The Willy Wonka Family Story

The following account was submitted by my nephew, Christopher, the firstborn son of my brother Michael. Much of what follows comes from family memories, genealogical research, and stories passed down through generations.

The family story goes that our great-grandmother, Frances Culhane (née Schumm), wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and sold the story for a small sum, some versions say $25.00 to Roald Dahl or to Disney associates connected with him at the time.

I have a vague memory of my great-grandmother, whom we called Nanny Boege, telling me that she had written the story. I was only about four years old then, so I can’t claim that memory as proof. I do remember that she also read tarot cards, which made her seem larger than life to a young child.

What makes the story interesting is the number of apparent connections between our family tree and the characters in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

According to our family genealogy records, many names found in the book closely resemble names from Frances’s own family:

• Frances’s father was Joseph, often called Joe, similar to Grandpa Joe.
• His middle name was Augustus, recalling Augustus Gloop.
• Frances had relatives named Josephine, George, and Georgina.
• Frances Schumm married Willie Culhane, a name that naturally invites comparisons to Willy Wonka.
• Willie Culhane’s brother was Charlie Culhane, reminiscent of Charlie Bucket.
• Another brother was James Culhane, a name that appears repeatedly throughout our family history.

The connections do not end there.

Research shows that members of the Culhane family were involved in confectionery businesses dating back to Ireland before immigrating to America. In the early 1900s, E. J. Culhane partnered with R. F. Pendergast to help establish the Pendergast Candy Company.

The company became known for developing a fluffy nougat used in candy bars. According to historical accounts, similar techniques were later adopted by competitors, including Frank Mars in the development of the Milky Way bar. To some family members, this bears a striking resemblance to the plotline in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, where rival candy makers attempt to steal Wonka’s secret formulas.

Another intriguing connection involves animator Shamus Culhane. Although the exact family relationship is not fully documented, Shamus Culhane was a well-known animator who worked for Disney and other major studios throughout his career. The name “James” (Shamus being the Irish equivalent) appears throughout our family tree as well.

Christopher’s theory is that Frances Culhane may have been connected through family or professional circles to people in the animation and publishing worlds. He speculates that she may have contributed ideas, stories, or manuscripts that eventually found their way into works associated with Roald Dahl, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and perhaps others.

To be clear, there is no documented evidence proving this theory. Much of it rests on family stories, coincidences, historical connections, and patterns found in genealogical research. Still, when all the pieces are placed side by side, the story becomes intriguing enough that many family members continue to wonder if there might be some truth behind it.

Whether fact, family legend, or something in between, it remains one of the most fascinating stories passed down through the Culhane family.

As Christopher wrote:

“I have way more than that somewhere, but this is what I can remember and pull up quickly.”

And perhaps that is what keeps the story alive, not definitive proof, but the possibility that somewhere in the family history there is a forgotten chapter waiting to be discovered.

I have nothing to gain by claiming any of this is true. It is simply a remarkable family story, one that has been shared for years and continues to spark curiosity whenever it is told.