Adalbert John Volck (1828 - 1912)

Born 14 Apr 1828 in Augsburg, Augsburger Stadtkreis, Bavaria (Bayern), Germany

Husband of Letitia Roberta (Allen) Volck — married before 1860 in Maryland, USA [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 26 Mar 1912 at age 83 in Baltimore City, Maryland, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Julie Ricketts [send private message]

Biography

Adalbert was born in Bavaria and immigrated 1848. There is an "A Volk" listed on the ship Orion which arrived in New York in Nov 1848. There is another passenger listed as "G Volk" on the line above.^[1][2]

Adalbert worked as a dentist, political cartoonist and caricaturist and took the side of the Confederacy during the US Civil War.^[3] He made a series of caricatures under the pseudonym V. Blada.^[4]

Adalbert and Letitia are living in Baltimore in 1860. They have three children -- Annie, Fannie and Howard. Adalbert's younger brother, Frederick, a sculptor, is also living with them.^[5]

In 1885, he co-founded the Charcoal Club of Baltimore with Joseph Evans Sperry.^[6]

In 1870, the census taker listed his name as "Albert," and Letitia's name as "Malicia." All of the children are the same, however, so we can be fairly sure this is the same family living in Baltimore, Maryland.^[7]

At the time of the 1900 Census, Adalbert and his wife Letitia are living in Baltimore, Maryland. Three adult daughters are living in their household -- Annie, Fannie and Henrietta -- as well as a 16-year-old grandson, George A. Volck. It's not clear who his parents are.^[2]

In 1902, Letitia passes away, and Adalbert is living with his daughter Fannie in 1910 when the census is enumerated.^[8]

Adalbert dies on 26 Mar 1912.^[9]

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Adalbert Volck, a native of Bavaria, Germany, was a man of many talents: he was a skilled, innovative and versatile dentist, artist, artisan, craftsman, and a Confederate Civil War cartoonist and caricaturist. In 1848, after participating in a national revolution gone sour, Volck emigrated to the U.S. In 1852, Volck received his DDS degree from the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, and subsequently, he established a life-long residency and dental practice in Baltimore. Dr. Volck gave staunch support to the spirit and force of organized dentistry. Among his professional accomplishments was his work in the early development of dental porcelain restorations. Although he was a non-combatant in the U.S. Civil War, Volck demonstrated his loyalty to the Southern cause by becoming a blockade runner; smuggler of drugs and medical supplies; "safe house" operator for Confederate soldiers and agents; Rebel spy; and personal courier for Jefferson Davis (the President of the Confederacy). The popular anti-Confederacy political cartoons of the great Thomas Nast inspired Volck to execute similar lampoons against the Union. Early in the war, Volck, through his caricatures, attacked the person and policies of President Lincoln and his Northern leaders. By using irony, sarcasm and ridicule, Volck attempted to sway popular sentiment toward the South.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:27PM-BVQ : 15 April 2015), A Volk, 1848; citing NARA microfilm publication M237 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm .
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3K7-216 : accessed 22 December 2017), Adalbert Volck, Precinct 1 Baltimore city Ward 2, Baltimore, Maryland, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 17, sheet 9B, family 190, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,608.
3. ↑ Adalbert J. Volck on Wikipedia
4. ↑ Artists of Abraham Lincoln portraits by Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection; Publication date 1863. Topics Volck, Adalbert John, 1828-1912, Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865, Presidents in art, Presidents, Caricatures and cartoons. Digitizing sponsor State of Indiana through the Indiana State Library; Contributor Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection; Volume Artists - V Volck 1 (https://archive.org/stream/artistsofabrahvlinc#page/n13/mode/2up)
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M69Z-PNQ : 12 December 2017), Albert J Volck, 1860.
6. ↑ Charcole Club of Baltimore on Wikipedia.org
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNS5-52P : 12 April 2016), Albert Volck, Maryland, United States; citing p. 17, family 122, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,068.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2F4-G4S : accessed 22 December 2017), Adalbert S Volck, Baltimore Ward 14, Baltimore (Independent City), Maryland, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 228, sheet 10B, family 200, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 557; FHL microfilm 1,374,570.
9. ↑ His Find-a-Grave memorial says that he was the son of Andreas Volck, who was a chemist in Nuremburg. Adalbert John Volck (1828-1912) on Find A Grave: Memorial #44117256 retrieved 21 December 2017
10. ↑ Christen AG, Christen JA. Adalbert J. Volck (1828-1912): Confederate dentist, artist and anti-Lincoln satirist. J Hist Dent. 2001 Mar;49(1):17-23. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11569060?dopt=Abstract)

See also:

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNQ4-4Y1 : 8 September 2017), Adelbert J Volck, Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, United States; citing enumeration district ED 90, sheet 266A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0500; FHL microfilm 1,254,500.