The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-03-08
pEwoLF HAS MADE GOOD.
Former Crawford County Boy Rises t
Prominence in the State
of Illinois,

Fuel" a magazine devoted to the
coal interests of Illinois, publishes
portrait OF F. w. DeWolf, son of J.
RI. DeWolf, formerly of Vail. He will
be remembered by many of the old
timers of Vail and by a large circle OF
friends in the county. He is now d.
rector of the Illinois State Geological
survey. The magazine speaks OF him
as follows:
State work in Illinois has given the
recently appointed director of the I'LL
nois State Geological survey wide
acquaintance among the producers OF
minerals, among engineers and teach
ers, and particularly among the coal
operators and miners of the state.
These have come to know and esteem
him. Legislative measures designed
to improve mining conditions and d.
minish accidents have, during the past
three years, brought him in contact
with committees of the mining inter-
|ests and with state commissions.
Along these lines, and in these fields
of endeavor, he has become useful
public servant, as we'll as in scientific
geology, and brief sketch of his
career up to this time will be of inter-
est to FUELS readers,
F. w. DeWolf was born in Iowa
twenty-nine years ago. and got his
was then possible for him to attend
the high schools of Des Moines, Iowa,
and of Chicago. When he entered the
University of Chicago his interest in
geology had been already awakened,
and he specialized in the subject,
both before and after graduation, aim
ing to become teacher. In fact, he
did teach at a Chicago academy and
later had charge OF two university
classes in field geology in southern
Wisconsin. His own instruction in
practical field geology had been re-
ceived under federal biologists during
summer vacation periods in Wiscon-
sin, and in the mountains of Wyom-
ing. Incidentally, he was employed for
one year as chemist by the Illinois
Steel company.
Entering the employ of the U. s.
Geological survey in 1904, he was de-
tailed to work in the coal and oil
fields of southwestern Pennsylvania,
and was later called to help collect
Goals for testing at the St. Louis ex-
position. The following year geologi-
cal Investigations were assigned to
him along the Beaver river between
Beaver and Newcastle. The mineral
resources investigated included also
limestone for cement and f1ux, sand
stone and extensive deposits of fire.
clay and shale.
In 1906 Mr.. DeWolf's work was in
Illinois in cooperation with the state
survey under DR.. H. Foster Balm, his
predecessor, as director. The first
work was study of the field rela-
lions and collection of samples of ILL
nois fireclays in southern counties
which was followed by detailed sur
veys of two quadrangles in the Saline
and Gallatin county coal fields. Dur.
ing the next two years similar work
was continued under his direction in
Williamson, Franklin and Jackson
counties, as well as in the Belleville
and Springfield regions.
Mr.. DeWolfs chief interest is in the
geological and commercial study Of
the Goals and of coal mining, but pre-
vious experience gives him also great
interest in oil, gas, clay and other
economic phases of work now being
done by the survey staff. Reports o.
various surveys have been published
by the government, and by Illinois
and several are still in preparation
notably one on the Illinois coal fields
which will be finished this year
AS to society affiliations, Mr.. De
Wolf has memberships in the Quad
rangle club and Engineers club in Chi
cago, and also in the Geological Soci
ETY. of America; American Institute O.
Mining Engineers; Coal Mining lnsti
tute of America; Western Society Of
Engineers; Illinois Society of En-
gineers and Surveyors, and other sim
liar societies. He is young man
earnest and devoted to his work, anC
eminently fitted for the position tt
which he has been appointed.