DeWolf, Henry C.

DEWOLF, CURLEY, TIBBLES

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/12/2009 at 07:25:55

Henry C. DeWolf

A man's life work is the measure of his success, and he is truly the most successful man who, turning his powers into the channel of an honorable purpose, accomplishes the object of his endeavor. He who weds himself to a great principle lays the foundation of a successful life. In the study of every man's life we find some mainspring of action, something he lives for. In Henry C. De Wolf it seems to have been an ambition to make the best use of his native and acquired powers and to develop in himself a true manhood. A native of Vernon, Ohio, born November 11,1843, he is the son of Henry C. and Lucy Hobert, both of whom were natives of Vernon, Ohio.

T. R. De Wolf, the grandfather, was born in the Nutmeg State, and his father, Joseph De Wolf, was a Frenchman. The family first settled at Vernon, Ohio, in 1805, and the grandfather, T. R. De Wolf, was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was an educated man, far in advance of his time, and served two terms in the Legislature, being a leader among the people of his section. He was a prominent member of the Christian Church, and died at Vernon in 1862. He had several brothers, three of them prominent physicians. His brother Joseph was one of the most noted physicians of his time. The father of our subject had one brother, A. B. De Wolf, who was a prominent physician at St. Charles, Ill.

The original of this notice was but one year of age when his father died (1844). His mother was one of ten children, all of whom had names commencing with L. Her father was one of the pioneers of Vernon, Ohio. She died in 1853, when our subject was ten years of age, and the latter went to live with his Grandfather De Wolf. He was the only son, but had one sister who grew up; she married W. H. Curley, and died in Prairie City.

Grandfather De Wolf, being a man of wealth, gave our subject good educational advantages, and he was a student at Hiram College, in Portage County, Ohio, when the Rebellion broke out. In November 1863, he left school and enlisted in Company F, Sixth Ohio Cavalry, and was with General Grant's army all through the Virginia campaign. He participated in many prominent engagements during the two years he was in service, and was promoted to tile rank of Second Lieutenant, holding that position when the war closed. He was present at the surrender of General Lee, April 9, 1865, and was honorably discharged July 8, 1865, after serving most faithfully.

Returning to Ohio, he remained there but a short time and then turned his face toward the setting sun, determined to find a home in the west. He first went to Wisconsin, where his sister was then living, and after traveling over the northwest, finally came to Iowa, and liking the outlook at Prairie City, he decided to locate here. He had some means, and in company with others he engaged in the dry goods business under the firm name of Bartlet, Sheldon & De Wolf. Since that time he has been engaged in the dry-goods business, but there has been many changes in the firm, and he has remained with it through all changes. At the present time the firm is H. C. De Wolf & Co. Mr. De Wolf is a careful, thoroughgoing man of business, and made money from the start. He is now one of the wealthy men of the place, although about 1892 he lost $30,000 by the failure of the Citizens' Bank.

Mr. De Wolf was married in 1868 to Miss L. Tibbles, a native of Ft. Washington, Wis. Her father at that time was a hotel man at Prairie City, and she is a lady of superior education. Four children have been born to them, only two now living. Clara lived to be eighteen years of age; Laura died when seventeen years of age, and at the time of her death was a student in Iowa College; Leeta is now nine years of age, and Elsie seven. Mr. De Wolf is a Knight Templar in Masonry, and is one of the charter members of the Council at Newton. He has been Master of the blue lodge five years. He is also a Grand Army man and the present Commander, a position he has held for five years. Mrs. De Wolf is quite a worker in the Woman's Relief Corps and was Secretary for two years. Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is one of the Trustees, but his special work has been in the Sunday school, to which he is much devoted, having been Superintendent for eighteen years in succession. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 275.