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Henry Wonnenberg

Henry Wonnenberg, of West Union, is the pioneer tailor of this county. He was born in Elbing, West Prussia, Germany, on the 19th of January, 1823, and is a son of John and Christina Wonnenberg. The subject of this sketch was educated in his native country, where he also learned his trade, serving a regular apprenticeship of four years. During the early days of his manhood he resolved to try his fortune in the New World, and bidding good-by to home and friends emigrated to America in the spring of 1852. On his arrival in this country he at once came to Iowa, locating in Clinton County, where he joined a German settlement called Liberty Colony. He worked at general work until September, 1853, when he came to West Union and opened a tailor shop here. He has been longer in business than any other man in his line in the county, and has worked at his trade continuously for half a century.

It proved a fortunate day for Mr. Wonnenberg when he sailed to America, for more reasons than one. He has been fairly successful and in this country he found his wife. On the 12th of November, in 1856, in Dubuque, Iowa, he was united in marriage with Miss Helen Krakow, who was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, and is a daughter of Christian Krakow. She came to America about 1853 and died December 23, 1870, leaving a family of four children, two sons and two daughters, namely: Minnie, who is at home; Otto who married Kate Klotzbach and lives in Jamestown, N. D.; Theodore J. and Lena. The former is a printer by trade and is foreman of the Argo office. Mr. Wonnenberg was brought up under the auspices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and is a Republican in politics. He has always been an industrious, hard-working man and has conducted his business on fair and honorable terms. He is the founder of his family in America and has now been a resident of West Union for thirty-seven years, being one of its highly respected citizens.