Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-01-15
AN OLD PRINTER DEAD.

On Saturday last the publisher of this
paper received the following death an
nouncement, from Omaha, Nebraska
DIED, January 10th, 1901, of apo
plexy, Peter j. Wolfe, aged 80
years, al the home of his sister,
Mrs, j. i. Winslade."
As a reason for sending this notice to
Wausau the following was given;
"A great many of the older resi-
dents of your city will remember
the old Wolfe family, and it may be
of some interest to them"
Peter j. Wolfe was printer and
helped to get up the very first edition
of the PILOT, in 1865, and for many
years remained in the employ of its
proprietor Valentine RingIe, who was
also a practical printer. Deceased
commenced his trade in the Office of
the Central Wisconsin about the year
1862. A year later the writer of this
article was installed as devil in the
Central print shop, and for six or seven
years we picked type at the case, side
by side Many pleasant recollections,
(and some not quite so pleasant
to us, are linked with+he name of Peter
Wolfe. He was young man of splen-
did habits, cheerful disposition, and
kind and affectionate. He was very
fond of fishing and hunting and during
the season INDUCED in the sport when
ever there was an opportunity, and We
editor was, almost invariably, his com
papion. On the first day of the first
annual fair of the Marathon County
Agricultural society, held in Wausau,
big-hearted Val. Ringle, shut up shop
and told the boys that they might have
the day to do as they pleased, in no nor
of the event. Instead of going to the
fair, Pete and the writer took their
shot guns and went after ducks, up at
Bates Island AS usual, we started
at daylight from the little island
where McEachron's cooper shop
stood before the recent freshet.
The boat was anchored at a pier,
and descent of about five feet
had to be made to get into the same.
Peter stood on the middle seat, whilst
ye editor was in front, reaching for and
handing over the provisions, guns, etc.
He had succeeded in passing one of the
guns over safely, but the trigger of the
other caught on a projecting board and
the gun was discharged, the load of
shot making a hole as large as your fist
in the bridge about two inches above
Wolfe's head. We have never seen a.
gun since that time that did not give
us palpitation of the heart.
Peter Wolfe was born in. Wausau in
1850 and he resided here until 1870, when
he left for the west, his mother and two
sisters going with him. They settled in
Omaha, Nebraska, where Thomas,
Elizabeth and Helen still reside, Mrs
Wolfe dying some time ago.
All old settlers will remember the
Wolfe family. They resided on Forest
street, in the small house, where Anton
SchuetZ' sresidence now stands. Thorn
as Wolfe, Valentine Ringle and John
Hook, were among those who started in
with j w Chubbuek, here, to learn the
trade, as early as the year 1857. In the
early cos, Thomas Wolfe went to Neb
braska, and later after the death of Mr.
Wolfe, he induced his mother, sisters
and brother to join him. Peter Wolfe
has never been back to Wausau; all
that is known of him, is through a
few letters written to the PILOT editor.
He attended school for some time at
Keokuk, Iowa, and has followed the
publishing business all his life. He was
known here to old settlers as very ex
emplary young man. Peace to his
ashes.