Our Legacy

Operating Since 1890

Our Legacy forms us. Our Perspective guides us. Our Vision leads us. We’re powered by partnership and built on legacy.

1860s–1890s

1860s–1890s

From Cobbler to Capital

The Wolfe family’s story begins with Andrew Jackson Wolfe, a Civil War veteran and shoemaker, whose values of hard work and perseverance were passed on to his sons.

In the late 1800s, Robert and Harry Wolfe brought those values to Columbus, launching what would become a multigenerational enterprise grounded in grit and vision.

Black-and-white portrait of an older man in a suit and tie, with short gray hair. Below the oval photo is the name Harry Preston Wolfe and the years 1872–1946.
Black and white portrait of a man in a suit and tie, facing forward. Below the photo, text reads: Robert F. Wolfe 1860 – 1927.

1890–1905

Wolfe Brothers Shoe Co.

With just $500 in borrowed capital, Robert and Harry Wolfe founded the Wolfe Brothers Shoe Company.

What began as a modest operation on Spring Street in downtown Columbus grew into a manufacturing and retail powerhouse employing hundreds and reaching customers across the Midwest. These early successes laid the foundation for strategic diversification.

Black-and-white newspaper ad for Wolfe Wear-U-Well shoes. It features shoes around a map showing Columbus, Ohio, as a central distribution hub for shipping shoes by train and airplane to various US locations.

Wolfe Wear-U-Well advertisement, 1929.

Black and white photo of a storefront with a sign reading “WOLFE BROS. REPAIRING WHILE YOU WAIT.” Windows advertise shoe repair services like “HALF SOLEING DONE IN 15 MINUTES” and “REPAIRING NEATLY DONE WELL.”.

Wolfe Bros. storefront, 1891.

1903 and beyond

1903 and beyond

The Power of the Press

The Wolfe brothers acquired the Ohio State Journal in 1903 and, two years later, The Columbus Dispatch. This marked a turning point and began a century of influence in media.

Their leadership built the Dispatch into the region’s most trusted news source, playing a central role in shaping public dialogue and civic life for generations.

Black-and-white photo of a historic city street with parked vintage cars and the Ohio State Journal building, featuring a large vertical sign that reads JOURNAL. Nearby are various storefronts and businesses.

The Ohio State Journal building, downtown Columbus, late 1930s.

Three women sit side by side at a vintage telephone switchboard, wearing headsets and connecting calls by inserting cables. A calendar on the wall indicates the month of November.

Dispatch operators on the day of JFK’s assassination, November 22, 1963.

A woman and a uniformed soldier kiss while holding a newspaper with the headline PEACE! WAR IS OVER! Another smiling soldier stands in the background.

A soldier and his sweetheart celebrate the end of World War II, August 1945.

1907–1940s

Financial Foundations

As Columbus grew, the Wolfe Family invested in its financial infrastructure. They helped stabilize the Ohio Trust Company during a 1907 crisis and eventually transformed it into BancOhio Corporation, Ohio’s first bank holding company.

Their interests expanded into real estate, brokerage, and insurance, supporting the region’s economic engine while maintaining a steady hand through periods of volatility.

A tall red-brick skyscraper with white accents stands among shorter buildings on a busy city street with early 20th-century cars and people under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Early 20th-century postcard view looking east along Broad Street from High Street in downtown Columbus, Ohio, showcasing the city’s growing skyline.

Black and white panoramic photo of a large group of men posing outdoors in front of a building, with names handwritten above their heads. Most are in suits or white clothing, some are seated, others stand behind. Trees are visible in the background.

A distinguished assembly on Journal Island, Sept. 16, 1922, including members of the Wolfe family, Ohio’s Governor, Columbus’s Mayor, and prominent judges and officials.

1930s–1970s

Broadcasting and Beyond

In the decades that followed, the family extended its reach into radio and television by founding WBNS TV and WBNS Radio, which became staples of Central Ohio’s media landscape.

The WBNS call letters—Wolfe Banks, News and Shoes—honored the founding pillars of their growing enterprise.

The Wolfe Family embraced media innovation early, pioneering color printing and digital typesetting at The Columbus Dispatch and pushing their broadcast platforms to test new formats. Their investments in technology were always focused on quality, reach, and staying power.

A woman in a wide-brimmed hat and coat smiles while sitting at a desk with papers, speaking into a vintage WBNS microphone. The background shows horizontal blinds. The photo is black and white.

WBNS radio personality Betty Newton shared cooking, homemaking and other consumer tips with listeners from the 1940s to the 1960s.

1950s–1980s

1950s–1980s

A Legacy of Leadership

Through postwar growth and into modern Columbus, the Wolfe family remained a steady influence across business, media, and civic life. Preston Wolfe, who became president of the Dispatch Printing Company in 1947, helped shape the paper’s editorial voice and institutional integrity.

In the decades that followed, John W. Wolfe and John F. Wolfe emerged as key leaders. John W. became chairman of the Ohio Company in the 1970s, and John F. was named publisher of The Columbus Dispatch in 1975. Together, they guided the family’s ventures with strategic focus and a long-term view.

From landmark projects to philanthropic initiatives, their leadership reflected the family’s enduring values: disciplined investment, deep community ties, and a commitment to integrity.

A man in a white suit hands an envelope to a smiling driver sitting in a car labeled “Columbus Dispatch Advertising Special Delivery” on a city street.

Columbus Dispatch delivery Jeep, 1954.

A worker in white overalls operates large industrial printing machines inside a spacious, well-lit facility. An American flag hangs prominently on the right wall above a glass-enclosed office area.

Press operator at work inside the newspaper printing plant, 1990s

1990s–2015

1990s–2015

A Turning Point

Under the steady leadership of John F. Wolfe, the family continued to shape Columbus’s civic and media landscape with integrity and purpose.

In 2015, the Wolfe Family sold The Columbus Dispatch, concluding more than a century of family ownership. The decision marked a thoughtful transition and a continuation of the family’s legacy, carried forward with the same values that shaped it for generations.

Historic building with a large lit-up sign on the roof reading Dispatch Ohios Greatest Home Newspaper, 141 Years of Service. The building is beige with large windows and flags at the entrance.

The Columbus Dispatch building at dusk, topped with its iconic neon sign celebrating 141 years of service, 2012.

A man in a suit and striped tie smiles while speaking into a microphone. He holds a small white card in his other hand. The background is dark, highlighting the speaker.

John F. Wolfe, speaking at an event.

1950s–Today

Investing in Place

Alongside their media and financial ventures, the Wolfe Family built a lasting legacy in real estate.

Beginning in the 1950s, they strategically assembled and managed significant holdings across Central Ohio. Their portfolio spanned farmland in Madison and Clark counties, commercial property on Capitol Square, and hundreds of acres of development land in Franklin County.

Their disciplined approach extended to transformative projects, including early backing of what would become the Arena District—helping catalyze one of Columbus’s most successful urban redevelopments. Rooted in stewardship and long-term value creation, this legacy continues to shape the investment philosophy behind Journal Capital today.

A crowd gathers outside Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio at dusk, with bright lights, large banners, and busy city streets filled with people and cars.

Nationwide Arena at night

Enduring Principles, Evolving Vision

Today, Journal Capital carries forward the Wolfe legacy by combining institutional knowledge, entrepreneurial drive, and a belief in long-term relationships. What began with a cobbler’s craftsmanship has evolved into a trusted investment platform built for impact, resilience, and shared growth.

Apartment complex courtyard with a swimming pool, lounge chairs in shallow water, and multiple stories of balconies overlooking the pool area. Sunny, modern, and inviting atmosphere.