Map of Redbank

Map of Redbank
Map of Redbank

Sunday, March 3, 2013

History of Redbank Township and John Wolf

It's been about two weeks since my last post.  Hopefully others will be able to find my blog since it now shows up on Google.

Since this blog will be about the families that lived in Redbank Township, a little history of the township is helpful.  The present township of Redbank in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania contains only about one-sixth or one-seventh of the territory included within the limits of old Redbank township, organized September 18, 1806.  All of Redbank and Mahoning and a part of Madison Township in Armstrong County, and Redbank, Porter, Monroe, Limestone, Clarion and Mill Creek Townships in Clarion County were included in the original township of Redbank.  Clarion County was erected on March 11, 1839 from parts of Armstrong and Venango Counties in Pennsylvania.

Since my maiden name was Wolfe, this was one of the first surnames I researched.  We will talk about John Wolf today.  John Wolf and his wife Christina Wolfgang first appeared in Armstrong County when their daughter Hannah was baptized on 11 August 1829 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (Yeany's), Shannondale, Redbank Township, Armstrong County (present day Clarion County).  Sponsors were Dieter Wolfgang (brother of Christina) and his wife Elizabeth.  John Wolf is in Clarion Township, Armstrong County in the 1830 census.  He bought 100 acres in Pine Creek Township, Jefferson County in 1834 which he and his wife Christina sold/transferred to their son Michael in 1847.  Both John Wolf and his wife Christina lived in Knox Township (formerly Pine Creek Township), Jefferson County from 1834 until their deaths.  John Wolf died about April, 1859 and his wife Christina died about September, 1866.  They had the following children: 

  1. John born 7 January 1812-died 1874
  2. Michael born 10 October 1816-died 1854
  3. Jacob born 27 December 1818-died 4 April 1897
  4. Daniel born 3 July 1824-died 15 December 1890
  5. Hannah born 17 January 1829-died 31 March 1916
  6. Samuel born 1830
  7. Peter born 1836-died 21 September 1862
  8. Possibly Henry born 1815 

A signature was found for John Wolf in the estate papers of George Himes (John Georg Heim) who died in Armstrong County about 1829.  He signed his name Johannes Wolf.

Hope you enjoyed this week's blog.