Joseph Wolf
Joseph Wolf was born on April 27, 1842, in Hellam Township, York County, Pennsylvania. He was the fifth born of seven children of Jacob Wolf and Elizabeth Lehman. Joseph was 5’,10-1/2” with light hair, blue eyes, and a light complexion. His occupation before and after the war was that of a farmer. At the age of 21, in September 1861, Joseph signed up with Company F of the 34th Illinois Infantry.
The Siege of Corinth, in Mississippi, (April/May 1862) was a month-long siege of the city that resulted in the capture of the town by the Federal forces.
The Battle of Perryville was fought on October 8, 1862, in the Chapel Hills west of Perryville, Kentucky. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War and the largest battle fought in the state of Kentucky.
The Battle of Stones River was fought from Dec 31-January 2, 1863, in middle Tennessee. It had the highest percentage of casualties on both sides. The battle ended in Union victory after the confederate army’s withdrawal.
The Battle of Missionary Ridge was fought on Nov 28, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga Campaign of the Civil War.
The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was fought on June 27, 1864, during the Atlanta Campaign. It was the most significant frontal assault launched by Union Maj. Gen. Sherman and ended in a tactical defeat for the Union forces, but did not halt Sherman’s advance on Atlanta.
The Battle of Peachtree Creek was fought in Georgia on July 20, 1864, also part of the Atlanta Campaign.
The Battle of Atlanta was fought on July 22, 1864, just southeast of Atlanta, GA, to seize the important rail and supply hub of Atlanta. Sherman’s forces overwhelmed and defeated Confederate forces; however, the city did not fall until Sept 2, 1864. The fall of Atlanta was especially noteworthy for its political ramifications. In the 1864 election, former Union General George B. McClellan, a Democrat, ran against President Lincoln on a peace platform and called for an armistice with the Confederacy.
The capture of Atlanta and Hood’s burning of military facilities as he evacuated were extensively covered by Northern newspapers, significantly boosting Northern morale, and Lincoln was re-elected by a significant margin.
The Battle of Jonesborough (Aug 31-Sept 1, 1864) concluded the Atlanta campaign. Although Hood's army was not destroyed, the fall of Atlanta had far-reaching political as well as military effects on the course of the war.
The Battle of Bentonville (March 19-21, 1865) was fought in Johnston County, North Carolina. It was the last battle between the armies of the Union Maj. Gen. Sherman and Confederate Gen. Johnston. As a result of the overwhelming Union strength and the heavy casualties his army suffered in the battle, Johnston surrendered to Sherman a little more than a month later
at Bennett Place, near Durham Station. Coupled with Gen. Robert E. Lee’s surrender on April 9, Johnston’s surrender represented the effective end of the war.
After the surrender of Johnston, the Regiment went with Sherman’s Army to Washington D.C. and took part in the grand review on May 24, 1865.
Joseph mustered out of the service on July 12, 1865. He married Clarinda Octavia Wright while still active on Feb 4, 1864, in Ogle County, Illinois. His first-born son arrived on March 27, 1867, and was named Sherman. Joseph and Clarinda went on to have four more sons and then two daughters. Clarinda died in 1895 at the age of 52.
[One interesting point regarding Sherman, my maiden name is Wolfe, with an E and it was Sherman Wolfe who added it. My Dad told me one time that he didn’t want our last name to be spelled the same as the animal. D.Overton]
Joseph came to California in 1883 and settled in Pasadena, CA. In 1902, he married Susan Neighbours.
Joseph lived to the age of 83 and outlived all but one of his seven siblings. He died on November 26, 1925.
The first obituary comes from the Pasadena Evening Post and is titled:
“Taps Sound for Vet of War of ‘61
Joseph Wolf is summoned by “His Commander”; G.A.R. to Conduct Rites
Death—the—Great Leveler—last night took from the thinning blue ranks of Civil
War veteran another member, when Joseph Wolf, 42 years a resident of
Pasadena died at his home at 764 North Madison Avenue.
When the great emancipator issued his call in the stirring days of 561, Joseph
Wolf answered. He knew well the whine of grapeshot, the crack of rifles, and the
deeper boom of old cannon. When the gray-clad hordes were turned back at
bloody Gettysburg, Joseph Wolf was fighting.
Mr. Wolf came to Pasadena from his native state, Pennsylvania, by way of Illinois,
when 41 years old. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Susie Wolf; two daughters.
Mrs. Esther Dorn of this city and Mrs. Nellie M Tomkins of Santa Rosa and three
sons, Sherman, Issac, and Harry Wolf, and eight grandchildren and 14 great-
grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted tomorrow at the chapel of Turner and Stevens. Chaplain Andrew W. Smith and the John F. Godfrey post of the G.A.R. of which Mr. Wolf was a member, will have charge. Daughters of Veterans and ladies of the G.A.R. are invited. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery.”
Sources:
NARA Pension file
Findagrave.com https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9007230/joseph-wolf
Obituary – Pasadena Evening Post
Obituary – November 28, 1925 – Los Angeles Times, Page 6
d.overton
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