George Schömbs of Louisville

George Schoembs of Louisville

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The Story of George Schoembs (1823-1885)

George Schoembs was born 12 July 1823. He was the fourth of seven children of Georg "Philipp" and Eva Stein Schömbs. Philipp Schömbs was born in 1789 in Wahlheimerhof. Philipp and Eva lived in the area of Elsheim, probably to the northwest in the direction of Groß Winternheim. Their children are all recorded in the churchbooks of either Elsheim or Groß Winternheim. George is in the Groß Winternheim churchbook. To go to the webpages of George's emigrant brothers, click on the links for Bernhard Schoembs (*1828) who settled in New Orleans, Louisiana, or Frank Schoembs (*1830) who settled in Cairo, Illinois.

His Emigration

Of the three brothers from Elsheim, we probably know the most about George's emigration. For ten years it was assumed that Georg Schoembs had emigrated on the Seth Sprague (ship), landing in New Orleans on 24.11.1848. The ship's passenger list includes a Georg Schoembs, age 17. This is, however, a different Georg Schoembs. Recently we made contact with Mike Simpson, a descendant of Georg Schoembs of Louisville, who has contributed much new information to the story. We now know that the Georg Schoembs (*1823 Groß Winternheim) who settled in Louisville in fact emigrated on the Argonaut, arriving in New York on 27.05.1848. In the ship's record he is listed on Line 118 as being 24 years old and a farmer from Edelsheim. He was actually from Elsheim.

Naturalization

George applied for U.S. citizenship in 1852. The copy of the court document is very difficult to read. The record says:

"George Schoembs, an alien this day filed and swore to the following declaration to wit: To the Hon. the Judge of the City Court of Louisville ..... petitioner George Schoembs a native of Germany would respectfully state that he was born in the Grand Duchy of Hesse Darnstadt in 1823 that he emigrated to the United States and landed at New York in the state of New York May 27, 1848 .......to become a citizen of the United States of America and absolutely (disavows)... all allegiance to any and every foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Soverignity whatever and particularly to Ludwig .... of Hesse Darnstadt to whom he now owes allegiance."

Return to Germany

In 1854 George returned to Germany. He is identified on 8 Dec 1854 as a sponsor at the christening of his nephew George Schoembs (*1854 Elsheim), the son of his older brother Philipp (*1818). The baptismal record identifies the sponsor George as coming from Amerika. Nothing more is known of this trip. But to our knowledge George is one of the very few Schömbs emigrants to return to the fatherland for any purpose, prior to the 20th Century.

His Marriage

George married Caroline Adolph (*7.10.1833 France, +9.06.1885 Louisville KY) on 14 January 1855. Their marriage is included in the Jefferson County Marriage Register. A practice for marriage at the time in Kentucky was that the groom obtain a bond, to establish his financial and otherwise qualification to take the bride. The bond, dated 13 January 1855, was in the amount of $100 and co-signed by Peter Hatter, apparently a person of substance. Caroline is identified in the 1870 Census as being born in France in 1833. If she were from France, it was most likely from Alsace Lorraine, a region which passed from German to French control several times over the centuries. The people there typically spoke both French and German. In the 1880 Census and later documents Caroline is identified as coming from Germany.

Their Homes and Lives

In 1870 George and his family owned their home in the 11th Ward of Louisville. George was a hack driver. Their oldest daughter was a seamstress. The younger children were at school. The Census lists the value of their home as $3,000 and the value of personal property at $2,000. It is interesting that the two families enumerated prior to them, as well as the two enumerated later, show no ownership of real property and personal property of only $200-300. The Census identifies seven families living in four dwellings on the page, but it does not indicate which families are in which dwellings. Perhaps George and Caroline owned a multi-family dwelling. Most of the foreign born enumerated on the page were from Germany.

It is worthwhile to expand upon George's occupation. A hack driver is one who drives a wagon or carriage for hire. Mike Simpson, a descendant of George's points out that Louisville was settled at a point in the Ohio River where there was a rapids, the River dropping 30-75 feet over the course of a mile. Therefore any cargo moving on the river had to be off-loaded at one end of the rapids and moved by wagon to the other end -- cargo coming upstream from New Orleans or St. Louis or downstream from Cincinnati or Pittsburgh for example. Once established, Louisville then became a major distribution center for inland freight as well. In 1830 the Portland Canal was built, which allowed boats to move by water around the rapids. George lived in the area of the Portland Canal, as did many other hack drivers. They were undoubtedly moving freight onto the river boats from inland and from the boats to the inland. But his return visit to Germany in 1854 perhaps suggests that his financial success may have begun early in his years in Amerika. The $50,000 in 1885 equates to about $1.1 million today (2010). In 1880 their address appears to be 1647 Main Street, Louisville. The 1880 Census lists Caroline as being born in Germany.

Death of Caroline

Caroline died in June 1885. The mortuary record appears to indicate liver disease. She was buried in the Cave Hill Cemetery.

Death of George

An article in the New York Times, published December 24, 1885, reports the death of George by suicide. He had been very successful in life, based upon his wealth. But the end of his life was tragic. "One of his daughters recently gave birth to an illegitimate child and another was becoming rapidly reckless, while his wife's recent death bore heavily upon him, causing temporary insanity." It is interesting that George's death in Louisville, Kentucky would have been reported by the New York Times. In fact his obituary appeared in numerous newspapers around the country. "Death was his Relief" was the heading of the article in the Omaha NE World Herald. The article describes his sixteen year old son finding his dead father. The Coroner's report is in two parts: 1 and 2; as is the Mortuary report: 1 and 2. It is a challenge to read across the record but with patience and zooming it can be done. George was buried on Christmas Day, 1885. But then perhaps re-buried a few months later.

The Schoembs Family Plot at Cave Hill Cemetery (Sec A; SW 1/2, Range; Lot 581)

The Cemetery which plays most prominently in the Louisville Schoembs story is the Cave Hill Cemetery ( www.cavehillcemetery.com ).

Descendants of George Schoembs

Children: (9)

9.1.....Elizabeth Schoembs (*01.01.1856 Louisville KY, +10.04.1936 Louisville)

Lizzie was married on 31 May 1881 to George W. Whitmyer (*25.02.1854 Louisville KY, +14.05.1912 Louisville) in Louisville. In the 1870 Census at age 14 Lizzie is identified as a seamstress. In 1885 they lived at 2504 W. Main. By 1890 they had moved to the next block -- 2419 W. Main. According to the 1900 Census, when they had been married 19 years, they had no children. George Whitmyer was a teamster. They owned their home free and clear at 1711 West Broadway. George's father was born in Pennsylvania but his mother in Germany. By 1920 Lizzie was a widow still living on West Broadway at 1713. She died in 1936 at the age of 80. Her death certificate gives her home address as 629 S. 35th Avenue in 1936. They are buried at Cave Hill Cemetery, Sec 8, Lot 56.

9.2.....Caroline "Carrie" Schoembs (*24.04.1857 Louisville, +15.07.1932 Louisville)

Carrie was christened on 20.07.1857 in St. Peters Evangelical Church. She was married on Christmas Eve 1879 to James K. Simpson (*02.08.1855 Louisville, +bef 1900). James was the son of Scottish immigrants. His father was Alexander Simpson and mother Marion A. Kirkup. In the 1870 Census James was working in a factory. He was 15 years old.

They were married 24.12.1879. Witnesses were Lizzie Schoembs, Carrie's sister and Robert Simpson, James' brother. James too secured a Marriage Bond in the amount of $100.

Carrie Schoembs Simpson

In 1880 he was a blacksmith. He and Carried lived at 647 Main. In 1882 they lived at 1613 Main. In 1885 James was a Hammerman (blacksmith) working at B.F. Avery and Sons. In 1885 they lived at 1712 Pirtle Street and a year later at 1717 Crop Street in Louisville. James died of tuberculosis in 1899 at age 44. At the time they were living at 2418 Rowan.

The 1900 U.S. Census lays out the family after the death of James. Carrie Simpson is enumerated on the last line of the Census page. The four children are shown at the top of the next page of the Census.

In the 1910 U.S. Census (Line 37) Carrie Simpson is enumerated as living at 2420 Rowan Street. She is a widow and the mother of four children, all living. Katherine, age 24, and Walter B., age 20, are living with her. Their neighbors at 2418 Rowan were William Whitmeyer (*1853 Kentucky of German parents). The Whitmeyers were undoubtedly of the same Whitmyer family into which Lizzie married.

In 1920 Carrie and her daughter Kathryn were living at 2420 Rowan Street, which Carrie owned without mortgage. The Whitmeyers were still at 2418 Rowan.

Carrie died of myocarditis. She was buried at Eastern Cemetery - east half Lot 31, Range 23, Section A. The undertaker was Schoppenhorst Bros. The funeral cost $317.

Children: (4)

4.1.....George Alexander Simpson (*07.10.1881 Louisville KY, +21.12.1911 Louisville KY)

George Alexander Simpson (*1881)

The first son of Carrie and James was named for his grandfather, Carrie's father George, with his middle name from his paternal grandfather. In the 1900 Census George is listed as a clerk in a bicycle shop. George married Bertha Florence Cheatham (*14.06.1884 Louisville, +1.07.1943) on 21.10.1903. Bertha was the daughter of William L. Cheatham and Margaret Sybil Bird. In 1910 he was an automobile machinist, lving at 2402 Rowan. A year later he worked for Prince Wells Motor Company on 3rd Street between Broadway and York. He died in 1911 at age 30. He had dropped something on his toe and blood poisoning set in. The Christmas tree was taken down early so the casket could be set in the living room. He was buried on 24 December. The death certificate also lists tuberculosis as a contributing factor. He was buried at Eastern Cemetery in the plot with his mother (Range 23, Lot 31, Section A).

Sometime after the death of George A. Simpson Bertha remarried. Her husband's name was William Brossart. Bertha in 1920 lived at 331 22nd Street. At the time of her death in 1943 she lived at 2236 Date Street. Her obituary says that she cleaned office buildings after George died. She too is buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Section 10, lot 274. Her death certificate indicates she died of a cerebral hemorage resulting from uterine cancer.

Children: (3)

3.1.....George Raymond Simpson (*02.04.1904 Louisville KY, +29.05.1967 Louisville KY)

George had to drop out of school to work a few years after his father's death. He completed the 8th grade. He went to work at Prince Wells where his father had worked. At first he swept the floors. In 1920 he was living with his mother, step-father and brothers. In 1930 they lived at 2236 Date Street.

George married Laura Elizabeth "Lolly" Mayer (19.08.1909 Louisville KY, +18.08 1999 Louisville KY) on New Years Day, 1937 in Jeffersonville, Indiana. It is not know why they went to Jeffersonville to be married. She died of congestive heart failure one day before her 90th birthday and was buried with George.

Children: (2)

Peonies from the Gravesite of
George Schoembs (*1823), relocated to
where they are thriving in the sunshine
Click to enlarge

2.1.....George Raymond Simpson, Jr. (*1942 Louisville KY)

George and Judith Havlin Trotter (*1942 Covington KY) were married 30 May 1966 in Bellevue KY.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Elizabeth Havlin Simpson (*1968 Louisville KY)

Elizabeth married William R. Cole III (*1960 Louisville) from Goshen KY at the St. Johns United Methodist Church.

Children: (1)

1.1.....William Roy Cole (*2001 Louisville KY)

2.2.....Ann Winterer Simpson (*1970 Louisville KY)

On 13 April 2003 Ann and Michael John Kuzmicky (*1961 Oakland CA) were married in 2003 in Crestwood KY.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Hadley Kuzmicky

2.2.....Avery Kuzmicky

2.2.....Michael Lee Simpson (*1948 Louisville)

First row L to R: Maddie Wallace, Lolly Simpson, Owen Simpson ... Middle row L to R: Amy Simpson Wallace, Cynthia Simpson, Mike Simpson, Amy Chandler Simpson ... Back row L to R: Drew Wallace, Craig Wallace, Brad Simpson
Click to enlarge

After graduating from Louisville Westport High School Mike went to Tennessee Technological University where he received his degree in 1970. Mike married Cynthia Rowe Ikard (*1948 Winchester TN) on 20 June 1970 in the United Methodist Church in Decherd TN. For the next three years he taught in Jefferson County, KY. In 1974 he became a police officer in Jefferson County until he retired in 2002.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Amy Marie Simpson (*1974 Louisville KY)

Amy was baptised at St. Johns Lutheran Church. Amy and Craig Byron Lancaster Wallace (*1971 Mayfield KY) were married on 11 July 1998 in Louisville. The wedding was at Christ Church, United Methodist on Brownsboro Road with the reception at the Louisville Boat Club.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Madison Taylor Wallace (*2001 Louisville KY)

All four grandparents were at Norton Suburban Hospital to welcome Madison into the family.

2.2.....Andrew Simpson Wallace (*2004 Louisville KY)

2.2......Bradley Jason Simpson (*1977 Louisville KY)

Brad married Amy Mashae Chandler (*1975) on 4 March 2000 in Birmingham AL. The wedding took place in the Chapel at Samford University. They honeymooned in Hawaii.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Lillian Katherine Simpson (*2004 Fort Walton Beach FL)

Lillian was given the nickname "Lolly" after her great-grandmother Laura Elizabeth Simpson, the first Lolly.

2.2.....Owen Bradley Simpson (*2006 Fort Walton Beach FL)

3.2.....Roland Howard Simpson (*8.11.1906 Louisville KY, +17.01.1975 Louisville KY)

Married Mary Catherine Murray (Louisville KY, +8.03.2007) on 27.11.1943.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Thomas C. Simpson (*1948 Louisville KY)

Thomas has married twice. His first wife was Julia. In 1988 he married Sandy.

3.3.....Moran Norton "Moke" Simpson (*23.02.1911 Louisville KY, +7.05.1966 Louisville KY)

Moke married Anna Mae Messmer (*7.08.1914 Louisville KY, +4.02.1988 Louisville KY) on 4.09.1935 in the Sacred Heart Church, Louisville. He was a plumber by profession, as was his great-grandfather Alexander Simpson. They lived on Wadsworth Avenue in Louisville at the time of his death.

Children: (5)

5.1.....Joanne Marie Simpson (*18.09.1936 Louisville KY, +7.10.1994 Louisville KY)

Joanne worked as a clerk at Citizen's Bank and lived on Wadsworth Avenue. She died of a stroke in her doctor's office! She did not marry.

5.2.....Carol Jean Simpson (*1938 Louisville KY)

Carol married Harold David Witten (*8.01.1939 Louisville KY) on 13 Feb 1960 in Louisville. In their first attempt at starting a family they began big! Carol delivered triplets in 1962.

Children: (5)

5.1.....Lynne Marie Witten (*1962 Louisville KY)

Married Kevin Walter Ruhs (*1963 Louisville KY) on 29 Sep 1990 in Louisville.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Alexandria Lynne Ruhs (*1993)

2.2.....Nolan Mitchell Ruhs (*1995)

5.2.....Lora Rae Witten (*1962 Louisville KY)

Lora and Paul Anthony Rice (*Lebanon KY) were married 5 Oct 1991 in Louisville.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Jay Nicholas Rice (*1993)

2.2.....Patrick Glen Rice (*1995)

5.3.....Janet Kay Witten (*1962 Louisville KY)

Janet married Stephen Kent Cranford (*1959 High Point NC) on 17 Apr 1988 in Louisville.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Hannah Mae Cranford (*1990)

3.2.....Aaron Kent Cranford (*1993)

3.3.....Nathan Triplet Cranford (*1995)

Janet and Stephen jumped the gun a little with Hannah's birth in 1990. Otherwise the triplet sisters (Lynne, Laura and Janet) stayed on schedule with births in 1993 and 1995!

5.4.....Douglas Simpson Witten (*1965 Louisville KY)

Doug married Amy Louise Walton (*1965 Bothell WA) on 1 June 1990 at the Shumway Mansion in Seattle.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Zachary Ross Witten (*1991)

4.2.....Sara Elizabeth Witten (*1993)

4.3.....Grace Annelise Witten (*1995)

4.4.....Grant Douglas Witten (*1998)

5.5.....Carrie Ann Witten (*1968 Louisville KY)

Carrie and Mark Allen Burnett (*1968 Lexington KY) were married in 1993 on 20 February in Louisville.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Audrey Leigh Burnett (*1996)

3.2.....Emma Anne Burnett (*1998)

3.3.....Evan Wyatt Burnett (*2001)

5.3.....Robert Leo Simpson (*1945 Louisville KY, +26.11.1946)

5.4.....James Howard Simpson (*1947 Louisville KY)

James married Mary Denise Hofelich (*1953) from Louisville.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Christopher Joseph Simpson (*1986)

2.2.....Diane Marie Simpson (*1989)

5.5.....Sharon Rose Simpson (*1949 Louisville KY)

Sharon and David Joseph Horn (*Indianapolis IN) were married on 1 Dec 1973 in Louisville.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Molly Elizabeth Horn (*1980)

4.2.....Timothy Joseph Horn (*1982)

4.3.....Matthew David Horn (*1984)

4.4.....Emily Christine Horn (*1985)

4.2.....James W. Simpson (*05.08.1882 Louisville KY, +23.08.1965 Louisville KY)

James, their second child, was named for his father. James is enumerated in the 1900 Census as the second child of Carrie Simpson. He is employed as a mail clerk, living at 2418 Rowan. James married Anna Mary Shannon (*21.08.1886 Indiana, +17.03.1966 Louisville KY) on 28.4.1906 in Louisville. According to the 1910 Census they were living at 1122 Oldham and he was a Mailer at the Courier-Journal. By 1920 James was an Assistant Supt. at the newspaper. They were living at 660 South 42nd Street in 1930. At the time of his death in 1965 they still lived in the 660 South 42nd Street home. He is buried in Cave Hill, Part B, Lot 405, Section 35. Cost of the funeral was $957.69. Anna died a year later and is buried with James W.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Alice Simpson (*9.03.1907, +8.03.1989 Louisville KY)

Alice married John Calvin (J.C.) Lewis (*10.06.1904, +8.09.1986). Alice and J.C. were married after both of her parents had passed away. J.C. was apparently the owner of the J.C.Lewis Department Store on 4th Street. They are buried at Cave Hill Cemetery, Sec 35, Lot 786.

4.3.....Kathryn Simpson (*31.01.1885 Louisville KY, +03.01.1940 Louisville KY)

Kathryn did not marry. In 1900 she was living a 2418 Rowan Street. Ten years later she was working as a candy maker and living at 2420 Rowan. In the 1920 Census her vocation was candy dipper at Rudolph/Bauer Candy Company. She died of a heart attack in 1940 at age 54 and was buried in the plot with her parents. The cost of the funeral was $294. She was retired from "Rudolph's". She apparently worked her entire life for Rudolph's.

Aunt Kate always had Easter baskets for George, Roland and Moke. George's was always the largest according to the family oral history.

4.4.....Walter B. "Babe" Simpson (*22.06.1890 Louisville KY, +01.10.1955 Louisville KY)

In 1910 Walter is living at home with his mother and sister. He is listed in the Census as being a clerk in a tobacco factory. On 5 June 1917 Walter registered for the armed services when the U.S. entered World War I. He indicated his occupation as a web pressman at the Courier Journal Company. He was single and age 26.

In 1918 Walter married Louise Wintercorn (*05.11.1892 Louisville KY, +02.04.1931 Louisville KY). Louise died of uterine cancer. According to the 1930 Census they had been married 12 years in 1930 and had no children. He was still a pressman at the newspaper. She did not work. They lived at 4136 Cedar Street. Walter was a veteran of World War I. He died in 1955 and is buried at Eastern Cemetery, East Half, Lot 31, Range 23, Sec A.

9.3.....Sophia Schoembs (*~1859 Louisville KY, +16.06.1915 Louisville KY)

Sophie did not marry. In 1890 she lived with two of her sisters and brother at 1613 West Main Street. In the 1910 Census she is enumerated as head of household and single. The address appears to be 1611 West Main and the building appears to be apartments. Her brother William and his wife May are living with Sophie. Sophie died of acute brights disease. She is buried at Cave Hill.

9.4.....Amelia Schoembs (*14.1.1862 Louisville KY, +26.10.1944 Covington KY)

In the 1890 City Directory Amelia is listed as a Schoembs and a seamstress, living at 1613 W. Main Street. She would have been 28 years old at the time. The Kentucky civil records include a record of Amelia marrying a F.L. Kendle on 17 Nov 1897 in Louisville. We need to look in the 1900 Census to find the couple.

Either they divorced or Kendle died for in Amelia's death record we know that she later married Thomas F. Graham (+after 1944). In the 1910 Census (line 28) there is a Thomas Graham, age 40 and widower, boarding with a family at 306 E. Main Street. While we are not certain, this is probably the same Thomas Graham that Amelia later married. While he would have been about eight years younger than Amelia, this is not unreasonable. Amelia died in 1944 (age 82, although the death certificate says 76) apparently from complications of a fractured hip from an accident in the prior month. She and Thomas were living 108 4th Street in Covington at the time.

9.5.....George Schoembs (*14.10.1863 Louisville, +before 1870)

The birth of their first son, George, is documented in FamilySearch.com. He was christened on 31.01.1864. He apparently died as a young boy for he is not enumerated in the 1870 or 1880 Census. He was buried in Western Cemetery and later moved to Cave Hill Cemetery when the family plot was established there. The death date information on the Cave Hill Cemetery record may be in error. It may be the re-burial date rather than the death date.

9.6.....Margaret "Emma" Schoembs (*26.06.1866 Louisville KY, +25.06.1942 New Orleans LA)

Emma was christened on 7 October 1866 at St. Lukes United Church of Christ. In the Caron's Directory for 1886 Emma was a clerk at The Fair and lived at 1613 W. Main. Emma decided to leave Kentucky and move to New Orleans, the city where her Uncle Bernhard Schoembs had settled. In New Orleans she married Adolph Ludwig Michell (*01.02.1870 New Orleans LA, +02.01.1895 New Orleans LA). Adolph's mother Pauline Tremonville Devillier, clearly of French descendancy, was listed in the 1880 Census as having been born in Cuba. Her father was born in Germany but her mother was also born in Cuba. Adolph's father Henry was a cattle dealer. In 1880 Adolph, at age 10, was the third oldest of six children. The family lived on Marengo Street in New Orleans.

Emma and Adolph were married 10 April 1890 when Emma was 24 years old. Adolph was 20. In 1890 Adolph was listed in the City Directory as living at 88 Napoleon Avenue. His employment was as a clerk. A year later they were living on Lyon Street, on the southwest corner of Constance. Adolph was a cattle broker, probably in business with his father. Adolph died in 1895, probably in an accident, leaving Emma with their two young daughters, ages 2 and less than two months respectively.


Emma Michell (*1866) Obit	Adolph Michell (*1870) Obit

Children: (2)

2.1.....Isabella Michell (*19.10.1892 New Orleans LA)

Isabella Michell married Franklin Lewis (*1892 New York). In 1930 Franklin was a warrant officer at the U.S. Navy yard in Norfolk, VA. Emma, now 63, is living with the family in Norfolk. Ten years later Emma is not living with them and probably deceased.

In 1940 the family is still living in Norfolk. Per the Census we know they were living in the Deep Creek District in Norfolk County.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Franklin Lewis (*1916 New Jersey)

In 1940 Franklin, age 24, was a fitter at the Naval Yard in Norfolk. He lived at home.

4.2.....Evelyn Lewis (*1920 New York)

4.3.....Isabella Lewis (*1922 Virginia)

In 1940 Isabella at age 18 is not living at home with her parents.

4.4.....Edgar Lewis (*1932 Virginia)

2.2.....Blanche Michell (*15.11.1894 New Orleans LA)

We have now located a 1930 U.S. Census record for Blanche and Walter Cooke (*1881 Tennessee), residents of New Orleans. This is undoubtedly Blanche Michell. She is enumerated as 36 years old, having been born in Kentucky from parents who were also born in Kentucky. We believe that Blanche and her father Adolph were born in New Orleans and that the Census is in error on this point. Her mother was correctly born in Kentucky. Blanche was 31 years old at the time of their marriage in 1925 and 36 years old in 1930 with no children. They lived at 2931 Dublin Street in New Orleans.

In 1940 Blanche and Walter are living on Milan Street in New Orleans. The address appears to be 1409 Milan. Walter is a salesman for the public utility company.

We have no information about Emma or her two daughters in the 1900 timeframe. But then in 1910 Emma was living in a boarding house alone (see Line 39 on the page). The Census is difficult to ready but appears to be 606 Girod Street. She was employed as a saleslady in a dry goods store. She was 37 years old at the time. Her two daughters were living with their paternal grandfather, Henry Michell, now a widow at age 67 and living at 738 Napoleon Avenue (Line 35). Living with Henry were an assortment of other family members -- his son Emile, age 39 and single; three of his daughters, one of whom was a widow and the other two single; two grandchildren from the widowed daughter, two sisters of his deceased wife, both born in Cuba; and Emma's two daughters Isabella, age 17, and Blanche, age 15. Isabella was a cashier in a dry-goods store.

In the 1920 Census Blanche, age 24, is living with her mother Emma on Banks Street. The address is perhaps 4514, per the Census. Emma was 53 and not working. Blanche was working as a clerk at the railroad. Emma owned the home on Banks Street.

By 1930 Emma had moved to Virginia and was living with Isabella and her family.

9.7.....Katherine Schoembs (*07.10.1866 Louisville KY, +15.01.1868 Louisville KY)

The date of Katherine's christening at St. Luke's United Church of Christ is found in an IGI record. Katherine died as an infant of cerebritis in January 1868. Apparently a mortuary record gives her age as three weeks, which would mean she was born in late December, 1867. We have not yet reconciled this with the christening record. She was buried in the Western Cemetery, then moved to Cave Hill and the family plot in 1886.

9.8.....Katherine Schoembs (*22.11.1868 Louisville KY, +1956 Louisville KY)

George and Caroline then had another daughter, born ten months after the death of Katherine (*1866). They named her Katherine as well. She was christened on 5.9.1869 at St. Peters Evangelical Church. Katie lived with two of her sisters and her brother William in 1890 on West Main. She is said to be a seamstress in the City Directory.

9.9.....Bernhardt Wilhelm "William" Schoembs (*25.8.1871 Louisville KY, +23.01.1956 Louisville KY)

William Schoembs was undoubtedly named for his Uncle Bernhardt who emigrated and settled in New Orleans. At age 18 William was living with three of his sisters in 1890 at 1613 W. Main Street in Louisville. His occupation was a clerk. William married a lady by the name of May B Victory (*Missouri) on 4 June 1896. They were married in Clark County, Indiana. Clark County is immediately across the Ohio River from Louisville. In 1910 they were living with William's sister Sophie. William and May had been married 14 years, but had no children. In 1911 William was listed as a clerk.

William and May divorced sometime between 1910 and 1918, for on 24 Feb 1919 May remarried. Her date of birth in the marriage record must be in error. Otherwise she would have been 12 years old at the time she married William Schoembs. Unlikely but not impossible.

The 1920 U.S. Census (lines 65-67, sheet 5b) has William owning his home at 629 35th Street. He is now married to Sarah M. Bailey (*~1877 Kentucky, +13.05.1963 Louisville KY), age 42. Sarah M. was previously married to A(u)rthur C. Bailey according to the 1910 Census. Her father was born in England and her mother in Pennsylvania. Sarah's maiden name is not known. In her marriage to Arthur Bailey they had a daughter, Mary E. Bailey (*1902 Kentucky). Mary, age 18, is living with William and Sarah Schoembs in 1920. Mary worked as a stenographer.

In the 1930 U.S. Census there is an entry that is difficult to read. There is a William Schembs (?), single, age 42, and a boarder. However, it is probably not William B. Schoembs, age about 58 in 1930, and may not even be a family member.

In the 1939 Caron's Directory William B. Schoembs is still living at 629 S. 35th. His wife, Sarah, is a practical nurse. The listing actually lists Sarah first.

William was 84 years old at the time of his death in 1956. His death certificate states that he was a night watchman at a Christmas tree business at 34th and Broadway. He died as a result of a fall on the job. He is listed as being retired from Tip Top Bakery. Sarah died seven years later at age 86. They are buried in the Schoembs family plot at Cave Hill Cemetery.

Loose Ends:

We have a death record of a Caroline Schoembs, buried 10 Jun 1885 in Louisville. It is not at all clear who this could be.

FOOTNOTES:

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