Charles Lawrence Wahl
My Memories of Grandpa Charles L. Wahl
by Robert Wahl
In checking my birth date and Grandpa's death date, I find that we had about 18 years of time on earth together. During all
of those years Grandpa and Grandma (until she died) lived in a house on 10th street in Marion, Iowa. There was a two-story barn
on the back of his lot that had a dirt floor and a walk-in door on the south side. In addition, there was a small opening for
chickens to get in and out. He must have had about ten large red hens. That was enough to keep the grass and weeds from
growing in the small, enclosed yard.
I must have been about four years old at the time that this mental picture was recorded in the recesses of my memory for I
remember the barn well. It had a dirt floor and, where the chickens would run, I/ we would use a corner instead of the bathroom
in the house. I assume there was a bathroom but I don't remember ever being in it. It must have been the spring of the year
because there was a wren house up about ten feet on the south side of the barn that had a wren nest in it. There also were a
couple of tame gooseberry bushes that were large enough that the chickens didn't damage them.
Grandpa was a very pleasant man to be with. I would tag along as Dad and Grandpa would go out to the barn to visit and look
around. He had a tool chest that I'm sure he made himself. It was full of tools that I never saw him use. He did have a
foot-peddle powered grindstone that I saw him use once to sharpen a knife. He was great at keeping tools sharp and clean. As
I was saying, the three of us would go out to the barn and I would be very comfortable and at ease with Grandpa. He seemed to
be just a pleasant, friendly man. In the few years that I knew him I never did hear him say a harsh word or raise his voice.
The first memory I have of the very limited number of trips to Grandpa's and Grandma's house in Marion was over dirt roads
with some gravel on the Main Road between Monticello and Marion. That Main Road is now a four-lane highway (Route 151). But
my first memory was traveling to Marion in a model-T Ford with side curtains. At one place on the Main Road there was a water
filled mud hole where the bigger low-clearance cars would get stuck. We always passed by that water filled hole with a big
sense of relief that we made it without getting stuck. Later trips were less traumatic as transportation did improve.
However, it was always a full day's trip when visiting our grandparents in Marion. I was in school enough of the time that
the few trips that were made, compared to today's standard, were made during school hours. I don't remember much else
about visiting the grandparents in Marion.
The next best recollection of Grandpa was when he came to stay with brother Earl, a hired man and me while the folks went to
the Chicago Worlds Fair. In checking dates I think that this must have been when I was 13 years old. The three of us that
lived there knew exactly what our duties were and how to do them. That even came down to preparing the meals as well as the outside work. The only time that Grandpa would try to help was to peel the potatoes and slice the cabbage for the "cold slaw". Right now I can't remember the recipe that Mom had taught us but I do remember that Grandpa put salt on the cabbage, as he knew cabbage always had to be salted. I said nothing but that was the worst "cabbage slaw" that we ever had. We all ate it with no comment. That is the only thing that Grandpa ever did that was anything but pleasing.
I don't know how long Grandpa maintained his home in Marion after Grandma died but there was a period that he must have lived
with Uncle Louis Wall. I sense that it was Dad's turn to have Grandpa come to live with us for about a month. I would have
been in high school and had plenty of work to do helping on the farm when I wasn't in school and therefore didn't spend much
time with Grandpa. There are a couple of things that do stand out in my memory. One is that it was the time of the year that
the dandelions would grow up over night or not even be cut off with the reel type push lawn mower. Grandpa would sharpen the
scythe and cut them off. The scythe was a two-hand one with about a two foot long blade that was originally used to cut
field crops such as oats and hay. The lawn looked a lot better when he was finished. Another vivid memory was his showing
me how to hoe and "hill" corn to kill all the weeds even right next to the corn plant and in the process leave a dust
mulch over the area hoed. The last memory I have of Grandpa was a couple of days before he left our home for wherever he
was going next. He gave me his pocket knife and told me that when I lose it I should replace it. I have it in my pocket
right now. It's about the third replacement that I have had and have had it a very long time. It shows a lot of wear
and use but Grandpa would be pleased to know that it is sharp.
There is one other item. My mother had a small wild flower patch out back next to a building that she suspected Grandpa
was using. Apparently he still didn't like using indoor facilities.
Obituary of Charles’ wife, Margaret:
Mrs. C.L. Wahl Died. Thursday
She Was The Mother Of
Ernest Wahl, Residing
Near Monticello.
Mrs. Charles L. Wahl, of Marion, passed away at her home at 2:10 last Thursday afternoon, January 11. She had been in
failing health for several. years. She was the mother of Ernest Wahl, who resides on a farm five miles north of Monticello.
Funeral services were held last Sunday afternoon at 1 o'clock, at the Yocum funeral home in Marion, and burial was made
on the family lot at Springville.
Mrs. Wahl, whose maiden name was Margaret Edzards, was born at Repsholdt, Germany, June 25, 1863. Her parents were Harm
and Margaret (nee Jacobs) Edzards. The subject of this sketch emigrated to the United States from Germany when she was
five years of age. Her mother passed away when the family reached East Dubuque on its way to the new home in America.
She was given a home with her uncle and aunt, Mr. And Mrs. August Toel, of
Monticello.
She was baptized in the Lutheran faith while she was a child in Germany, and later was confirmed at St. John's Lutheran
church in Wayne township. Her marriage to Charles L. Wahl occurred at Langworthy, December 10, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Wahl
lived on what is now known as the Harm Fechtmann farm near Langworthy until 1901, when they removed to a farm between
Marion and Springville, where they lived until 1920. At that time they retired from active farm life, and have made
their home in Marion during the past thirteen years.
Mr. and Mrs. Wahl became the parents of six sons and one daughter. One son, Carl, preceded his mother in death. In
addition to her husband, Mrs. Wahl is survived by the following children: Lawrence, of Roubaix, South Dakota; Elmer,
of Gunnison, Colo.; Ernest, Monticello; Louis, Central City; Fred, Santa Ana, Calif., and Ella Marie, of Cedar Rapids.
She is also survived by eight grandchildren.
During her active life, Mrs. Wahl was a consistent attendant of the Lutheran church. At the time of her passing she was
a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church at Marion. Those who have had the privilege of knowing her in this vicinity
will be pained to learn of her passing.
Charles Lawrence and Margaret
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