LYON COUNTY GENEALOGY

 

HENRY AND CATHERINE “KATE” WULF

Henry Carl Wulf was born in Techentin, Mecklenburg, Germany on December 15, 1853. He came to the United States in 1882. His citizenship papers are recorded in Lyon County, Iowa, dated May 20, 1887. Henry dropped one “I” from the spelling of his last name at this time. He was the only member of his immediate family to emigrate to America.

In Germany, Henry had done apprentice work as a locksmith. In America, Henry was a farmer. He bought his first land on October 1, 1885, and paid $2,000.00 for 120 acres, (2 miles north and 3¼ miles east of Lester). Theodore F. Lorenzen bought the land on July 19, 1939, and Vernon Lorenzen bought it on May 1, 1974. It is now a century farm in the Wulf family.

Henry’s living quarters for several years on this farm were in the loft over his barn. They were reached by an outside stairway, and were very cozy, complete with built in bunks. This is where he endured the great blizzard of 1888.

He married Catherine “Kate” Thode on November 6, 1889, at Rock Rapids, Iowa.

“Kate” Thode was born on Fehmarn, an island in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Schleswig-Holstjen, Germany.

Kate was the first member of her family to come to the United States. She came with her mother’s younger sister on April 8, 1881.

After her marriage to Henry they moved to Henry’s farm home, where we presume he had built a house by this time. Here on the farm all eleven children were born and raised. They are, Albert, Emil, Henry, Olga, Elsie, Bertha, Carl, Dorathea, Emma, Ludwig, and Anna. Henry and Kate lived on this farm until they retired and moved to Lester in 1919, into the present Ralph Sunde home.

Henry remained active by taking daily walks and was often seen cutting up old trees for fuel. He walked up town each day where he enjoyed a few games of cards with friends. It is said that one could set his clock at the time Henry went and came home from playing cards.

Kate’s death on April 1, 1938 was caused by a stroke. Henry died on November 1, 1949 at the age of 95 years. They are both buried at the Hillside Cemetery near Lester, Iowa.