WILLIAM WOOLEVER. 



WILLIAM WOOLEVER. 



William Woolever was born in Columbia Co., Pa., in the 

 year 1807, Oct. 29. His grandfather was an emigrant from 

 Germany. His father, Samuel Woolever, was born in Columbia 

 County in 1779 j married Effie Gillespie, a native of the same 

 county. Of this union there were born four sons and three 

 daughters, of whom William was eldest. His father died at 

 the age of forty-five, in the same county where he was born. 

 His mother died at about the age of forty, the next year after 

 her husband, in the year 1825. 



Of the children, only a sister, Mrs. Jacob Yager, of Lycom- 

 ing Co., Pa., besides the subject of this narrative, survives. 



Mr. Woolever came to Arkport, Steuben Co., first in the year 

 1823, with his father; stayed nearly one year, and returned to 

 their home in Pennsylvania. After the death of both his 

 father and mother, in the year 1826, he returned to Arkport 

 and began work by the month for Christopher Cary. His 

 whole capital was twelve shillings in money. In 1827 he mar- 

 ried Mrs. Cary, and began a business life for himself. 



Through the assistance of the late Ira Davenport he rented 

 a farm (Mr. Davenport's), which he carried on for ten years, 

 and was then able of his own means to purchase seventy acres 



of land for himself, to which he afterwards made additions, so 

 that he became the possessor of several hundred acres of fine 

 agricultural land about Arkport- 



His life has been one of industry, economy, and care, and it 

 is to such men as Mr. Woolever that the rising generation jyill 

 ever owe a debt of gratitude for their enterprise, privation, and 

 resolution in building schools, churches, clearing off forests, and 

 establishing law and order in society. With that public spirit 

 that shows devotion to country and sympathy for the needy, 

 upon the breaking out of the late Rebellion, Mr. Woolever was 

 the first man to offer his subscription for the care of soldiers' 

 wives and families while they were in battle at the front. 



He has been an unswerving member of the Whig and Re- 

 publican parties, and ever exercised the right of suffrage. 



His wife died in October, 18G9, aged seventy. His children 

 were William (deceased), Mary Ann (deceased), Alexander (de- 

 ceased), Augustus (deceased) ; James and Samuel, of Arkport ; 

 and Mrs. Allington Ward, of Michigan. 



For his second wife, in the year 1870, he married Mrs. Mary 

 Ann Cairns, widow of the late Hiram Cairns, of Allegany Co., 

 N. Y., and daughter of Sylvester Prior, of Arkport. 



