Sophie Schömbs of New York City

Sophie Schömbs of New York City (Manhattan)

CLICK to trace the ancestors of Katharina Sophia Schömbs

The Story of Katharina "Sophie" Schömbs (*1838, +1895)

2015 Note: Over the past couple of years four cousins have spent considerable time researching and developing the story of the family of Mathias (*1795) and Anna Katharina Mick Schömbs of Hahnheim, the parents of Katharina Sophia. Monika Schoembs, Peter Schulz, Reinhold Schembs and I (Jim Schembs) have all been involved. We have located many records, some of which are conflicting as indicated below. But now most of the mysteries have been solved. At least two of the eight children of Mathias and Anna Kathraina Schömbs emigrated: Martin (*1832 Hahnheim) and Katharina Sophia (*1838 Hahnheim, +1895 Manhattan NYC NY). The first to emigrate was Katharina Sophia (*1838).

The Seventh of Eight Children
The Emigration of Katharina Sophia
Marriage to Jacob Endlisch
The 1860 Census
Their Homes in New York City
The Deaths of Sophie and Jacob Endlich
No Second Generation Descendants
Descendants of Katharina Sophia Schömbs Endlich

The Seventh of Eight Children

Katharina Sophia Schömbs was born 24 April 1838 in Hahnheim. She was the third daughter and the seventh overall in the family of eight. None of her siblings had emigrated.

The Emigration of Katharina Sophia

Sophia emigrated from Germany to Amerika in 1857 aboard the ship Mercury, disembarking in New York City on 26 October 1857. They had departed from the port of Le Havre in France (Normandy), a busy port for emigrants from Germany to Amerika. She was nineteen years old and single at the time. If the register of passengers was arranged somewhat in the order of groups of people traveling together, she does not appear to have emigrated with family, at least on her Schömbs side. Those listed immediately before and after Sophie ranged in age from 15 to 28. She may have emigrated with friends. The two names immediately above Sophie were Philipp Zang, age 20, and Frederick Zang, age 15. There were Zangs in Hahnheim.

Marriage to Jacob Endlich

Two and a half years later on 27 May 1860 Sophie married Jacob Endlich (*16.12.1834 Nieder Saulheim, +02.04.1913 The Bronx NY). Nieder Saulheim is a town 8 Km (5 miles) to the west of Hahnheim in Rheinhessen. Jacob was the son of Johann Tobias (*08.04.1794 Nieder Saulheim) and Wilhemina Kroehle Endlich (*03.04.1798 Nieder Saulheim, +24.02.1863 Manhattan NY). Jacob had emigrated in 1854 on the ship Sea Nymph He too was nineteen years at the time of his emigration and appears to have not emigrated with family members. It is not known whether Sophie and Jacob knew each other in Deutschland. At the time of their emigrations he was nineteen and she sixteen. There is, however, a passenger list from 1855 in which Jacob's parents and two of his brothers -- Gabriel (*21.11.1828 Nieder Saulheim, +23.12.1905 Manhattan NY) and Georg (*29.09.1838, +02.01.1892 Manhattan NY) emigrate together. The record of Jacob and Sophie's marriage spells Jacob's family name "Endlisch". However all other records from Germany and New York spell the name "Endlich". For this reason we believe the correct spelling was "Endlich". Jacob became a Naturalized Citizen of the United States in 1860. Jacob was a tailor, a profession he learned in Germany and continued throughout his life in New York.

The 1860 Census

The 1860 Federal Census was pivotal in solving the mystery of Sophie Schömbs (*1838 Hahnheim) and Martin Schömbs (*1832 Hahnheim), the two emigrant children of Mathias and Anna Katharina Schömbs of Hahnheim. Sophia had emigrated in 1857 and married Jacob Endlich in 1860. Martin, Sophie's older brother, had emigrated in 1859. We now know from the 1860 U.S. Census that they were all living together in 1860 in New York City (Manhattan). Plus the solving of the riddle is a great lesson in genealogy research for the inexperienced. The 1860 Census form did not have many columns and therefore only limited information is provided. However, it enumerates four household members. First is the head of the household, "John Endling", 25 years old, and his wife Sophie, aged 21. One might ask "why do we think this is Jacob Endlich and his wife Sophie Schömbs Endlich. Look at the other two members of the household. Next enumerated is "Martin Schengs", aged 27. Martin Schömbs, Sophie's brother, was born in 1832 and had just arrived in New York in the prior year. And the fourth member of the household was George "Englinch", aged 21. It was actually Georg Endlich (*1838 Nieder Saulheim), Jacob's younger brother. There is a record of the death of a George Endlich in 1892. This is most likely Jacob's brother. Were there a need to research George Endlich, there are a few records where one might start: sophie_birth_1873, sophie_marriage_1890, and buchholz_marriage_1918. A later Chapter in this book deals with Martin Schömbs (*1832 Hahnheim), Sophie's older brother. Part of the lesson is how unreliable various historical resources can be. Census data, e.g. spelling of names, is often in error. But even birth, marriage and death records are sometimes in error. Obituaries as well. These latter documents one might expect, and hope, to be more accurate. But they are not.

Their Homes in New York City

Map of New York City showing Manhattan (center), Brooklyn (lower right) and The Bronx (upper right)

1860 - in the 1860 record of his Naturalization Jacob gave his address as 15 Avenue B in Manhattan. This was the neighborhood around Tompkins Square, heavily populated by German emigrants. As a result it was known as "Kleindeutschland" or "Little Germany".

1860 Census - The 1860 Census did not record street names and addresses, only the Ward and Election District. In the 1860 Census Jacob and Sophie Endlich were in the 5th District, Ward 17. The address given on the Naturalization record was at the edge of this Ward/District, about six blocks south (to the left) of Tompkins Square.

Living with Jacob and Sophie were Martin Schengs (Schömbs *1832 Hahnheim), Sophie's older brother who had emigrated in 1859, and George Engling (Endlich *1838 Nieder Saulheim), Jacob's younger brother. Martin was christened in the Church in Undenheim, a few kilometers from Hahnheim.

1865 Brooklyn Census Five years later Jacob and Sophie had moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn. They were living in Ward 13 in Brooklyn. At this time Martin Schömbs, Sophie's brother, was also living in Brooklyn. We don't know who moved to Brooklyn first but they were probably near each other.

1870 Census - But by 1870 the Endlichs had moved back to Manhattan. Now they were living in the 11th Ward, 9th Election District, a block or two east of Tompkins Square. Apparently there were problems in the taking of the 1870 Census. It had to be done a second time. The second enumeration was in December 1870. Click here to understand the 11th Ward, 9th E.D. Scroll down about half way for the 11th Ward.

How reliable is information in the Census? Sometimes (often?) errors occur in a Census. The reason for taking the 1870 Census a second time in that neighborhood of New York City reportedly related to the streets and house numbers not being accurate. But if you look at the ages of Jacob and Sophie in the 1870 Census, they don't match very well to when we know they were born! At the very bottom of this page one can click on the Link to the 1870 Census. It is a link to Ancestry.com so if one does not have a subscription, it cannot be viewed. However, here is what it says: A Census page has about forty lines/people on it. In looking at the full page, everybody on the page is one of the following ages - 50, 40, 30, 15, 10, 5 or 1! You don't have to be a statistician to realize the odds of that are very very low. We are more likely to be hit by a meteor. The taker obviously was not diligent.

1880 - In 1880 they were living at 286 Essex, about six blocks south of Tompkins Square.

1890 - The U.S. Federal Census for 1890 was destroyed years later in a fire in Washington D.C. In New York City, however, there were periodic censuses compiled by the Police Department. This was true in 1890, which captures the four Endlich family members living together.

1900 - After the death of Sophie, Jacob and his daughter Elisabeth "Lizzie" lived together. In 1900 they had moved to Harlem in the northern part of Manhattan. The address was #7 East 131st Street. The Census form indicates that Jacob owned the house. And there were four families boarding with them. On the map of E. 131st Street notice St. Mary's Park directly to the east across the Harlem River. In a few years they would live near St. Mary's Park.

1910 Census - By 1910 most of the family was deceased. Jacob and his daughter Elisabeth lived in The Bronx at 695 Eagle Avenue, a few blocks north of St. Mary's Park. They lived in a boarding house.

After the Death of Jacob - Following the death of Jacob, Elisabeth lived in The Bronx for the rest of her life. She moved several times but always was within a few blocks of St. Mary's Park. In 1920 she was living at 589 Prospect in a boarding house. Then in 1930 at 510 Concord Avenue.

1938 - Elisabeth ("Lizzie") passed away in 1938. She was living at 424 E. 144th Street in The Bronx, two blocks west of St. Mary's Park.

The family lived in Manhattan for most of their years. This excluded a very few years around 1865 when they apparently were living in Brooklyn. Sophie passed away in 1895 in Manhattan. Then the two who were left, Jacob and Elisabeth, moved to The Bronx for their remaining days. All the births and deaths were recorde in Manhattan with the exception of the deaths of Jacob and Elisabeth.

The General Slocum Disaster

As mentioned above the area around Tompkins Square was a large German emigrant community in the late 1800's. The women of St. Mark's Evangelical Church on 6th Street had a tradition of taking their school children on a boating excursion after the end of the school year. The date was 15 June 1904. After the sidewheeler was in the East River a fire broke out below deck. Most of the passengers were women and children. Many did not know how to swim. In all 1,021 people died of the 1,350 aboard. It destroyed the community. Many Germans moved out of Kleindeutschland, going up to the Upper Eastside of Manhattan to be closer to the location of the disaster. The neighborhoods around Tompkins Square were re-populated with Polish and Russian emigrants. It was the largest disaster in New York City history until September 11, 2001. To read more click on Smithsonian or the NY Public Library.

The Deaths of Sophie and Jacob Endlich

Sophie preceded Jacob in death. She passed away on 20 September 1895 in Manhattan. She was 56 years old. It is her Death Record which confirms she is the daughter of Mathias and Kathrina Schömbs of Hahnheim. Jacob died eighteen years later on 02.04.1913 in The Bronx. The address given is 480 Willis Avenue. It is likely this was the home of one of their children and probably Elisabeth (Lizzie) as he was living with her in The Bronx in 1910 at the time of the Census.. Jacob was 78 years old at the time of his death. The death record also gives the date of his birth and the names of his parents in Nieder Saulheim. Jacob was buried in a Lutheran cemetery, most likely with his wife Sophie.

No Second Generation Descendants

We are not aware of any grandchildren of Jacob and Sophie Endlich. Elisabeth (*1861) lived to maturity but did not marry. George (*1874) was living in 1880 but we have no record of him after that Census year.

Descendants of Sophia Schömbs Endlich

Children: (8)

7.1.....Elisabeth Ann Endlich (*1861 Manhattan NYC NY, +21.06.1938 The Bronx NYC NY)

As seen in the 1865 New York State Census, Jacob and Sophie had two children, both daughters. Elisabeth was born in about 1861. In the 1870 U.S. Census, however, there is a daughter born in about 1861 by the name of Ann. It is assumed that Elizabeth and Ann were the same daughter and therefore their names have been combined. After the 1870 Census all later references are to Elisabeth, "Lizzie" or, in her last years "Elsie".

Elisabeth lived at home her entire life. She did not marry. Her mother Sophie died when Elisabeth was 34 years old. She and her father then lived together until he died in 1913. After that Elisabeth lived in boarding houses with no other family members. In 1920 she lived at 589 Prospect Avenue in The Bronx. She was 58 years old. If one looks at the Census page, the residents of the boarding house were primarily Russian Jewish emigrants. Elisabeth worked as the janitor in the building. Also of note, she apparently reported that she was a widow. Whether she told others this as a social convenience, or she actually was a widow, or the Census taker just got it wrong is totally speculation. However since the 1930 Census also says "widow", it probably was not an error on the part of the 1920 Census taker. It is possible she was married after 1910 (when she was 48 years old) and her husband then died before 1920. My guess is it was social convenience to say she was a widow.

Also in the 1920 Census she is enumerated as "Elsie" rather than "Lizzie". But everything else ties out. When asked what country her father and mother were from she said "Mainz, Germany". The Mainz was then crossed out as only the country was to be entered. Hahnheim is a village about 20 Kilometers to the south of Mainz, a major city.

Then by 1930 she has moved again. The address was 510 Concord Avenue in The Bronx. Now she is 69 years old and retired. She still says she is a widow. The Census form has a column for "age at first marriage". It was left blank, while for others on the page it was filled in. Looking at the countries from which the others in her boarding house and the one next door one sees the "melting pot" which Amerika was in the first half of the 20th Century. The residents had emigrated from Russia, Hungary, Italy, British Guyana, Romania and Turkey!

All of the homes of Elisabeth after 1900 were within a few blocks of St. Mary's Park.

7.2.....Sophie Ann Endlich (*06.05.1864 Manhattan NYC NY)

Similarly, the 1865 Census has a daughter, one year old, by the name of Ann. However there is a record of her birth in 1864 with the given name of Sophie, after the mother. It is assumed that these are the same person and the names have been combined here as a result. Probably the Census taker was confused and just entered the information incorrectly. Or the confusion might have been on the part of the person recording the birth.

7.3.....Sophie Endlich (*1869 Manhattan NYC NY, *05.08.1872 Manhattan NYC NY)

To add to the confusion, the 1870 Census enumerates two daughters in the family. The older is ten years old (shown above as 7.1 Elisabeth Ann) and the younger as Sophie, age one year old. If there were two daughters in 1865 and still two daughters in 1870, it is likely that 7.2 Sophie Ann above had died. There then is a record of the death of a Sophia Endlich, age 2, in 1872. We must find the details of the death to be sure.

7.4.....Lewis Endlich (*23.10.1869 Manhattan NYC NY, +before 1870)

Other than the birth record there are no records of Lewis Endlich. He appears in neither the 1870 Census nor the 1880 Census. Given that 7.3 Sophie and 7.4 Lewis both appear to have been born in 1869, it is likely they were twins.

7.5.....Jacob Endlich (*08.12.1871 Manhattan NYC NY, +21.01.1873 Manhattan NYC NY)

From the New York City Record of Deaths, it is clear that Jacob died as a two year old.

7.6.....George Endlich (*05.01.1874 Manhattan NYC NY, after 1880)

In the New York City Register of Births, there is a son born to Jacob and Sophie in January 1874. But no first name in the Register. In the 1880 Census, however, we see a son George, age 6 years. Nothing is known of George after 1880.

7.7.....Frederick Endlich (*15.03.1876 Manhattan NYC NY, +02.12.1893 Manhattan NYC NY)

Frederick died in 1893 at the age of seventeen. It is not known whether the death was from an accident or health related.

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.

Other Research Steps

Next time at the New York Public Library, look up Endlich in the City Directories
Keep looking for records of George (*1874) after the 1880 Census
I had multiple communications with Peter Ostrander (pjostrander@optonline.net) who descends from George (*1838). Should he learn anything about George (*1874), he will pass it along. George (*1874) is the nephew of George (*1838)

Live Links

Because sometimes Links to public websites (e.g. Ancestry) no longer are active or begin to charge for access, screenshots and images are usually used in the Stories. However, for additional reserach, assuming they are still active, these Links may be helpful: 1865 N.Y. Census 1870 Census 1880 Census 1900 Census 1900 Census - Buchholz 1910 Census 1920 Census - Elisabeth (*1861) 1930 Census - Elisabeth (*1861)