Chosen Families Project #18: Mary (Oswald) Wolff

Hello! I’m back from my break. I had to catch up and get my bearings with the new school semester.

Before I tell her story, I have some excited news! I recently had an interview with Voyage Michigan Magazine. Thank you to Jessica who I corresponded with, and the interview was published online! You can find it online here: https://voyagemichigan.com/interview/life-work-with-julian-rebelo-of-keyportnj/ . It discusses the project and my recent work with my research in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Back of photograph, inscribed “Grandma Mary Oswald Wolf”

I recovered this photograph a couple months ago, and I am so excited to finally be able to tell her story. On the back of the photograph it says “Grandma Mary Oswald Wolff.” The front of the photograph was taken but a photographer in Buffalo, Minnesota. After some quick research, I was able to find a family tree for her. So here is the story of Mary (Oswald) Wolff:

Mary Oswald was born on 2 Jan 1858 in Frankfort, Wright, Minnesota to parents John George Oswald Sr (1823-1901) and Elisabeth Batch (1816-1883).Her parents where early german immigrants, and her father was a farmer for most of his life. Her death certificate also lists that she was born in Maple Grove, Minnesota, USA.

Through 1860-1875 she lived in Corcoran,Hennepin, Minnesota with her parents and 4 siblings. On June 20, 1882, she married Henry J. Wolff in Greenwood, Hennepin, Minnesota. Her mother passed a year after she got married in 1883, when Mary was 25. She had her first daughter on Dec 9, 1883, her name was Emma Sophia Wolff. In 1885 she lived in Frankfort, Minnesota. She would have a few more children in the years to come. In 1885, Sophia Mary Wolff, in 1888 Ida Julia Wolff, in 1890 Henry Frederick Oswald Wolff, in 1893 Clara Catherine Wolff.

Tragedy would strike the family on 30 May 1894 when her daughter Ida would pass away at the age of 6 years old. Her daughter is buried in Salem Lutheran Cemetery in Greenfield, Hennepin, Minnesota. Ida’s headstone states that she died of Mandelbräune (tonsillitis), Daughter of Henry J. & Mary H. Wolff, “IN MY FATHERS HOUSE, ARE MANY MANSIONS.”

In 1900 the family would live at Hanover, Wright, Minnesota, USA. Her husband in 1900 would work as a farmer. Her father John would pass away in 1901, when Mary was 36. From 1910 until her death she would live in Buffalo, Wright, Minnesota with her family. Her husband would pass away on Dec 26, 1923.

Mary Oswald Wolff would pass away on May 16, 1925. She was 67 years old. She is buried with her husband in Lakeview Cemetery, in Buffalo, Wright, Michigan in Section A lot 83 grave 15.

I am still looking for relatives to claim her. If you are related anyone in Mary’s family please contact me at thechosenfamiliesproject@gmail.com

Thank you for listening and let me tell her story.