GERMAN BORN
A Familienbuch from Birkach, Stuttgart, Württemberg, shows his birth date of 7 October 1835. His emigration record, military pension file and death certificate all bear the same date.
The Familienbuch names his parents as Jacob Schönhaar and Elizabeth Höflau, who was Jacob’s second wife. All German records found so far list his full name as Carl Friedrich Schönhaar, although in America he went by Friedrich, Friederich, Frederick, Fritz, or Fred depending on who was addressing him and the formality of the occasion.
He had nine older half-siblings, six of whom appear to have died either before he was born or before he emigrated to America. His only younger sibling, sister Elizabeth Barbara, died when he was five years old.
HE EMIGRATES TO AMERICA
Stuttgart Municipal Council notes from 6 Oct 1854 indicate that Carl Friedrich Schönhaar, an unmarried journeyman shoemaker born 7 Oct 1835, applied for permission to emigrate to America.
He possesses 40 guilders travel money and his father, Jakob Schönhaar, carpenter, has given his consent and acts a guarantor for his son. Given that most of his children had by then died, he may have hoped his son would have better luck in America.
Young Schönhaar has renounced Wurttemberg state and municipal citizenship. His application is approved, and he is issued a passport.
The 40 guilders, worth roughly $450 in 2023 U.S.D., was needed to cover expenses for Friedrich’s 500-mile journey from Württemberg to Le Havre, France, as well as his passage aboard a packet ship. Passengers provided their own bedding and food for the voyage, which people prepared themselves in the one tiny available galley. After landing in New York, Friedrich then needed to arrange for transportation to Wisconsin. That he made his way there so quickly hints that he may have had a family member, friend, or sponsor to welcome him.
The packet ship Bavaria departs from Le Havre carrying over 350 passengers, and lands at the port of New York on 1 December 1854 after 30 days at sea; there was not as yet a Statue of Liberty to greet it. The passenger manifest lists a 19-year old Carl Schönhaar, a farmer from Württemberg, whose destination is the United States.
HE LIVES IN WISCONSIN AND MARRIES
Military pension names the men he worked for after his arrival in Wisconsin.
1859 Washington County map, shows farm of future bride’s father
23 May 1859 marriage to Catharina Margaretha Donsbach in Schleisingerville, Washington Co, Wisconsin
1861 Applies for U.S. citizenship
Death of father 1859, death of mother 1860
1874 Baptized in the Catholic church
1910 Golden Wedding anniv in newspaper article
HE WAS A SHOEMAKER
Emigration record notes he was a journeyman shoemaker
1860 Census, 1870 Census, 1880 census, 1900 census
1865 military record descriptive roll of Muster and Descriptive Roll of Company A, Forty-Fifth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 17 July 1865
Story of “baked” shoes
1902 news article, which states he is known as “Schuster Fritz”
HE SERVES DURING THE CIVIL WAR
Enlists Company? Which was disbanded due to…
Next enlisted Company? Mustered in… headed to?
Child born x months after F left for Tennessee? Virginia? Catherina was then the mother of x children, uncertain that she would ever see her husband again.
Injury & illness, mustered out of Virginia
1890 census of persons who served during the War of the Rebellion – also listed in the 1895 Wisc State census as a Civil War veteran
1902 news article mentions $12 pension pmt for Frederick Schonhaar, Kewaskum
1910 news article mentions $20 pension pmt for Frederick Schonhaar
MILITARY PENSION RECORDS See separate page.
LAND PURCHASES
Friedrich’s first land purchase was in1862, 20 acres in Section 7 of Kewaskum Twp, Washington Co, Wisconsin, for $100. Located 2 miles west of An 1892 plat map shows the tract on the northwest corner of what is now Mohawk Rd. and Highland Dr.
1883 land purchase of 22 acres also located in Section 7, directly west
[see 1892 map]
1906 sale of 40 acres to M. and A. Rosenheimer for $2,500
Children of Friederich and Catherine Schoenhaar
1. Joseph Schoenhaar (3 Jun 1860 – 17 Jan 1929) – Baptismal record…The 1880 census Married Elizabeth Rohrdanz (1864-1940). Five children shown below. Joseph died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Was a coachman for many years… The family is enumerated in the 1900 census in Otsego Co, New York. The family doesn’t appear in the 1905 Wisconsin State Census, and likely was still in New York at the time. They were back in Wisconsin by 1907, when a Wabeno newspaper article relates that Joseph was then seriously ill with pneumonia… The census indicates they had been married for twenty years. The children were: Joseph Theodore Schoenhaar (7 Sep 1887 – 12 Aug 1964), Robert Charles Schoenhaar (17 Feb 1889 – Nov 1952), Anna A. Schoenhaar (24 Aug 1890 – 28 Nov 1953), Walter Dewey Schoenhaar (17 Jun 1898 – 23 Dec 1968), and Louis Carl Schoenhaar (16 Dec 1900 – 14 Oct 1980).
2. Margaretha “Maggie” Schoenhaar (17 Oct 1861 – 31 Dec 1919) – Born
3. Michael Edmund “Edward” Schoenhaar (2 Jul 1863 – 18 Apr 1919) – Born
4. Friederich Jr. Schoenhaar (26 May 1865 – 5 Oct 1920) – Born in Washington County, likely on the farm near Wayne. Baptism record shows birth date as 26 May 1865, the 1900 U.S. Census May 1865, while his headstone shows 12 February 1866. He is named in his father’s Kewaskum household in the 1870 and 1880 U.S. Census and is certainly a household member in the 1875 and 1885 Wisconsin State Census. The 1900 census in New London, Waupaca Co., lists him as a 35-year old bartender, with his 29-year old wife, Kate, and son, Josia (Joseph), 8 years old. It notes the couple has been married eight years, although in reality it is nine. All three are still in New London in 1910, and both Fred and son Joseph are employed at the Wolf River Co., a chair factory. Kate’s mother, Elizabeth Deutsch, is now living with her daughter and son-in-law; she dies in 1918. Joseph marries Bertha Dreier in 1913. In 1920…
5. John L. Schoenhaar (16 Apr 1868 – 29 Jul 1940) See separate page.
6. Maria “Mary” Schoenhaar (29 May 1870 – 12 Oct 1890) –
7. Caroline Schoenhaar (15 Nov 1872 – 30 Mar 1877) – She was born in Washington County, Wisconsin, probably on the farm near Wayne, and baptized at St. Bridget’s Catholic church two days later. While the 1875 Wisconsin state census only lists heads of household, 2½ year-old Caroline is undoubtedly part of the household. She was 4½ when she died 30 March 1877, cause of death unknown. St. Bridget’s burial record indicates she was buried 2 April 1877, certainly in the church cemetery, although the location is unmarked and therefore unknown. It is possible that she is buried near her sister, Mary, whose grave in that cemetery is marked. Kathryn Rohleder’s 1977 letter states she is buried in the cemetery, but it doesn’t cite a record to corroborate that information.
8. Anna Katherine “Katy” Schoenhaar (12 Sep 1876 – 28 Dec 1960) – Born
9. Lawrence Lewis Schoenhaar (9 Jul 1880 – 23 Sep 1952) – Born
Other Schoenhaar Children
The 1900 U.S. Census indicates that Catherina had by that time born 11 children, while 10 children are noted in the 1910 U.S. Census. As of May 2025, only 9 Schoenhaar children have been accounted for.
The four-year period between the births of Caroline and Catherine suggests the possibility of a child born during that time who did not survive, as does the six-year age difference between Catherine and Lawrence. Another child after Lawrence’s birth in 1881 is also possible, despite Catharina by then being in her mid-40s.
Frederick’s military pension file contains two affidavits in which all nine known Schoenhaar children are listed.