My Genealogy Hound

CLARENCE A. WOLLE is a member of the real-estate and insurance firm of Wolle & Kemerer, who do the largest business in their line in Bethlehem. Mr. Wolle is a very enterprising and able man, taking an active interest in, and contributing to, every public movement calculated to benefit the community. He is the son of Augustus Wolle, whose biography is printed in this volume, and whose name is so well known in this locality as to need no further comment. Clarence A. Wolle was born in Bethlehem in 1849, and received a good education in the parochial schools. He later pursued his studies at Nazareth Hall, in the Moravian College, and in 1865 entered Lehigh University, where he pursued a special scientific course for four years. His intention was to go to Europe to further follow chemical and scientific studies, but instead he remained at home to assist his father in his business, becoming his private clerk. For years he had kept books at various times, and he remained with his father until the latter’s death.

In 1876 Mr. Wolle became engaged in the real-estate and insurance business with his uncle, Felix Leinbach, and has continued in this occupation ever since. In 1885 his uncle retired from the business, since which time our subject has been at the head of the concern. They have bought extensively in West Bethlehem, where they are handling a beautiful tract of fifty acres of land, and probably do the largest business of any real-estate firm in the city. Among the additions to the city which they have laid out is the old Fetter Farm, and part of the Breinig Farm, extending from Sixth to Tenth Avenues and from Broad to Spring Streets. In 1883, in company with Mr. Leinbach, Mr. Wolle was instrumental in starting the Bethlehem Electric Light Company. They met with much opposition in promoting this enterprise, but it was incorporated September 17, 1883, with a capital stock of $20,000, which has since been increased to $100,000. The company have a fine location, and the President is James Thomas, of Catasauqua, Mr. Wolle being General Manager, Secretary and Treasurer. The street railway which had been proposed was given up on account of the immense outlay necessary, but Mr. Wolle took an option on the charter of the Bethlehem & Allentown and the Bethlehem & South Bethlehem Street Railways, and at New York he secured an option on the Allentown horse-car railway. After ten months of unwearied effort he finally induced the Industrial Improvement Company of Boston to take up the work (though he was first ridiculed for the stand he took), as he believed it to be a good investment. The result of this was the organization of the Allentown & Bethlehem Rapid Transit Company. In the successful building of this electric railway the good accomplished has been incalculable.

In 1876 Mr. Wolle became interested with F. W. Leinbach in the invention of machinery for the making of satchel bottom and the now famous self-opening square paper bags. Their enterprise in this direction is very successful and for some years past has been operated by the Consolidated Self-opening Square Bag Company of New York, with factories at Williamsburg, N. Y., and Plantsville, Conn. When the telephone was put up in Bethlehem he was one of those most active in the enterprise, and was the first to urge and solicit subscribers.

December 18, 1890, Mr. Wolle was married, in Lancaster, to Mrs. Clara M. Evans, of Logan, Iowa, daughter of Judge Stephen King. Her son, Roy L. Evans, is now attending Lehigh University. Mr. Wolle has served as Councilman in Bethlehem, and politically is a Democrat. With his wife he holds membership with the Moravian Church.