Mt. Morris Index, December 23, 1903

Mrs. Catherine Wolfe Passes Away at Her Home in Mount Morris, Aged Over 86 Years.

Another name is to be added to the long list of deaths during 1903 among the early settlers of Ogle County, in the passing of Mrs. Catherine Wolfe on Saturday, December 19. Not only was she an old settler, but she was one of the oldest residents of the township, having passed her 86th year. She has been almost helpless for a half dozen years past and during the last two years has been confined to her bed most of the time. Her last illness was only of about three days' duration. Old age finally brought about her death at the advanced age of 86 years, 1 month and 13 days. Her death occurred at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Stover, west of the college.
The funeral was held in College Chapel Tuesday at 1 o'clock P.M., conducted by Elder D.E. Brubaker, assisted by Elder D.E. Price. Interment took place in the Silver Creek Cemetery.

The maiden name of the deceased was Catherine Miller. She was born in Franklin County, Pa., November 6, 1817. At about the age of 19 she was united in marriage to Daniel Wolfe, a native of Virginia. At a very early day, in 1842, with their young family, they came by the usual overland route by team to Ogle County, Illinois. They took up a claim five and a half miles north of Mount Morris, the farm still known as the Wolfe homestead, and there they lived for many years and raised their large family of eleven children, —nine daughters and two sons. The father died in 1871, but Mrs. Wolfe and the remaining unmarried children continued to live on the farm until about nine years ago, when she came to town with her youngest daughter, Emma. The daughter cared faithfully for her in her advancing age until about three years ago, when both of them moved in with another daughter, Mrs. Sarah Stover, and both daughters labored to make the last days of their aged mother as pleasant as possible. She was exceedingly feeble and helpless during the later years of her life.
It is a singular fact that every member of this large family grew to maturity and that all are yet living except one daughter, Mrs. Mary Long, who died past middle age. The remaining ten children, in order of their ages, are as follows: John Wolfe, of West Grove, Ogle County; Mrs. Sarah Stover, of Mount Morris; Mrs. Lanah Schamel, of Dallas County, Iowa; Mrs. Catherine Emmert, of Dallas County, Iowa; Mrs. Elizabeth Wallace, of Brown County, Kansas; David Wolfe, of Youngstown, Ohio; Mrs. Susie Thomas of Rockford; Mrs. Frances Long, of Dallas County, Iowa; Mrs. Ella Allen, wife of Charles H. Allen, of Mount Morris; and Miss Emma Wolfe, of Mount Morris. All of these ten children were here to attend the funeral except David, of Youngstown, Ohio, and Mrs. Elizabeth Wallace, of Kansas. However, Mrs. Wallace spent a part of the summer here with her mother. Besides these children, Mrs. Wolfe is also survived by 41 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren; also one sister, living at Waynesboro, Pa.

Mrs. Wolfe was a continous resident in Mount Morris Township for more than sixty years, and was widely known in this vicinity. For over sixty years she was a consistent member of the Brethren Church.

For the many acts of kindness by neighbors and friends during the period of affliction in the home, Mrs. Stover and Miss Wolfe wish to express their sincere thanks.

Contributed by David Lee Zellers

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