Jessie Eva Wolff

Jessie Wolff of pioneer family dies September 7

Jessie Wolff, 82, member of one of Sioux County's truly pioneer families, died Sept. 7 at Chadron. The funeral service was held Saturday at the Memorial United Methodist Church in Harrison and burial was in the Harrison Cemetery.

Robert Todd officiated at the ceremonies. Organist was Mrs. Todd, and songs were sung by the duet of Todd and Major King. Pallbearers were Bill Olbright, Clarence Freeman, Fred Wolff, Clarence Schnurr, Alvin Publow and Arloph (Mike) Chard.

Jessie Eva (Newlin) Wolff was born Sept. 10, 1893, on her parents' Hat Creek homestead in Sioux County. She was the oldest daughter of John and Ella (Conner) Newlin who were early Sioux County homesteaders and teachers, having come to the county in the early 1880's.

Jessie completed the 11th grade in the Harrison High School in 1911, then graduated from Chadron Normal School with the Class of 1916. She then returned to Sioux County to teach the Davis school, where she stayed four years, after which she went to Wyoming where she taught the Swope school for three years.

She was married to Milo Wolff on Aug. 29, 1920, at Hot Springs, S. D. One child, John Milo, who died in infancey, was born. Jessie and Milo made their home on Milo's homestead in the Whitman community of Wyoming where they ranched until his death in 1953. Jessie then leased her ranch and moved to Harrison to live in the home her parents had puchased in 1906, where she continued to live until her death.

Although she had undergone treatment for cancer, and for the past year had been nearly bedfast, Jessie never complained. She was an inspiration to all who knew her because of her ability to see the brighter side of life, and to laugh when friends knew she didn't feel like laughing. It was through their faithfulness with daily calls, visits, and meals that made it possible for her to remain in her own home. Jessie never failed to respond to each kindness with a thank you note, usually accompanied by a favorite verse or bit of poetry.

She also found much pleasure in growing things, and with the help of friends, added several new flowers each spring.

Jessie was a member of the Harrison Methodist Church and the Woodbine Rebekah Lodge from which she had received a 50-year membership pin.

Preceding her in death were her parents, two sisters, Bessie Kreman, and Nellie Bee who died in infancy; her husband, Milo; and an infant son, John Milo.

She is survived by the following nieces and nephews: Frances Olbricht, Mitchell; John Kreman, Scottsbluff; Clarence Kreman, Crawford; Ila Graber of Golden, Colo.; Gladys Chard, Lance Creek, Wyo.; Ethel Backhaus and Inez Thayer, Lusk; Winona Harding of Sheridan, Wyo.; Violet Welling, Eunice Smith, and Doris Homrickhausen, Crawford, Donald Wolff and Bernard Wolff of Wilder, Idaho; Bernice Raben, Martin, S. D.; Arland Ward, Orville Ward and Lau Vay Arnald, Phoenix, Ariz.; Mabel Thayer, Harrison.

Brother-in-law and sisters-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wolff, Scottsbluff, Mrs. Eva Wolff of Wilder, Idaho. There are also numerous great nieces and great nephews.

These gravestone photos were found on nebraskagravestones.org.

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