I was born in Moweaqua, Illinois, a town with an Indian name.
It means "Muddy Waters".
I had an identical twin brother who died shortly after
birth. Dad then moved to Arcola, IL., and I went to grade school
there. My first money making job was in a Sweet Shop as a soda jerk.
This is the first type of airplane I ever rode in
and took lessons in learning how to fly at age 10.
My boss loved to fly and he took me with him one day and found out I was
crazy about flying. At 10 yrs. of age he asked me to take the controls
and he said I was a natural. He then built the rudders up so I could
reach them and that was it. We later did skywriting for soft drink
companies and that was a blast.
Then my Dad was transferred to a grocery store in Arthur, IL.
I have lived here since.
As a child of 8-10 years old, I no longer had my grandparents
as they had all died before I was old enough to know
them. I adopted my next door neighbor for my grandpa and
three ladies for my Aunts. Grandpa Ed had an Indian mother
and we hit it off right away. She was a Cherokee Indian and
that was even better. My Dad's mom was a full blooded Cheyenne.
Of that I am exuberant.
My adopted grandpa Ed was always with me.
He helped me to understand Pearl Harbor and why the Japanese
attacked us. I lost lots of friends and they were young and
just out of high school. I cried when my friends just down the street
were killed. All were pilots of fighters and bombers. Then I received
word that my true Uncle ED was killed on Saipan and I was really hurt.
Grandpa Ed and his Sis tried to keep me busy with stories and making
Indian crafts. My Dad was just starting to tell me of his Mother and my
heritage and he became ill with a heart attack and a few months later he
died at age 39. What I learned of my heritage after that, was from my own
personal digging and asking relatives and going to the library.
During high school I had to take jobs to help Mother with bills so I
started playing drums with a big dance band at age 15. I continued with
my music and playing for 27 years because by then I loved it.
I married my high school sweetheart and we have two sons, Brian and
Kirby. They blessed us with 5 grandkids....4 girls and 1 boy.
My wife Geri and I will celebrate our 49th wedding anniversary, October 4th.
We got a computer and met lots of wonderful people. I write to many Native
Americans on both coasts and Canada. Then I met Evening Rain.
I have adopted her (honestly) as my sister.
WHEN you view my web- site you will know SHE built it....all of it.
I just added a few pictures and my biography.
Ho'nehe - Bill Wolf
I still love music and drumming and flying
but I am working to know my ancestors more. This is very important to
me. A person's heritage should come from their heart as well as their
mouth so always be proud of who you are and where you come from.
