Stafford obit. 4/15/1895 :

Death yesterday of Fred L. DeWOLF age 28 of T.B.; was a clerk for Sanders & Pamphilon at Stafford, drove grocery wagon, in charge of Singer Sewing Machine Co. in Batavia, partner of brother in general merchandise, and clerk for Owen Brother's, Neal & Hanna at Buffalo;survived by 3 of 6 siblings: Mrs. H.C. Sherwin, Frank DeWOLF of Buffalo, and Charles F. DeWOLF of Batavia; buried Rural cemetery.
 
 

John H. DeWOLF went to work for the New York Central about 1865,running an engine hauling flat cars loaded with wood for the supplywoodsheds between Batavia and Rochester. After moving to Buffalo in1870, he became an engineer on the Buffalo-Rochester line, and was given the responsibility of breaking in "Engine 999" (the forerunnerof the "Empire"), the famous 8 wheeler which in 1893 pulled the EmpireState Express at 112.5 miles an hour (the test run was made by CharlieHogan who had been a fireman for DeWOLF).The first time in historythat any vehicle had gone faster than 100 miles an hour. DeWOLFcontinued for 45 years on the Empire State Express and the 20thCentury Limited without accident, except to himself. One day he was running Engine 883 on the Central-Hudson R.R., he leaned out of his cab near Warner, a few miles west of Syracuse, and was struck by the mail-pouch crane which cut a deep hole in his forehead as large as a hen's egg. The fireman found DeWOLF lying face down in the cab, dashed water on his face, and bound his head with a hankerchief. John H.resumed control of the engine, and brought the train into Lyons fiveminutes late due to the time the fireman was not stoking the fire. By that time, John's face was covered with blood, but he was lucky to be alive.

Mr. DeWOLF organized Division 328 of the Brotherhood of LocomotiveEngineers, and served as its first chief. He was secretary andtreasurer of the engineer's insurance for more than 20 years. Heretired at the age of 73, and was the first employee to receive apension. He was active to within a day of his death at the age of 92.He was a highly respected pioneer of the railroad industry, an avidsportsman, a devoted family man, and a true gentleman. He was a memberof Erie Lodge 161 F & A.M.
 
 
 

Leon F. DeWolf

     Leon F. DeWolf, 68, of 62 Pearl St. died at 10:15 p.m. Wednesday (July 29, 1970) at St. Jerome Hospital where he had been a patient seven weeks.  He had been in failing health for several months.
     Born in Batavia, Aug. 10, 1901, a son of the late Charles and Mary Kibler DeWolf, Mr. DeWolf was a lifelong resident of the community.  He retired in 1966 from the U.S. Gypsum Co. in Oakfield.  He was a member of St. Mary's Church.
     Surviving are his wife, the former Marie Smith; a brother, Herbert C. DeWolf of 12 North Spruce St.; a sister, Mrs. Edith Conlin of Buffalo; three nephews and two nieces.