Born
1823
Birthplace
Magdeburg, Germany (then Prussia)
Died
1899
Death Place
Magdeburg, Germany
Vital Information
- Spouse
- Harriet E Sharp, Louisa Haupt (Ruth's great-grandmother)
- Children
- Emma (with Harriet), Fanny and Louis G Wolf (with Louisa)
Biography
The Wolf surname is of German origin, derived from the word Wolf, one of the most common Germanic personal names of the Middle Ages.
Gustavus F Wolf is Ruth's paternal great-grandfather, and he was the start of the Wolf line in America, coming first to Essex County New Jersey prior to moving to the Manchester Section of Pittsburgh.
Chuck Soergel investigated a notable family mystery connected to this line: Ruth's mother had always wondered what happened to her husband's grandfather, Gustavus Wolf, who mysteriously disappeared one day, leaving behind a wife and a very young son. That son was Herman Louis Wolf.
THE WOLF FAMILY HISTORY and the life of GUSTAVUS FREDERICK WOLF
Investigated and Authored by Chuck Soergel, text in brackets was added by Susan
Friedrich Wilhelm Wolf and Dorothea Christina Elizabeth Schmidt were married on April 12 1819 in the Domkirche (domed church), a prominent Lutheran church in the city of Magdeburg, Germany. Magdeburg, which at the time was a part of Prussia, is a city somewhat smaller than Pittsburgh, situated on the Elbe river, some eighty-five miles west of Berlin. Their first child born to this union was Julius Theodor, arriving in the year following their marriage. Wilhelm Ferdinand was born two years later, but died at the age of thirteen. Gustavus Frederick was born January 15, 1823, and there were six other children to complete the family. Friedrich supported this typically large German family as a teacher in the gymnasium in Magdeburg. These are the schools which prepare the students for university study. It is probable that Gustavus, as well as the other Wolf children, received excellent educations, both at the gymnasium and university levels. This would enable Gustavus to teach in Pittsburgh and also in Australia. Little is known about Gustavus' early adulthood or why he chose to come to America. We do know that Europe was in great turmoil during those years, and overcrowding and food shortages prompted many to come to this country. Jobs were also scarce. Societies sprang up to facilitate the emigration and to provide funds for those who chose to go. Letters from former emigrants were received urging others to find their way to America and to join their countrymen in parts of the new country where they had found jobs and freedom. Thus Gustavus decided to go to America and settled in Newark, New Jersey. Soon after arriving in Newark, Gustavus met Harriet Thorp [it was incorrectly transcribed due to handwriting - name is Harriet E Sharp]. In 1858 the couple married and on January 24th of the following year, Emma Augusta was born. Two years later, in March 1861 Harriet Sharp Wolf died [of consumption/tuberculosis at age 26]. In the following year, Gustavus met and married Louisa Haupt, although no marriage license has been found to confirm the date or location. Louisa was only nineteen while Gustavus was age thirty-nine. A daughter, Fannie, was born, but she died in early childhood. It is believed that the family made their home in the Pittsburgh area. On October 13, 1861, Gustavus enlisted in Co. F. of the 107th Pennsylvania Volunteers as a "substitute." These were men who fulfilled the obligations of other drafted civilians and were normally paid a flat sum of $300 by the civilian. After fighting in several campaigns, Gustavus was shot in the right arm at Dabney's Mills, Virginia on the sixth day of February, 1865. After Lee's surrender, the 107th participated in the Grand Review at Washington, D.C. and Gustavus was discharged on July 13, 1865 and returned to Pittsburgh. He then took a job as a dry goods clerk while living with Louisa at 56 Decatur Street in the Manchester section of Pittsburgh.
In 1867 he may have taken a teaching position, as the city directory lists him as "school teacher", while living at Fulton and Washington Streets, also in Manchester. On August 2, Louisa gave birth to Louis Gustav Wolf. Gustavus left his wife and infant son mysteriously one day, returned to Newark, N.J., and became a naturalized U. S. citizen on September 23, 1868. The following spring he sailed to Australia, arriving in the Colony of Victoria on May 24th. He began "keeping a school" and working as a "teacher of modern languages". Gradual deterioration of his sight took place over the next several years. He received treatment in four different hospitals and finally was declared totally blind and unable to sustain himself in any manner. He then made application for pension from the United States government in 1887 and received pension certificate #682614 on November 12, 1891, paying him $12 each month, or possibly quarterly. In connection with this pension, he was asked several questions, one of which was "are you married?", to which he replied "I am a widower". Another question was "were you previously married?". His reply was his wife's name was Harriet Thorp and that she died in 1861 after giving birth to Emma, who was still living at that time, June 4th, 1898. Gustavus, who was "totally dependent upon charity for means of subsistence, independent of my pension" may have asked his prosperous younger brother, Rudolf Ernst, for funds to return to the Magdeburg area where he died on April 19, 1899 at the age of seventy-six. Why did Gustavus leave Louisa and his only son Louis? Why did Gustavus fail to mention his marriage to Louisa and the existence of their son Louis on his application for pension? Why did he go to Newark to secure his naturalization status rather than Pittsburgh? It is the writer's opinion that Louisa must have been extremely difficult to live with, in part due to the wide disparity in ages, 19 versus 39. This acrimonious relationship was the probable reason why a well-educated person like Gustavus chose to avoid the situation by joining the army, and why he elected to flee the country after trying to salvage the marriage when discharged from the military. Clara, his sister in Magdeburg, was aware of their marital problems as evidenced by her letter of September 1865. Ethel Wolf remembers the reputation Louisa had as a "very unprincipled person, hard to get along with". Louis wrote that his mother had a "very unhappy life" after her marriage to Charles Altenhof. The court proceedings detail some of the disputes they had, including separation and a fight for custody of the two girls. Louisa lived with son Louis, even after his marriage to Mary in 1895. On August 28th, she moved in with her recently married daughter, Caroline Kraber. She died on May 18th, 1918 while still living there.
Clara Wolf's letter to her brother, Gustavus
(Note: Clara's letter was sent from Magdeburg, Germany, probably to Gustavs' new address at 56 Decatur Street in Pittsburgh's Manchester district. He had recently been discharged from the Union army. The letter, written in the German dialect of the era, was translated by Rudolf Soergel of Hersbruck, Bavaria.)
Buckau, (Magdeburg) 12 Sept. 1865 Dear Gustav, We hope that the residence that you now have is permanent; and at last our letter will reach you. It seems you too are anxious to hear from us once more, and now I'll write to you. You did not receive my last letter because you were already in the military. The letter was forwarded because of the money. We had difficulty; it cost me a lot of trouble, when Herrn Dinkelberg took care of it. I had my doubt if you would get it because and Kuhne at first would not sign for it, and it seems you did not appreciate it much and you only thanked us for the good intention, and that did not show any gladness, and that you would write real soon again. Your letters make us sad. The letters that you write are nothing but a piece of scrap paper, we had to pay the postage on the last one. You should put some effort behind it and be more specific; if you would have to pay the postage you would think twice, and I say it again, that money could be spent some other way much better. Remember how saving your mother and dad were that their children should have it better. Think of your wife and child now, there lies your responsibility. That urge to travel though all the land, like you did in the war years, isn't suitable anymore in your position. I thought everyone was glad when the war ended. We are happy that you and your wife are getting along together again and your child is healthy and strong. Look and keep peace in your home and be interested in the up-bringing of Emma. Pay attention especially that she always tells the truth, then she will have no reason ever to hide anything from you and it will become a habit. Nothing changed much in our family since you got our last letter. Thank God mother is well again. During the last year she was sick several times. Shortly before Christmas we had to have a doctor from Buckauer. This year we stayed longer in Osterburg, which was very good for mother, after that we stayed for two weeks in Ilseburg, and that was very good for both of us. The reason for our trip was the heat, after a long and hard winter, we had a very hot summer. We had no spring, after the snow left it got hot and dry; we had no rain for 1/4 of a year. The harvest was poor sufficient so only the potatoes did well. Near the factory, Mr. Melz had a garden, and we split the vegetables with him. Mr. Metz is since last year married and now he has a son. Rudolf will have to be godfather. The business is quiet and slowly gets ahead, one cannot expect to get rich overnight. There is too much competition and high wages. He (Rudolf) has to keep everything very clean, but he is happy to be recognized. He showed a Lokomobile at the Merseburger show, and twice he won first prize. It takes money to establish a good name. His wish was to go into the mountains for a rest, but the business comes first. Julius (older brother) and Luise were in Thuringen for a few weeks, on the way back they visited us for a couple of days. Their daughter is a nice hefty girl. Albert promised mother he would come, but he wasn't here since Christmas. Mother was asking to see him in Weihnachten. But we were in Ilseburg and then expected company so that fell through. It would be rather hard to see him, he is not married and has no home. He should get married, but I think it won't be soon. Rudolf's divorce is not final yet, it's dragging on for a whole year now. He can be glad to be free again, there is a lot of bad talk and he had nothing to do with it, but one has to fight for right. I hope and wish that in time he'll find some one and be happily married. Next year he intends to build an apartment on top of the factory. It is necessary and much easier to live near his work. In that part of the town many things changed, a big brewery was built by Brauerei von Reichardt and Schneidewind. There streets with big buildings exist. Magdeburg shall be expanded from the Sudenburger to the Ulrichstor. The rent for an apartment was a lot lately, they also raised the rent for Gustav Litzmann's business, he didn't like that much because there will be an increase in the family room. We like his wife very much and meet with them on Sundays in the F. W. Garten. Young Litzmann, Hugo, engaged to Emilie Schmidt. Aunt Schmidt is senile and should be in an institution. When we were in Osterburg we stopped by Uncle Karl and the Mandenberg's in Seehausen. They were glad to see us but not a cup of coffee was offered. Herman Bachert is engaged to a lady he knew ten years back! She was married and they met in Berlin and intend to be married soon. Hugo Wolf and wife went to Thuringen, but before Julius, last winter he came in a big snowstorm. Mr. Liebau, a friend of Rudolf, was to install a gas instrument, but nothing came of it, maybe next year. The young Sintenis is back from the U.S. A. after his wife and child died, now he is established and intends to marry again. The old Sintenis seems to have trouble with their business, and the young doesn't seem to be a good business man. The fire insurance did little business this year they say. But they built a new big building which took a lot of money. The old Wiggert is still alive, and I read in the paper, from a Wiggert memorial that should be erected. He is not happy in his old age. Mrs. Solbrig is very unhappy since her only daughter died. Mr. Brandt isn't happily married with Adelheid, she is a sickly and crabby person. der Prof Dietfirt is now pensioned, and he will move to Freiburg a.d.Unstrut. So there are only a few of the teachers left from time back. Now I think I wrote everything that I could think of and hope it is of interest to you. So I close my letter and hope it finds you well. Offhand it is best to stay where you can make your living, you could not do that here as you well know. Give our love to your wife and Emma. Remember my letter is only well meant, and look ahead that all goes well in the years to come for you and your family. With love, Your sister Clara