Delbert Jesse Wolf was born September 2, 1904 in Marion, Arkansas to James Alexander "Shorty" Wolf and Pear A. Wolf (Smith). By 1920 the family moved to Cisco, Eastland, Texas. In 1921 when Delbert was 16 they moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma where his parents ran a grocery. During the time period of prohibition and then the great depression the family was involved with making moonshine and bootlegging. Nearly everyone spent some time in jail and or prison.

In 1926 Delbert married Clara Belle Robinson in Winfield, Kansas. They had a daughter later that year, named Helen.

Delbert was arrested in 1929 for running a whiskey still out of a 3 room house, at the Engelkemeirer farm, near Newkirk, Oklahoma. He was arrested along with his brother in-law Ed Robinson. His wife Clara was later arrested for liquor possession and sentenced to 30 days in jail. Delbert received a larger 1 year sentence.

In 1930 Delbert Wolf and Ed Robinson escaped from the Pawnee, Oklahoma Jail. They traveled to Wichita, Kansas with Clara, Ethel (Ed's wife), Raymon Brown, Wilson Wolf (Delbert's younger brother) and Grace Hall (Wilson's future wife). During this trip to Wichita they were accused of robbing a drugstore for $50, and killing the clerk Horrell Hamlin. Raymon Brown and Delbert Wolf both convicted by circumstantial

evidence were sentenced to life in prison. The charges were dropped for the rest of the gang.

In 1931 another man Essel Dykes confessed to the crime, exonerating Raymon and Delbert. However he recanted the confession after learning he could get a life sentence.

Clara divorced Delbert in 1939 and Helen was raised by her step-father Rex Wingler.

Delbert requested clemency from the governor many times and was denied. In 1949 his sentence was reduced from life to 34-49 years. He was quickly paroled that year. He had served 19 years in the Kansas State Penitentiary, Leavenworth. In 1957 he was pardoned by the Kansas Governor George Docking.

While out on parole Delbert moved to Jackson County, Oregon to live with his father. He worked as a logger. Delbert married Effie Cordelia Horton in 1954. Delbert passed away August 17, 1988 in Medford, Oregon.