Alice and Ace Wolfe

Mrs. Asa Wolfe was born Alice Mae Thomas, in a sod house near Indianola in 1890. She was a sickly baby and not expected to live, so her parents (Robert & Kate) sent her to Indianola to be cared for by her Grandmother, Lucy Dunning. What was expected to be a short time turned into a permanent arrangement and Alice grew up in Indianola with her Grandmother. Here she attended school and graduated from the Indianola High School in 1911. She was one of the first graduates from that school who took advantage of "Normal Training" courses, which enabled a High School graduate to teach in rural school.

Although she began teaching in rural schools right out of high school, this was not Alice's first teaching experience. At age 12 she had begun teaching a Sunday School class of small girls at the Indianola Congregational Church, a position she held until she moved from Indianola to begin her professional teaching career.

After teaching in rural schools in Red Willow and Frontier Counties for several years, Alice accepted a teaching assignment in Uehling. She had been there only 2 years when she was promoted to principal of the Uehling Schools, a position she filled, while at the same time teaching classes to 9th and 10th grade students.

Asa and Alice were married in 1917, just days before he went into the Army. During the two years that he served in France Alice lived in Fairbury, where she worked as an elementary teacher. On Asa's return to the United States the couple moved to Riverton, Iowa, where Asa again took up his position as Superintendent of Schools. It was in Riverton that the first two of the Wolfe's five children were born.

In 1934, after 16 years in Iowa the Wolfes returned to Southwestern Nebraska, where Asa resumed his years in education, many as County Superintendent. He did not retire until 1975, at the age of 86 -- and then only to care for an ailing Alice.

In McCook, Alice did not teach in the schools, but was extremely active in civic affairs, where more often than not she ended up in some sort of "teaching" role. Through her extension club, "The S.D.," she taught other members cooking and sewing tips from the Nebraska Extension Office. She guided a group of girls in cooking projects as a part of the SD extension program. She completed the Red Cross teaching program for First Aid, and for a number of years led classes of girls through their First Aid instruction. As a Den Mother, she taught Cub Scouts the elements of camping, tying knots and living useful lives, following the "Scout Code."

Alice loved "digging into a subject." She was a member of the "Research Club," and was instrumental in instructing and encouraging many women in tracing their roots back to the Revolutionary War, so that they could prove their eligibility into the D.A.R. In her own case she was able to trace her roots back to the Blair Family in Virginia, who, (fittingly) were the founders of William and Mary College, as well as active participants in the Revolutionary Army.

Alice was an active member of the Auxiliary units of the World War I Vets and the American Legion. During World War II, and after, she served as Secretary for Home Services, serving military men and their families, and later, through the Salvation Army, serving to civilian needy transients. This proved to be a "labor of love" for Alice, as she dispensed the aid for these two organizations, she offered a listening ear for those she counseled, and advice and encouragement to all she met through her work.

Alice Wolfe loved history, and had indeed been a part of the early history of Southwest Nebraska. She was something of an authority on the Indian tribes of Nebraska, and on the various trails that went through the state, trails that the early pioneers used in their migration west. Another favorite topic for her was the "Underground Railway" of the Civil War -- the network that existed to aid many an escaped slave to flee the bondage of slavery. She was much in demand by schools in this area to lecture on these subjects, both in the grade schools and High Schools.

Alice also loved libraries. She had been a Library Board member of three other libraries, two in Iowa and in Indianola, before returning to McCook. It was only natural that she became a Library Board member in McCook. On the McCook Library Board Mrs. Wolfe was an activist. As she had in the other communities she had served, she initiated a special section in the Library for children and their books, and she spearheaded a regular "story hour" for children. She rated story telling very highly, "as a force in the education of a child. It can be made a part of Geography, English, and History, besides helping to create a love of good reading."

Alice was always available to help high school and college students who were faced with the task of writing a thesis on some local event or and individual. It seemed that she was always able to find the help they needed in the many books and papers that filled her home, and she usually could put a personal touch on the information she gave.

Mrs. Wolfe not only enjoyed reading history, but she loved to write it as well. Thanks to her diligence, six organizations in Red Willow County, including the McCook Library and the Old Settlers Association at Indianola, The McCook PTA, The American Legion Auxiliary, and the McCook Woman's Club had complete histories before she passed away in 1975. In the case of the Old Settlers Association, Alice Wolfe had a first hand knowledge of most of the years of that group. Her mother had served as Secretary of the organization for 14 years. Alice, herself, followed as Secretary for another 24.

Asa and Alice Wolfe remained passionate about education their entire lives. Even in the '30s, during the Depression, when jobs paid very little in the way of wages (if one was fortunate to even have a job) Asa and Alice managed to steer each of their five children toward college and made sure that they were able to attain their goals. As a result, John, MA, from the Colorado School of Mines, became a geologist in the Philippines; Mildred Burns, PhD, Stanford University, became a professor at McGill U., Montreal, Canada; Marjorie Hansen, RN, Denver Hospital became a Nurse at Billings, Mont.; Ina Mae Lewis, BS, University of California became a Special Primary Instructor in Tulairie, CA; Charles, MD, from University of Nebraska, became a practicing physician in Spokane, Wash.

If Ace Wolfe was a reluctant candidate for the Kiwanis Governorship, Alice Wolfe was a more reluctant First Lady. By that time in her life, Alice was a gracious lady, who loved her home and family. She was proud of Ace, but wanted to avoid the spotlight. At Kiwanis functions she was a very pretty older lady who smiled when spoken to, but always appeared to wish she were somewhere else.

The Wolfes lived in a very modest home in our neighborhood. Alice cultivated beautiful flowers in the parkway north of their home, and was always friendly when we met, but as I have learned in later years she also cultivated friends and captivated individuals and groups with her stories about the early days in Red Willow County.

I always enjoyed her flowers, and know I would have enjoyed her stories as much or more.

Source: Trails West to Red Willow Co. by Bob Ray and Lois Rutledge.