3.The Third Generation: Josephus Wolf

Josephus Wolf was born June 22nd, 1822 in Athens County, Ohio. He went with his family to Porter County, Indiana in 1834. He was twelve years old when they made the move.1

In 1850 Josephus traveled out to California during the Gold Rush along with Edmund Dorr Wolf (brother) and Jacob Clark Wolf (nephew). 2 At this point, California had become popular and all the easy-to-find gold had been found. In fact, Josephus had written to his father to "plant a good crop of corn."3 Josephus claimed that he only found one gold bar and the rest of his fortune came from "good business sense, hard work, and determination."4 According to Christopher Herbert, who's article explores the gold rush and the impact it had on men, financial success was a key metric in a man's character and most respectable men were rich at that time.5 Going back to Josephus' claim that he had good sense, Herbert explains that most men found gold simply by luck and had no actual skills for scouting gold.6 Josephus returned from California in 1852. Shortly, after he married Susan Young.

Susan Young was from Ohio as well, born December 5th, 1829. They were married on September 29th, 1852 in Porter County, Indiana.7 It was said that her and Josephus were very much in love and that Josephus' death in 1895 took a toll on her and her health.

After Josephus' return from California, he and Susan lived in a log cabin for 20 years before the infamous mansion was built. Susan and Josephus had eight children, only three of which matured to adulthood. There was a small graveyard behind the house, in which only two of the stones remain today.8

After construction of the mansion was complete in 1875, the rumor was that Josephus owned about 1500 acres, when in reality the number was closer to 5000. He owned land in Porter, Union, Liberty and Morgan townships. He was the largest milk producer in the area and sold milk and beef in Chicago. In particular he bred Holstein's and Herefords, which were valuable breeds of cows. Josephus would often sit up in the cupola of the house and watch his employees to make sure they were not slacking off. It was said he wanted to make sure they earned every penny he was paying them.9

Josephus developed cancer in his hand as the years went on. The doctors wanted to amputate it but Josephus refused, saying he wanted to be buried with his whole body. 10 He would walk the land around his house in order to take his mind off of the pain. In May of 1983, Josephus was trampled by horses in Hobart, Indiana. People believed he was dead but he surprisingly survived the accident. He escaped with several broken ribs and stayed at his home in critical condition. 11

Josephus died of pneumonia on March 8th, 1895. The death notice from the Chesterton Tribune is as follows,

"Death Notice/Obituary Transcription: The pioneer of Twenty Mile, has finished his earthly labors, and gone to join his fathers. Josephus Wolf breathed his last Thursday, March 8, at his home in Portage Township, after a lingering illness. While it was expected that he could not get well, yet the hope was cherished by his thousands of friends that he would live years yet. A cancer had for years been doing its deadly work, and hope of a cure had long since abandoned. Josephus Wolf was one of Porter County's history makers. He was born in Athens County, Ohio, June 22, 1822, and was the youngest of seven children born to Jacob and Lydia Wolf. The family moved to Porter County in 1834, and settled on Twenty-Mile Prairie, in Portage Township. They took up land in the then wilderness, and Josephus stuck to the farm until 1854, when he went to California to join the gold hunters. He remained there two years, and returned with $3000. This gave him the foundation for the vast fortune he left at his death, which included a 5000 acre farm, of the finest land in all this county. The Wolf hold resembles a miniature city, covered as it is with fine barns and a magnificent farm home. The estate has substantial houses for tenants, all of whom are prosperous and contented. One notable feature of the Wolf home, was that its table was always set, and no man or woman ever went away from there hungry, no matter who he was or what his condition was. True hospitality abided in that home. On returning from California Mr. Wolf was united in marriage to Miss Susan M. Young, a sister to Martin Young. Eight children were the result of this union, only two of whom are now living – Elmer and Martin – both grown to manhood, and for several years past, have managed the estate. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf were extremely attached to each other, and upon the devoted wife falls heavily the separation. The funeral was held Sunday, and the remains were laid to rest in the McCool Cemetery, followed to their last resting place by a very large concourse of mourning relatives and friends." 12

Josephus was only able to live in his mansion for 20 years. He was buried in the Mcool Cemetery in Portage, Indiana, and his monument stands at 11 feet and 10 inches tall. At the time it cost 3000 dollars. 13

1. Descendants of Andrew Wolf and Related Families, 56.

2. The History of Wolf Mansion, 16.

3. The History of Wolf Mansion, 18.

4. The History of Wolf Mansion, 19.

5. Christopher Herbert, “‘Life's Prizes Are by Labor Got’: Risk, Reward, and White Manliness in the California Gold Rush,” Pacific Historical Review 80, no. 3 (January 2011): pp. 339-368, https://doi.org/10.1525/phr.2011.80.3.339

6. "Life's Prizes Are by Labor Got': Risk, Reward, and White Manliness in the California Golf Rush"

7. Descendants of Andrew Wolf and Related Families, 54.

8. The History of Wolf Mansion, 21.

9. The History of Wolf Mansion, 24.

10. The History of Wolf Mansion, 24.

11. The History of Wolf Mansion, 24-25.

12. “Death Notice/ Josephus Wolf.” Chesterton Tribune (Chesterton, IN), March 15, 1895.

13. The History of Wolf Mansion, 27.