52 Ancestors #26: Philip Wolf’s Gunshot Wound
I am forever amazed at how the life of someone long passed has impacted my own … how the life and death of a man who lived 150 years ago had such an impact on my very existence, and that of my entire family.
The Facts
Philip Wolf was the first husband of my 2nd great grandmother, Margaret Ellen Lindsey. He was born in Tennessee in 1832 to James and Nancy Wolf, and was the first of 11 children. Philip was named after his grandfather, Phillip Wolfe (1784-1836).
Jim Wolf likely moved his family from Tennessee to Southern Illinois for the same reason everyone else was coming this way then … land in a region that was just beginning to take shape. By 1850, the Wolf family was firmly planted in Jackson County on a farm near Pomona that Philip helped his father manage.
In 1853, Philip married Margaret Jane Lindsey, daughter of Rev. Richard Green Lindsey. Two children have been documented from this union, John (b. 1857) and Sara (b. 1859). I believe there was at least 1 other daughter (Elizabeth) and possibly a son (James) who died at a young age. Margaret Jane died sometime between September 22, 1860 and Phillip’s second marriage in 1864. Margaret Jane appears on the 1860 census, taken on September 22, 1860. I have no death record for her.
Phillip’s second marriage was to Margaret Ellen Lindsey (cousin of MJ). They were wed on October 15, 1864 in Jackson County, Illinois. They had two children, Samuel (1865-1925) and Nancy (1867-1939).
The Wound
On August 29, 1861, Philip enlisted in H Company, 27th Illinois Infantry. He was discharged due to wounds on June 16, 1863. Philip received a gunshot wound during the Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee on December 31, 1862. The ball (bullet) entered Philip’s back, passed through the right lung and out under his right breast, entered his right arm and lodged in the elbow joint. Upon inspection, his lieutenant believed him to be dead. He was subsequently sent to the General Hospital in Cairo, Illinois and later discharged. I can’t imagine how difficult the years were between this wound and Philip’s death in 1869. He did, however, remarry and sire two more children!
The Epiphany
I have always suspected that Philip died as a result of difficulties from his gunshot wound. Without a death certificate, I can only suspect. His untimely death on March 3, 1869 at age 37 gave way for Margaret Ellen to marry my 2nd great grandpa, Winfield Scott Douglas.
While Philip Wolf isn’t a direct ancestor, he certainly played a part in my existence. It almost seems morbid to think about it, but had he not died in 1869, Margaret wouldn’t have married Scott Douglas or given birth to Phoebe … and I wouldn’t be here writing this blog post!
Hi Niki,
What a perspective on that! So often we think about all of the couples who had to come together to make us, but rarely do we think of the relationships that had to end first!
I’ve highlighted your post in the “What We’re Reading This Week” column on the Ancestry.com blog. http://ancstry.me/UglcTv
Have a great weekend!
Amy
Thanks, Amy! It was certainly one of those “Ah-ha” moments!
I’m so glad that I’m not the only one who traces all these collateral relatives! I loved this story because certainly Philip was part of your second great-grandmother’s life and thus part of your larger family history.
I suspect we aren’t the only ones! Every now and then, I get mentally attached to a “non-ancestor” and just have to go digging for more. It’s fascinating!
Nicole … your grandfather always respected the fact that this had happened. He respected the Wolf family and when we’d see somebody that really wasn’t a cousin … he’d often say something like “they’re kin folk” … In small towns and small places … I guess everybody is kin folk!