Tama-Benton-Black Hawk County IA Archives Biographies.....Unger, Charles Or Karl May 14, 1825 - March 9, 1895
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Sara Stevens Patton past4me@comcast.net January 26, 2010, 5:45 pm

Source: History of Black Hawk County (Iowa) and Representative Citizens (Chicago:  Biographical Publishing Co.,1904)
Author: Van Metre, Isaiah, ed.

Bio from 1904 History of Black Hawk County, IA p. 777-778.    

     "Henry C. Unger, a prominent retired farm of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and a 
highly esteemed resident of La Porte City, was born February 5, 1854, at Broad 
Brook, Connecticut.  He is a son of Charles and Mary (Meyer) Unger.
    Charles Unger was born in Austria-Hungary , and died in Benton County, Iowa, 
in March 1895, aged 70 years.  When 21 years of age, he came to America and 
worked in woolen mills until he removed to Iowa, after which he spent his life 
in agricultural pursuits.  Like many others who in later life became 
capitalists, he entered the State with limited means, and walked the distance 
from Bruce Grove to Dubuque, in order to enter his first tract of 80 acres.  
This tract he sold at a later date, but at the time of his death owned 400 
acres.  He was a man of intelligence and information, and in religious belief he 
was a Lutheran.  In politics, he became identified with the Republican party and 
held various town ship offices.  
     Mrs. Mary (Meyer) Unger was born in Bavaria, Germany, and died in 1900, 
aged 70 years.  She was the mother of five sons, namely:  Charles J., of 
Franklin County; Louis K., who was drowned July 9, 1900, in Benton County, Henry 
C., of this sketch; Andrew W.; and one who died in infancy.
     Henry C. Unger was only one year old when his parents came to Iowa and 
settled in Benton County....His father was the first settler in Clark township, 
Tama County, Iowa, and captured many prairie wolves there.  His son often heard 
them howl....  Mr. Unger bought 320 acres of his father's land and 80 acres from 
the estate of David See, and made his farm one of the best improved in the 
county.  In 1900 the buildings burned, but they were immediately rebuilt in a 
more substantial style, and the farm is now worked by tenants on shares...."

Additional Comments:
Karl Johan Unger (aka Charles John Unger)was born in Hof, Bavaria and came to 
America in 1845, leaving behind at least one brother and an elderly widowed 
mother and younger sister.  Though well educated and skilled as a weaver and 
dyer, he did not want to go into the army, so he came to America.  He settled in 
Broad Brook, and later Rockville, CT, a few miles east of Hartford. He had 
visited several German settlements in NY and Pennsylvania before settling in CT, 
where he worked in woolen mills as a weaver, the occupation he learned in 
Germany.  He earned $2 day at the mill, being paid every 6-12 months.  He had 
friends in Albany and Dalton (Pa?).  Unlike his friends who talked of moving 
west, he stayed in east and learned English.  His letters reveal a well-educated 
man, speaking of politics on both continents,  economic conditions in US, hard 
work, etc.  He met and married German girl in 1850.  Mary Meyer had come to 
America when she was 13.  He continued to work as weaver in mills in Connecticut 
but decided to take up land in west to farm.  He gave a friend $50 to buy 40 
acres in "Weskonsin" but somehow ended up in Iowa instead.  

Five years in CT, and 3 small sons later, the Unger family moved to Iowa, 
probably traveling by train to Dubuque, Iowa then by horse and wagon to their 
new home 2 miles north of Dysart, Tama County, where they are said to have built 
the first log cabin in region. They entered Iowa ca. 1855 with limited means, 
walking the distance from Bruce Grove to Dubuque to enter the first tract of 80 
acres.   Karl Unger was said to be the first settler in Clark Township, Tama Co. 
and captured many prairie wolves (coyotes).  

Taking raw land was more work than expected and more than finances permitted--
not enough left for livestock and tools. He had to buy equipment piece by piece. 
In letter to his brother, he writes,  "The German phrase 'stupid farmer' is 
wrong as no business demands as much common sense, good planning and hard work." 
Though completely ignorant of how to handle oxen or horses, within 6 yrs., he 
had become very successful. As he was only one in neighborhood with a team of 
horses, he made 2 trips year to Dubuque or Iowa City for mail and supplies, 
leaving his family at home alone to deal with the Indians still in the area.  He 
said his wife was the only one who could plan well and make supplies last til 
next trip.

In 1870s, he bought land near La Porte City which he later sold to son Henry-- 
400 acres.  Here he built their first frame house, bringing lumber from Iowa 
City.
Son Andrew farmed father's farm in Tama.  Andrew cared for mother after father 
died in 1895.  



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