Bay View.


Bay View, Wisconsin.

The family moved to the Midwest. The Wolfe's appear in the 1885 Milwaukee City Directory at 274 Michigan in Bay View, a recently incorporated town adjacent to Milwaukee. John was a laborer and "Mrs. Lizzie" was a confectioner. Her brother David and mother also relocated and were living at 321 Superior, though her mother Mary Jones passed away in 1886 and brother David returned to Pennsylvania by 1890.

The news column "Notes and Gossip from Bay View" in the August 23, 1886 Milwaukee Sentinel mentions that "John Wolf has taken management of the Palmer House." This was following the death of Elijah Palmer, its proprietor. Distinguished by its mansard roof, the facility was built in 1867 by the Milwaukee Iron Company to house about 60 of the single men who worked at the rolling mill.

M.E. Church.

The family worshipped at Bay View Methodist Episcopal church on 281 Bishop avenue where the reverend Matthew Evans was pastor. Lula was a member of the Sunday school which met at 2:00 p.m. where she engaged in Bible study and moral lessons. The Sabbath was strictly observed with "sobriety and stillness." This meant reading, preferably the Bible. No work (like sewing) was done, but quiet activities like drawing or piecing together a puzzle were acceptable. Children were not to play loudly with toys, a Noah's Ark set was a suitable playtime activity.

The church community was rather active, hosting numerous social and charitable events. Its membership included the likes of the Estes’, Brintons, Wards and other pioneer settlers of the town. Companionable Bay View was unique in that those of different denominations often gathered together for picnics and various entertainments.

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A Banner Year.

In 1887 John Wolfe is living at 217 Ellen, the same address as the Palmer house. His occupation is that of weighmaster, and 15-year old son George is a laborer. Much of the work in the Mill was paid by the piece (or weight) above the "basis" or minimum wage. The skilled laborer in the rolling mill was paid per ton, and nailers were paid per keg. Their assistants then would receive a percent of that amount, so many would anxiously await the results of Wolf's assessment.

His brother-in-law David Jones, a nailer, broke all production records in November when he cut 246 kegs of 20-penny nails (210 kegs was the previous record). One might speculate he was assisted in his endeavor by Joseph Petelle, a nail feeder at the mill.

The Scandal.

The family knew of Joseph Petelle's interest in their daughter Lula, (he may have been introduced to her by her uncle David Jones), but soon the community was abuzz with the news that Miss Lula Wolfe had, with neither an announcement nor permission from her parents, eloped with the young Catholic Frenchman in February 1888.

The Wolfes were distraught. The newlyweds were said to be staying with friends waiting for "her parents to relent" though Joseph and Lula soon moved to Ashland, Wisconsin.