Helena served for two years as a Civil War Nurse at Marine Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio; captured and held prisoner for a short time by Confederate General John Morgan.
Helena (Mueller) Wolff was interred in Indiana..
Helena was born on 30 May 1836 in Hungary. Her parents arranged a marriage for her, but she had other ideas and took off to America. In 1861 she arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio and performed on the stage.
When the Civil War broke out, Helena volunteered as a nurse, spending most of her time at in Cincinnati. She initially spent time caring for women and children whose husbands and fathers were engaged in the war. Then she served as nurse at Marine Hospital in Cincinnati from 1861-1863. Hundreds of wounded soldiers from the battlefield were brought to the hospital loaded on steamers ill-equipped to care for them due to lack of food, supplies and medicine. During her service, Helena was captured and held prisoner for a brief time by the Confederate guerilla leader General John Morgan.
Helena married Henry Wolff in 1862 and they moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana. The 1910 Census lists her as Magdalena.
1880 United States Federal Census: Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana, United States[1]
Name
Sex
Age
Status
Relation
Occupation
Birth Place
Henry Wolfe
M
55 years
Married
Head
Shoemaker
Germany
Magdalena Wolfe
F
40 years
Married
Wife
Keeps House
Germany
Ellen Wolfe
F
20 years
Single
Daughter
Seamstress
Ohio
Julius Wolfe
M
15 years
Single
Son
Confect.
Ohio
Alfranz Wolfe
M
10 years
Single
Son
School
Indiana
In 1909, the Woman's Relief Corps of Fort Wayne recognized her for her Civil War nursing services by pinning her with the gold badge of the order. Helena was a regular attendee at Woman's Relief Corps Conventions and Grand Army of the Republic state encampments.
1910 United States Federal Census: Fort Wayne Ward 4, Allen, Indiana, United States[2]
Name
Sex
Age
Status
Relation
Occupation
Birth Place
Helena E Wolff
F
70
Widowed
Head
Hungary
In 1920, Helena is a lodger in the household of Christ Rukrman. Her name is misspelled "Helen Woulfe."
1920 United States Federal Census: Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana, United States[3]
Name
Sex
Age
Status
Relation
Occupation
Birth Place
Helen Woulfe
F
83 years
Widowed
Lodger
Hungary
She passed away on 7 Jul 1925 in Fort Wayne, Indiana and is buried in Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne.[4]
Sources
↑1880 Census "United States Census, 1880", citing Volume: 1; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Line Number: 00068; Digital film/folder number: 005157808; FHL microfilm: 1254265; Image number: 184; Sheet number: 580; Sheet letter: B; Indexing batch: C55557-2, FamilySearch Record: MHMZ-1GX (accessed 7 November 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YBK-NV5, Magdalena Wolfe (40), wife, Keeps House, in household of Henry Wolfe (55 years) in Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana, United States. Born in Germany.
↑1910 Census "United States Census, 1910", citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T624; Digital film/folder number: 004971197; FHL microfilm: 1374352; Image number: 393; Sheet number: 19; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03354-6, FamilySearch Record: MKLT-2HP (accessed 7 November 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RJ8-6PP, Helena E Wolff (70), widowed head of household in Fort Wayne Ward 4, Allen, Indiana, United States. Born in Hungary.
↑1920 Census "United States Census, 1920", citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Line: 78; Digital film/folder number: 004964846; FHL microfilm: 1820421; Image number: 353; Sheet number: 23; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01922-8, FamilySearch Record: MFQ6-QBV (accessed 7 November 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R67-YWD, Helen Woulfe (83), widowed lodger, in household of Helen Woulfe (83 years) in Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana, United States. Born in Hungary.
↑Memorial Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62543322/helena-e-wolff: accessed 07 November 2023), memorial page for Helena E. Miller Wolff (30 May 1836–7 Jul 1925), Find a Grave Memorial ID 62543322, citing Lindenwood Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, USA; Maintained by JC (contributor 46984629).
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