Homer Jesse Woolf

• Updated from MyHeritage Family Trees via mother Loila Woolf (born Bates) by SmartCopy: Nov 25 2014, 16:10:38 UTC

Homer Jesse Woolf was born at Hyde Park, 4 Oct. 1881. He was the eldest child of Homer Woolf and Loila Bates Woolf. When he was 3 years old, the family moved to Riverdale and lived there for 10 years. While there, his father was called on a mission and it was left to his mother to support the family, which consisted of 3 children. Jess, being the oldest, had considerable responsibility.

In the year 1894, the family moved to Canada. Jess, then 13 years of age, and Chet Woolf drove the stock. It took 6 weeks to make the trip, not knowing from one night to another if they would be molested by Indians. One day Jesse, who usually drove the cattle, was driving one of the vehicles with his young brother, Andrew, accompanying him, when the team ran away across the prairie, giving their mother and them a frightening experience. The team was finally stopped when they hit a railroad track, which broke the tongue of the wagon. When they finally reached Canada after the long trek, Jess and some of the boys drove into Cardston and were heartsick when they saw nothing but a few dirt-roofed huts.

It was in Cardston that Jess received his high school education. In 1905, at the age of 24, he married Annie Ethel Duce. 4 years later, they took their 2 children and were endowed and sealed in the Logan Temple. To this union, 5 children were born: Edra, 9 July 1906; Fay, 8 Sep. 1907; Irene, 8 July 1910; Keith, 22 Jan. 1915; and Dale, 26 May 1916. Keith died of pneumonia before he was a month old. About 5 years after their marriage, they moved to a farm 5 miles south of Cardston. He also owned a homestead 3 miles farther south, by his father’s land. They lived on the farm for 4 years, then moved back to Cardston so the children could attend school.

Shortly after this, Jesse took a mechanics course in Calgary and worked in a garage for awhile. His wife was not well and on 6 Oct. 1918, she died of a heart attack after being bedridden for some time. He and the children then lived with his mother and father for 5 years (except Edra, who, after a year, went to live with an aunt and uncle). 5 years later, 11 May 1923, he married Vivian Louise Olsen. They were sealed in the Alberta Temple 11 Feb. 1924. One daughter, Dorothy, was born to them on 31 July 1932.

Jess clerked in a store for several years, then moved to Glenwood and operated the Imperial Oil Bulk Station. Jess enjoyed fishing and all kinds of sports. He was blessed with many friends. He loved people and people loved him. He was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held the office of high priest when he died at the age of fifty-nine, 19 July 1942, of a heart attack, after suffering for several months from heart trouble.

Written by Edra Woolf Olsen, Daughter Vivian Louise Olsen Woolf, Wife Bernice Woolf Quinton, Sister Entered into Family Search by LaMont Gibson 12/24/2013 Information from book JOHN ANTHONY WOOLF FAMILY Published in 1986.

SOURCE: Family Search.org