Adam Egolf Biographical Sketch

ADAM EGOLF, a native of Montgomery County, Penn., born August 6, 1800, is the son of Henry and Polly Egolf, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Pennsylvania. After the death of Henry Egolf, which occurred in Ohio, his wife moved to this State, where she afterward died. Adam Egolf lived in his native State until the age of nineteen, and there acquired a common education. He then went to Ohio with his parents, and assisted in clearing the home farm. He was married in Fairfield County, to Miss Susan Shriner, a native of Ohio, in October, 1823. Her father, Peter Shriner, native of Virginia, died in this State. Mr. and Mrs. Egolf, until they came to this township and settled in June, 1837, lived on his farm of eighty acres in Licking County, Ohio. They were among the earliest pioneers here, and found the forests filled with Indians and wild animals. His first purchase included 240 acres of land, and until he could raise a log cabin, he built a temporary dwelling of rails. Mr. Egolf cleared ninety acres of his farm and increased it to 600 acres, and has given land to his children. His first wife died in 1841. They had eight children-Peter, a resident of Michigan; Elizabeth, deceased; Catharine, of Noble County; Anna, deceased; Henry, of this township; John, of Michigan; and Benjamin of this township. Mr. Egolf married his present wife, Mrs. Lydia Witham, in 1842. She was born in Washington County, Ohio, and is the daughter of Abel and Nancy Gates, the latter a native of Delaware. They died in Ohio. Mr. Egolf held the office of County Commissioner six years, and that of Township Trustee, six or seven years; also served as Justice of the Peace one term. By his second wife Mr. Egolf had seven children-Rachel, George W. and Melissa, residents of this township; Jemima, of Columbia Township; Adam J.; of this township; Harvey M., an M.D. at Collamer, this county; and Lydia A., of Columbia Township. Mr. Egolf, in his hunting experience has killed four hundred deer, and numbers of other wild animals.