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1907 Past and Present Biographies

Christian Wahl

Christian Wahl is now practically living retired in Paton, occupying a beautiful residence which he receritly erected. He was born August 13, 1836, in Niedermollrich, Kurhessen, Germany, and the days of his boyhood and youth were spent in that country, where he remained until be attained the ago of thirty-one years. Having arrived at adult age he wedded Anna Gertrude Hoehmann, who was born October 9, 1832, at Ihringshausen, near Cassel, Kurhessen, Germany. Their marriage was celebrated in 1863, and for four years they remained residents of the fatherland, coming to America in 1867, in the hope that they might enjoy better business opportunities in the new world. They chose Muscatine, Iowa, as a favorable location and there remained for twelve years. Mr. Wahl was a shoemaker by trade and followed that pursuit in Muscatine.

In 1878 he decided to go still further west and with his family removed to Greene county. He settled at Paton, which could hardly be called a town at that time, so few were its residents, and as there was not enough work to keep him busy at his trade, he also engaged to some extent in farming. As the population grew, however, his business increased and he enjoyed a liberal patronage until the time came when machine-made shoes took the place of hand-made ones. Indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature, and not being content to have no business interests, he works at shoe repairing largely as pastime, and it would be diflicult to find a neater and better “doctor of shoes.” In all of his business life Mr. Wahl has been known for his strict probity and reliability and has ever commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has come in contact.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wahl were born twelve children, of whom one died in infancy in Germany. Elizabeth, the eldest, is the wife of John Hahn, a prosperous farmer, living near Wilton, Iowa; William and Otto, who follow in order of birth, are merchants, well known in Greene county, the former being located at Paton and the latter in Churdan. Matilda, Lydia and Emilie were teachers in the schools of Greene county after their graduation from the Paton high school and proved capable educators of the districts in which they were employed. Matilda is now the wife of J. C. McKean, and resides upon a ranch near Ivanhoe, Oklahoma, but they expect soon to remove to the vicinity of Galveston, Texas. Lydia and Emilie are wives of ministers, the former being Mrs. J . M. Krafft, of Sheffield, Iowa, and the latter Mrs. S. E. Meyer, living in Tampa, Kansas. George is the junior partner in the firm of Wahl Brothers, at Paton. Eva, after teaching school in Greene county for several years, became the wife of Rev. David Lang, and their home is now near Shell Rock, Iowa. Edith has been a student of music and art in Northwestern College and is now at home with her parents. Harry is head clerk in Wahl Brothers’ general store. Carl is at present attending Northwestern College, at Naperville, Illinois, pursuing a college course. Matida, Lydia, Emilie, Eva, Edith, Harry and Carl are all graduates of the Paton high school.

The Wahl family have always been interested in the growth and improvement of Paton, to the extent of giving hearty co-operation to many movements for the public good. The parents expect to spend their remaining days in their beautiful residence, which has recently been erected in Paton. They are both highly esteemed in the community where they make their home, their many good qualities having won for them the confidence and good will of all with whom they come in contact.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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