Dorothea Wolf and her Quilt

Stories from Franklin County's Past: Dorothea Wolf and her Quilt

by Carol Sensor, Franklin County Historical Society Volunteer

In 1986, a Puss in the Corner quilt was donated to the Franklin County Historical Museum by Virginia (Aagesen) Mallory. The quilt’s accompanying documentation indicates it was handmade by Dorothea Wolf in Pennsylvania in 1846. What was the quilt’s journey to Iowa and to the museum? Who was Dorothea? Every quilt has a story; here is Dorothea’s and her quilt’s.

Dorothea Ulmer was born May 14, 1808, in Möhringen, Württemberg (Germany), the seventh of 13 children of Caspar Ulmer and Catharina Margaretha Woelff Ulmer. On October 29, 1829, Dorothea married Johann George Wolf in Württemberg. Johann was born September 4, 1805, the second of nine children born to Abraham and Rosina Hertnek Wolf in Möhringen. Johann and Dorothea emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1830 aboard the Brig Canaries ship. The ship’s records also include Dorothea’s sister Barbara, her husband John Zimmerman, and their three small sons.

While living in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, 10 of Johann and Dorothea’s 13 children were born: George (1830), John (1832), Abram (1833), William (1836), Catharina (1837), Caroline (1839), Casper (1842), Henry (1845), Elizabeth (1846), and David (1848).

Just before Elizabeth’s birth in 1846, Dorothea made the red and white quilt with the Puss in the Corner pattern. Elizabeth was her ninth child. The quilt went with the family to their next home in Wisconsin.

After David’s birth, the family moved to Blooming Grove, Dane County, Wisconsin. Their final three children were born there: Sophia (September 14, 1849), Benjamin (March 14, 1852), and Christine (August 6, 1853). None of these three children lived to adulthood; both Benjamin and Christine died in September of 1853. They are buried in the Hope Evangelical Cemetery in Hope, Wisconsin. Sophia died in 1865 and is buried in the Blooming Grove Cemetery, Madison, Wisconsin.

Elizabeth grew up in Wisconsin and married Jacob Stuhlmiller November 11, 1866, in Blooming Grove. Jacob Stuhlmiller was born May 8, 1844, in Baden, Germany to Jacob and Phillippine Stuhlmiller. His family immigrated to the United States in 1846. He enlisted in the Union Army on August 13, 1862, in Company A Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and served until June 10, 1865.

Sometime between 1866 and 1870, Elizabeth and Jacob’s last name was permanently changed from Stuhlmiller to Miller. In the 1870 Census, Jacob, Elizabeth, and their one-year-old, Theodore, were living in Burke, Dane County, Wisconsin; Jacob was a farmer. While they lived in Wisconsin, four more children were born to them: William (1871), Adelia (Delle) (1871), George (1874), and Walter (1876).

The Miller family moved to Mott Township, Franklin County, Iowa, in 1879. Several members of the Wolf family had already moved to Mott Township including William, Abram, Henry and Casper. The quilt must have continued its journey from Wisconsin to Iowa with Elizabeth. Jacob and Elizabeth’s last two children were born in Iowa: John (1879) and Edna (1882).

Dorothea died August 23, 1878, and Johann George Wolf died January 13, 1888. Both of them died in Blooming Grove, Wisconsin, and are buried in the Blooming Grove Cemetery, Madison, Wisconsin, near Sophia.

Elizabeth died October 14, 1884, in Franklin County. Jacob remarried September 14, 1886, to Elizabeth Rohlfing, also a German immigrant. Together they had four more children: Albert (1888), Henry (1889), Esther (1891), and Alice (1893).

Dorothea’s quilt was given to Adelia Miller, Elizabeth’s oldest daughter. Adelia was a dressmaker and married Adam Wolf in 1907. Adam was the son of William and Mary Wolf. Although they had no children of their own, Adelia and Adam provided a home to Adelia’s niece, Gladys, when her mother died when she was 2. (Gladys was the second child of William and Antionette Rohlfing Miller.)

Adelia was also close to her sister Edna’s daughter, Virginia, and passed the quilt on to her. Virginia (Aagesen) Mallory donated the quilt to the Franklin County Historical Society in 1986. In 1988, the quilt was registered with the Iowa Quilt Research Project (IQRP# IQRPN-3). This quilt project now has over 101,000 quilts registered.

Earlier this spring, the Franklin County Historical Society was contacted by Warren Miller of Washington. He was planning a visit to the area and wondered if he could see his great-great-grandmother’s quilt in person. His grandfather was Walter Miller; Warren remembered visiting his grandparents in Hampton during his childhood. The volunteers at the museum, Sandy Murphy, Robin Smalley, Carole Jones, and this author located the quilt and made sure it was prominently exhibited in the bedroom display. Since his visit, Warren has been kind enough to share photographs and information about Dorothea Ulmer and the Wolf/Miller family, which resulted in this story. When you are at the museum, be sure to take a look at this beautiful piece of American history.

The volunteers at the Franklin County Historical Society love assisting with research about the history and people of Franklin County. Contact the museum and see what we can help you discover! (641-456-5777 or museumfchs@gmail.com). Every family has an interesting history – what is yours?

Family gathered at the Jacob Miller home in Mott Twp., Franklin Co., Iowa in 1903 or 1904. Front Row: Jacob Miller, Fred Wolf, Henry Miller, William Miller holding daughter Mabel, Adelia Wolf, Alice Miller. Row 2: Nettie Miller, George Miller. Row 3: Bertha Miller, Elizabeth Miller, Esther Miller, Albert Miller. Row 4: Henry Wolf, Sophia Wolf, Byron Wolf, Luella Wolf, Walter Miller, Edna Aagesen, Carl Aagesen, Theodore Miller.

Registry of Dorothea’s quilt.

Warren Miller and the 1846 quilt.