WI BIO - Eau Claire Co - WOLF, Victor

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, vol I, pp 
337-338

Victor WOLF, livery, stone, etc., Eau Claire [Eau Claire County, Wisconsin], 
was born 28 December 1824 in Oberndorf, Baden [Germany], and came to 
United States in 1846. On 23 February 1847 he enlisted in U. S. Army, and 
served until 1856, when he was discharged on a pension on account of injuries 
received mounting heavy guns in Fort Ontario. He was orderly sergeant eight 
years.

On the breaking out of the late war [Civil War], he enlisted on 17 July 1861 
as a Private in the Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, and was elected First 
Lieutenant. He served with distinction in the numerous battles in which the 
regiment was engaged, and was promoted to the Captaincy, on the death of 
Captain PERKINS in May 1862. Captain WOLF will always be associated with the 
famous war eagle, "Old Abe," [a bald eagle, previously tamed] which he had 
the honor of naming, and which after passing through the war [thirty-seven 
battles] with Captain WOLF's company [Company C], was presented to the State 
of Wisconsin in September 1864.

[Company C of the Eighth Wisconsin Infantry was the color company of the 
regiment, and the "Old Abe" was always with the colors. Company C, formerly 
referred to as the "Badgers" became the "Eagle Regiment" named for "Old Abe," 
who went with the regiment through four years of war as the mascot. After 
the war he was brought back to Wisconsin and lived in the Capitol building at 
Madison. In 1881 "Old Abe" was rescued from a fire in the Capitol building, 
but died from the fumes. He was stuffed and displayed at the Capitol until 
another fire in 1904, when he was lost. Today a replica still resides in the 
Assembly chamber of the Capitol, and continues as a reminder of those who 
fought in the Civil War.]

In July 1848 in New York City, Captain [Victor] WOLF married Ann McLAUGHLIN 
[a maiden name?], and [Captain Victor and Ann WOLF] have had nine children, 
of whom these [p 338] survive: (1) Lizzie, now Mrs. T. HARRIGAN; (2) John C
.; (3) Cecilia; (4) Ada, now Mrs. L. SMITH; (5) George T.; (6) Maggie; 
(7) William Joseph; and (8) Lillie.

Capt. [Victor] WOLF was Chief of Police in 1872, 1873, and 1877; patrolman in 
1876; was an Alderman for two years (1879-1880), Town Treasurer of the town 
of North Eau Claire for two years, was a member of the Board of Supervisors 
for three years and one year the Chairman, served three years as Roadmaster, 
and for nine years was District Clerk.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly