns four hundred acres of valuable land. His farm is improved with two good residences, two barns, feed lots, windmills and every accessory found upon a model farm. There is an attractive grove, good meadow and pasture lands and rich fields of grain. For some time Mr Wohlford was successfully engaged in the raising of stock, making a specialty of cattle and horses. In 1898, however, he put aside the busy cares of the farm and removed to Lyons, where he is now living in quiet retirement.
The marriage of Mr and Mrs Wohlford was blessed with ten children: Fred, who is now twenty-seven years of age, married May Wiggins, by whom he has two children, and resides upon the old homestead farm; John, twenty-four years of age, is also living on the farm; George, a young man of twenty-three, is a resident of Colorado; Lewis, twenty-one years of age, makes his home in Rice county; Roy and Gloucester, aged eighteen and thirteen years, are with their parents; Katoura May, who is eleven years of age, is particularly well advanced in her musical studies; and Grace, eight years of age, completes the family. They also lost two children: Flora Lodella, who died at the age of seventeen months, and Ada Pearl, who died at the age of five months. The former was the fifth, the latter the seventh in order of birth.
In his political affiliations Mr Wohlford was formerly a Democrat, but is now identified with the People’s party, and takes a deep interest in its success. They occupy a pleasant residence in Lyons, and are surrounded by many warm friends, who esteem them for their many excellencies of character. His career has been an active and useful one, and demonstrates the power of determined industry when conquering fate and winning fortune.