Christian Wahl Sr. (1802-1871)

Christian Wahl Sr. emigrated to America (Milwaukee) in May of 1847 with his five adult children at the age of forty-five...In today's lingo, that would be the politically correct description of "running for his life"...

The Encyclopedia of American Biography (New York, 1943) states:

"He was a man of substance and intellectual leanings, being interested in music. He enjoyed a wide acquaintance among German composers as well as men of letters and was closely associated with the poet Schiller with whom he corresponded.
He received a fine education in Germany and also spoke French fluently. Mr. Wahl lived in a spacious home and associated himself with highly educated liberals in German politics whose activities led to the political upheaval preceding the German Revolution in 1848 with which he sympathized."

Now for a more accurate story as to why Christian Wahl Sr. "fled to Milwaukee":

"So critical was the political situation for those liberals that while Mr. Wahl was attending a great ball given on a social occasion for him, a friend came and warned him of intended harm that was imminent and advised him to immediately leave in his dress suit and silk hat, with money furnished by friends who spontaneously made up a purse. Thus, Christian Wahl Sr., became an exile to America..."

I am going to take a moment to briefly explain the political climate in Germany during this time period. Germany was an oppressive monarchy and in the 1840's the Industrial Revolution was in full swing and the working class was fed up and there was a powerful middle class forming.

The ideals of our America (1776) were the goals of the educated liberal socialists (they wanted to democratize Germany). When the German Revolution 1848 (actually a social revolution) failed, the mass exodus from Germany (emigration) began.

Christian Wahl Sr. was very active in his support for the democratizing of Germany and had "family traditions with Robert Blum, the recognized leader of the liberal party from Saxony" (who was subsequently arrested while under amnesty protection and tried and shot for treason and is considered Germany's greatest political martyr).

I have been told that Christian Wahl Sr. may have worked for the government in the tax office while he lived in Germany. However, I haven't spent any time researching the time period before 1847. My plate is full just attempting to chronicle the American born Wahl's.

His son, Christian Wahl Jr., who came to America with him, married the daughter of the brother-in-law of Robert Blum, and he also served as the vice-counsul of the United States at Berlin during the Franco-Prussian War.

This short war was a convincing victory for Germany over France and many historians agree that this victory in 1871 launched Germany to its quest towards World domination and directly led Germany to World War I (1914) in which 9,000,000 people died.
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CHRISTIAN WAHL SR. TIMELINE

March 18, 1802: Born Pirmasens, Rhenish Bavaria (Germany)

May 1847 : Fled Germany to Milwaukee, Wisconsin with his five children:
Christian Jr., Louis, Margaret, Catherine, Louisa

1847--1850 : Established Wahl Glue Works and slaughter house,
pioneering the great packing industry.

1850 : Founded Milwaukee Musical Society

1850's : Obtained an interest in the Suhm Tannery and through this
latter association met Mr. Suhm's niece and soon married her.

1852 : Married Caroline Schopbacher (second wife) from Baden,
Germany, age 15. Their six children (Herminia, Albert,
Fred, Dr. Robert 1858, Emile, Paula).

1865-1867 : Served as President of the Milwaukee Musical Society,
oldest Musical Society in the city, which he founded in 1850.

He also was appointed public school commissioner of Milwaukee,
serving three years.

July 9, 1871 : Died in Milwaukee, leaving a wife and eleven children.

He was one of the most active and public-spirited citizens of his time.