John Franklin Wolf; Stone Mason

John Franklin Wolf

11 April 1809 PA – 10 March 1883 OH

Son of John Frederick Wolf & Esther Barbara Shaffer

Husband of Elisabeth Burkholder

My 3x Great Grandfather

John Wolf 1809 - 1883

John Franklin Wolf was the son of John Frederick Wolf & Esther Barbara Shaffer. His siblings were: John Adam, Louisa, Frederick, Jacob, John Jonas. Esther Barbara, Ninetta, Henry H. & William.[1] They grew up in Franklin Twp., York, PA.[2]^,[3] The Wolf family had been in PA since arriving from Germany in 1737.[4]^, [5]

John’s first wife was Elisabeth Burkholder. They had nine children. She died 22 June 1856, about a month after the birth of her last child. Less than five months later John married again. On 6 November 1856 he married Caroline Philips.[6] They had one daughter together.[7]

In 1850 John & his first wife, Elisabeth, were in Franklin Twp., York, PA. John was a stone mason. Next door was their daughter and her husband, Sarah & James Williamson. The children of John & Elisabeth were living with their sister rather than their parents.[8]

Ten years later John was in Wayne, OH. He was married to Caroline and working as a laborer.[9] In 1870 they were in Medina Co., OH. John was a brick and stone mason whose real estate was valued at $1,000.[10]

Two of John’s sons, John and Joseph, served in the Civil War. Both sons joined Company D in the 120^th Regiment. Both returned home safely.[11] John W. S. Wolf served with the rank of private in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry.[12] John was transferred to the 114^th OVI on 27 November 1864.[13] He was sometimes detached from his company and working with the Pioneer Corps.[14] This group of soldiers was detailed to carry out duties such as cutting roads, repairing bridges and works, and dismantling enemy artillery, fortifications, and railroads. John was mustered out 24 July 1865.[15]

Joseph Wolf was in the same company as his brother.[16] He was mustered into service 15 October 1862. The 120^th O. V. I. was involved in the flowing battles: Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi, 28 – 29 December 1862; Arkansas Post, Arkansas, 11 January 1863; Thompson’s Hill, Mississippi, 1 May 1863; The Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, 18 May to 4 July 1863; and Jackson, Mississippi, 9 – 16 July 1863.[17]

Joseph Wolf was aboard the City Belle, 153 ton side-wheel steamer that was used as both a transport and as a hospital boat. It was traveling up the Red River to Alexandria and was carrying the 120^th Ohio Infantry Regiment. On 3 May 1864 the ship was near Snaggy Point when it was ambushed by the Confederates. Shots hit the boiler and the ship sank. One third of the Ohio regiment was killed, and about 200 soldiers escaped by jumping overboard and reaching land.[18] Joseph was captured.[19] His brother was with the Pioneer Corps at that time and not with him. Joseph remained a prisoner of war for 18 months. He was paroled at Red River, Louisiana 27 May 1865 and returned to his post on 18 June 1865.  He continued to serve and was discharged at Camp Chase on 7 July 1865.[20],[21]

John was fortunate to have both his sons survive the Civil War.

John Wolf died at the age of 75 years & his death certificate lists the cause as “old age”.[22]

The newspaper was succinct:

Mr. Wolf I spoke of in my last was buried on Saturday.[23]

Find A Grave shows his burial site as Maple Hill Cemetery, Hinckley, Medina, OH. Second wife, Caroline is there as well.

Related Posts:

• Esther B Wolf Gruissy
• On the Road to the NGS Conference; the John F Wolf House
• PA Research Trip. York Co Heritage Trust

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[1] Wolfe, J. Arthur. Jonas Wolf of Berwick Township, York County, Pennsylvania: A History and Genealogy of a Colonial Ancestor and Some of His Descendants. Privately Published: 1987. Copy of book owned by York County Heritage Trust, 250 East Market Street, York, Pennsylvania.

[2] 1810 Franklin York Co PA; Franklin Wolf family.

[3] 1820 US Census, Franklin, York Co., PA. John Wolf family.

[4] A Collection of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Dutch, French and other Immigrants in Pennsylvania From 1727 - 1776' by I. Daniel Rupp. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company 1965

[5] Young, Henry James. Genealogical Reports for The Historical Society of York County: Evidences of the Wolf Families of York County before the Year 1850, 1938. From York County Heritage Trust, 250 East Market Street, York,

[6] Marriage record for John F. Wolf and Caroline Philips, 6 November 1856, Volume 5, page 25, Wayne County Probate Court, Court House, 107 W Liberty St., Wooster, Ohio.

[7] Interview with Clarence Mark; conducted by author, July 1993, in Greenville, Ohio.

[8] 1850 U. S. Census, Franklin Township, York, Pennsylvania; John Wolf & James Williamson families.

[9] 1860 US Census, Sugar Creek Twp., Wayne Co., OH; John Wolff family.

[10] 1870 US Census.  M593 Roll 1241, Page 40. Wadsworth Twp., Medina Co.; M593 Roll 1241, Page 40. John Wolf family.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Wolf family papers and charts from Christine Ann (Klessins) Zengler, Wisconsin.

[13] Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 - 1866, microfilm Volume 7 & 8, Page 254,  from Medina County Library, 210 S. Broadway St., Medina, Ohio.

[14] Compiled Service Record of John Wolf, Civil War, National Archives and Records Administration.

[15] U. S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, Ancestry.com

[16] Ancestry.com. 1890 Veterans Schedules [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M123, 118 rolls); Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Joseph Wolf.

[17] Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 - 1866, microfilm Volume 7 & 8, Page 254,  from Medina County Library, 210 S. Broadway St., Medina, Ohio.

[18] Gaines, Craig. Encyclopedia of Civil War Shipwrecks. Louisiana State University Press, 2008.

[19] Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 - 1866, microfilm Volume 7 & 8, Page 254,  from Medina County Library, 210 S. Broadway St., Medina, Ohio.

[20] Compiled Service Record of Joseph Wolf, Civil War, National Archives.

⁸⁶⁵Ancestry.com. 1890 Veterans Schedules [database on-line]. Provo, UT: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M123, 118 rolls); Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Joseph W olf.

[22] Record of Death for John Wholf, Probate Court in Medina County Ohio 1883, Medina death records #2819, Vol. 2.

[23] Medina County Gazette Friday, July 6, 1883.