Johann Schömbs of Milwaukee

Johannes Schoembs of Milwaukee

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Who Was Johannes Schoembs?

Johann Schoembs (*27.01.1815 Undenheim, +03.05.1884 Milwaukee) was the son of Mathäus Schömbs (*1768 Undenheim) and his wife Klara Müller. He was the eighth and youngest child of Mathäus and Klara. It is from the death record of John that we now know his lineage in Germany and have been able to positively tie him into the Zacharias Schömbs Family Tree. The death record of Johann is one of very few which identifies the mother and father of the deceased as well as his place of birth. Geneology would be much easier if this was common practice! He emigrated in about 1846 in his early 30's, settling in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There are multiple records of Johannes and his family from Wisconsin. Several are from the Census, others from marriage records of his daughters, including an IGI record, and other sources. We have finally located descendants of Johann and will be soon updating the chapter with a great deal of new information.

The First Records of John

In the 1859 City Directory for Milwaukee, Wisconsin, appears John Schoembs. He lived on East Water Street, between Division and Knapp. He was a teamster. Then a few years later, in 1863 John Schoembs is identified as being subject to the draft in January, 1864. At this time the U.S. Civil War had been raging for over two years. The first image is of the article heading and the second showing his name. In 1864 John is mentioned as the City lists its payments to suppliers. The first image is of the article heading and the second of John Schoembs as the recipient of $31.61 for hauling wood. Given that the payment for hauling wood was only a year after he became eligible for the draft, he probably did not serve in the Union Army. In 1869 John was awarded the duty of "weighers of hay and measurers of wood" in the First Ward of Milwaukee.

The 1870 U.S. Census

Johann is enumerated in the 1870 Census with his wife Margaretha Mai (*1826 Wurtemberg) and their four daughters in Milwaukee. Based upon the ages of their Wisconsin born children, Johann must have emigrated in about 1846/47. He then met and married Margaretha. Their first child, also Margaretha, was born in 1849 in Wisconsin. Therefore Johann must have arrived in Wisconsin not too long after he emigrated. Perhaps he went straight there. Milwaukee has always had a large German population and has been known for it's beers. All the children were probably born in Milwaukee, although we do not have clear evidence of that. Johann is listed as a "huckster" in the Census. Today we think of a huckster as an aggressive salesman. According to Webster, the primary definition of huckster is "a dealer of small articles, or of fruit." Apparently Johann was successful in his profession. In the 1870 Census he is shown owning his home with a value of $1025, and other personal assets of $1200 value.

Second Degree

1870 U.S. Census

In 1876, per a Milwaukee city directory, John and Margaret were living at 34 Division Street. They are listed separately, each with their professional activity: saloon for John (they lived in/above the saloon) and a seed business for Margaret. Toward the end of the decade John was exercising his civic responsibilities. He apparently was on the "Committee on Poor Department" as seen in articles in 1879 and 1880. Then also in 1880 John is the recipient of more City funds. In 1880 they are still living at 34 Division Street in Milwaukee. Two of their daughters, Margareth and Betty (Elizabeth), ages 30 and 17 respectively, were living with them. The other two daughters had married. Actually their daughter Willhemine, her husband William Dallwig, and their first two children, were also living in the home. They are enumerated just below the John "Schombs" family at 34 Division. John is working as a clerk in a ... Department (perhaps print department). I tried to find Division Street in Milwaukee today. It does not exist. Apparently they have renamed the streets since 1880.

1880 U.S. Census

Death of John Schoembs

John Schoembs died on 03.05.1884 in Milwaukee. He was 69 years old. From his death record we know that he was working as a clerk at "The Poor Department" of Milwaukee at the time. City Directories for Milwaukee list Margaret (widow of John) Schoembs living at 617 Hubbard in 1885. Then successive directories in 1893, 1894 and 1897 show her living at different addresses. In 1905 there was a City census conducted. The page does not identify the address. Margaret (on Line 76) is living alone. Then in 1910 Margareth is enumerated as a widow and living with her married daughter Wilhelmina.

Descendants of Johann Schoembs

Children: (4)

4.1.....Margaretha Schoembs (*~1849 Wisconsin)

Margaretha was married 09.04.1892 in Milwaukee to Theodor Jung, a German emigrant. The information comes from Wisconsin Marriage Records. She was 43 years old at the time of her marriage. Theodor was the son of Julius and Louise Koehling Jung. Then there is another marriage record dated 08.02.1894. Same husband. It is not obvious why there seem to be two records of their marriage, two years apart. But the 1894 record identifies the bride as "Margaretha Jung Schoembs," rather than Margaretha Schoembs as in the first record. At this time we have no further information about Margaretha and Theodor but based upon her age at the time of their marriage it is possible that they had no children.

4.2.....Therese Margaretha Schoembs (*Dec 1849 Wisconsin, +after 1905)

Theresia married on 17 June 1879 in Milwaukee. We know from an IGI record that her husband was Frederic Tesch (*Oct 1844 Germany, +before 1920), the son of John (*1823 Prussia) and Mina Tesch. Frederic emigrated with his parents in 1858. In 1880 John and Mina Tesch lived near Clearfield, Juneau County, Wisconsin. This is probably where Frederic spent his late teen years. The marriage was reported the following week in the Daily Milwaukee News. They are named near the bottom of the article entitled "Buckled".

By 1870, when Frederic would have been 26, he and his first wife Amelia lived in Manistee, Michigan, east across Lake Michigan and a little north from Juneau County, Wisconsin. Frederic was enumerated as a clerk in a store. Their oldest child, Leah, age 2, had been born in Michigan. Apparently Amelia died in about 1876-78, for in 1879 Frederic married Theresa Schoembs. The wedding was in Milwaukee. According to the 1880 Census, Theresa is then the mother to Frederic's children from the first marriage as well as their one daughter Minnie from his marriage to Theresa. They are living on Second Street in Manistee, Michigan. As we see from later Census records, Therese is close to Frederic's children from his first marriage: Leah (*1868), (Frederic) Georg (*1870), Katy (*1872), Charles (*1874) and Edith (*1876). But since they are not descendants of Johann Schoembs (*1815) their stories are not elaborated.

In 1900 Frederic and Theresa are living in Manistee at 384 Second Street, a home which they owned. Their two daughters Edith (age 23) and Minnie (age 20) are living with them. This Census confirms that Theresa is the mother of one child (Minnie), who is still living in 1900. Then by 1905 the family had moved from Manistee into Milwaukee. Frederic is 61 years old and Theresa 54. Daughter Edith, age 29, is living with them.

Fifteen years later Frederic has died and Theresa is living with daughter Edith, now 44 and married to Walter A. Lust (*1882 Wisconsin) (Line 82). Edith and Walter were married 1908. They are renting a home at 1246 Locust Street in Milwaukee. Ten years later in 1930 Edith Lust, age 53, is living with her sister Leah Tesch Stielow, Leah's husband Otto C. Stielow (*1868 Wisconsin) and their son Frederick (*1909 Wisconsin). They are living in the home owned by Otto and Leah at 371 15th Avenue, with an estimated value of $6,000. While Edith, age 53, is enumerated as married, Walter is not identified in the family. Perhaps they were separated at the time. Otto is a moulder in a foundry, Frederick a wire worker in an iron and wire products company and Edith is a saleslady in a grocery store. Leah is not working. Interestingly, Leah is enumerated as having been born in Wisconsin in about 1869. If this is correct, then Frederic and his first wife Amelia must have moved to Michigan in 1869/1870 just after the birth of their first child. Theresa Schoembs Tesch, who would have been 81 in 1930, is presumably deceased.

Here is summary information on Frederic Tesch and on Theresa Schoembs Tesch.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Minnie Tesch (*May 1880 Manistee MI)

We know nothing about the life of Minnie Tesch.

4.3.....Wilhelmine M."Minnie" Schoembs (*15.02.1854 Wisconsin)

On 20 September 1877 Wilhelmine married William E. Dallwig (*~1854 Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, +07.07.1916 Milwaukee WI). William was the third of six children of Joseph and Emily Dallwig of Manitowoc County. There is an interesting history from Manitowoc County mentioning W.E. Dallwig.

In 1910 William and Minnie were living at 90 Knapp Street, near Market. The Census record is a little challenging to read, but still yields much information. They have been married for 33 years. All five children are still living at home! None of them have married. The oldest is 32 years, the youngest 19. Also living with the Dallwigs is Wilhelmine's mother, Margareth, age 84, and a widow.

Margareth is enumerated as having had eight children, four of whom are still living. We are aware of the four who were still living in 1910, but not aware of who the other four might have been.

William was enumerated as a "seedsman" in the seed store. They were renting in a rowhouse. Wilhelmine did not work. We later learn that William had started the business in 1880, the W.E. Dallwig Seed Company. The business was located at 34 Juneau Avenue. His mother-in-law Margareth was one of his employees, helping him get the business established.

1910 U.S. Census

The Locations of the 90 Knapp (1920)
and 785 Prospect (1910) Homes

Clearly the seed business prospered, for by 1920 the family had moved to 785 Prospect Avenue near Lake Michigan. Here they owned the home. William had died since 1910. Minnie was a widow. The complete Census record shows that the seed business is owned in the family. Margareth Schoembs, John's widow, is 93 years old. The Map to the left shows the location of the 785 Prospect Home, as well as the 1910 home of William and Minnie at 90 Knapp Street.

Minnie and William Dallwig had six children, five of whom survived. We know that the youngest, Herbert married. The other four probably did not. They lived at home with their parents well into their adulthoods. Herbert married when he was 32 years old.

1920 U.S. Census

Children: (6)

6.1.....Amalia "Mollie" E. Dallwig (*~1878 WI)

Mollie was still single and living at home in 1910 at age 32. She was a saleslady at the seed store, undoubtedly the same business her father owned. By 1920 her father has passed away and Mollie is the proprietor of the seed business. She is 41 years old and single.

6.2.....Kurtis J. Dallwig (*25.5.1880 Milwaukee WI)

In 1910 Kurt was also single and living at home. He too worked in the seed store, and is also called a seedsman. On 12.9.1918 Kurt, age 38, registered for the Draft to serve in World War I. In the registration he is living with his mother Wilhelmine at 785 Prospect in Milwaukee. In 1920 Kurt continues to work in the business as an employee of his sister Mollie. He is listed as the manager of the business, 39 and single.

During the 1930's Kurt made two trips to Europe, apparently to re-connect with his WWI experience. He returned from the first trip on the S.S. Bremen, sailing from Cherbourg, France and arriving in New York in September, 1936. He gave his home address as 3035 N. Prospect, twelve or so blocks away from the earlier home. Then he returned to Europe three years later, this time taking his niece Marjorie with him. They returned to the U.S. one week earlier in August than he had in 1936, sailing from Cherbourg on 23 August 1939 again on the S.S. Bremen. Germany invaded Poland a week later on 1 September.

6.3.....Olga H. Dallwig (*19.09.1882 Milwaukee WI)

In 1910 Olga was a public school teacher, living at home with her parents and four siblings. Olga was 27 years old at the time.

6.4.....Flora Dallwig (*09.02.1885 Milwaukee WI)

There is a birth record for Flora. We know that there were six children and that five became adults. Therefore Flora must have died. We do not know when or the circumstances.

6.5.....Irma Lydia G. Dallwig (*05.11.1888 Milwaukee WI)

We know from the birth record that there was a daughter Irma born in November 1888. Then in the 1910 Census there is a daughter Lydia, born in about 1889. They must be the same person and therefore her name is given here as Irma Lydia. Lydia was not working in 1910. She was 21 years old and living at home at 90 Knapp Street.

6.6.....Herbert Carl Dallwig (*10.02.1891 Milwaukee WI, +30.04.1958)

Herbert C. was the first member of the Milwaukee Schoembs to continue with his education. In 1910, at age 19, he graduated from high school, where he was valedictorian of his class. In 1917 he received his Medical Doctors degree from Harvard Medical School. On 31 May 1917 he registered for the World War I Draft. He served six months in the U.S. Army during World War I, studying new kinds of gases. Following his discharge in December, 1918, he returned to Milwaukee to practice medicine.

Herbert married a woman with the first name Grace (*1898 Wisconsin) in 1923. In 1930 they are renting a home. The address appears to be 784 Donner Avenue.

In the 1940 Census the Dallwigs own their home at 3259 N. Hackett Avenue in Milwaukee. It is valued at $13,000. Plus they have a second daughter, Julia.

Herbert passed away in 1958 and was buried in the Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee. He died of cancer.

Article from a book "History of Milwaukee", page 313, about Herbert Dallwig

Children: (2)

2.1.....Margery Dallwig (*22.5.1926 Milwaukee WI, +02.09.2008 Sun City West AZ)

In 1939 Margery accompanied her Uncle Kurt on a trip to Europe. As mentioned above, World War I began as they returned to the U.S.

Margery was athletic. She competed in tennis as she was growing up and also skied. And possibly did other sports as well. She went to Wellesley College.

Four years after her graduation, in April 1951, Margery was married to Walter M. Steppacher III (*26.07.1920 Philadelphia, +10.04.2005 Sarasota FL) in St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in New York City. The article went on to say they would be living in Manhattan.

It appears that Margery and Walter may have divorced. Walter's 2005 death record from Florida does not mention a spouse. Margery passed away three years later living in Arizona in a retirement community.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Lynn C. Steppacher

Lynn married a man by the name of Martin. We see this from her father's death record. But there is a possibility that Lynn was from a prior marriage of Walter's.

2.2.....Walter M. "Chip" Steppacher IV (*1955)

There is also an Anne R. Steppacher (*12.11.1961) who is unaccounted for but probably is part of the family. She may have married a "Rittenberry". Walter IV and Anne have both lived in New Canaan CT.

2.2.....Julia Dallwig (*1931)

Little is known of Julia. She attended Smith College. She too took a trip to Europe, which appears to have been in the summer while she was still in college. She returned on the French ship "Liberte", arriving in New York City on 6 September 1951. She does not appear to have returned with any friends or relatives.

4.4.....Elizabeth Schoembs (*21.06.1852 Milwaukee WI, +aft 1930)

Elizabeth and August Voelker (*1853 Kossuth, Wisconsin, +15.08.1927 Manitowoc WI), a farmer, were married 30 December 1884 in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. Ozaukee County is about 20 miles north of Milwaukee. In the 1920 Census they are living in Kossuth, Manitowoc County, still further north on Lake Michigan. But the World War I registration card for son Kurt indicates that the farm is in Branch, which is about 5 miles from the city of Manitowoc.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Paula Voelker (*1890 Wisconsin)

Paula is enumerated in the 1930 Census as the sister of Kurt and living in his home. She is divorced from a man with the surname Clusen.

3.2.....Kurt J. Voelker (*28.12.1895 Wisconsin)

In 1920 Kurt Voelker is living with his parents, single, and 34 years old. He works on the family farm. He registered to serve in World War I. But other than the registration, we have no other information.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Betty J. Clusen (1920)

3.3.....Dorothy Voelker (*1895 Wisconsin)

Dorothy is enumerated in the 1910 U.S. Census. Dorothy married Frank Clopeck (*1893 Wisconsin, +1953). In 1930 Frank was a salesman for an aluminum manufacturing company. The family had a domestic, Minnie Scott, a 31 year old divorced white woman living in the home.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Joan Clopeck (*1923)

In the 1930 Census Joan is living in Dallas TX. She later married ..... Parmenter.

3.2.....Jack Clopeck (*15.5.1925 Schenectady NY, 8.12.2009 Framingham MA)

Jack Clopeck married Lillian Elizabeth Moran (*11.5.1927, +18.9.2004 Framingham MA).

The obituary of Jack Clopeck captures many of the highlights of his life. In high school Jack played hockey and was on the track team. After graduation in 1943 he enlisted in the Army and served in the Army Air Corps as a B-17 navigator in the 8th Air Force. He flew 14 missions in Europe and was awarded the Air Medal wiht 1 Oak Leaf Cluster. After the War Jack went to Boston University, graduating in 1949. He played hockey for BU. During most of his career Jack was a manufacturer's representative.

Children: (5)

5.1.....Gary F. Clopeck (*24.5.1951, +18.6.2002 Framingham MA)

Gary married Mariellen Gallagher.

5.2.....John Clopeck (*)

John married Linda ......

5.3.....Jeffrey Clopeck (*)

Jeffrey married Colleen ......

5.4.....David Clopeck (*)

5.5.....son Clopeck (*)

married Michele ......

3.3.....Janet Clopeck (*19.1.1932 Dallas TX)

The birth record identifies a daughter born in 1932. Apparently no name had been given at the time of the entry into the Texas vital statistics. But this daughter must have been Janet. Janet married .... Conner.

FOOTNOTES:

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