Schoening, Charles, 1855-1941

SCHOENING, KRUEGER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/17/2022 at 20:25:48

From the Alton Democrat, August 8, 1941:

“Paint Charlie” Dies at Granville

Granville News:
Charlie Schoening, better known as “Paint Charlie,” passed away at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Thorman, Wednesday morning at 5 A.M. Mr. Schoening had been ailing for the past several weeks and little hope was held out for his recovery as he had been failing fast the last days.

At the time of his death it was thought he was 88 years old although it is claimed by some, he was 93 years. He made his home in Granville 56 years ago and became a well known painter, painting many farm and town buildings during his long life.

He came to this country when only 19 years old from Germany and settled in Chicago. After plying his trade in various communities, he was given the job of painting depots and other buildings of the Northwestern railroad. At that time this railroad was erecting new lines and buildings all through this country. He painted the local railroad property buildings when they were first built here which is probably the reason why he settled in this community to do painting work on the many new buildings that were springing up in this frontier country.

Although “Paint Charlie” has no living relatives in this country he has in his life created many friends, most of whom he was survived many years.

The last years he was not able to do any work and he lived by himself, until a few years ago when he took residence with those who could care for him. He has lived with Mr. and Mrs. John Thorman, since they moved into Granville.

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RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate (informant L. A. Houlihan, Sheldon, Iowa) has Charlie Schoening, resident of Granville area 59 years; born in Germany; parents’ names unknown; died at 5 a.m. July 30, 1941; cause, uremia, duration 6 weeks; due to pyelonephritis, duration 6 months; buried in Germany Town, Paullina, Iowa.

He appears as Charles Schoenning, age 86, in the 1940 U.S. census for Granville. He and another man are living as lodgers, apparently in the household of Kate Rickes and her daughters. Schoenning had lived in the same place in 1935.

In the 1900 U.S. census for Granville he is listed as Charles Schoning, age 45, born January 1855 in Germany, immigrated 1873, a painter of buildings, lodging with the family of Peter and Margaret Moos; he is naturalized. In 1910, age 54, a house painter, he is one of ten men lodging with Peter Galles, a Granville saloon proprietor (next door to the Peter Moos family). In 1920, as Charlie Schoneing (65), he is living alone in East Orange Township [Granville], a house painter. In the 1925 Iowa state census he is listed as Charley Schoning (70), living in Granville, parents John Schoning and Henriette Krueger.