Wonderlich Family History
Charles Wonderlich, Sr. was born in 1796 in the province of Saxony, Germany. At the age of sixteen and living in the province of Sax Altenberg, Charles was conscripted into Napoleon Bonaparte’s French army. He was one of 200,000 soldiers who marched to Moscow in 1811. Only 25,000 soldiers survived the bitter cold, snow, and starvation during Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow. Charles Wonderlich, Sr. was one of these soldiers. A tale handed down in the family tells of Napoleon walking among his soldiers, pausing to put a hand on Wonderlich’s shoulder and remarking, “You surely are a good soldier.”
Charles Wonderlich, Sr. was a shoe/bootmaker by trade. He married Sophie Kutschenreuter from the province of Sax Weimar, Germany. Charles saved money to buy his family’s passage to America in hopes his sons would not be forced into military service. Charles, Sr., Sophia, Charles, Jr., and Frederick Augustus Wonderlich traveled from Schmӧllen, Germany to America in 1835. Three other children died before the family came to America. Bremen, Germany in the northern part of the country served as the family’s port of departure. Following a seven-week voyage across the Atlantic Ocean on a German sailing vessel, they arrived at the Port of Baltimore in September. The family traveled by wagon to Adams County, Pennsylvania, and then to Richland County, Ohio. Along the journey, Charles, Jr. was left in the care of another family due to his failing health, with a promise by his father to return for him. Charles, Sr., Sophia, and Frederick Augustus continued westward.
Charles, Sr. and some friends returned to get Charles, Jr. as promised, and Frederick Augustus and Charles, Jr. grew to adulthood in Ohio. Frederick Augustus arrived in Iowa a year or two before the rest of his immediate family. In 1849 Frederick became a landowner in Keokuk County, Iowa. Frederick Augustus married Adeline Bottger in 1855. Frederick and Adeline had nine children: Charles C., John, Hiram, Sarah, Anna, Abraham, Aaron, George, and Ollie.
In 1846 while still in Ohio, Charles, Jr. married Mary Long. The Charles, Sr. and Jr. families journeyed together by covered wagon to Iowa arriving in November 1846. Charles, Jr. and Mary had seven children: Daniel, Sophia, Joshua, Elizabeth, Abraham, Mary C., and Susanna. Mary (Long) Wonderlich died in 1876. Mary (Lemley) Bales became Charles, Jr.’s second wife in 1879. They had five children: Thyrza, Emma Gleneyrie, twins Myrtie and Gertie, and Jacob (Mary Bales had three children from her first marriage).
It is believed the Charles Wonderlich, Sr. family all became naturalized citizens of the United States of America in 1840. The strong roots of this German man run deep. His dreams were surely realized and live on in today’s descendants, many of whom continue to live in the same area as Charles Wonderlich, Sr. lived when he came to Iowa (Keokuk County) in 1846.
Charles Wonderlich, Sr. was a shoe/bootmaker by trade. He married Sophie Kutschenreuter from the province of Sax Weimar, Germany. Charles saved money to buy his family’s passage to America in hopes his sons would not be forced into military service. Charles, Sr., Sophia, Charles, Jr., and Frederick Augustus Wonderlich traveled from Schmӧllen, Germany to America in 1835. Three other children died before the family came to America. Bremen, Germany in the northern part of the country served as the family’s port of departure. Following a seven-week voyage across the Atlantic Ocean on a German sailing vessel, they arrived at the Port of Baltimore in September. The family traveled by wagon to Adams County, Pennsylvania, and then to Richland County, Ohio. Along the journey, Charles, Jr. was left in the care of another family due to his failing health, with a promise by his father to return for him. Charles, Sr., Sophia, and Frederick Augustus continued westward.
Charles, Sr. and some friends returned to get Charles, Jr. as promised, and Frederick Augustus and Charles, Jr. grew to adulthood in Ohio. Frederick Augustus arrived in Iowa a year or two before the rest of his immediate family. In 1849 Frederick became a landowner in Keokuk County, Iowa. Frederick Augustus married Adeline Bottger in 1855. Frederick and Adeline had nine children: Charles C., John, Hiram, Sarah, Anna, Abraham, Aaron, George, and Ollie.
In 1846 while still in Ohio, Charles, Jr. married Mary Long. The Charles, Sr. and Jr. families journeyed together by covered wagon to Iowa arriving in November 1846. Charles, Jr. and Mary had seven children: Daniel, Sophia, Joshua, Elizabeth, Abraham, Mary C., and Susanna. Mary (Long) Wonderlich died in 1876. Mary (Lemley) Bales became Charles, Jr.’s second wife in 1879. They had five children: Thyrza, Emma Gleneyrie, twins Myrtie and Gertie, and Jacob (Mary Bales had three children from her first marriage).
It is believed the Charles Wonderlich, Sr. family all became naturalized citizens of the United States of America in 1840. The strong roots of this German man run deep. His dreams were surely realized and live on in today’s descendants, many of whom continue to live in the same area as Charles Wonderlich, Sr. lived when he came to Iowa (Keokuk County) in 1846.
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"We all carry inside us, people who came before us.” - Liam Callanan Frederick Augustus Wonderlich Home SiteFrederick Augustus and Adeline Wonderlich family 1849 - 1913
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Raymond and Thelma Wonderlich at the Frederick Augustus Wonderlich Home Site around 1916
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Bill, Jane, Austin, and Cody Wonderlich
3 generations of Wonderlich's: Taken July 23, 2011. Including: Bill and Margaret Wonderlich,
Bill, Jane, Austin, and Cody Wonderlich,
Kathy Wonderlich
George and Laura Wonderlich
George and Laura Wonderlich Wedding Photo. Taken December 9th, 1908.
This is an aerial photo of the Wonderlich Farm taken in 1991.
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Bill and Jane Wonderlich
Bill and Margaret Wonderlich. Taken July 23, 2011.
September 1964
Wonderlich home, 1993.
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Painted by Jane Wonderlich in 2019
Iowa Heritage Farm Award (family ownership of 150 years or more). Pictured: Bill, Cody, Austin, and Kathy Wonderlich. August 2007 at the Iowa State Fair
Frederick Augustus and Adeline (Bottger) Wonderlich, Taken December 2nd, 1905 on their 50th Wedding Anniversary.
Children of George and Laura Wonderlich; Raymond, Thelma, Evelyn, and Lloyd Wonderlich. Photo was taken around 1919 and showing some old buildings on the Wonderlich Farm.
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from The Richland Plainsman August 28, 1975