The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-07-01
WELL KNOWN PIONEER
PASSES AWAY
FRANCIS WOLFF, SON OF HERO
OF REVOLUTION, CLAIMED
BY DEATH.

Spokane, June 30-Francis j. d.
Wolff, native of PENNSYLVANIA, born
i'm Philadelphia on June L. 1888, and
son of Henry Wolff, hero of the rev.
oiution, who died on the Vivian ranch
near Meyers Falls. Wash, north of
Spokane few days ago. was one OF
the first settlers and probably the
most adventurous pioneer of The
narthNest. His work DURING the last
half century is a monument which any
man might be proud to leave behind.
He came to the Pacific slope in 1852
by way of the Isthmus of Panama
from Fort Gates, Mich. with the
Fourth United States infantry. under
Lieutenant Colonel townsville, and
was first stationed at Vancouver,
Wash. When, in 1853 Major Alvord,
afterward paymaster general, called
tor volunteers from the ranks to go
to meet Governor Stevens, who was
then on his way across the Rocky
mountains with the commission of the
first governor of Washington terri
tory Mr.. Wolff and is men volun-
teered, and outfitted under Lieutenant
Saxon, and with pack train, started
on the perlons journey, and met the
governor at Fort Stevens.
Going by the way of Walla Walla,
the little expedition crossed the Spo-
kane river six miles above Spokane,
thence by the Seneaqueteen and Jocko.
In the Ritter Root valley, in western
Montana, a camp was established,
where the larger part Of the supplies
were left and the place called Ste
yensvile.
When Fort Benton was reached il
was found that Governor Stevens had
been there two DAYS with SO mounted
men. James Higgins afterwards a
banker at Missoula, was first sergeant
of the Stevens expedition: John Null
len was lieutenant and engineer, and /
on reaching Stevensville was left with 7
IL men, including Mr. Wolff, to re- I
main until conditions were favorable |
for making railroad survey west I
ward from that point. Mullen's expe-
dition reached The Dalles, Ore, in
November 1854. While the Indians
we're at bitter warfare with eac, other
in all the interior country at that
time the Mullen expedition was not
disturbed.
Many Killed.
Mr. Wolff was with the Frasier
river expedition, which was routed in
Nc Laughlin's canyon in the Okanogan
where there We're many
killed. He went to Colville, Wash,
With a stock of merchandise in 1853
but met with such severe opposition
from the Hudson Bay company that
ne was obliged to discontinue on two
occasions, on the first Of which he was
robbed Of his stores and driven out of
The country by Indians 1t was large
y through his Influence that the gov
ernor established the post at Fort
Colville in 1859, and he was appointed
sheriff by governor Stevens for the
irst attempted organiza ton of Spo-
zane county.
Mr.. Wolff carried mail from The
0alles to Walla Walla on horseback
n 1858, when frequently there were
lot half dozen letters in the sack.
He was also a messenger to carry
| dispatch from Colonel Wright to
Colonel Steptoe, at the time the latter
vas seriously repulsed in the Palouse
:ampaign against the Indians, and
vas one of the survivors of the
rrasier river Indian war in 1868. He
aptured the Indian who slew Judge
Ohm Watson, the first member of the
legislature, when on his return home
rom the Washington legislature at
olympia in 1860.
In official life Mr.. Wolff was always :.
.ctiVe, and among the official posi-
ions held has been probate judge. :
United States inspector of customs,
heriff and county commissioner. He ;
married. Miss Celeste McCloud at Fort 1
'olville in 1880, who with six children,
latoe, Lotte, Frank, Lawrence, .
'ercy and Lester Wolff, survives.
he funeral took place at Colville, q
Wash, Rev. G.. II. Wilbur conducting :
he services which We're attended by
1embers of the Stevens County Pio-
eer association, of which he was ,
1under. ~