| Richard M. Wolfe was born November 16, 1849, the son of J.
H. Wolfe and Elizabeth Saunders, daughter of D. Saunders, a
prominent Cherokee. When Richard was but five months old,
his father left for California to search for gold in order, as he said
himself, to properly educate his son, but unfortunately he never
returned. At the age of seven Richard went to school for three
months, and then again in two years later, passed five months at
a public school. From the outbreak of the war till its ending he
remained at home to take care of his mother, and in 1865, when he had almost forgotten the book learning he had acquired, attended school for three terms, dropping off at McGuffy's fourth
reader. He was then 21 years of age, and the only support of his
mother and grandmother, so that he was obliged to work in the
fields and snatch the brief intervals between crop times to educate
himself. Despite his limited opportunities, he was enabled to
teach the public school at Tyners' Valley soon after he became of
age, and the year following became mission teacher at the Moravian Mission, Spring Creek, which institute had but five pupils at
the commencement of the term, but increased to fifty-six, before
he resigned, in twelve months from the date of his appointment.
The refusal on the part of the board to increase his salary, was
the cause of Mr. Wolfe's resignation. He, therefore, devoted his
attention to farming for some time, and in November, 1872, married Susan E. Shelley, daughter to L. W. Shelley, district judge,
Tahlequah district. He soon, however, returned to teaching at
the Tyners' Valley school, and remained there for two years. In
1875 he was elected clerk of the lower house, but during the same
session, being appointed as interpreter, he resigned the former
office, and held the latter for four years, till 1879—being once reelected in the meanwhile. Afterwards he was elected to the senate, and during the term was commissioned to go to Washington as a national delegate. While absent with Chief Bushyhead
at the capital, Mr. Wolfe's mother died (December 23, 1879).
He returned in seven months, and was elected to again visit Washington in the years 1881, 1882, 1884 and 1890, besides once on a
special mission in 1883. In 1880, or thereabouts, Mr. Wolfe was
appointed to fill the unexpired term of Judge Rufus Adair on the
supreme bench, and received the commission of chief justice. In
1887 he was elected to the senate from Going Snake district,
and was re-elected in the fall of 1891. In 1889 he served as
attorney for the nation on the citizen commission, until the dissolution of the same. Mr. Wolfe has a family of five children,
Jesse B., Mitchell W., Mary J., Alice, Richard and Thomas.
He is the owner of 130 acres in cultivation, 100 head of
stock and 10 head of horses. He is an able lawyer and practices in the United States courts, as well as the courts of the
Indian Territory. Although but forty-two years of age, there are few men in tbe legislative department of the Cherokee Nation
who possess such influence as Senator Richard Wolfe. Yet, withall, in manner and address he is quiet and subdued. Without any
apparent aggressiveness, bombast or display, his words weigh
heavily and sway many an older member of the senate. It is very
possible, therefore, that Mr. Wolfe will fill the highest oifice in the
nation at some future period. The Tahlequah Capital Daily News
of November 14, 1891, says: "Mr. Wolfe is an orator who
has few equals in his country he is intellectual and versatile, a profound reasoner and, in the senate, an antagonist worthy of any foe." |
