Henry Schombs of New York

Henry Schombs of New York

CLICK to trace the ancestors of Henry Schombs

Note: Dick Arnold vaguely recalls a story, told to him by August Schombs (*1871) of two brothers coming to Amerika together. One was not allowed to disembark in New York, because he had tuberculosis. He then went to South America. If this triggers any recollections for anyone else, please let us know!

The Story of Henry Schombs (*1829 Monzernheim, +1909 Brooklyn NY)

Henry Schombs (1829-1909)

In 2000 we began to solve the puzzle of Henry Schombs (*1829, +1909 Brooklyn NY). Henry and his descendants are the only "Schombs" living today in the United States. There has never been a "Schombs" family in Germany; they were all Schömbs (or Schoembs). The assumption was that Henry had been a Schömbs prior to his emigration in 1852 and had dropped the umlaut (the two dots over a vowel) when immigrating into the United States. The usual way of dropping the umlaut is to add an e after the vowel, in other words change from Schömbs to Schoembs.

The first break came in 2002 when Evelyn Ulmer, great-granddaughter of Henry, found some family notes from about 1880. Several of the family names were spelled "Schömbs". Then Dick Arnold, great-grandson of Henry, found Henry's marriage certificate from 1854 shown below.

It can be seen clearly that Henry was Henry "Schömbs", and he came from Monzenheim, Germany. Actually this was incorrect, for he had come from Monzernheim, a village halfway between Undenheim and Herrnsheim.

Marriage Certificate for Henry Schömbs and Crescentia Kämmerer, 1854

Working with that information Reinhold Schembs was able to locate, first, the record of Heinrich's (Henry's) birth on March 30, 1829, born to Catharina Hamscher, a single woman. The father, Heinrich Schömbs (*1801), had reported the birth to the civil official responsible for recording births in the village of Monzernheim. The record of the birth reads as follows:

"On the 2nd of April, 1829 , at six o'clock in the morning appears before me, Jacob ….., Civil official of the community of Monzernheim, Heinrich Schömbs, the elder, 27 years old, mason and resident of Dittelsheim, who related to me that at 8:00 in the evening on the 30th of March a child of male sex was born and given the name Heinrich, and that the mother of the child was the single woman Catharina Hamscher …… and Elisabeth Uhrek, rightful wife of Alexander Hamscher, has testified that the child has been born in the house at Untergasse Nr. 11.

This declaration has been made in the presence of the witness Heinrich ????, 27 years old, Taglöhner and resident of Monzernheim, and Peter Hof, 24 years old, grenadier and …..resident of Monzernheim, and the father and the witnesses have signed this document after it was read to them."

signatures

Click to see the original documentation of Henry's birth.

From the record we find the father and mother of Heinrich (*1829), confirm his birthplace (Monzernheim), and that Heinrich (*1801 Dittelsheim), the father, was from the village of Dittelsheim, two kilometers (a little over a mile) to the north of Monzernheim.

The Parents of Heinrich Schömbs (*1829)

Discovering the parents of Heinrich (*1829 Monzernheim) allowed Reinhold to then find the record of their marriage later in 1829:

"On November 1, 1829 , appeared before me, George Winter, Bürgermeister responsible for marital affairs of the community of Dittelsheim, Heinrich Schömbs, 28 years 4 months and 14 days old. He is single, a mason, born and resident of Dittelsheim, and in the opinion of the local Bürgermeister of the Birth Register of the 17th Pluviose, tenth year of the French Republic, born the first son of Thomas Schömbs, dayworker, who in the year 1825 without permission emigrated to Brazil and through this it is impossible to give his consent to this marriage, and whose wife Theresia, nee Conradi, who according to the Death Register of this city died on 2 January 1820 in this city at Langgasse Nr. 62, and the paternal grandparents, who had died a long time ago at Langgasse Nr. 62, and the maternal grandparents who had died in Heßloch, as proven by the certificate of the Burgermeister of Heßloch on October 30.

And Katharina Hamscher, 25 years 8 months and 27 days old, single without a trade, born in and resident of Monzernheim, and the first daughter of Alexander Hamscher, delicatessen owner. Alexander Hamscher gives his consent. The consent of the mother Elisabetha, nee Uhrek, is documented by a Certificat of the Bürgermeisterei of Monzernheim dated the 18th of October, 1829, due to her physical limitation which prevented her from appearing today in person.

Since I have received no notifications of objections, and in compliance with the sixth Chapter of the Civil Law Book, and the future husband and wife have asked to be married and you all approve, so I declare in the name of the law that Heinrich Schömbs and Sibila Katharina Uhrek are bound by this marriage, as witnessed by Johann Brecht, 36 year old Küfer (wine cellarman), resident of Dittelsheim and neighbor of the bridegroom, and Valentin Jennerich, 26 year old mason and resident of Dittelsheim. From both and Mathias ???, 24 year old mason and resident of Dittelsheim, brother-in-law of the bride, and Peter Mannersbach, 52 year old community servant and resident of Dittelsheim, which after the instructions presented by me have signed below in Dittlesheim, on the day and year as written above."

signatures

This marriage record then identifies the parents of Heinrich (*1801 Dittelsheim) to be Thomas Schömbs and Theresia Conradi Schömbs. From the church records of Gundheim, 10 km (6 miles) to the south, we know that Thomas Schömbs was born Thomas Schembs (*1770 Gundheim). This made it possible to tie Heinrich Schömbs (*1801), and therefore Heinrich Schömbs (*1829), into the tree of Zacharias Schömbs (*1645, +1707 Undenheim).

Are You Confused Yet?

Villages South and East of Undenheim

This is a challenging chapter to write, but probably more so to read. Not only are the father and son both Heinrich Schömbs, but also there are several small villages referenced. Perhaps the map to the right will assist in understanding the geography where these family members lived. Undenheim (upper left) was the original home of the Schömbs. While Zacharias (*1645) was not born in Undenheim, this is the village where we first know of him. Zacharias lived in Undenheim in the late 1600's and died there in 1707.

In about 1737 Johann Heinrich Schömbs (*1713 Undenheim, +1785 Herrnsheim), the grandson of Zacharias, left Undenheim for Herrnsheim (lower right), where he married Catharina Elisabeth Holzemer. In Herrnsheim the spelling of the family name changed from Schömbs to Schembs, undoubtedly due to the scribe in the local Catholic Church. Johann Ludwig Schembs (*1738 Herrnsheim), his son, then moved to Gundheim, where he and his wife Sophia Bertges raised their family. Their third child was Thomas Schembs (*1770 Gundheim). Thomas moved to Dittelsheim, where his son Heinrich Schömbs (*1801) was born. Henry Schömbs/Schombs (*1829), the son of Heinrich (*1801) was born in Monzernheim. Once out of Herrnsheim, the family name reverted back to Schömbs, the spelling for Heinrich (*1801) and his son Heinrich (*1829).

Crescentia "Mary" Kämmerer, Henry's future wife, was from the area of Walldürn, about 90 kilometers to the east.

If you look for this area on a German map, look for Worms (lower right). It is the largest city of those shown here and is on the left bank of the Rhine. Frankfurt is about 50 kilometers to the northeast, and Mainz about 15 Km north of Undenheim.

Thomas Schembs (*1770), the First Schömbs Emigrant

It is interesting to see how the emigration from Germany to the New World began. While there were German (Hessian) mercenaries, who were hired by King George to help fight the colonists in the American Revolution, the big migrations from Germany began decades later. In fact it was in the early 1840's when the first large wave of German emigrants began. At this time (2006), the first known Schömbs emigrant was Thomas Schembs (*1770 Gundheim), the grandfather of Heinrich Schömbs (*1829 Monzernheim). Thomas Schembs left the homeland for Brazil in 1825. He was ahead of the curve, so to speak. Brazil was the first country of choice for the family, not Amerika (the United States). For more information about Thomas Schembs and his Brazilian family, click Thomas Schembs.

The Emigration and Naturalization of Heinrich Schömbs

Citizenship Document for Henry Schombs

The Family Book of August Schombs (*1871) tells us that Henry emigrated in 1852. On 20 November 1857, five years after his arrival, Henry Schombs received his citizenship in the United States. The law required an immigrant to wait five years, before applying for citizenship.

In 2011 we found the record of Henry's ship passage from Germany to Amerika. In fact, he first traveled from Rotterdam to London on the Batavier. He is enumerated on line 32 of the ship's passenger list. After six weeks he boarded the American Congress for the voyage to New York, arriving approximately 12 Aug 1852 and recorded third on the page of the passenger list. His occupation is shown as a Tailor.

Henry received his citizenship in the Court of Common Pleas for the City and County of New York. His name appears to have been recorded as "Schambs". The name was written by the court clerk, not Henry.

What Happened to Heinrich Schömbs (*1801)?

Note: Please pardon the redundancy of birth years in the presentation below. But since both Henry and his father had the same name, only their birth year separates them.

It is interesting to speculate upon the parents of Henry Schombs (*1829). As seen from the documents above, his father Heinrich was born in Dittelsheim in 1801. Heinrich (*1801)'s mother, Theresa Conradi Schömbs, died when Heinrich (*1801) was eighteen years old. When Heinrich (*1801) was twenty four years old, his father Thomas Schömbs/Schembs (*1770 Gundheim) emigrated to Brazil with his second wife, Anna Margaretha Seipp, and seven children. According to the documentation, three of them were Heinrich (*1801)'s sisters, and the other four were his half-sisters and -brothers. Heinrich (*1801) was left behind. Again, according to the various documents, Thomas Schömbs must have married Anna Margaretha in about 1812. Or at least that appears to be when Thomas and Anna Margaretha began having children. At this time Heinrich (*1801) was eleven years old, and his mother Theresa did not die for another eight years. Presumably they divorced, although that is not certain.

When Heinrich (*1801) was twenty-eight years old, he and Catharina Hamscher had a child, Henry Schombs (*1829). Heinrich and Catharina were married later that year. This is the only child, of whom we are aware, to have been born to Heinrich and Catharina. When their only child, Henry, was 23, he emigrated to Amerika (New York City). At this time Heinrich (*1801) and Catharina were 51 and 49 years old, respectively. With Heinrich (*1801)'s father, only siblings (three sisters), and only child Henry (*1829) having left Germany, it is certainly reasonable that Heinrich and Catharina might have left as well. We have no documentation of either them having remained in Germany (no records of their deaths), nor evidence of them in a new country. We don't know what happened to Heinrich Schömbs (*1801).

The Marriage of Henry Schombs

Crescentia "Mary" Schombs (1829)

On 6 June 1854, Henry Schömbs married Crescentia "Mary" Kämmerer, an 1853 immigrant from Germany. (See the document at the top of this page) From the Family Book of August Schombs (*1871), together with her heimats-Schein (certification of residence in Germany, which acted somewhat as a passport), we know that Mary was the daughter of Peter Anton and Maria Anna Kämmerer. The family lived in the village of Hardheim in Baden. Hardheim is 100 kilometers to the east of Worms and eight kilometers to the east of Walldürn, where her heimats-Schein was documented.

The ceremony was performed at the German Universal Christian Church (the "Deutsche Allgemeine Christliche Kirche"), 393 Grand Street, New York City. Witnesses were Mr. B. Roos and Mr. B. Frauenhoefer, both of New York City, as were Henry and Mary.

The wedding was one year to the day after Mary had arrived in Amerika!! Given the distance between their hometowns in Germany (100 kilometers, or 60 miles), and that they emigrated in different years, it is probable that Henry and Mary first met in New York City.

The Civil War and Henry Schombs

Henry Schombs involvement in the Civil War was brief. Two documents are available below. If you click on the thumbnails they will open up for you to see the document. Unfortunately the images here are not nearly as good as the original. From the originals, much information is very clear:

On 9 May 1862 Henry Schombs enlisted in the New York National Guard, First Division, Second Brigade, Fifth Regiment, Company E. The document is signed by Captain Kraeger, Captain. His name was first written as Heinrich Schömbs, then overwritten as Schembs. Perhaps this was because the National Guard did not want to deal with umlauts (the two dots), and asked Henry for an alternate spelling. But it is interesting that someone decided upon Schembs rather than Schombs. Perhaps the reason goes something like this: Henry had not yet changed the family name from Schömbs to Schombs; When an alternate spelling was required, he offered an alternate spelling he knew from Germany -- Schembs.

On 22 July 1863 Private Henry Schombs was discharged from the National Guard. The document states that "Henry Schemps...enrolled on the 19th of June, 1863, to serve thirty days." His discharge was for "expiration of service", or completion of obligation. The document describes Henry Schemps as 5'6" tall, fair complexion, dark hair, dark eyes, and a tailor by profession.

Henry Schombs probably never left New York City during his service in the National Guard. While his original enrollment was in May 1862, based upon his discharge papers his service appears to have not begun serving until June 1863, thirty days before his discharge.

Their Life, Homes, and Professions

Henry and Mary Schombs each lived in Manhattan upon their separate immigrations to Amerika, Henry in 1852 and Mary in 1853. The first record of them in a census or city directory is in the 1855 New York State Census:

1855 New York Census
Click to enlarge
You can overlay each image on the other to see the column headings

521 East 11th Street

The family is enumerated again in the 1880 U.S. Census. They lived at 521 East 11th Street, between Avenues A and B on the east side. Across the street was Tompkins Square. The building has subsequently been razed and the site is vacant. A few years ago Pamela took my picture in front of the site. The buildings to the right and left are possibly originals and from the time.

Henry Schombs was a tailor by profession. In the 1880 Census six of their children, ages 23 to 14, were working for Henry in the business. Their youngest three children, ages 13 to 10, were in school. From this we can probably infer that the children did not go to school past the age of 13 years.

A block east of the Schombs at 618 East 11th Street lived Godfrey Raeihle (*1821) and his family (1880 U.S. Census). The Raeihle family plays prominently in the story of the Schombs, as three of their children later married Schombs:

Godfrey Raeihle (*1822 Germany), father Julia Raeihle (*1834 Germany), mother Elizabeth Raeihle (*1855 New York), later marries Charles A. Schombs (*1856) Frederick Raeihle (*1857 New York), later marries Carrie Schombs (*1861) Helen Raeihle (*1860 New York) Anna Raeihle (*1868 new York), after the death of Elizabeth marries Charles A. Schombs (*1856) Mary Raeihle (*1870 New York) Lena Raeihle (*1873 New York)

Godfrey Raehle was a grocer. Based upon the birthdates of their children, Godfrey and Julia emigrated no later than about 1855.

The Schombs left Manhattan in about 1891, moving to 366 Belmont Avenue in Brooklyn. They owned their new home. Charles Schombs (*1856), their oldest living child, had moved from New York City to Brooklyn three years earlier . The years of their moves is determined from the City Directories of the time. While Belmont Avenue was inhabited by mostly Germans, census data from 1900 shows that the area in general was heavily populated by Russian immigrants. While I cannot find my notes right now, I believe the Raeihles also moved to the same area of Brooklyn.

Henry and Mary Schombs lived at 366 Belmont until their deaths. In 1900 three of their children were living with them.

Their Children

Henry and Mary had a total of 13 children. Of the children, two died as infants, another at eighteen months, and a fourth at age 6 years. Three more lived to their mid-30's to late-40's. The remaining six children led long and full lives, with three into their 70's, two into their 80's and one into her 90's.

Their Deaths

Henry Schombs passed away 11 July 1909 in Brooklyn. Mary followed him nine months later on 23 April 1910. They both lived to be 80 years old. They are buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Brooklyn, about eight blocks north of their home on Belmont Avenue.

Descendants of Henry Schombs

Note: All the surnames of the children of Henry and Mary are presented as "Schombs." Since some of the unofficial family documentation from the time presents their names as "Schömbs", it is possible they were born with the German spelling. By the time they became adults, all documentation shows the name as Schombs.

Children: (13)

13.1.....William Henry Schombs (*18.03.1855 New York NY, +20.11.1861 New York NY)

William Henry, the first child of Henry and Mary, died at the age of 6 years.

13.2.....Charles Anthony Schombs (*24.07.1856 New York NY, +11.12.1901 Bayonne NY)

Charles married Elisabeth Raeihle (*1855, +01.02.1895 Brooklyn). As a young lady Elisabeth was a dressmaker, the same vocation as Henry Schombs and Charles, her husband. Perhaps Elisabeth worked for Henry Schombs. The wedding was on 18 Jan 1882 in New York City. Elisabeth passed away thirteen years later, leaving Charles with three young children. Note: Since we know nothing of the first two children, other than their birthdates, it is possible that their deaths preceded that of their mother.

Children: (7)

7.1.....Henry Gottfried Schombs (*11.11.1882 New York NY, +21.11.1882 NY NY)

Henry died at the age of ten days.

7.2.....Charles Anthony Schombs (*28.08.1883 New York NY)

7.3.....William Christian Schombs (*09.07.1885 New York NY, +abt 10.09.1947 Plainfield NJ)

In Brooklyn in about 1908 William married Susan Emma Greswell (*abt 1886 Brooklyn NY, +1923 Bayonne NJ). Susan was institutionalized later in life.

Children: (1)

1.1.....John William Schombs (*15.01.1910 Bayonne NJ, +25.07.2005 Greenville TN)

Jack did not talk a great deal about his growing up years. Therefore little is known about his parents. His mother Susan was very hard on Jack. When he was about ten years old his mother was hospitalized. He and his father were close, particularly after it was just the two of them. Sometimes Jack would take the lunch money his father had given him and, with his buddies, go to the movies instead. He was active in the Episcopalian Church as a boy. He was athletic and loved to participate in sports: tennis, bowling, and others.

Jack Schombs, age 8 years

One day as a young man Jack was playing tennis. A young lady, whom he did not know, walked across one of the (clay) courts in her high heels. Jack was furious. But he got over it. He soon decided to drop his girl friend and marry the girl in the high heels, Ferne Elizabeth Hall (*29.08.1914 Dunellen NJ, +06.04.2004 Johnson City TN). The wedding was on 24 Oct 1936 in Dunellen. For their honeymoon Jack and Ferne took the boat from New York City to Boston. The bugs were terrible! Ferne could not sleep. She insisted they return by land.[2]

Jack went to work for Mutual of New York. Over a career of 35 years he worked in various administrative positions. He was never out of work during the Depression. When the family would go to New York City for the larger parades, they would watch them from above in Jack's office.

He finally concluded that, without a college degree, he was stymied and could not continue to progress. He left the company and went to work for a bank in Dunellen NJ. He was there for 23 years, retiring at age 75.

Ferne, Jack and the Kids, 1943

Jack and Ferne were active in Boy Scouts, Brownies, PTA (President), and other civic duties. Jack was interested in politics and was elected to the city council. This proved very beneficial for his daughter Pam, for during his term, when she would be pulled over by the town police for speeding, they would ask her to slow down and not give her a citation.[2] Jack continued as a sports fan all his life. The Yankees were the only team in the house.[2] Ferne preferred to dance, but got little interest from Jack on the subject. For many of the early years of their married lives they would go camping in the Poconos. During the summers Ferne would stay at a lake there with her children and her family. Jack would join them on weekends. He liked boating, but hated fishing.[2] Later in his life Jack took up golf.

In about 1993 Jack and Ferne moved to Eason, PA. Ten years later they moved to Greenville, TN, to be with Pam and her husband Sam.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Phillip Hall Schombs (*1940 Plainfield NJ)

Phil inherited his love of baseball from his father. When he was growing up playing baseball was the only thing in his life. He would live and sleep baseball.[2] Well, except for girls. He hated to have his little sister hanging around with him and his buddies. His mother was the disciplinarian in the home. Phil soon learned that flowers would get him out of about any scrape with Ferne.[2] This came in very convenient.

Phil went to college in Greenville, TN. There he met and married Charlene Auchault (*1940 FL). The wedding was in Coral Gables, FL, in 1960. He then taught high school history in New Jersey.

Children: (5)

5.1.....Mary Beth Schombs (*1964 Plainfield NJ)

Mary Beth married George Fernandez in about 1983 in Miami FL.

Children: (1)

1.1.....John Wayne Fernandez (*1984 Miami FL)

Mary and George divorced. Mary remarried in about 1995 to Bruce Fischbein. They live in Cooper City, FL. She is a lovely person.[2]

5.2.....Stacey Lynn Schombs (*17.11.1966 Plainfield NJ)

Stacey married Kevin Ayers (*1963). The wedding was in 1993 in Erwin TN. They live in Johnson City, TN, with their only child. Stacey is hardworking and very family orientated.[2]

Children: (1)

1.1.....Dakota Haynes Ayers (*1996 Johnson City TN)

2004 Family Foto Back: Kevin Ayers, John Fernandez, Phil Schombs, Pam Schuyler. Middle: Mary Beth Fischbein, Stacey Ayers, Faith Schombs. Front: Dakota Ayers, Bruce Fischbein

After teaching, Phil worked for British West Indies Airlines in Newark. He was transferred d to Toronto, Canada. There he met and married Anne in about 1968, a woman of British citizenship. They too had two children.

5.3.....Michelle Elizabeth Schombs (*1970 Toronto ON)

Michelle and Sean Raymond Aaron (*1970 Chicago IL) were married 28 Oct 1995 in San Francisco. They now live in Sterling, Scotland. Both are now Scottish citizens.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Hannah Elizabeth Aaron (*2003 Stirling, Scotland)

by Hannah Aaron (10 years), 2013

5.4.....Mark Allan Schombs (*1974 Oakdale ON)

Mark lives in Canada and is married to Lisa.

Phil's work with British West Indies again transferred him, this time to Taipei, Taiwan. From the airlines he moved into the ocean shipping business, working for a Taiwanese company. There he met and married Katherine Chu (*1952 Taipei ROC). The wedding was 22 Mar 1982 in Taipei. Phil and Katherine live in Taipei where Phil teaches business English in two colleges.

5.5.....Faith Schombs (*1992 Taipei ROC)

Faith came to the United States for her education, graduating from Connecticut College, New London CT. Since getting her undergraduate degree she has been studying in New York City and will get her Masters in Forensic Psychology in 2015. While in her graduate program, she has been working in the judicial system in Brooklyn on an alternative approach to incarceration.

2.2.....Pamela Jane Schombs (*1943 Plainfield NJ, +9.10.2023 Greenville TN)

Pam's father, Jack, would say that they gave Pam everything that she ever wanted. But when she was young she really wanted a horse. In Jack's later years he would periodically remind her that she was given everything; she would retort about the horse. They had a very close and loving relationship.2 After high school Pam went to technical school in Cleveland and received her degree in medical technology. She worked for ten years in a medical lab, then another ten in the laboratory in a hospital.

Pamela was married in 1966 to Sylvester Blackwood (*1929 Bayonne NJ). The wedding took place in Plainfield. They divorced in 1970.

Children: (1)

1.1.....William Blackwood (*1966 Plainfield NJ)

Bill and his partner Christine Watson have one daughter.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Christiana Evelyn Blackwood-Watson (*2007)

While working in the hospital, Pam met her future husband. He worked in the maintenance department in the hospital. In 1984 Pam and Stanford "Sam" Schuyler (*1938 Lebanon Township NJ) were married. From New Jersey they moved to Easton, PA, then in 2000 to Greenville, TN, where they lived until Pam passed away in 2023. They had a farm with 30 acres, cows, and chickens (a dozen eggs each day). They loved it, the beauty of the area, and the laid back lifestyle.[2]

William Christian Schombs remarried, five years following the death of his wife Susan. In 1928 William and Sadie Rand (*24.01.1892 Lyme CT, 09.1980 Plainfield NJ) were married.


William C. and Sadie	William C., Sadie, and their Dog

7.4.....Frederick John Schombs (*09.09.1886 New York NY, +27.07.1890 Brooklyn NY)

7.5.....Julia Mary Schombs (*03.04.1888 New York NY, +08.01.1892 NY NY)

Julia died as a three year old.

Elisabeth Raeihle Schombs died seven years after the birth of their daughter Julia Mary in 1888. Charles then married Elisabeth's younger sister Christiana Rosina Raeihle (*1868 New York NY, +abt 1922 Bayonne NJ) on 29.09.1895 in Brooklyn. With Christiana, Charles had two more children.

7.6.....August Raeihle Schombs (*05.07.1896 Brooklyn, +10.03.1992 Bayonne NJ)

August married Mildred Eleanore Lissenden (*08.02.1896 N. Blenheime NY, +27.01.1983 Bayonne NJ). They were married 26.06.1920 in Bayonne. Mildred was one of twelve children of a Baptist minister.

During World War I August was in the National Guard in Bayonne. He was underweight and had flat feet. He was not deployed overseas.[5]

August worked for 37 years for Bayonne Bolt and Nut, a steel products company. During his employment the company had a devastating fire. August was out of work for a year, while they rebuilt. August's son Ray also worked for the company for 16 years. In 1950 August "Gustav" was honored for his years of service and elected president of the "Twenty-Year Club".

Bayonne Bolt was later acquired by another company, and many employees were terminated, losing the rights to their pensions. August and Ray were both casualties of this event. August was 62 years old at the time. August died of pneumonia. Mildred worked in the home for most of her years, although there was a period when she worked in a soap plant in Bayonne. August's brother William Christian Schombs (*1885) was a foreman there.[5]

August loved stamp and coin collecting. He mounted and framed several of his collections and belonged to a stamp club. He also loved to read about the Civil War.[5]

Children: (2)

2.1.....Raymond Victor Schombs (*1921 Bayonne NJ)

As a young man Ray was interested in girls. He did not inherit many of his father's interests. Like his father, Ray worked for Bayonne Bolt. He too was a victim of a severe RIF, and lost his pension after sixteen years, at the age of 37. Thereafter he worked in various odd jobs, at grocery stores, drug stores, and finally as a guard in a Jewish home for the elderly.[5]

Raymond and Concetta Fondi (*03.09.1926 Bayonne NJ, +04.1984 Carney NJ) were married in October, 1964 in Bayonne. Concetta had two children from a previous marriage. After Concetta's death Raymond married Denecia Allura (*1938 Samar, Philippines) in October 1985 in Jersey City. They had met at the seniors home where they both worked. Denecia had four children from a prior marriage.

2.2.....Evelyn Virginia Schombs (*1922 Bayonne NJ)

Evelyn married Frank Henry Ulmer (*09.04.1914 Bayonne NJ, +05.03.1993 Bayonne NJ) were married on Christmas Eve, 1941, two and a half weeks after Pearl Harbor. Frank volunteered for the Army but was never called up. He was 27 years old when the United States entered the War. Frank had been an only child. When his mother became ill, Frank took over the cooking duties. When they were married, Frank taught Evelyn to cook.

One of their pastimes was riding horses. For about ten years they would go each Sunday to a stable on Staten Island, where they would ride horses. Ray accompanied them. In the summer they would go to a dude ranch in the Peekskills in upstate New York. They rode western, not english.

They belonged to the Audubon Society would also go to the Adirondacks to watch birds. Frank liked to cut jems as a hobby, and would make jewelry. He also read a lot, mysteries and history. In his career he began working for his father, a house builder. But this was a difficult situation. He then worked for Western Electric, Englander Mattress, United Wallpaper, and finally 25 years for the New Jersey Turnpike. Evelyn continues to live in a home that Frank's father had built.

Charles and Christiana moved from Brooklyn to Jersey City or Bayonne, New Jersey. The move was in about 1898, based upon the birth of their children. August Raeihle (*1896) was born in Brooklyn, according to the documentation. Their next and last child, Florence Mary (*1899) was born in Bayonne. In New Jersey Charles owned a beer garden in Jersey City.[5] He was also a volunteer (or "exempt") fireman, filling in when the need arose. After Charles died in 1901 Christiana moved with the children to a home in Bayonne on Hartley Place near the Bayonne Bridge.[5] Christiana died in about 1922 of heart disease.

7.7.....Florence Mary Crescentia Schombs (*24.12.1899 Bayonne NJ, +abt 1980 Nocomas FL)

Florence Schombs married Andrew Satter (+abt 1985 Nocomas FL). They had two daughters. They lived in New Jersey all their lives and owned a candy store.[5]

Children: (2)

2.1.....Helen Satter

Helen married "Whitey" Muller.

Children: (1)

1.1.....son Muller

2.2.....Peggy Satter (+before 1980)

13.3.....Christina Mary Schombs (*21.03.1858 New York NY, +30.05.1907 Brooklyn NY)

Christina married Andrew Weisler (*1857 New York NY) on 28 Nov 1883 in Manhattan. Andrew was the son of Andrew and Margaretha Klopf Weisler. Together they had three children. It is not known what happened to Andrew, although he most probably died in the 1890s. Then in a second marriage Christina was wed to Antony Thomas Ernst (*Feb 1866 New York, +2.03.1901 Brooklyn) in 1899. Her youngest child Margaret would have been nine years old at the time. Christina lived in Brooklyn all but the first few years of her life.

(Note: Much of the information about Christina and her family comes from Mundia.com. Screenshots are shown. To drill down one should go to Mundia. Assuming the Mundia site is still open and free, here is a Link to get started. From Christina one can navigate to any of the family members.)

Children: (3)

3.1.....Henry L Weisler (*20.8.1885 New York, +1964)

Henry married Ella M (*1885). We are aware of one child. They lived in Brooklyn. On 9 Jul 1926 Henry married for the second time. His second wife was Lena Elisabeth Wabberson (*1905 New York NY, +1996 Miami FL), sister of Anna Wabberson, the wife of William Christian Schombs (*1900). Henry and Lena moved to Mineola in Nassau County farther out the Island.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Eleanor C Weisler (*1909 New York)

3.2.....Anna Katharine Weisler (*18.12.1887 New York, +1971 Point Lookout, Nassau Cty NY)

Annie married John H. Rynders (*1890) in 1916. They lived in Brooklyn for many years, moving out the Island in their later years to Point Lookout in Nassau County. We are aware of one child.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Gordon J Rynders (*1917, +2007 Erwin TN)

Gordon was a career news photographer for the New York Daily News. He worked for the Daily News for 38 years. His obituary gives his life much color, including his encounter with the famous bank robber Willie Sutton. Gordon and his wife Charlotte lived in Point Lookout, Nassau County.

3.3.....Margaret Crescentia Weisler(*09.08.1890 New York NY)

Little is known about "Jessie" at this time. The documentation of her birth indicates a name of "Jesse". Yet other references to her as being the child born in 1890 have her as Margaret.

13.4.....Anna Catherine Schombs (*07.09.1860 New York NY, +02.05.1893 Brooklyn NY)

13.5.....Caroline "Carrie" Schombs (*05.10.1861 New York NY, +09.07.1952)

Carrie married Frederick J. Raeihle (*1857 New York) on 23 Jan 1884 in New York City. As noted above, Frederick was the second child of Godfrey and Julia Raeihle and the younger brother of Elizabeth (*1855), who married Charles A. Schombs (*1856). Fred was a plumber as a young man (1880 Census).

Children: (4)

4.1.....John Raeihle (*abt 1888)

4.2.....Louise Raeihle (*abt 1895)

4.3.....Elisabeth Raeihle (*abt 1896, +abt 1901)

4.4.....Mary Crescentia Raeihle (33.03.1902 East New York NY, +1989 Baldwin NY)

Mary, whose middle name was for her grandmother, married Herbert William Grismer (*17.03.1904, +1965 Baldwin NY). They lived in Rosedale on Long Island.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Carolyn Mae Grismer (*1930 Rosedale NY)

Carol and Charles Frederick Wilson (*1924) were married in 1950 in Rosedale. They had three sons.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Jeffrey Allen Wilson (*1953 Rockville Center NY)

Jeff and Kathryn Elise Westphalen (*1953) were married in 1977 in Wantagh NY.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Emily Alissa Wilson (*1987 Lyndenhurst NY)

2.2.....Edward Allen Wilson (*1989 Lyndenhurst NY)

3.2.....Gregory Lee Wilson (*1956 Rockville Center NY)

3.3.....Scott Charles Wilson (*1960 Rockville Center NY)

2.2.....Marjorie Jean Grismer (*1938 Rosedale NY)

Marjorie and Thomas Edward Erickson (*1938) were married in about 1960 in Baldwin NY.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Thomas Edward Erickson (*abt 1961 Massapequa NY)

Tom and Christine Regan (*1961 Windsor CT) were married in about 1987 in Windsor.

2.2.....Nancy Jean Erickson (*abt 1964 Massapequa NY)

13.6.....William Schombs (*01.08.1863 New York NY, +06.02.1942 Huntington Station NY)

William and Ottilia Faller (*1870, +1920 ) were married 21 Feb 1897 in Brooklyn NY. (note: an Anna Maria Faller (*1827, +22.04.1901 Cheektowaga NY/Erie County) married a Schreiber. At some time it is possible all these people might get tied together in the tree, as we learn more about the Schoenhard and Schreiber families).

William and Ottilia moved from Brooklyn to Huntington Station. After the death of Ottilia in 1920, William lived with his son William, Jr. and wife Anna for his last years.

Children: (2)

2.1.....George Henry Schombs (*14.11.1897 New York NY, +16.01.1970 Huntington Station NY)

George was about 20 when the United States entered World War I. He enlisted and was sent to Germany for the last year of the War. After returning he married Olive Louise Surridge (*1894 Canada, +16.06.1972 Huntington Station NY) on 4 May 1921. They lived in Huntington Station and attended St. Peters Lutheran Church. George was a good cook, while Olive enjoyed her knitting, sewing, and crocheting. George was a volunteer fireman and member of the VFW. George also had a garden in the back yard. He found that cow manure juice really helped the plants grow, especially the tomatoes.[1] George worked in construction his entire life. They were good hardworking people.[1]

The George Henry Schombs (*1897) Family, January 1941 Back: Emily, Dorothy, George (*1897), Margaret Front: Robert (*1938), George Jr., Olive

Glenn Hunter, a grandson, spent a lot of time with George and Olive. George loved to play the trumpet, playing in the Fire Department marching band. This spurred Glenn's interest in the cornet and he remembers playing duets with George. Olive was easy going. The grandkids would come for weekends to George and Olive's. Every Father's Day there would be a big barbeque at the Schombs. In later years George would hire Glenn and cousin Gary to help him waterproof basements, which George did on weekends.[7]

Children: (4)

4.1.....Dorothy Louise Schombs (*18.05.1920 Huntington NY, +abt 1991 Patchogue NY)

Dorothy had a relationship with a Mr. Bluxman. She did not finish high school. They had one child.

Children: (5)

5.1.....Robert George Schombs (*12.06.1938 New York NY, +13.04.2006 Las Vegas NV)

Bob Schombs grew up with his grandparents, George and Olive, due to Dorothy's difficult life. His high school education was interrupted for a couple of years when Olive was hospitalized. During that time George would do the cooking and Bob was responsible for keeping the house. He worked in a department store. When Olive returned home Bob completed his senior year and received his diploma.

On 23 Sep 1961 in Rocky Point, NY, Bob married Dolores Annine Meskill (*1939 Brooklyn NY). At about that time he enlisted in the Army and went to the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, NC. His first jumps were very scary, but he said they were not as bad as the practice jumps off a 34 foot tower.[1] He also went to Panama for jungle warfare school. The time was the Cuban missile crisis, during the presidency of Jack Kennedy. In 1963 he returned to Huntington Station and worked for two military equipment suppliers in manufacturing and packaging.

When his employer went out of business he worked for the school district for ten years in maintenance. During this period he and Dolores were divorced.

Children: (7)

7.1.....Jeffrey Robert Schombs (*1963 Port Jefferson NY)

7.2.....Mary Ellen Schombs (*1964 Port Jefferson NY)

7.3.....Margaret Mary "Peggy" Schombs (*1965 Port Jefferson NY)

Peggy and Thomas James Kubicke were married 19 Jul 1991 in East Islip NY.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Christine Kubicke (*1991)

2.2.....Patrick Kubicke (*1996)

7.4.....Annine Schombs (*1966 Patchogue NY)

7.5.....Robert George Schombs (*1968 Patchogue NY)

The Schombs in their Pinstripes

Robert married Julie Dawn Salmon (*1974 Lethbridge AB Canada). The wedding was in St. George UT on 30 Jun 1994. Rob joined the Mormon Church when he and Julie married. He has settled down to be a great husband and father, after a wild upbringing and early adulthood. (jds note)

Children: (3)

3.1.....Olivia Nelette Schombs (*1997 Las Vegas NV)

3.2.....Brock Robert Schombs (*1999 Las Vegas NV)

3.3.....Danika Beth Schombs (*2002 Las Vegas NV)

The Schombs live in Las Vegas, where Rob has a successful concrete contracting business. We very much enjoy seeing them every summer on our way from Arizona to Oregon.

"You can take the Schombs out of New York, but you can't take New York (or at least the stripes) out of the Schombs".

7.6.....Allison Marie Schombs (*1970 Patchogue NY)

While Bob was working for the school district, he met and was married in 1978 to Jill Marlene Kolazek (*1947 Levittown NY). In 1981 they moved to Las Vegas, where Bob got a job working for the Dunes Hotel and Casino in food service. He worked there for ten years, later retiring due to health and heart problems in the late 1990s. During this period he followed his son Rob in joining the Mormon Church, which played an important part in the remainder of his life. Bob died of a heart attack in 2006. He loved the Yankees, the Cowboys, and the USC Trojans.

7.7.....Andrew Schombs (*1981 Smithtown NY)

Andy graduated from University of Southern California in biomedical engineering. He works for Baxter Laboratories and lives in Glendale, CA.

Dorothy was a waitress at the Cozy Corner in Huntington Station. She met and married William Leitzer (*abt 1942, +1960s).

5.2.....William Henry Leitzer Mattis (*1948 Huntington NY)

Later Dorothy married Gus Mattis (* , +1970s) in 1956. Mattis adopted William Leitzer, her second son. Mattis was an abusive husband, as had been Leitzer. Dorothy had three more children by Mattis.

5.3.....Janice Marie Mattis (*1952 Patchogue NY)

5.4.....Ronald Mattis

5.5.....James Mattis

4.2.....George Henry Schombs, Jr. (*15.05.1922, +08.2005)

The Wedding Party of George and Edith Schombs
Bill Schombs (*1922), Best Man; Bridesmaids (from top left): Dorothy(*1920), Marge (*1923), and Emily (*1925)

George fought in World War II in the U.S. Army. George and his cousin William Christian "Bill" Schombs (*1922) both met their future brides in England during the War. George and Edith Pettitt (*23.05.1927 Cumberland, England, +06.12.1999) were married in 1947 after the end of the War. George and Bill were best men in each other's weddings.[3]

George, as well as others of the Schombs, enjoyed playing softball in various leagues through the years. George worked for the power company, retiring after a long career. He was also a volunteer fireman. They later moved to Eaton's Neck, where he became fire chief. George loved children.[3] He and Edith had three kids, but there were no grandchildren.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Linda Schombs (*1949 Huntington NY)

Linda and her brother, both single, live in the family home in Northport.

3.2.....Deborah Schombs (*1951 Huntington NY, +~1990)

Deborah married Chris Story (*1948). She was a nurse, working in an emergency room. They had no children.

3.3.....George Henry Schombs III (*1956 Huntington NY)

4.3.....Margaret "Marge" Olive Schombs (*1923 Huntington NY, +10.12.2009)

Margaret married Alexander Hamilton Hunter (*31.12.1922 Northport NY). Alex was a ship's mechanic in the Navy during World War II. After the War he joined the marine reserves and served another 17 years on this basis. He went to work for Grumman Aerospace, but didn't like working inside and took a job with Oaktree Dairy, initially driving a truck. He retired from Oaktree 35 years later. During this time Oaktree opened about 60 stores in Suffolk County. Alex was responsible for the maintenance of the stores. He also moonlighted in the refrigeration business to supplement his income. During his off time, Alex was an avid sportsman -- golden gloves boxer, semi-pro football, bowler, and softball pitcher for the Fire Department. He was dominant on the mound.[7] Marge and Alex divorced after about twenty years of marriage.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Glenn Alan Hunter (*1946 Huntington NY)

Glenn followed his father into maintenance work at Oaktree Dairy, where he worked for 17 years. He married Barbara Dunn (*1946 Baltimore MD), with whom he had two children. The wedding was in 1965 in East Northport NY. He later started a home improvement business with his brother Alex, doing jobs in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. His passions are trucks, motorcycles, model trains, as well as photography. He built two motorcycles during the 1970s. Glenn and Barbara divorced after 33 years.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Glenn Alan Hunter (*1966 Huntington NY)

Glenn Jr., true to the family tradition, is a mechanic. He rebuilt his first car engine at the age of 14, and won awards as a teenager for repairing automobiles. After working for a Chevrolet and later a Cadillac dealer, he opened his own auto repair business in 2000 in Huntington. It carries his name. He married a friend from childhood, Cheryl McLaughlin. Cheryl worked for an insurance broker, prior to their beginning their family.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Victoria "Tori" Emily Hunter

3.2.....Kate Elizabeth Hunter

3.3.....Madelyn Hunter

2.2.....Todd Adam Hunter (*1967 Huntington NY)

Todd is a mechanic as well, working with heavy trucks.

Glenn later married Kathleen Teressa Ann Box (*1955 Mineola NY). They now live near Binghamton NY. Glenn's interest in photography focuses upon nature and trains. Last weekend (June 2005) he took some frog pictures in the pond behind their home. Glenn and Kathleen have started a "Barn Sale" business, where they make and refinish furniture, do interior decorating, and sell related products. The Barn is open to the public three days a week.

4.2.....April L. Hunter (*20.04.1952 Huntington NY, +18.09.1982 Centerport NY)

A true Hunter, April would change the oil in her Super Beattle herself. She went to modeling school in Florida for a year after high school. April did not marry and lived with her mother. She died in a car accident at the age of 30.

4.3.....Alexander Hamilton Hunter, III

Alex went to college for two years, studying construction engineering. He then worked for Oaktree Dairy for twelve years, followed by going into home improvement with his brother Glenn. Alex and his wife Jean Carr have three children. He and his father are Civil War buffs.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Alexander Hamilton Hunter, IV

3.2.....Michaela Hunter

3.3.....Patrick Hunter

4.4..... Jeffery Hunter

Jeff went to the University of Maryland, then finished his degree at the University of Vermont. He went into retailing with Macy's for several years, then worked in management search, specializing in recruiting computer programmers. The company was located a few blocks from the WTC in Manhattan. Jeff married Seaneen O'Brian.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Molly Hunter

3.2.....Emma Hunter

3.3.....Grace Hunter

4.4.....Emily Schombs (*1925 Huntington NY)

Emily married David Spahn (+1999 NC). Emily lives in Newburn, North Carolina.


Cousins Bill (1922) and George (1922) Schombs	Fritz (1934), Bill (1922), Jeanie (1930), and Albie (1932) Schombs


Bill (1922) and Uncle George (1897) Schombs	George/USA (1922) and Bill/USN (1922)

2.2.....William Christian Schombs (*17.02.1900 Brooklyn NY, +01.1969 Huntington Twp NY)

William "Popop" and Anna Wabbersen (*17.08.1896 NY, +25.03.1990 Houston TX) were married 17 Feb 1921, the 21st birthday of William! It was a big day in his life. Bill and Anna lived in Brooklyn, then moved to Huntington Station (School Street) following his parents and other family members. He worked for Socony Mobile, driving a delivery truck. He was with them for many years before retiring early due to a stroke. Pop Pop was an outgoing, fun loving person. He loved to dance. Anna, in contrast, was somewhat introverted.[3] They were quite different, which at times led to disagreements between them.[3] He had a good sense of humor, frequently cracking jokes.


William (*1900) and Anna Schombs	The William C. Schombs (1900) Family -- Back: William (1900), William Jr., Anna, Chippy; Front: Fritz, Jean, Albert; Foto January, 1943

Children: (6)

6.1.....William Christian Schombs (*23.09.1922 Huntington Station NY, +31.07.1992 Charlottesville VA)

William married Christine Grace Elliot (*1926 London England) on 24 Aug 1946 in Huntington.


Bill (*1922), School Days	Bill (*1922), U.S. Navy, 1944

Soon after the Second World War began Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy. On 29 February 1944 (leap year) he and a fellow sailor were walking down a street in London. It was the first day of a five day pass. At the same time Christine, age 18, who worked in the heart of London, was walking with a friend to the Underground to go home. The sailors picked up the London lasses.[3] They went to a movie, then to the Lyon's Corner House afterwards. The waitress asked Christine if she had proposed to Bill yet, it being the 29th of February. She responded no, that they had only known each other for a few hours. They went out each of the five days. During the War Bill was a crewmember on landing crafts, participating in beach assaults in North Africa, Sicily, and Normandy. He then served in the Pacific, when the European war was over.

Chris and Bill, 1946

As the War ended Chris came to Amerika as soon as she was able. But priority for passage went to service personnel, their families, and several other categories of travelers. She had to wait until fiancées reached the top of the priority list. After she arrived in New York her future father-in-law William (*1900) went to the department store alone and bought her a gift -- perfume, eau-de-cologne, and powder. They had a warm relationship from that point on. Chris and Bill were married within a month of her arrival from England. George Schombs (*1922) was the Best Man in the wedding. Bill was also the Best Man in George's wedding, also to an Englishwoman whom he had met during the War.

They first lived at home with Bill's father William (*1900) and Anna. In 1950 they bought their own home for $8,300.[3] They paid off their mortgage in 1975. Bill enjoyed sports and was a regular softball player in his adult years.

Bill was a volunteer fireman, but also served as (paid) fire inspector for over 20 years. He then went to work for the post office. Chris worked at the local schools, then for Abraham & Strauss (now Macy's) in selling and clerical positions. They enjoyed vacations with their children. On one trip to Niagara Falls they were hit by a bus as they were driving home. The car was totaled. But Bill then bought a boat, for he loved to fish. He preferred to fish in the Bay at night. Chris often was tired and it was too cold, so Bill would take the children for friends. Bill would celebrate the landing of each fish by taking a little nip from the bottle.[3]

He retired following a heart attack and they decided to move to Virginia in 1988. They had a very good life together.[3]

Children: (4)

4.1.....David Schombs (*1947 Huntington NY)

David married Catherine Messemer (*1948 Huntington NY) two days before Christmas, 1967. He went to work for the power company as a meter reader out of high school, then served in the military in Vietnam. He returned to the power company when he came back from Vietnam. He and Catherine are serious devotees of NASCAR racing and have a condo in Daytona Beach.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Christine Schombs (*1970 Huntington NY)

Christine and Paul Fetkowitz (*1969 Huntington NY) were married in May, 1995.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Tristan Michael Fetkowitz (*1997 Huntington NY)

3.2.....Dimitri Fetkowitz (*2000 Huntington NY)

3.3.....Cassandra Fetkowitz (*2002 Huntington NY)

4.2.....Michele Schombs (*1971 Huntington NY)

Michele married Scott Cimino (*1970 Huntington NY). The wedding was in Huntington on 22 Oct 1994.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Anthony Cimino (*1999 Huntington NY)

3.2.....Dominic Cimino (*2001 Huntington NY)

3.3.....Vincent Cimino (*2006 Huntington NY)

4.3.....David Schombs (*1974 Huntington NY)

David and Stephanie were married in 2004.

4.4.....Stacey Kay Schombs (*1977 Huntington NY)

Stacey and Scott Cave (*1975 Houston TX) were married 17 Jun 1999.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Connor Cave (*2005)

4.2.....Paul William Schombs (*1951 Huntington NY)

Paul and Linda Garrone (*1952 Brooklyn NY) were married 8 Jul 1972. Paul and Linda live in Newport Richey, St. Petersburg, on the west coast of Florida. They both work for the Post Office. Paul is retiring in 2006. Linda enjoys riding her horse Jack.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Matthew Schombs (*1975 Farmington NY)

Matthew is getting his doctorate degree in medicine at University of California/Davis. His specialization is the human brain and headaches. He was married in 2000 to Jessica (*?? Pueblo,Mexico).

3.2.....Dawn Schombs (*1976 Farmington NY)

Dawn and Dan Burns were married June 29, 2013 in Tampa FL. They both had become passionately involved in mission work and met through that common interest. Dan works in insurance and enjoys surfing, fishing and out-of-doors in his free time. Dawn has a "love for life, love, photography, family, friends and nature" according to her self-description.

3.3.....Nicholas Schombs (*1979 New Port Rickey FL)

Nick is in the U.S. Navy, having recently re-enlisted. He works on spy planes and has served in Afghanistan. HIs wife is Shirley.

Paul, Dave, Val, Chris, and Marty Schombs, circa 1962

4.3.....Martin Peter Schombs (*1953 Huntington NY)

Martin and Jo Ann Vohs (*1956 Port Jefferson NY) were married in 1973.

Children: (5)

5.1.....Martin Schombs (*1975 Huntington NY)

Martin and Allison Emmett were married in 1999. They have since divorced.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Taylor Schombs

5.2.....Steven Schombs (*1978 Huntington NY)

Martin Peter Schombs divorced and remarried. His second wife is Gerni Lee Carter (*1960 Coatesville PA). They were married in 1984. Martin works in Manhattan with the Post Office. Gerni is an English teacher in Monticello. With Gerni, Martin has three more children.

5.3.....Allison Schombs (*1986 West Islip NY)

5.4.....Jamie Schombs (*1987 West Islip NY)

5.5.....Diana Schombs (*1992 Port Jervis NY)

4.4......Valerie Schombs (*1956 Huntington NY)

Valerie and Fred Bifulco (*1954 Brooklyn NY) were married 21 Oct 1978. They are now divorced. Valerie works for the school district in Huntington in an administrative position. "She should have been a vet, she loves animals, both her own and those that she boards for others."[3]

Children: (3)

3.1.....Lauren Anne Bifulco (*1981 Huntington NY)

Lauren, Hailey and Gerald, 2014
Click to enlarge and rotate

Lauren and Gerald Wayne Cox (*1977 Lynchburg VA) met in 2003 at Best Buy in Lynchburg VA where they both were working at the time. She completed her education and went into teaching, first in art at the highschool level and later in elementary school which she preferred. She is now a stay-at-home mom. In 2014 they purchased their first income property which she will also manage.

Gerald has worked in IT for seventeen years. He has his bachelor of science degree from Ranken Technical College. He is now working in business development for a software company specializing in accounting systems for architecture and engineering companies.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Hailey Cox (*2012 VA)

3.2.....Jennifer Bifulco (*1984 Huntington NY)

3.3.....Danielle Bifulco (*1986 Huntington NY)

Chris (*1926) remarried after Bill passed away in 1992. She married Edward John Jeziorski (*10.11.1920 Little Neck NY, +16.06.2009 Charlottesville VA), the son of John and Laura Czendrovska Jeziorski. He was a Distringuished Member of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment and was vary active throughout his life in military-related organizations. His first wife Jean Ramsey and he had been married for over 50 years prior to her passing away.

6.2.....Elizabeth "Chippy" Schombs (*abt 1924, +1991)

Chippy and David Lind

Chippy married David Lind (* ,+).

Children: (3)

3.1.....William Lind

Bill married Cathy. He and his wife had one child.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Benjamin Lind

Bill divorced and later remarried Gayle.

3.2.....David Lind

David and his wife had three daughters. We do not know their names at this time.

3.3.....Jean Lind

Jean married, but we do not know the name of her husband. They had no children and later divorced. In 2003 Jean married Michael Lind, a cousin.

6.3.....Howard Schombs (*06.04.1927 Huntington NY, +16.03.1956)


Howard Schombs, U.S. Army	Howard and Linnea Schombs

Howard served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Upon returning home he married Linnea Parezo (*1926 Northport NY). They had one daughter.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Karen Schombs Anderson (*1956 Huntington NY)

Karen's father Howard died before she was born. Linnea remarried and Karen was adopted by LInneas's second husband Anderson. Karen married Steven Wyka (*1950 Brooklyn NY) in October 1982. She is a very good artist.[3]

Children: (2)

2.1.....Joshua Wyka (*1984 Wallingford NJ)

2.2.....Aaron Wyka (*1987 Wallingford NJ)

6.4.....Jean Schombs (*abt. 1930, +abt 1992)

Jean Schombs

Jeanie Schombs married Arthur Skillman (+abt 1997).

6.5.....Albert "Albie" Schombs (*1932 Huntington NY)

Albert married Regina Sexton (*1956).


Albie Schombs	Albie Schombs, U.S. Army

Children: (5)

5.1.....Albert Edwin Schombs II (*1958 Huntington NY)

Albert "Beanie"[3] Schombs and Susan Jeanine Weast (*1958 Bay Shore NY) were married 3 Dec 1977 in Dix Hills NY.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Albert Schombs III (*1978 Bay Shore NY)

4.2.....Jennie Corrine Schombs (*1979 Bay Shore NY)

4.3.....Jillian Regina Schombs (*1982 Bay Shore NY)

4.4.....John Daniel "Jay" Schombs (*1984 Bay Shore NY)

5.2.....Carol Ann Schombs (*1960,+26.01.2002)

Carol married William Lefferts in 1980 in Greenlawn NY.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Heather Lynn Lefferts (*1982 Huntington NY)

4.2.....Nicole Marie Lefferts (*1983 Huntington NY)

4.3.....Caitlin Ann Lefferts (*1988 Huntington NY)

4.4.....William Frank Lefferts (*1993 Huntington NY)

Albie Schombs (*1932) family gathering in Florida, circa 2003
click to enlarge
Back row L-R: Rob (*1984), Albie (*1932), Jay, Regina, Vincent Rortorici, Jenny, William Lefferts, Albert III (*1978), Albert Jr. (*1958), Wayne. Front Row: Margaret Schombs, Nicole, Caitlin, William (*1993) and Heather Lefferts, Mike and Robert Sr. (*) Schombs.

5.3.....Robert Schombs

Robert married Margaret Winzinger (* ).

Children: (2)

2.1.....Robert Schombs (*1984)

Graduated from Cornell University. In November 2011 Rob and Kaitlyn Stidworthy were married.

2.2.....Michael Schombs

5.4.....Wayne Schombs (*~1963)

Wayne and Christina Reilly were married in May 2001. They are now divorced. Wayne is a good artist, and has created CD jackets and TV commercials.[3]

In a second marriage with Irene Yevdayev he is the father of two more children.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Reilly Rose Schombs (*2001)

Children with Irene Yevdayev.

3.2.....Jaiken Schombs

3.3.....Elijah Schombs

5.5.....Steven Paul Schombs

Steven married Amy Fried.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Ian Mathew Schombs (*2001)

4.2.....Cara Schombs

4.3.....Evan Schombs (*2005)

4.4.....Hailey Schombs

6.6.....Fred "Fritz" Joseph Schombs (*24.03.1934 Huntington NY, +08.06.1998 Huntington Station NY)


Fritz Schombs	Fritz and Charlotte having a good time

Fred and Charlotte Brooks (*1939 New York NY) were married 6 Dec 1958 in Deer Park NY.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Patricia Ann Schombs (*1961 Huntington NY)

Patricia and Bill

Patricia married William Robert Blum (*1958 Huntington NY). The wedding was on 17 Aug 1980 in Huntington Station NY.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Amanda Lucille Blum (*1986 Huntington Station NY)

3.2.....Corinne Luicille Blum (*1989 Huntington Station NY)

3.3.....Robert William Blum (*1996 Huntington Station NY)

3.2.....James Matthew Schombs (*1963 Huntington NY)

James and Emma Agravanti (*1960 The Philippines) were married 5 May 1986 in The Philippines. They are now divorced. Jim was a Seal in the U.S. Navy. He went from being a thirty-seven-year-old strong, healthy Navy Seal to suffering a massive, right-side thalamic stroke that totally shut down his left side as if a switch was turned off! He recently wrote a book describing the experience. Click to learn more.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Julius Schombs (*1981 The Philippines)

Julius is the son of Emma. He was adopted by Jim after their marriage. Julius lives in the Philippines and works for Capital One in Manilla.

2.2.....Andrew Joseph Schombs (*1987 Virginia Beach VA)

A.J. lives in Virginia Beach.

3.3.....Melissa Ann "Missey" Schombs (*1972 Huntington NY)

Kevin Charles O'Connor (*1971 Syosset NY) and Melissa were married in 1997 in Huntington Station NY. They subsequently divorced. Missey goes by Missey Schombs.

Children: (2)

2.1.....James "Jay" John O'Connor (*1998 Huntington NY)

In a second marriage Melissa married Gregory Peter Heddell (*1969 Homer Alaska). The wedding was on 28 December 2002 in Babylon NY.

2.2.....Serena Marie Heddell (*2004 Huntington NY)

The Fritz Schombs (*1934) Family in 2005
Back: Bill and Patty Blum, Harleen Duffy, Jim Schombs, Corinne Blum, Sarah Heddell, Amanda Blum
Front: Serena and Missey Heddell, Jay O'Connor, Bobby Blum, Charlotte Schombs

13.7.....Henry M. Schombs Jr. (*04.09.1865 New York NY, +12.11.1946 Queens NY)

Little is known of Henry M. Schombs. He appears to have never married. In 1905 Henry was 33, single and living with his parents. He too was a tailor by trade. He died at age 81.

13.8.....Louisa Schombs (*18.01.1867 New York NY, +12.09.1944)

Similarly with Louisa, we know little about the eighth child of Henry and Mary. In 1900 she was single and living with her parents at 366 Belmont. We now have located the marriage record of Louisa and Carl Dunnzinger. They were married on 25 Oct 1910 in Brooklyn.

13.9.....Catherine "Katie" Schombs (*27.07.1868 New York NY, +10.05.1939)

We know from the August Schombs (*1871) Family Book that Katie married a Christian Ziegler on 28 Mar 1894.

13.10.....John Schombs (*15.01.1870 New York NY, +07.07.1871 New York NY)

John died at the age of eighteen months.

13.11.....August Schombs (*19.08.1871 New York NY, +31.12.1956 Massapequa NY)

August was a tailor in his early years, undoubtedly working for his father Henry (*1829), as did most of August's siblings. He then took a job with the Post Office as a postman. In 1902, at the age of 31, he married Florence Uehlein (*21.03.1876 Stamford CT , +16.02.1924 Brooklyn, NY). Florence was 26 at the time. She died 22 years later in 1924, leaving August and their two children, ages 20 and 17.

But the year after August and Florence were married, he was riding his bicycle when he happened upon a near trajedy. Read the very interesting article in the New York Times from 30 September 1903. You may have to zoom in to enlarge the print.

In 1929 Inez-Marie, their older child, married Harold Arnold. Soon after, August moved in with them in their new home in Bellrose. He lived with them until his death twenty-some years later. He also spent a lot of time with his son Charles and daughter-in-law Violet in Wantagh, fifteen miles away.

Charles developed tuberculosis and went to a sanitarium for treatment. During this time August was the stability Violet needed -- the "rock". Violet adored August, her father-in-law. August loved children and making toys of wood for his two grandchildren.[4] One of August's expressions was "when you plant a plant, always spit in the hole. The plant will be sure to grow!"[4] Violet was devastated when August died.[4]

During the War August had a Victory Garden. He would smoke a pipe, but only was allowed to do so by his daughter Inez in his room. He also enjoyed cigars, but had to go outside for that pleasure. August had a dog named Ginger. Each week August would put a $10 or $20 bill in Ginger's mouth. She would then take it over to Inez. This was his contribution to his expenses in the Arnold's home.[6]

August was an avid solitaire player, a pastime which he passed down to Inez and his grandson Dick Arnold. In August's will he left money to his two grandson's, which they used toward their college educations.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Inez-Marie Schombs (*03.12.1904 Brooklyn NY, +19.12.1996 St. Petersburg FL)

Inez and John "Harold" Arnold (*19.04.1904 Cannonsburg PA, +26.04.1971 St. Petersburg FL) were married in 1929. About that time Harold got a job working for Sinclair Oil, where he stayed until a heart attack in the 1960s forced his retirement. During the Depression he was only out of work for one week.[6] He also moonlighted for a bus company -- Stink -- for a number of years. This enabled them to buy a home in 1936 in Freeport, and then again in 1947, when they bought a new home on the water in Massapequa. Once when Inez, Harold, and their son Dick were vacationing in upstate New York, they returned to find that August had bought a boat. He would take them fishing on Great South Bay.

Harold and Inez-Marie Schombs Arnold, circa 1941 Son Dick, age 2, with Harold's mother and grandmother

One time during the 1930's Inez, Harold, and August were vacationing in Florida. They had a 1937 DeSoto, which Inez was driving. She had it up to 87 miles per hour. "The telephone poles were going by like toothpicks." as the oral history goes.[6] During the War they put August's and Charles' automobiles up on blocks and took off the tires. They would take their gas ration coupons and use them to go upstate New York on vacation in the Arnold's car. Perhaps they even used all the tires for the Arnold's car, as rubber was also in extremely short supply.[6]

When they moved to Massapequa in 1947, it was a small town. Housing developers were just moving in. Levittown, not many miles away, had begun a new trend in American living, one which would forever change our country's culture. Inez was elected to the School Board. They could not build schools fast enough to handle the population moving in. Inez held a few small jobs, but then became the secretary of the local Episcopal Church, which she did for many years.

After Harold retired from Sinclair, they became "Airstreamers." They bought a 1957 Airstream. This was later replaced by a bigger 1963 Airstream, in which they once took a two year trip around the country. Inez left the driving to Harold, never learning to drive pulling the Airstream.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Robert Scott Arnold (* )

Robert died at birth.

2.2.....Richard Alan Arnold (*1939 Jamaica/Queens NY)

Dick received, among other things from August, a model garage. It was about three feet cubed, with hinged doors, molding on the outside of the windows, and many other cool things. A perfect place for a boy to play with his toy cars.[4] While growing up, Dick had a paper route for many years. Sometimes his grandfather August would take him in his car to save Dick time. When Dick and his parents went on vacation, August would take over the deliveries for his grandson.

Dick took part of the money from the paper route and bought a boat. However, the store would not sell him (about 15 years old) a motor. Nor would they allow August to buy it. Inez had to come to the store and give them Dick's $340.95.[6] Dick was embarrassed by the experience. (editorial note: it must have been a very nice motor).

Dick and Jane Cosby Morton (*1940 Fredricksburg VA) were married in Spotsylvania VA on the 2nd of September 1961. Dick was an eighth grade teacher in the Massapequa Schools and retired after thirty years. Dick and Jane now live at the Virginia farm, except when they are traveling in their Airstream -- which is most of the year.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Robert "Scott" Arnold (*1964 Bethpage NY)

Scott and Donna Mills (* ) have a daughter. Scott lives on the Morton family farm in Spotsylvania, Virginia. The farm has been in the family since 1732. Scott is a firefighter and AMT near Richmond, VA. He also works the farm.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Julianne Marguerite Arnold (*1996 Spotsylvania VA)

3.2.....Alexander Cameron Arnold (*1968 Bethpage NY)

Alex and Barbara Lynch (* ) were married 18 September 1993. Alex is a policeman in Center Island, Long Island, NY.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Jason Evan Arnold (*1995 Plainview NY)

3.2.....Zachary Alexander Arnold (*1998 Plainview NY)

3.3.....William Gregory Arnold (*2004 Plainview NY)

3.3.....Katherine Morton Arnold (*1969 )

Katherine lives in Tampa, FL. Katherine is in the insurance business.

2.2.....Charles Henry Schombs (*14.04.1907 Brooklyn NY, +12.04.1977 St. Petersburg FL)

Charles had a challenging life. He married young, probably when he was about 18, a woman with the first name Emily. Charles had been very fortunate to earn a job working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Charles and Emily had been married about two and a half years, when she died of tuberculosis. The year was 1929. Apparently he had been able to make a sizeable amount of money for a person his age, but lost everything when the market crashed in October, 1929.

In 1932, at the bottom of the Depression, he married again. His wife's name was Lillian. Three years later they divorced. He was single for about ten years. In the early 1930's Charles went to work for Liggett-Rexall Drug in New York. In 1940 Charles won a draft for the National Guard and one year of service. He was a technical sergeant in supply. His discharge was on December 6, 1941![6] The next day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entered WWII. A couple of months later he was back in the service, serving until 1944. His outfit, the Fifth Armored Division, was sent overseas. But Charles had flat feet and remained behind to train the new recruits. Part of his service was a posting at Sheppard Field, Wichita Falls, TX.[4][6]

When he was discharged from the Army, Charles returned to LIggett-Rexall in a position of a traveling inventory supervisor for the chain's drugstores. During an inventory in a Birmingham, Alabama, store he met Violet Liota Holcomb (*14.06.1920 Birmingham AL, +28.07.1998 St. Petersburg FL), a saleslady in the store. At this time Charles had been single for ten years. The courtship was probably fast. Charles and Violet eloped to Waycross, GA. Their marriage was 1 December 1945. Charles was 38 and Violet 25 years old.

Their son Charles Clayton was born a year later. As he was growing up the family would take their two week vacation, going to Upstate New York and Canada, or Pennsylvania. But soon they went to Florida, which became their annual tradition.

In 1959 the company moved their headquarters from New York to Stamford, CT. Charles moved the family and bought a home in nearby Norwalk. In 1964 Charles was laid off by Liggett-Rexall in 1964 after 33 years of service. His pension was cancelled. He was devastated. But he was unable to share this fact with his son Charles, a senior in high school. For months, perhaps six, the father would dress for work and leave in the morning at the usual time before the son left for school. After the son was gone, the father would return to the home. Then again in the afternoon he would leave before the son came home from school. The father would come back after the normal workday would have ended.

"I cannot imagine the anguish that he must have been experiencing."[4] At the beginning of 1965 Charles, the son, accidentally discovered that his father had not been employed for months. When he graduated from high school in the Spring, the family moved from Norwalk to St. Petersburg, FL. In Florida Charles Henry went to work for Liggett-Rexall in Jacksonville. He did not reclaim any of his pension, starting off as a new hire. He would leave Sunday evening to drive the more than 200 miles to Jacksonville, staying in a motel, and returning Friday evening. After about a year Charles Henry and Violet agreed this needed to stop. They bought a mobile home and stayed in St. Petersburg. Violet lived in the home until a year before her death in 1998, when it was necessary for her to go into an assisted living facility.

"My father's life showed the strength of the person. I think August was the same kind of man. You meet adversity, you overcome it, and you move on. Violet was the bright light in Dad's life. They were so much in love."[4]

Note: All the years and ages in the life of Charles Henry (with the exception of his birth and death and the stock market crash) are estimates, made years after his death. His sister Inez shared the information about Charles' first two marriages and other experiences. Charles Henry did not pass along his personal history to his son Charles Clayton. His story is told by Charles Clayton.[4]

Children: (1)

1.1.....Charles Clayton Schombs (*1946 Mineola NY)

Charles remembers his upbringing as being very safe and comfortable. The family was not wealthy, but his father and mother were great parents. Among other things, August made a toy box for Charles. Charles remembers cookouts in the backyard at Aunt Inez'. Inez and Harold lived on the water and had a boat. When Charles was about 9 years old, his cousin Dick, age 16, let Charles drive the boat. He revved it up and promptly drove it into the dock! It was the last time he drove the boat.[4]

Charles received his degree in English literature and biblical Hebrew from Eckerd University in St. Petersburg. Charles married Mary-Ruth Willis (*1946 St. Petersburg FL). The wedding was in 1968 in St. Petersburg. He and Mary-Ruth joined Vista (the domestic version of the Peace Corp), but soon decided it was not right for them. They lived in California for a while, but couldn't find satisfactory work and returned to Florida. It was during the turbulent years of the Vietnam War and unrest of their generation. He then did graduate work at Michigan State in Fine Arts. While there, he worked in a nursing job in East Lansing. He loved it and followed a career in social work.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Jacob Willis Schombs (*1974 Dunedin FL)

Jacob and Deain Buckley have one child. Jacob works for Certek Software, a company with point-of-sale products.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Brennan Jacob Buckley Schombs (*1997 Clearwater FL)

2.2.....Laura Anneliese Schombs (*1976 Marshall MI)

Laura and her partner Benjamin Shirey West (*1972 St. Petersburg FL) had one child.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Saralynn Jennifer Schombs (*1994 Asheville NC)

Laura later married Brian Fish (* ) in July, 2004 in Asheville, NC. Brian works for a catering company and Anneliese in a restaurant.

2.2.....Joshua "Tucker" Fish (*2000 Asheville NC)

Charles and Mary-Ruth divorced in 1979. Charles later married Michelle Lynn Shirley (*1950 St. Petersburg FL) in St. Petersburg on 6 February 1987. Michelle has her Masters in Education from University of South Florida and works as an assistant principal in Clearwater, FL. Michelle has two sons, Benjamin and Nathan, from a former marriage.

Charles has been a case manager/social worker at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg for twelve years. He deals mostly with neurologically impaired adults. His work in medical social work spans twenty years. Charles and Michelle love spending time with their children and grandchildren, an occasional vacation to California (the Carmel area) and are involved with their church. Charles loves to read and write. Michelle knits and enjoys landscaping.

13.12.....Mary Schombs (*10.09.1872 New York NY, +22.09.1872 New York NY)

Mary died twelve days after her birth.

13.13.....Emma Schombs (*22.03.1875 New York NY, +09.08.1875 New York NY)

Emma died at the age of five months.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Bob Schombs (*1938)

[2] Pamela Schombs Schuyler (*1943)

[3] Christine Elliot Schombs Jeziorski (*1926)

[4] Charles Clayton Schombs (*1946)

[5] Evelyn Schombs Ulmer (*1922)

[6] Dick Alan Arnold (*1939)

[7] Glenn Hunter (*1946)

Databases:
A database of NYC Vital Statistics has been a great new resource. One use is to find the spouse in the grooms/brides index by using the Link in the right column. More information is being continuously added to the database. Be sure to use the wildcard (*), for example Sch*mbs. If you find new information, please send it back via the Contact Us Link. Thanks.