 In 1856 his father moved the business to Dubuque, Iowa and opened a large store, putting Wolfe's older brother in charge.He took charge of another branch store a few miles away.During the Panic of 1857 the whole business folded, his father took the last remaining stock to St. Louis hoping to revive the business there and then send monetary funds back to DuBuque to assist his family in making the journey down the Mississippi River to St. Louis.