Unto Edward De Wolf and his wife, Rebecca, there were born four sons: Simon, in 1671; Charles, in 1673; Benjamin, in 1675; and Edward, Jr.[1] The line of descent is traced through the second son, Charles, who for many years resided in Middletown, Connecticut, where he died in 1731, his wife, Prudence, surviving him for ten years.

Their son Joseph De Wolf, born in 1717, lost his life in the battle of Louisberg in 1757 while serving with the colonial army in the French and Indian war.

Joseph De Wolf wedded Tabitha Johnson and their son Abda was also a soldier of the French and Indian war and, as previously stated, was numbered among the Revolutionary heroes, serving with Colonel Whiting's regiment of New York troops from Albany county.

In 1641 he obtained a grant of Martha's Vineyard and the neighboring island and the next year settled at Edgartown, whose inhabitants were then Indians.

His son Thomas was a missionary to the Indians and so greatly beloved by them that even many years after he perished at sea in a shipwreck he was seldom named by them without tears.

Other members of the family also became prominent, especially Experience (born 1637, died 1758), Zachariah (1717–1806) and Jonathan (1720–1766), the last named distinguished as a theologian and patriot.

[2] Ten years later a change in the partnership led to the adoption of the firm style of Dolph, Mallory, Simon & Gearin, his associates being Rufus Mallory, Joseph Simon and John M. Gearin, all distinguished lawyers so that the partnership was one of marked legal talent and ability.

He was one of the organizers of the Security Savings & Trust Company and his name has long been inscribed high on the roll of the state's distinguished lawyers and financiers.

Mr. and Mrs. Dolph became parents of three sons and a daughter: Joseph N., Hazel Mills, William Vanderbilt and John Mather.

[1] In the social circles of the city the family occupied a prominent position, and Dolph was active in many movements that have been of material benefit to Portland.

He was allied with the Oregon Republican Party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and undoubtedly could have attained to high political honors had not his ambitions and desires been centered and directed in other channels.

[1] In June 1869 he was accorded the Republican nomination for city attorney and was elected by a large majority, serving for the regular term of two years.

When he was absent from the city in 1874 the Republican convention nominated him for the state legislature, but at that time he declined to become a candidate as he did later when tendered the appointment of circuit judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his law practice and the cooperative interests with which he had become identified.