[6] While his father was a wealthy merchant, he found himself to become restless and at the age of 13 years, he left home and travelled by steamship to San Francisco.

[7] In 1856 his father moved the business to Dubuque, Iowa and opened a large store, putting Wolfe's older brother in charge.

In 1887 the Denver business moved premises to the Londoner Block, a large four-story building (located at 1624-1630 Arapahoe Street).

[10] He became Denver's 20th Mayor by 77 votes, however shortly after getting into office, several disgruntled candidates filed charges against him for corruption, which was taken to court on 6 April 1890.

[7] He was a founding member of the Denver Press Club, becoming infamous in the town for his 'cyclone cellar', the name given to the basement under his store where reporters would gather to discuss local gossip.