Wolf

Michael Wolf of Prussia (Bavaria) married Kathryn Heidrich and soon afterward emigrated to America. His wife is known to the present generation as Kate Hedrick. They probably landed in America in 1785, the first definite date being the birth of their first son, Jacob Wolf, May 12,1786. They settled about eighty miles from the present city of Asheville, North Carolina. Soon after Jacob's birth, they moved to or near Bowling Green, Kentucky, where they stayed until 1816 or 1817 when they again moved to what is now Norfork, Arkansas. Michael was a Baptist and most of his descendants are Baptists.

At the time of his arrival in Arkansas, the following children of Michael were married: Michael II married Elizabeth Adams; Kate married Matthew Adams; Mary, whose first husband was John Q. Adams, and Jacob, accompanied by his wife Millie and some children. One daughter, Peggy, had married a man named Settles and had remained in Kentucky. Eight sons and three daughters came with Michael and Kate to Arkansas. Only one, Peggy, did not come.

Jacob, the oldest son of Michael and Kate, was one of the most famous men of North Arkansas. The name Wolf was originally Woolf, but Michael objected to the extra "o" because he thought is sounded "Dutchy". So the spelling was changed.

While the family lived in Kentucky, Jacob served as a drillmaster and was given the title of Major. He was afterward appointed as Indian Agent by the United States Government, and ranked as Major. It was while serving under this appointment that he was sent to Arkansas early in the 19th century. At that time White River was the boundary line between the "District of Arkansaw" on the east and the Indian country on the west. The government required an agent to live among the Indians and this Major Wolf did for five years. Since the family had located at a place where both North Fork and South Fork of White River could be seen, Jacob called the place Norfork, and it was there he buiIt his home.

This large log house is known as the Wolf House. It was erected under the personal supervision of Major Wolf. It was built by Indians and such white men as could be found. It is a two-story building with a large attic. The rooms are eighteen feet square with halls running full length and twelve feet wide. A broad two-story veranda faces the river. The logs of which the main building is made are yellow pine, dove-tailed to make a perfect fit. Comfortable fireplaces are in all rooms. These fireplaces were made of brick and were in use for 60 years when the bricks had to be replaced to the shoulder slopes. The original masonry of the upper portion (the chimney) was retained. This was the home of Major Wolf.

His life was interesting. At first he claimed 160 acres of rich land on the east bank of the river near a place now called Berry's Switch. He built a blacksmith shop, and the original anvil was in the possession of Jake Wolf who then lived in the house at Norfork in 1922.

Major Wolf was in control of Kickapoos, Creeks, Choctaws, and Seminoles. He established a trading post with the Indians, selling tobacco, sugar, shoes, whiskey, blankets, bandanas, bolts of cloth, flintlock guns, traps, padlocks, ammunition, and trinkets. The Indians brought in exchange: skins, dried venison, venison hams, wild honey, and many other products -- bear meat, buffalo and poultry.

Major Wolf was married three times. His first wife was Millie Cassinger of Kentucky; next, a Mrs. Sanders of Ohio; third, a Mrs. Shipp of near Norfolk. From these marriages he became the father of ten sons and six daughters. The oldest son, W. M. Wolf, was master of the first steamboat that ever made its way up White River. The home at Norfork has been a place where hospitality prevailed. Governors, senators, congressmen, judges, gallant men and beautiful women were guests.

Many families in Marion County are descendants of Michael Wolf. Martin J. Wolf, a son of Jacob Wolf, was born in 1824 in the old Wolf home at Norfork. His first wife was Catherine Hargreaves of Mountain Home. They were the parents of eight children. His second wife was Mary Jane Jeffrey-Nichols of Mount Olive, Arkansas. Her husband, Henry Nichols, was killed while serving as a Confederate soldier. They were the parents of one child, Kitty Christy, born in 1859. Martin J. and Mary Jane were parents of seven children, two of whom will be mentioned.

Una, the youngest of Martin J. and Mary Jane's children, was born in 1883 and died in 1931. She married John Langston and lived in the southern part of Marion County. Their children were: Othel, who married Normal Freeman; Lucy, the wife of Leonard Fletcher; Edna, who married Robert Lefevers; and a son who died at an early age. Othel Langston was recently killed while pruning fruit trees on his farm near Yellville. His widow sold the farm and bought a house in Yellville.

Normal Langston's parents were Joseph Freeman (1883-1930), son of David F. Freeman and Mittie Everett Freeman (1881-1973). She was the daughter of Bud Everett. Joseph and Mittie's children are: Normal; Marie, who married Ware Laffoon; Lorena, the wife of Ward Wagoner; Lois, wife of Troy Mears; Ola, who died at an early age; T. A., who has never married, and his twin sister, Clara, who married Loy H. Estes, son of Wes and Mary Estes.

Kitty Christy, the daughter of Mary Jane and Henry Nichols, married Joseph Crunkleton. Their children were: Oscar, who lived on a farm near Bruno until a few years ago when he moved to Springfield, Missouri. He died in 1966. Beulah, who married Joe Nowlin and died in 1910; Samuel, who served in WW I and never recovered from exposure, dying in 1920; Lela, who married Dee Phillips and lives in Yellville. Dee died in 1967. Their daughter, Billie Ruth, married Chester Frank (Tank) Rea. Their daughter, Phyllis, married Bill Burleson. They have two children.

Between the years 1900 and 1910 Joseph W. Wolf, eldest son of Martin J. Wolf and Mary Jane Jeffreys Nichols Wolf, brought his family from Melbourne to Yellville. His wife was Alice Brewer. Their children were: Guy Walker, Hollis Martin; Donald Jackson; Irma; and Mabel.

Lorenzo Dow Wolf was the sixth child of Michael Wolf I, and brother of Major Jacob Wolf. He married Martha Wollin in Arkansas. Children were: Michael, Charles, Jacob, Azariah, Phoebe, Margaret, and Mary. There is no information about any of these except Michael -- "Uncle Mike", as he was known to older inhabitants of Marion County. Michael and his wife had two sons, Calvin Luther (Cab) and Lorenzo Dow (Dow). Both had large families.

Cab married Frances (Fannie) Dillahunty. They were the parents of: Moatte; Lois; Grace; Eunice; Wilma; Luther; Homer; and Clayde; who died in infancy.

Dow married Ida Mae Cline and their children were: Mervin, Flossie, Hugh, John, Cline, M. H., Fermon, Clara, Ruth, Abbie, Lola, and Edith.

Many of these descendants of Michael and Kate Wolf still live in Baxter and Marion Counties. Countless others live elsewhere in the United States.