BlogAlways searching for ancestorsPosted March 11th, 2013 by Thomas Norman DeWolfA big part of what drew Sharon and me together for our Gather at the Table journey was, and is, genealogy. Sharon has done a lot more such research than I have. She runs the Our Black Ancestry website, “dedicated to providing information and services that help people explore and appreciate African American family history and culture.” And she has inspired me to dig more deeply into my own family history. While on the road in Illinois and Iowa in February, I was able to carve out time for research. I was quite surprised to learn that my great grandfather had a wife who died quite young prior to his marriage to my great grandmother. They had a child I didn’t know about; my grandmother’s older sister. Though I’ve not been able to locate the graves of my great grandparents, I did visit the grave of his first wife when I was in Kanakakee, Illinois.
I spent two days in Moline, Illinois searching for information about my great, great grandfather, Charles DeWolf, who drowned in the Mississippi River in 1852. I found one additional newspaper article, but mostly ran into dead ends – which isn’t terrible. At least I’m able to check off places I no longer need to research. I did find out that he lived in Chicago (more Chicago connections, Sharon!) with a brother just a few years before he died, so Chicago may hold more secrets for me. In Rolfe, Iowa, where my father was born, I visited the family farm. The houses are long gone, but one corn crib remains and the farm is still in family ownership – more than a century now. Several cousins came to my presentation at Eastern Iowa Community College in Fort Dodge. It was great catching up with them. The last time we’d been together was more than ten years ago. There is something supremely gratifying about uncovering information about my family. Some were slave traders. Some were abolitionists. Some were farmers. The more I learn, the more I understand about who I am, from whence I came; and the more I understand about my country and how it came to be what it is today. I believe that the more people undertake genealogical study, the more we will all know about ourselves and our nation; even more important, how connected we all are and how absurd and unjust are all the obstacles we maintain that keep us separated. View more photos here. 3 responses to “Always searching for ancestors”Leave a Reply to eugene phelps Cancel reply |
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keep digging. genephelps
Charles B. DeWolf was born March 3, 1821 in Bradford County (?) Pennsylvania, the son of Deacon Giles Meigs DeWolf and Anna Spaulding.
In 1842 DeWolf married Clarinda Taylor,daughter of Nathan Taylor who came to St Clair Il. first in 1838.
Charles DeWolf is listed in the 1843 Chicago City Directory as boarding with his brother Calvin DeWolf. He is listed as a shoemaker.
In the Buffalo, Ogle County Il. 1850 census Ben Taylor (b. 1850 in Il.) is living with the Chas. DeWolf/ Clarinda Taylor household.
Rock Island Republican, Rock Island, Illinois – On Monday, the 24th inst. two gentlemen named Gamble and DeWolf, started from Moline to visit Davenport. They arrived safely, and towards evening set out on their return in a small skiff to go up the slough, since which time they have not been seen. It is supposed that the skiff capsized in the slough. Their boat was found turned bottom side up in the slough a short distance above this city, and a hat supposed to belong to one of them was found lodged in a bunch of willows; a coat was also found. One of the men was married (DeWolf) and leaves a wife and four children.
Rock Island Advertiser, Wednesday, 2 June 1852 – Mr. Gamble and Mr. DeWolf started from Moline, Illinois to visit Davenport, Iowa but when trying to return on Monday, the 24th, they both drowned. One of the men (DeWolf) was married and leaves a wife and 4 children.
Rock Island Republican, Rock Island, Illinois – Wednesday, June 23, 1852 – The body of DeWolf, one of two men supposed to have been drowned some three or four weeks since near Moline dam, has been found in the river at Andalusia. An inquest was held by Coroner Burrell.
He worked at the federal weapons arsenal in Rock Island, Illinois. He drove a mule team .
Yes. I'm a direct descendant of Giles and Charles.