Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
AUGUST C. F. WOLKE, a native
of Prussia, Germany, born February 12, 1841, came to the United States
in 1866, to Lincoln county, Washington, about 1882, and now resides on
a productive and highly improved farm one mile northwest of Rocklyn.
Mr. Wolke's parents
were Ludwig and Fredericka (Meyers) Wolke, and were native Germans.
The brothers and sisters of our subject are, Otelia, Edward, Mrs. Albertina
Hauer, and Mrs. Augusta Ledke, all natives of Germany.
August Wolke attended
the schools in his native country until arriving at the age of fourteen,
when he applied himself to mastering the miller's trade, which he succeeded
in doing, and which he followed in Germany to a considerable extent.
He served over three years in the German army during that country's war
with Austria, and was engaged in one severe battle. In the fall of
1866, he came to New York city from Hamburg, and from New York he moved
on to Wisconsin. Later returning to New York, he shipped for San
Francisco, by way of the Panama route, arriving there early in 1867.
While in California he worked at various occupations whereby he might earn
an honest dollar, including work on the railroad and on a farm in the Sacramento
valley, and came by wagon to the Big Bend in 1882. He settled first
at Coal Springs between Davenport and Harrington, where he took a homestead
and timber culture and applied himself to farming and stock raising.
He sold his Coal Creek ranch and removed to his present home of one hundred
and sixty acres in 1898. He also owns another quarter section of
good land near Miles post office.
August C. F. Wolke was
married March 23, 1887, to Amelia Scheffler, born in Watertown, Wisconsin.
Her father and mother, August and Caroline Scheffler, were born in Germany,
and came to the United States, and settled in Wisconsin. From that
state they removed to Minnesota, where they lived until they came to Lincoln
county. They are now living on a farm near Rocklyn. Mrs. Wolke
is their only child.
Mr. and Mrs. Wolke
have been parents of five children, Martha A., Ottele C. T., Annie A.,
Errach C., and Lilly E.
Mr. Wolke is a member
of the German M. E. church, as is also his wife. The family has the
command of four languages German, Holland, Low Dutch, and English.
Mr. Wolke came to Lincoln
county without means, and had many hardships to endure before getting a
start in life, but by dint of the hardest and most stubborn toil and perseverance
he has been successful, so that now his family is comfortably situated
and in easy circumstances.