Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

Civil War nurse Helena E. Miller Wolff at The Library of Congress.

Summary: Photograph shows portrait of identified Union nurse who worked in military hospitals in Cincinnati, Louisville, and Nashville.

Names: Schanz, Felix F., 1861-1935, photographer

Created / Published: Fort Wayne, Ind. ; Schanz Studio, [ca. 1900]

1. Page 154, Pioneers resting in historic Lindenwood by Paulison, Arthur Marion, 1905-1989; Topics Lindenwood Cemetery (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Fort Wayne (Ind.)--Biography.. Publisher Fort Wayne, Indiana : Lindenwood Historical Foundation, 1989 at Archive.org.

   SERVED AS NURSE IN UNION ARMY Mrs. Helena Wolff, (1836-1925) was a well known Union Army nurse and one of Fort Wayne's best known Civil War personalities. For over two score years, she was a familiar figure at all public patriotic assemblies held in honor of Civil War heroes.

   Mrs. Wolff was assigned to nursing the wounded at military hospitals in Cincinnatti, Louisville, and Nashville, Tenn. In recognition of her services, she was publicly received by President Lincoln and Gen. Grant. Gen. Logan gave her a citation for bravery in caring for the wounded.

2. Helena E. Miller Wolff Birth: 30 May 1836 Germany; Death: 7 Jul 1925 (aged 89) Wayne Township, Allen County, Indiana, USA, Burial: Lindenwood Cemetery; Find A Grave Memorial.
3. Helena (Mueller) Wolff (1836 - 1925) Born 30 May 1836 in Hungary. Died 7 Jul 1925 at age 89 in Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana, United States at WikiTree.
4. Born in 1836, died in 1925. Union Army nurse and one of Fort Wayne’s better-known Civil War personalities. She nursed wounded in military hospitals in Cincinnati, Louisville and Nashville, publicly received by both President Lincoln and General Grant, received a citation for bravery from Gen. Logan for service to the wounded, and attended patriotic gatherings of Civil War heroes for over 20 years after the war’s end. Read more in In Celebration of Women's History Month: Fort Wayne Women remembered at Lindenwood Cemetery by Nancy McCammon-Hansen published March 12, 2014 in History Center Notes & Queries blog.

5. 1909 - Woman's Relief Corps Honors Ware Nurse - Mrs. Helena Wolff

   Article from Jun 28, 1909 The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1909, Civil war nurse, Helena wolff

   1909 - Woman's Relief Corps Honors Ware Nurse - Mrs. Helena Wolff The Fort Wayne News And Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Monday, June 28, 1909, Page 5.

6. 1912 - Aged Army Nurse Coming

   Article from May 15, 1912 The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana) 1912, Civil war nurse, Helena wolff

   1912 - Aged Army Nurse Coming The South Bend Tribune, South Bend, Indiana, Wednesday, May 15, 1912, Page 6.

7. 1912 - Mrs. Helena Wolff, Famous War Nurse, To Attend Encampment

   Article from May 17, 1912 The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1912, Civil war nurse, Helena wolff, Civil war encampment

   1912 - Mrs. Helena Wolff, Famous War Nurse, To Attend Encampment The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Friday, May 17, 1912, Page 11.

8. Any idea what happened to the bonnet?

   1915 - Historic Bonnet Is Displayed at W.R.C. - 18th Annual Convention Harford City - Helena Wolff

   Article from Oct 21, 1915 South Bend News-Times (South Bend, Indiana) 1915, Civil war nurse, Helena wolff

   1915 - Historic Bonnet Is Displayed at W.R.C. - 18th Annual Convention Harford City - Helena Wolff South Bend News-Times, South Bend, Indiana, Thursday, October 21, 1915, Page 16

   HISTORIC BONNET IS DISPLAYED AT W. R. C.

   Eighteenth Annual Convention Held in Hartford City With 200 Delegates Present.

   CITY, Ind., Oct. 21.- eighteenth annual convention of the W. R. C. of the eighth district is in session here with more than 200 delegates from Fort Wayne, Decatur, Columbia City, Bluffton, Geneva, Montpelier, Jonesboro and Marion in attendance. Among the honorary guests at the meeting is Mrs. Helena Wolff, 80 years old, of Fort Wayne, who was a nurse in the Civil war. She was taken at one time and threatened by Morgan, prisoner, the raider. She has in her possession the bonnet worn by the mother of Gen. Grant.

9. 1916 - Civil War Nurse Receives Easter Gifts

   Article from Apr 23, 1916 The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1916, Civil war nurse, Helena wolff

   1916 - Civil War Nurse Receives Easter Gifts The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sunday, April 23, 1916, Page 6.

10. What a beautiful ceremony honoring Civil War Nurse, Helena E. Miller Wolff. Thank you to all involved in making this a...

    Posted by Lindenwood Cemetery on Saturday, March 22, 2025

    Saturday, March 22, 2025 post by Lindenwood Cemetery on Facebook:

    What a beautiful ceremony honoring Civil War Nurse, Helena E. Miller Wolff. Thank you to all involved in making this a great ceremony. What a great way to celebrate #WomensHistoryMonth happy Helena E. Miller Wolff Day!

11. Thank you WANE 15 for joining us and sharing this story with our community!

    Posted by Lindenwood Cemetery on Monday, March 24, 2025

    Monday, March 24, 2025 post by Lindenwood Cemetery on Facebook:

    Thank you WANE 15 for joining us and sharing this story with our community!

    Saturday, March 22, 2025 post by WANE 15 on Facebook:

    Fort Wayne 5th District City Councilman, Geoff Paddock, presented the City of Fort Wayne’s proclamation declaring March 22, 2025 ‘Helena Wolff Day.’