San Joaquin County
Biographies
ANDREW WOLF
ANDREW WOLF.--Among those
pioneers of California who have concentrated their efforts in one locality and
associated themselves with progressive movements from the early days of the
State to the present time, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch stands as
a conspicuous and honored example. Mr. Wolf is a native of Ohio, born on the
banks of Beaver Creek, in Bath Township, Greene County, May 26, 1821. John W.
Wolf, his father, was born in Pennsylvania in 1791, and while he was a mere
infant his parents removed to Greene County, Ohio, a locality which then
abounded with Indians. He grew to manhood there, and when the war with Great
Britain came on in 1812 he offered his services in his country’s cause and
served throughout that struggle until surrendered by Hull. He was married in
Ohio and lived in that State until his death, in 1878. His wife was formerly
Mary Hawker, a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, whose father and mother came
respectively from Pennsylvania and Maryland. She died in 1835.
Andrew Wolf, the subject of this mention,
was reared in Greene County, Ohio, where he resided until shortly after his
mother’s death. He then went to Dayton, and engaged at clerking in the grocery
store of an uncle, William Van Cleaf, who had married the youngest sister of
our subject’s mother. About two years later Mr. Wolf entered the grocery
business for himself, in company with a partner, J. R. Coblentz. This firm was
dissolved in the fall of 1847, and a short time later Mr. Wolf went to Iowa to
visit an uncle by marriage, named Abraham Morgan, who resided in Davis County,
on the Des Moines river. He had only intended to make a visit of about two
month’s duration, but his stay was prolonged two years. Among those whom he
called upon was an old playmate named John Martin, at Bloomington (now
Muscatine). While there the latter informed him that he would secure for him a
situation with Greene & Stone, general merchants and pork packers. This
firm was in need of one man that winter, and engaged Mr. Wolf. The latter then
went to see and consult his uncle, and then returned to Bloomington, entering
the employ of Greene & Stone. He remained with them from November 1, 1847
until the first of March following, when his engagement closed. Shortly before
this date, however, he was one day introduced by Mr. Greene to a gentleman
named Alexander Oglebie, who told him that he had been in business and intended
to resume, and asked Mr. Wolf what his intentions for the future were. The
answer was that he would go home when his employer got through with him, or as
soon thereafter as the river opened. After stating his intentions in regard to
the resumption of business, Mr. Oglebie asked Mr. Wolf what salary he would
require to work for him a year, time to commence from the 1st of
March. Mr. Wolf replied, “I will place my figure so high that you won’t want
me,” and then named the terms, not dreaming his proposition would be taken up.
Mr. Oglebie at once closed the bargain at the figure named, and then Mr. Wolf
thought of offering him $100 to release him from the promise. After a second
thought, however, he concluded to stick to his word, come what might. His new
firm consisted of Oglebie & St. John, the latter being then in Dubuque,
Iowa. Mr. Oglebie went to St. Louis to lay in a stock and ship the goods. The
river opened about the middle of March, and Mr. Wolf, who had remained at
Bloomington, received and unpacked the goods and had them all on the shelf when
Mr. Oglebie returned. He continued with the new firm a year, but the tales of
the golden wealth of California had impressed him, and he dreamed over them at
night. A party was organized for the purpose of making the journey to the new
El Dorado, among whom were S. C. Hastings, Dr. Owles, James Bunker, Mr. Smith
and a Jewish merchant. Mr. Wolf joined them and spoke to two young friends of
his in the packing-house, named William Scott and Isaac Heath, about going with
him. They replied that they had no means, but would like to make the trip. Mr.
Wolf informed them that he would buy the outfit for all three, and they could
pay for their share after they had obtained money in California. This
proposition was gladly accepted, and preparations were rapidly made. Mr. Wolf
bought four pairs of steers, one pair of cows and a mule as the live-stock
portion of the equipment, and took them all in safely to the Pacific. After
their arrival in California his companions settled up with honor and credit to
themselves, and to Mr. Wolf’s entire satisfaction. They left Bloomington on the
5th of April, 1849, and set out for St. Joseph, where they crossed the
Missouri river May 14. It would have taken them six weeks to get across,
however, if they had waited their turn at the ferries; and it was only by good
fortune they reached the west side of the river as soon as they did. After
booking their train for ferriage, Messrs. Wolf and Richmond mounted horses and
set out to look for wild turkeys. Four miles above, to their utter
astonishment, they saw the keel of a boat almost completed on a dock, all ready
to slide into the water, while at a distance of about 300 yards back in the
woods was a little cabin. Mr. Richmond was a carpenter by trade, and it at once
occurred to the two companions that here was a chance to get across the river
in a short time by the expenditure of a little labor. Riding up to the cabin,
Mr. Wolf dismounted and rapped on the door. Hearing nothing but a gurgling
voice in response, he rapped again more loudly, and a maudlin voice within
called out angrily, “What in hell do you want?” He was informed that they
wished to see the proprietor, and the owner of the maudlin voice, a half
drunken man, came to the door. Mr. Wolf made inquiries about the boat, and was
informed that the proprietor had been deserted by his workmen before the craft
had been completed. Mr. Wolf then asked for the privilege of calking and
launching the boat; and it was agreed that they should finish the boat and put
it in condition for service, in return for which the train of fourteen wagons
were to be ferried across without further cost. Mr. Wolf then informed his
friend Richmond of the bargain, and the latter at once went back to the ferry
and brought up the party. Every man among them who knew anything about a boat
was put to work on it on that day (May 11), and on the night of the 13th
the boat was launched. During the forenoon of the following day the crossing
was made in safety, and all their efforts were the western side of the river.
Their rejoicing culminated in a dance and at nine o’clock all retired for the
night.
On awakening in the morning the company
learned for the first time that the cholera had attacked one of their number
during the night, and that the victim, a man, had died about one o’clock A.M.,
and was soon thereafter buried! This was the only death in the party, though
for two weeks after crossing the river they were never out of sight of the grim
destroyer. One young man became stricken with cholera, but his life was saved.
They chose the route via Fort Laramie and
Sublette cut-off, thereby gaining three days on the time made by those who went
by Fort Hall. They came into California by way of Truckee, and encamped there
over night slept in the cabins which had been built and occupied by the
ill-fated Donner party. They launched right out from the cabins, crossing the
Sierra Nevadas August 8, and ten days later they drove into Placerville, or
“Hangtown”, as it was then called. The party disbanded there, and Mr. Wolf and
his friends Heath and Scott, and a German in company with some members of an
Illinois train, drove down on a little run where they put their cattle out. The
German got out his pick, and at once went to work on the flat. He was laughed
at by the others, but when he got down twenty or thirty inches he could pick up
the gold with his hands, and then the jokes at the German’s expense suddenly
ceased. Claims were at once staked out by all hands, and every one went to work
with a will. On the morning of the fourth day Mr. Wolf quit, having been
blinded by poison oak; but on cleaning up found he had $1,500 for his three
days’ work. He bought a team, hired a driver, and started for Sacramento. On
the way his sufferings were unbearable, and he has always believed that if he
had not encountered an emigrant train, among the supplies of which was some
sugar of lead, he would have died on that trip.
After having spent four days in Sacramento
he set out by land for San Francisco, and stopped over night at Stockton,
October 15 (1849), and he has been a resident of this vicinity ever since. He
at first engaged in freighting, driving a bull team between Stockton and the
southern mines. He continued this employment until 1851, when he embarked in
the livery business where the present Wolf livery stable now stands.
In 1865 he leased out his business and
removed his family to a ranch on the Mariposa road, eight miles from Stockton.
There he employed 800 acres of land for general ranching purposes until 1875,
when he again moved into Stockton, where with his family he has ever since
resided, though he still carries on the farm operations at this ranch. The house
now occupied by his family, which was constructed in 1886, occupies the site of
the one built in 1852 by him. It is a handsome structure, and one of the most
completely fitted residences in central California.
Mr. Wolf has passed the chairs in Charity
Lodge, No. 6, I. O. O. F., and Parker Encampment, and is the oldest Odd Fellow
in Stockton, having joined Buckeye Lodge, No. 47, Dayton, Ohio, in September,
1845. He has taken an active interest in the welfare of the San Joaquin Society
of California Pioneers, and has served one term as its president. He is one of
the few pioneers who have been identified with Stockton since the days of ‘49,
and it is a high tribute to his character that he has enjoyed the confidence
and esteem of his fellow-citizens since the days when the foundations of this
great State were laid, and to-day ranks among the most prominent and honored
men of San Joaquin County. He has always shown the progressive spirit, and is
one of the leading spirits to whom the prosperity of the community has been
due.
Mr. Wolf was married in Stockton, August
17, 1852 to Miss Amanda Dwelly, a native of Maine. Her father died when she was
a mere child, and she accompanied her mother and stepfather to California in
1850, at which time they located at Stockton. Her mother is yet living, a
resident of Elko, Nevada. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf have had four children, of whom one
is deceased ; this was the eldest daughter, Laura, who died at Elko, Nevada,
March 27, 1889. She was the wife of Wellington T. Smith, and was aged
thirty-six years, eight months and one day at the time of her death. Reared in
Stockton, her birth-place, she had an unusually large circle of friends, and
universally loved and respected by them. Her death was a sad blow to friends
and relatives. The living children are: Frank, who resides on the ranch and has
its immediate supervision; George L., who is engaged in the real-estate
business in Stockton; and Delia, wife of Dr. J. J. Meigs, of Elko, Nevada.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 236-239. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2008 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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