Matthew Schoembs

Matthew Schoembs of New York

CLICK to trace the ancestors of Matthew Schoembs

For years we knew of a Matthew Something who had lived in Manhattan (New York City). Various Manhattan City Directories listed him:

1871- Matthias Schambs, carpenter, 234 W. 30th Street
1875- Matthew Schombs, carpenter, 211 West 32nd Street
1876- Margaret Schambs, widow Mattew, 239 West 32nd Street
1880- Margaret Schambs, widow of Matthew, West 32nd Street

Curious to find more I went to the various U.S. Census records. The only one I found was for 1880, with a Margaret Chambs (since the last name is written over, it is not possible to know the intended spelling) living on West 32nd Street with her two sons.

1880 Census for Manhattan

There were scattered other documents found which gave still different spellings of the surname. Then in 2010 Monika Schoembs (Nürnberg) found a birth record for a Jacob Schoembs (*1859) as well as marriage record naming a Catherine Schoembs.


Birth Record of Jacob Schoembs	Catherine Schoembs is mother of Arthur F. Schleininger

Birth records and marriage records are more likely to have names spelled correctly than Census records. The marriage record of Arthur F. Schleining then suggested Catherine Schoembs, daughter of Matthew Schambs, married a Schleininger. Further searching then turned up the final proof:

1905 New York Census of the Frank Schleininger Family
with Margaret and Jacob Schoembs living in the same household

This is a 1905 New York State Census record taken five years after the Federal Census. For assistance in reading the names, refer to the Index of the Census. It shows Catherine (*~1855), wife of Frank Schleininger. Living in the same household are Margaret Schoembs (*~1825), the mother-in-law of Frank Schleininger, as well as Margaret's son Jacob (*~1860), brother-in-law of Frank Schleininger. While the Schleininger name was not correctly transscribed into the Index, the Schoembs name was.

Finally, we know who Matthew Schoembs was

The finding which clearly identified Matthew Schoembs was the marriage documentation of his son Henry Schoembs (see 6.4 Henry below). The new information this provided was that Henry's mother's maiden name was Margaret Kleinhaus (actually Kleinhanß). This then connected Matthew Schambs and his wife Margarethe Kleinhaus as the son and daughter-in-law of Johann Georg Schömbs (*1795 Undenheim). Matthew Schambs was born Mathäus Schömbs (*1.10.1818 Eimsheim).

Marriage and Emigration of Matthew Schoembs

Mathäus (Matthew) and Margaretha Kleinhans (*30.10.1825 Eimsheim, +30.08.1910 The Bronx NY) were married 8 February 1849 in Eimsheim, the village where they had both been raised ten kilometers to the southeast of Undenheim. The couple had two children in Germany, the first being born in 1850 and the second in June 1852. The following year they emigrated to Amerika aboard the American bark "Sea Duck". The passenger list for the Sea Duck lists the four Schömbs as well as nine members of a Kleinhans family, obviously relatives of Margaretha.

The Life of Matthew Schoembs (*1.10.1818 Eimsheim, +07.06.1874 Manhattan)

The information above is presented somewhat in the order in which it was discovered. Then in 2017 Monika Schoembs found additional records on the web which clarified several things. First there is the U.S. Census of 1860. From it we realize that their first two children, Georg (*1850 Eimsheim) and Anna Maria (*1852 Weinolsheim), have died. It is not known if they died during the ocean voyage or after they arrived in Amerika. Then the family appears again in the 1870 Census in Manhattan. Matthew is enumerated on the last line of the page with the rest of the family on the next page. To see the full census pages for 1860 and 1870 online, go to the LiveLinks section at the bottom of this page. LIttle is known other than he was a carpenter by profession living in mid-town Manhattan. The 1900 U.S. Census indicates that they had had four children, all living in 1900. Clearly this is in error as we know they had six children.

Matthew died 7.06.1874 in New York City. In the Death Index he is listed as Mathaesu Schoombs. He is buried in the Calvary Cemetery in Queens NY. It is now known with which other family members he might be buried. Contacting the Calvary Cemetery might answer this and other questions. In 1880 Margaret and her two sons were living at 239 West 32nd Street in Manhattan. By 1900 Margaret has moved to 152nd Street in The Bronx. One son and one daughter are living with her. Margaret passed away in 1910 at the age of 84.

Descendants of Matthew Schoembs

Children: (6)

6.1.....Georg Schömbs (*02.02.1850 Eimsheim, +between 1853 and 1860)

For George we have documentation of his birth. He also appears on the passenger list for their emigration. As mentioned above, he was not enumerated in the 1860 Census and must have been deceased.

6.2.....Anna Maria Schömbs (*08.06.1852 Weinolsheim, +between 1853 and 1860))

Like for her older brother George, Anna was aboard ship with the family but does not appear in the 1860 Census.

6.3.....Francis K. Catherine Schoembs (*~1854 New York NY)

The first evidence of Francis K. "Catherine" Schoembs is the 1905 New York Census. Francis married Frank K. Schleininger (*1849 Germany, +23.01.1907 The Bronx NY) in about 1877. Frank was an immigrant who entered the U.S. in 1864 at the time the Civil War was ending. He became a naturalized citizen in 1871. At the time he was living on W. 36th Street in Manhattan, a few blocks from the Schoembs. By 1905 Catherine and Frank had moved to The Bronx. Living with them were Catherine's mother and brother Jacob as well as Catherine's son Henry F., his wife and their 7 month old Henry D.

In 1910 they still lived in The Bronx. Per the Census the Schleiningers had had six children, five of whom were still living. We have no information on the sixth. By 1920 Catherine (Francis K.) was a widow, living in Richmond (Staten Island) with two of her children. At this time Catherine was 65 years old and her youngest son was 12. It is interesting to speculate on why Catherine would have moved from The Bronx to Richmond. Probably it is because she was closer to another branch of the Schleininger family. See notes below.

Children: (5)

5.1.....Henry F. Schleininger (*10.04.1878 New York)

In 1903 Henry F. married Catherine Doelle (*1884 New York) on 09.06.1903 in The Bronx, NY. In the 1905 Census they with their 7 month old son are living in his parents home. Henry's occupation is hardware clerk.

Then by 1910 Henry and Catherine have moved to New Jersey. They are living in the town of Nutley, Essex County where Henry is a secretary, hardware. The image of the Census is very hard to read. They are on line 84. And in 1920 they are back living in The Bronx on 163rd street. Henry is a manager, auto parts. In the Census they are enumerated on line 46. The basic information is easier to read in the extract.

One other document found for Henry F. Schleininger is his registration for the draft at the beginning of World War II. He was 64 years old! The family was living at 140 Riverside Drive in Manhattan. Henry worked at Durham Co. Inc. at 17 W. 60th Street.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Henry D. Schleininger (*21.10.1904 The Bronx, NY)

We only know of one child born to Henry F. and Catherine Doelle Schleininger. This information is from the 1988 Agricultural Counsel. (note: I don't know where the 1988 Agricultural Counsel is now, for I cannot locate it. But Henry D. does appear in three Census.) Whitepages.com has a reference to a Henry Schleininger who died at age 73 in 1978, giving him a birthyear of 1905. This could be the same Henry.

5.2.....Charles Schleininger (*1880, +~1918 The Bronx)

Charles appears in the 1905 Census. He is 25 years old, single and an advertising agent. He married Frances Burnhardt (*1888 New York, +4.07.1964 The Bronx), a daughter of emigrants. They had four children. Charles died soon thereafter when their youngest child Arthur was just an infant. Frances is enumerated in the 1920 Census and its extract for The Bronx, a widowed mother of four living on E. 166th Street was a widowed mother of four. Prior to Charles passing away the family had lived in Manhattan. The family appears again in the 1930 Census and it's extract.

The 1940 Census provides much additional information about the family. Frances is renting a residence at 2108 Starling Avenue in The Bronx. It appears to be a duplex with the Agnes McGurn family in the other part. Living with Frances are her two youngest children Francis (Frank) and Arthur, both single and in their early 20s. Also her two oldest children are in the house: William, his wife Celia and their two children; and Victoria, her husband Michael Leyden and their two sons. Frances was 52 years old, did not work and paid monthly rent in the amount of $45. If one would like to mine additional details from the Census, here are the links to the entire page and also the column headings.

Children: (4)

4.1.....William "Bill" Schleininger (*~1913 Manhattan NY, +~1980s The Bronx)

William married Cecelia Gilroy (*~1915, +26.01.1976 The Bronx). In 1940 he was a utility man working for Sheffield Farms earning $1534 per year. In 1940 they had four children.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Warren Schleininger (*~1939 The Bronx NY)

Warren worked for Con Edison, the power company. He married Jeannie Knox. When Warren retired they moved to Atlanta.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Eric Schleininger (*~1971 The Bronx)

2.2.....Lynn Marie Schleininger (*~1973 The Bronx)

4.2.....Diane Schleininger (*1940 The Bronx NY)

Diane married an Italian, Egidio Caffareli. They lived in New Jersey.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Donna Caffareli (*~1971)

4.3.....Victoria Patricia Schleininger (*~1942 The Bronx NY)

Victoria and Don Fetcher married. They had no children together. They lived in Edgewater in The Bronx. Victoria was a secretary by profession.

4.4.....Monica Schleininger (*~1943 The Bronx NY)

William Bressler and Monica married. They lived in New Jersey where Bill was engaged in various entrepreneurial endeavors.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Stephanie Bressler (*~1970)

Stephanie is married and living in Boulder, Colorado. They have two children.

Children: (2)

2.1.....first child

2.2.....second child

3.2.....MIchael Bressler (*~1972)

3.3.....Anthony Bressler (*~1974)

4.2.....Victoria Schleininger (*1.02.1914 Manhattan NY, +19.12.2009 Tangerine FL)

Victoria married Michael Leyden (*~1911 Ireland). In 1940 Michael was also a utility man working for Sheffield Farms earning $1534 per year. He had worked full time the prior year.

Victoria and Michael lived on City Island. In the late 1970s they moved to Florida where they lived in Tangerine.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Robert Leyden (*~1935 The Bronx NY, +1990s)

Robert married Mary.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Robert Leyden (*~1954)

3.2.....Kathleen Leyden (*~1956)

Kathleen married. They have at least two children.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Austin lastname (*1990s)

2.1.....daughter

3.3.....Debra Leyden (*~1964)

Debra did not marry.

2.2.....Patrick Leyden (*~1939 The Bronx NY)

4.3.....Francis "Buffy" Schleininger (*1916 Manhattan NY, +12.09.1990 The Bronx)

In 1940 Frank was working as an attendant in a gas station. He reported income of $730 a year. He married Margaret Lillian Hughes (*~1920, +13.01.1956 The Bronx). Lillian died at the age of 35 leaving her husband and two young children. During their marriage Buffy owned a couple of gas stations but lost them from his depression from his wife's early passing. After that he was a freelance auto mechanic. In addition to the nickname "Buffy", Frank was also referred to as "Frank the mechanic".

Children: (2)

2.1.....Francis "Little Buffy" Jeffrey Schleininger (*1944 The Bronx NY, +1.05.2007 Loch Sheldrake NY)

Francis was given the same nickname as his father. But to distinguish between the two, the younger Francis went by "Little Buffy". Later in life he preferred to be called "Frank".

Frank married twice. His first wife was Carol Deltono. With Carol he had one son.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Buffy "Little(r) Buffy" Schleininger (*)

Buffy lives in Florida. His given name was the nickname of his father and grandfather. With each generation the nickname has changed. When Little Buffy (*1944) had a son, Little Buffy became Buffy, and the son Little Buffy.

Frank and Mikki, 1985
click to enlarge

In August 1985 Frank married Madeline "Mikki" Jalkower (*1950 Brooklyn, +2017). Both Frank and Mikki were alcohol and drug abuse counselors, licensed by the State of New York. In their free time they enjoyed traveling, especially to the Southwest. Collecting Native American art was one of their passions.

Mikki lived in upstate New York and was helpful connecting us with the Schleiningers.

2.2.....Linda Anne "Lyn" Schleininger (*1951 The Bronx NY, +2017 The Bronx NY)

Lyn lived most of her years in The Bronx. She was a waitress/bartender and manager in restaurants for 28 years. But in the late 1990s she followed her son Joe out to Colorado Springs, Colorado living there for a couple of years. Then back to The Bronx for a year or two and again to Colorado for another eight years. While in Colorado she worked in a semiconductor company in the manufacturing area. She returned to The Bronx in 2010.

In 1969 Lyn married Joseph Dominik Massaro (*1949 Manhattan NY). The wedding took place in Queens. Following their divorce Lyn met and became partners with Manfred Luecke (*28.05.1946 Bremen Germany, +23.05.1991 The Bronx). Manfred had come to the United States in 1969. They were together from 1986 until his passing.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Joseph Dominick Massaro (*1969 The Bronx)

When Joe was young he dreamed about other parts of the country. His mother Lyn would describe (what she imaged of) Colorado. In his early 20's Joe decided to move to Colorado. He found it to be as it had been described, a wonderland. He took a job in home construction leading to his forming his own company. Unfortunately the industry collapse in 2008 destroyed the business. Today he lives in Fountain CO and works for another construction company as a project manager.

Joe and Karen Reilly were married in 1996 in Colorado. They later divorced.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Mary Autumn Massaro (*1998 Colorado Springs CO)

In 2017 Mary was a freshman in college.

3.2.....Hope Noel Massaro (*2000 Colorado Springs CO)

3.3.....Joshua Brenner Massaro (*2002 Colorado Springs CO)

2.2.....Tina Marie Massaro (*1971 Queens)

Tina and her mother loved to make props and decorations for parties. They did not do it commercially but rather for friends and family, especially around the holidays. Tina was previously married to Ron Diaco (*~1967 The Bronx).

Children: (2)

2.1.....Briana Marie Diaco (*1995 The Bronx)

Briana graduated from college and works at P.F. Chang's China Bistro.

2.2.....Brooke Ashley Diaco (*1997 The Bronx)

In 2017 Brooke was studying at Suffolk Community College.

4.4.....Arthur Schleininger (*~1918 Manhattan NY, +~1975 The Bronx)

Arthur also worked in a gas station at the same pay scale as his brother Frank -- $730 annually. But in the prior year Arthur had only worked 26 weeks. Later Arthur worked in a bakery.

Arthur and Grace Watson (*~1920) were married. They lived in the Bronx.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Carol Ann Schleininger (*Feb 1951 The Bronx NY)>

Carol and Bruce Watson were married.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Kristin Watson (*~1990)

5.3.....Arthur F. Schleininger (*1883)

Arthur F. married Miriam Brucher on 07.09.1905 in The Bronx. Immediately before the marriage Arthur was living in his family's home.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Arthur Schleininger (*1918 New York)

Arthur's birth is documented in the 1920 C. However I need to revisit the 1920 Census. It is possible that this Arthur is the son of Frances Schleininger (*1888), widow by 1920.

Whitepages.com has a reference to an Arthur Schleininger in the Bronx. It indicates that Frank died in 1987 at the age of 69 years, i.e. born about 1918. It is likely this could be the same Arthur.

5.4.....Frances M. Schleininger(*1888)

Frances did not marry. There is a birth record for a Frances Schleininger dated 3 Oct 1887 in Manhattan. Presumably this is the correct Frances. She was a nurse by profession as indicated in the 1910 and 1920 Census. In 1910 she was enumerated twice in the Census, first in her dormitory at the nursing school in Manhattan and then again with her family in The Bronx. In 1920 she was living with her mother and brother Leo in Richmond (Staten Island), New York.

5.5.....Lee Joseph "Leo" Schleininger (14.04.1896 New York, +.05.03.1955 San Francisco CA)

Leo, as the fifth son seems to have been called, was a veteran of World War I and an electrician by trade. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June 1917 and was discharged two years later. In 1920, having come back from the War, he was living in Richmond with his mother and sister Frances. He later married Edith Shillinger. Leo died in San Francisco, CA, and apparently had been living and working there for a number of years. He is buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery. The death certificate is interesting. It lists his name as "Lee Joseph Shillinger, a.k.a. Lee Joseph Schleininger." The California Death Index does also, but the information was probably from the death certificate. Curious.

6.4.....Henry Schoembs (*22.11.1856 Manhattan NY, +25.05.1926 Richmond NY)

In 1880 Henry is living at home with his mother and brother. His occupation is cigar maker. Henry married Katie Ehrhardt (*16 Sep 1862 NY) on 16 Oct 1887 in Manhattan per familysearch.com. (There is a marriage certificate #78385 dated 16.10.1887 of a Henry Schambs marrying Pauline K Roggenbauch in Manhattan. Presumably this is an error in the NY marriage register.)

In 1900 Henry and Katie are living at 774 Tinton Avenue, The Bronx. In 1920 they are living at 1616 Glover Street in The Bronx. Henry is a cigar maker.

It is curious that the death record for Henry indicates he died in Richmond (Staten Island). Whether the family had moved from The Bronx to Richmond is not known. But as noted above, Henry's older sister Catherine had moved from The Bronx to Richmond by 1930. The death record also gives his name as Henry Schumes. This was probably an error but more research looking for family members under the Schumes spelling might prove fruitful.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Mabel E. Schoembs (*25.08.1893 Manhattan NY)

Mabel appears to have not married. In 1920 at age 27 she was living at home with her parents.

6.5.....Jacob Schoembs (*10.06.1859 New York NY)

Jacob's life is quite well documented. First, he is the only person in the Matthew Schoembs branch for whom we have a record of his birth. He was living with his mother in 1880, working as a gilder, and in 1900 as a painter. Per the City Directories of 1882, 1888 and 1889 he was a painter. In 1905 Jacob and his mother Margaret were living in The Bronx in the home of Jacob's sister Francis K. Catherine Schoembs Schleininger. At this time Jacob was 45 years old and a painter. On 04.10.1911 Jacob married Euphenia Karl (*1870, +26.10.1926 The Bronx). They are enumerated in the 1915 New York State Census. In 1920 they were living in The Bronx. At that time Jacob was 61 and Euphenia 50. They did not have children. Euphenia died in 1926 at age 56. In 1940 Jacob was living in a boarding house in Valley Stream, Nassau County on Long Island. He was 81 years old.

6.6.....Lena Schoembs (* Mar 1867 New York NY)

Little is known of Lena. She does not appear in the 1880 Census which is unusual as she was 13 years old. Perhaps this was an omission or she was living with relatives at the time. In 1900 Lena is 33 years of age working as a hairdresser, single and living at home with her mother in Manhattan. Then five years later her mother and brother Jacob are living in the Schleininger home in The Bronx. Perhaps Lena was married by 1905. We have no idea.

Addendum -- The Schleiningers:

In the course of piecing together the story of Matthew Schoembs and his family, much research was also done on the Schleiningers. In the New York City Area during the 19th and early 20th Centuries there were two Schleininger families. One is the family of Frank K. Schleininger (*1849 Germany) as outlined above. Because there is probably a connection with the Charles Schleininger (*1851) family below, additional information is presented in short form:

Charles Schleininger (*1851 Baden, Germany, +18.10.1915 Richmond NY), emigrated in 1870

Frederika (*1851 Wurtemburg, Germany, +23.04.1918 Richmond NY), wife

Frank J. (*1877 New York), son

Emma (*1879), wife, married 9 years, no children

Charles A. (*1878 New York, +05.12.1947 Richmond NY), son

Helen (*1883), wife

Charles (*1904), son

Helen (*22.06.1907 Richmond), daughter

Harold (*01.01.1909 Richmond), son

Marion (*1910), daughter

Otillie (*30.11.1879 Manhattan, NY, +10.06.1882 Manhattan NY), daughter, died at age 2 years

Frieda (*1884 New York), daughter
Rosa Mary (*22.01.1890 Castleton, Richmond, NY), daughter

In 1880 the Charles Schleininger (*1851)'s are living in Manhattan on E. 17th Street, while the Frank Schleininger (*1849 Germany) family above is living in Manhattan as well, on West 36th Street. By 1890 the Charles Schleininger (*1851 Germany) family has moved south to Richmond (Staten Island) By 1900 the Frank K. Schleininger (*1849 Germany) family has moved north to The Bronx. By 1920, following the death of Frank K. Schleininger (*1849), his wife Francis K. Catherine Schoembs Schleininger moves to Richmond from The Bronx! Frank K. (*1849) and Charles (*1851) must be brothers!

The Schleininger families are somewhat confusing. There are multiple Franks, Charles', Catherines, Frances', Francis', Arthurs, etc. And given the inaccuracies in Census information, sometimes it is a challenge to know with whom you are dealing.

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

Contact the Calvary Cemetery in Queens. Find out birthdate for Matthew, if they have one. Which other family members are buried with him. Location in Cemetery. Other relevant information. Do they have a searchable database online?

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: 1860 Census - Martin Schames (*1818) -- Family Search 1870 Census - Mathias Schambs (*1818) (click to next page for other family members) -- Family Search 1900 Census - Henry Schambs (*1856) -- Family Search 1915 Census - Henry Schambs (*1856) -- Ancestry.com