Carl Heinrich "Charles Henry" Wilcken (October 5, 1831 – April 9, 1915) was a German-American artilleryman who was awarded the Iron Cross by the King of Prussia, Frederick William IV.[1]
Illustration of Wilcken (depicted in a Prussian uniform, c. 1847) published in 1912 in the Deseret News
On arrival in the United States in 1857, lacking English and possessing military skills and discipline, he signed on with what came to be known as Johnston's Army, a part of the United States Army sent to put down the so-called "Mormon Rebellion" (also known as the Utah War). He got permission to hunt for game to supplement the military rations. On one such trip he met some Mormons and decided to desert to join them.[2] Later, to cover his defection, it was claimed that he had been captured by the Utah Territorial militia (the "Nauvoo Legion") at Fort Bridger. Wilcken later joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and served as water commissioner directing irrigation, as a municipal policeman, and as superintendent of the Deseret Telegraph Company.[1][3][4][5][6][7][8]
Wilcken left Holstein, then ruled as a Duchy by the King of Denmark as Duke of Holstein, while a member of the German Confederation,[11] in 1857, ahead of his wife Eliza Christina Carolina Reiche Wilcken (1830-1906) and two small children. He planned to emigrate to Argentina to join his brothers there; however, while waiting in London to sail, he ran out of funds and could only afford to go to New York City. Wilcken's family joined him in the U.S. in 1860.[9] Wilcken eventually had three additional wives and fathered 18 children.
Six foot four inches tall,[12] Wilcken worked as a miller in Salt Lake City, a skill he learned in Prussia. Later he served as the friend, driver, and bodyguard for LDS Church presidents John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff.[1][3][13] He assisted leaders of the LDS Church to relocate their polygamous families and he served as a go-between for them and their families when they were imprisoned.
Referencesedit
^ abcdSeifrit, William C. (1987), Charles Henry Wilcken, an Undervalued Saint, vol. 55, Utah Historical Quarterly, pp. 308–321
^ abHart, John L. (August 20, 1994), Soldier finds peace, not war, in Utah, Deseret News
^Davidson, Lee (September 8, 2007), Romney ancestor fled Army, joined LDS Church, Deseret News
^Schindler, Hal (October 8, 1995), , Salt Lake Tribune, archived from the original on March 19, 2012, retrieved June 27, 2012
^Wilcken, Charles Henry (August 15 – December 1, 1885), A Soldier's Adventures, vol. 20, Juvenile Instructor, pp. 242–358 (non–inclusive)
^Incidents in the Life of a Sturdy German Jaeger Who Cast His Lot With "The Flower of the American Army," Marched West against the "Mormons"; and Remained to Dwell with Them., Deseret News, December 21, 1912
^Death of veteran Charles H. Wilcken: Worthy Public Official and trusted of leaders passes to his reward.: Won German Iron Cross: Came to Utah with Johnston's Army: Many years watermaster: Pioneer Millbuilder, Deseret News, October 6, 1830
^ abVon Karin Jordt (2012-03-25). (in German). Kn-online.de. Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2012-06-28.
^Dobner, Jennifer; Johnson, Glen (February 25, 2007). "Polygamy was prominent in Romney's family tree". Deseret News. Associated Press.
^A History of Modern Europe: 1815-1900 Thomas Henry Dyer, Arthur Hassall; G. Bell and sons; 1901 page 114
Media related to Charles H. Wilcken at Wikimedia Commons
April 12, 2024
charles, henry, wilcken, carl, heinrich, charles, henry, wilcken, october, 1831, april, 1915, german, american, artilleryman, awarded, iron, cross, king, prussia, frederick, william, wilcken, 1890military, careerallegiance, german, confederation, prussia, unit. Carl Heinrich Charles Henry Wilcken October 5 1831 April 9 1915 was a German American artilleryman who was awarded the Iron Cross by the King of Prussia Frederick William IV 1 Charles Henry WilckenWilcken ca 1890Military careerAllegiance German Confederation Prussia United States of AmericaRankSergeant Prussian ArmyPrivate artilleryman U S ArmyColonel Utah Territorial MilitiaBattles warsFirst Schleswig Holstein War Prussia German Federation Utah War U S AwardsPrussian Iron Cross 1 Personal detailsBornCarl Heinrich Wilcken 1831 10 05 October 5 1831Eckhorst Duchy of Holstein now in Stockelsdorf Ostholstein Germany DiedApril 9 1915 1915 04 09 aged 84 Salt Lake City Utah United StatesSpouse s Eliza Christina Carolina Reiche 3 othersChildren18RelativesGeorge W Romney great grandson Illustration of Wilcken depicted in a Prussian uniform c 1847 published in 1912 in the Deseret NewsOn arrival in the United States in 1857 lacking English and possessing military skills and discipline he signed on with what came to be known as Johnston s Army a part of the United States Army sent to put down the so called Mormon Rebellion also known as the Utah War He got permission to hunt for game to supplement the military rations On one such trip he met some Mormons and decided to desert to join them 2 Later to cover his defection it was claimed that he had been captured by the Utah Territorial militia the Nauvoo Legion at Fort Bridger Wilcken later joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints LDS Church and served as water commissioner directing irrigation as a municipal policeman and as superintendent of the Deseret Telegraph Company 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wilcken s granddaughter Anna Amelia Pratt was the mother of American politician George W George Wilcken Romney 9 10 Biography editWilcken left Holstein then ruled as a Duchy by the King of Denmark as Duke of Holstein while a member of the German Confederation 11 in 1857 ahead of his wife Eliza Christina Carolina Reiche Wilcken 1830 1906 and two small children He planned to emigrate to Argentina to join his brothers there however while waiting in London to sail he ran out of funds and could only afford to go to New York City Wilcken s family joined him in the U S in 1860 9 Wilcken eventually had three additional wives and fathered 18 children Six foot four inches tall 12 Wilcken worked as a miller in Salt Lake City a skill he learned in Prussia Later he served as the friend driver and bodyguard for LDS Church presidents John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff 1 3 13 He assisted leaders of the LDS Church to relocate their polygamous families and he served as a go between for them and their families when they were imprisoned References edit a b c d Seifrit William C 1987 Charles Henry Wilcken an Undervalued Saint vol 55 Utah Historical Quarterly pp 308 321 Utah Edu Deserter Archived October 21 2013 at the Wayback Machine a b Hart John L August 20 1994 Soldier finds peace not war in Utah Deseret News Davidson Lee September 8 2007 Romney ancestor fled Army joined LDS Church Deseret News Schindler Hal October 8 1995 Frenzied Mob Kills Murderer Salt Lake Tribune archived from the original on March 19 2012 retrieved June 27 2012 Wilcken Charles Henry August 15 December 1 1885 A Soldier s Adventures vol 20 Juvenile Instructor pp 242 358 non inclusive Incidents in the Life of a Sturdy German Jaeger Who Cast His Lot With The Flower of the American Army Marched West against the Mormons and Remained to Dwell with Them Deseret News December 21 1912 Death of veteran Charles H Wilcken Worthy Public Official and trusted of leaders passes to his reward Won German Iron Cross Came to Utah with Johnston s Army Many years watermaster Pioneer Millbuilder Deseret News October 6 1830 a b Von Karin Jordt 2012 03 25 Mitt Romney hat Holsteiner Blut Aus dem Land Schleswig Holstein KN Kieler Nachrichten in German Kn online de Archived from the original on 2012 03 28 Retrieved 2012 06 28 Dobner Jennifer Johnson Glen February 25 2007 Polygamy was prominent in Romney s family tree Deseret News Associated Press A History of Modern Europe 1815 1900 Thomas Henry Dyer Arthur Hassall G Bell and sons 1901 page 114 Charles Henry Wilcken Jared Pratt Family Association Nuttal Leonard John 2007 Jedediah S Rogers ed In the President s office the diaries of L John Nuttall 1879 1892 Vol 11 Signature Books ISBN 9781560851967 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help External links edit nbsp Media related to Charles H Wilcken at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Henry Wilcken amp oldid 1186942608, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
