Martin Schembs of Brooklyn

Martin Schömbs/Schaembs of Brooklyn

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The Story of Martin Schömbs/Schembs/Schaembs (*1832, +1922)

For several years concluding in 2017 four cousins spent considerable time researching and trying to understand the story of the family of Mathias (*1795) and Anna Katharina Mick Schömbs of Hahnheim, Germany. Monika Schoembs, Peter Schulz, Reinhold Schembs and I (Jim Schembs) have all been involved. But the final and conclusive findings were with the help of Jackie Catalano and Becky Aftowicz. It was with their help, and using DNA testing, we were able to solve the riddle. At least three of the eight children of Mathias and Anna Katharina emigrated. The first was their son Jacob Schömbs (*1827 Hahnheim) in 1850. Jacob was then followed by Katharina Sophia Schömbs (*1838) in 1857. And finally Martin Schömbs (*1832) followed Sophie two years later in 1859. The story of Martin is told in the following parts: To read about the DNA steps taken and the results, click HERE. And HERE to see the resulting relationship of Jacob Schembs of Peoria IL and Martin Schaembs of Brooklyn NY>

Who was Martin Schömbs/Schembs/Schaembs?
Emigration
Marriage to Sophie Wagner
Naturalization
What is a Feather Duster Maker?
Where they lived in Brooklyn
Timeline
Other Records from Brooklyn
Record from Peoria, Illinois
Deaths of Martin and Sophie
Descendants of Martin Schembs

Who was Martin Schömbs/Schembs/Schaembs of Brooklyn NY?

Over the early years of the 21st Century (this one) we were uncertain who Martin Schembs of Brooklyn NY was. Gradually records were located. The spelling of his surname continued to change, depending upon at which document one looked. In fact Martin probably wins the family award for the largest number of different spellings of his name: Schengs, Schembs, Schamps, Schemps, James, to name a few. A longer listing is provided below. But one thing was very consistent and unique, his occupation. Martin was a "feather duster maker". This frequently ensured that this was the same person across multiple records. Another critical document was a baptismal record of his two sons. In this church record was the fact that Martin was from the German village of Hahnheim.

Emigration and First Home

Martin transited the Atlantic from Havre aboard the ship Genesse, arriving in New York on 1 October, 1859. He was listed as a 27 year old farmer emigrating alone. There were 82 passengers on board. Upon arriving in New York City Martin lived with his younger sister Sophie Schömbs Endlich and her family near Tompkins Square and downtown Manhattan. This we see from the 1860 Census. Sophie had emigrated two years before Martin but seven years after their older brother Jacob Schömbs (*1827 Hahnheim).

Marriage to Sophie Wagner

We know of the marriage of Martin Schaembs and Sofia Henriette Eberhardine Caroline Wagner (*about 1843, +20.02.1923 Brooklyn) from Wittenburg, Germany from the baptismal record of their first two children. See below. Based on the birthdate of their first child Gustaf, they probably married in about 1865.

Naturalization

There is an index card for Martin's naturalization naturalized on 15 August 1888 in the Common Pleas Court of New York. And the certificate. The petition gives his date of immigration as 1859. His occupation is "Feather Plumes".

What is a Feather Duster Maker"

Think of a horse carriage with the fancy feather plumes standing out. Apparently this was a part of the business. Perhaps a major part of the business. Here is an advertisement for his products.

Where they lived in Brooklyn, New York

Between the various Census years and the City Directories of Brooklyn, we can paint the picture of where they lived. The Timeline below begins with Martin's emigration and 1860 when he was living with his sister Sophie and her husband Jacob Endlich in Manhattan. All residences thereafter are in Brooklyn. The various spellings of the family name are noted. The references to the Map can be viewed by clicking HERE. Specifically they are enumerated in the Censuses of 1875 (New York, image), 1900 (U.S.), 1905 (New York, image), 1910 (U.S., image) and 1920 (U.S.).

**Public Records of the Martin Schaembs Family**
Year	Source	Name	Residence	Map #
1859	Emigration
1860	Census	Schengs	Manhattan	15 Av B
1864	City Directory	Schembs	Myrtle Ave c Adams	A
1868	City Directory	Schamps	Atlantic c Clinton	B
1869-70	City Directory	Schembs	120 Clinton	C
1871	City Directory	Schembs	120 Clinton	C
1871	Church Record	Schembs	200 Clinton	D
1871-72	City Directory	Schemps	138 Graham	E
1874-75	City Directory	Schembs	138 Graham	E
1875-76	City Directory	Schemps	138 Graham	E
1875	Census	Schembs	138 Graham	E
1880	Census	James	East 16th Street, Manhattan	G
1905	Census	Schaembs	612 Metropolitan Ave	F
1910	Census	Schaembs	612 Metropolitan Ave	F
1920	Census	Schaembs	612 Metropolitan	F
1940	Census	Hermann Schaembs	Queens NY
1940	Census	Edna Souvay Settle	Ramapo NY

In Martin's later years, by about 1900, it can be seen that the family seemed to settle on the "Schaembs" spelling. Martin Schaembs (*1832 Hahnheim, +1923 Brooklyn NY) was the only known family in the world using that spelling of the surname. There are occasional civil records and other references to other Schaembs, but they were not correct. The other families were Schombs and Schembs and the more common spelling variations.

Baptism of Gustaf and Hermann

The baptismal record from the Zion Lutheran Church in Brooklyn includes the first two children of Martin and Sofie. On 19 March 1871 the two sons of Martin Schembs were baptized:[1]

Gustaf Schembs, born 6 May 1867 in Brooklyn (although the record could say 1869)

Hermann Schembs, born 6 April 1870 in Brooklyn

The record indicates Martin and Sofia Wagner Schembs are the parents. They lived at 200 Clinton St. in Brooklyn.

There are no entries in the Brooklyn City Directories for "Schembs" or "Schemps" after the 1875-76 edition. However, we need to look for the "Schaembs" spelling. This may not have been previously done.

Other Records from Brooklyn

There are two Schembs infants listed in the Brooklyn Death Index from this same period. They are:

Carl Schembs, 1864, age 1 (page 280)

Elizabeth Schembs, 1866, age 1 (page 88)

At this time the names of the parents of these infants are not known. Perhaps one could locate these deaths in the complete record of deaths. This reference is simply to the Death Index. But they are mentioned here because Martin Schaembs is the only known family in Brooklyn using the "Schembs" spelling.

Moves to Manhattan, Experiments with the Name "JAMES"

In 2016 Monika Schoembs (Nürnberg) went looking for Martin under the family name "James". As we have seen with other Schömbs, they "experimented" with changing their family name to from Schombs or Schaembs or some other variation to "James". She found Martin James and his family in the 1880 Census. But not only had they changed their family name, they had moved back to Manhattan where Martin had lived when he first emigrated to Amerika. In 1880 the family was living on East 16th Street in Manhattan. To completely explore the Census page, use the Live Links at the bottom of this page. How long the experiment for Martin lasted is not known. For in the 1905 Census he is back to Schaembs and living again in Brooklyn. But it is clear that the 1880 record is the Martin Schaembs family. One can see that by looking at the names and ages of the children in the Census. With one exception. In the 1880 Census their first child is enumerated as August rather than Gustav. This could, however, have been anglicising his name.

Record from Peoria, Illinois

In the Peoria, Illinois, 1876 City Directory was a listing for a Martin Schembs living with the Jacob Schembs family at 1026 North Adams Street. His occupation is given as "featherdustermkr". With the 2017 confirmation that Jacob Schembs (+1914 Peoria IL) was the older brother of Martin of Brooklyn, this record now is completely understandable. The reason for Martin being in Peoria for anything other than a visit is less clear. And if he was just visiting, it is curious that he was included in the Directory.

Deaths of Martin and Sophie

Martin died on 25 January 1922 in Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Eagle newspaper had a practice of printing poems and memorials by family members. In 1926 and again 1927 his daughter Lorette Souvray remembered his passing. Sophie followed Martin in death a year later on 20 February 1923. The obituary incorrectly gives the name of her late husband as "Lewis" Schaembs. In 1924 she was remembered.

Descendants of Martin Schaembs

One of the helpful columns in the 1910 Census deals with how many children the parents have had and how many are living. In this case the number given is 7 children, 4 of whom are still living in 1910. From the 1910 and later Censuses we know that William Gustaf, Hermann, Lena and undoubtedly Lorette were still living. Therefore, relying upon the 1910 Census the others (Emma, Rosalia and the seventh of whom we do not know) were deceased by 1910. In all probability one of the two infant deaths mentioned above in "Other Records from Brooklyn" was the "missing" or seventh child of Martin and Sophie. It could have been either Carl (*1863, +1864) or Elizabeth (*1865, +1866).

Children: (6)

6.1.....William Gustaf Schaembs (6.05.1867 Brooklyn NY, +before 1923)

The record of his baptism gives his name as Gustaf. Also, as commented above, his year of birth could be 1869. In the 1880 Census, he is enumerated as August. Perhaps this is how he was called at the time. But then the 1905 Census has William G. And in the 1910 U.S. Census he is Gustave W. We assume his name was William Gustaf. Gustaf was not mentioned in the 1920 Census.

In 1910 Gustaf was enumerated as living with his parents and married. But no wife is listed. Perhaps he was really single. We have no record of Gustaf or William G. after 1910 at this time.

6.2.....Hermann Edward Schaembs (26.04.1870 Brooklyn NY, +after 1940)

The birth record for Hermann is interesting. It gives his name as "Emil James" rather than "Hermann Edward Schaembs". It is clear that this is the same person. The date and place of birth, the mother's maiden name and the father's first name are consistent with other records. Also the surname "James", as mentioned previously, has been used by other emigrants from the Wahlheimerhof area. Whether this was a mistake or the family was considering changing their name at the time of Hermann's birth is not known. Nor do we have any idea about the given name "Emil". It is also worth noting that the baptismal record indicates his date of birth as the 6th, not the 26th of April 1870. It is not known which is correct.

Herman Schaembs married Caroline Schroen (*1880 New York, +after 1940) on 26.09.1900 in Manhattan. We also know this from multiple Census records - 1910, 1920 and 1940. At the time of the 1910 Census Caroline was 30 years old. Caroline was the daughter of August and Helen Firse Schroen.

In 1910 Hermann and Caroline were living at 36 Elm Street in Queens. They owned their home. Hermann was a manager for a theatrical supplies company. Caroline did not work. The 1910 Census recorded how many childen a woman had delivered. Caroline had had none.

By 1920 they had moved to 104-14 89th Avenue in the Richmond Hill Township of Queens. Again they owned their house which was mortgaged. Hermann was following his father and was a clerk at a "Plumes" business earning a wage. Caroline did not work. The next record we have of them is the 1940 Census. They still lived in the same house which was valued at $5,400 and mortgaged. They were self employed, both making "feather plumes", following in Martin's footsteps. They did not declare their income for 1939 but did report they had both worked full time, 52 weeks. Both Hermann and Caroline completed the 8th grade in school.

In The Brooklyn Eagle in 1933 there is a list of the Ladies Aid Society at the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Brooklyn. A Mrs. Schaembs is named. This undoubtedly was Caroline Schroen Schaembs, as there were no other known Mrs. Schaembs living in New York at the time. The Church was located at 102-35 89th Avenue, one block from their home at 104-14.

6.3.....Lena Schaembs (Sept 1873 Brooklyn NY, +after 1940)

While her parents were living, Lena lived with them in the family home. After her parents had passed away Lena, still single and in her 50's lived in the home of Robert M. and Loutta L. Souvay in Ramapo, Rockland County, NY. Rockland County is on the west side of the Hudson River, immediately north of New Jersy. She is enumerated as the sister-in-law of the Head of household, Robert Souvay. Loutta must be Lena's sister Lorette (*1876).

Ten years later in 1940 Lena, age 66, is living in the home of David and Edna Souvay Settle in Ramapo. She is a boarder per the Census. In actuality she was the aunt of Edna Souvay Settle.

6.4.....Lorette Schaembs (*06.01.1878 Brooklyn NY, +01.06.1968 New City NY)

Lorette married Henry "Harry" Marquet, Jr. (*1872 Manhattan NY) on 02.11.1895 in Manhattan. Harry was the son of Harry Louis and Ernestine Black Marquet. Harry Sr. was a pharmacist in Manhattan. Their daughter Loretta, or perhaps it was Henrietta, was born the next month.

Their marriage is a classic story of how a union can end in incrimminations and undoubtedly untruths fought on in the courts. But what was true and what was not is difficult to determine. Within two or three years after their marriage Lorette and Henry separated. By this time their first daughter had died and their second had been born. For a number of years they fought in court, accusing each other of adultery. Loretta's suit for a divorce was granted giving her a monthly alimony of $8 and attorney's fees of $60. But six years later, in 1907, Henry and his attorner were still appealing the case, apparently unsuccessfully. Reading the court documents is a lesson of how not to end a marriage. Scroll back about eight pages and then begin reading. There are complaints, affidavits, rebuttals, judgment, motion for re-argument, denial and finally motion for appeal years later which apparently was also denied.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Loretta Henrietta Marquet (*05.12.1895 Manhattan NY)

From the court documents referenced above we know that Loretta Henrietta died at about age two. While her birth certificate gives her name as Loretta, the court document calls her Henrietta.

2.2.....Edna Souvay (*02.02.1898 New York, +06.1973 Rockland County NY)

In 1920 when Edna was 21 years old she was living with her parents in West Hoboken, New Jersey. Edna and David R. Settle (*1894 New Jersey, +3.12.1950 Ramapo Town NY) were married. In 1940 they lived in Ramapo Town, Rockland County NY. Living with them was Edna's aunt, Lena Schaembs.

Edna and David Settle (*1894) are also buried at Brick Church Cemetery in Spring Valley. They are buried in the same plot as "Nana" Souvay.

A few years later, apparently after 1901, Lorette married a second time. Her second husband was Robert Martin Souvay (*22.10.1875 New York, New York, +14.07.1947 Spring Valley New York). Robert's father Joseph M. Souvay had emigrated from France, his mother Eliza McCullam from Ireland.

In 1918 Robert registered for the U.S. Military during World War I. He was 42 years old. They lived at 421 Charles Street in West Hoboken, New Jersey. In 1920 Robert owned a business making perfumes. He then had a successful barber supply business in New York City. He was president of the corporation located at 504 West Broadway. They later moved to Spring Valley, New York, a small town just west of the Tappan Zee Bridge. The family were members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Spring Valey.

The 1940 Census enumerates Robert and Loretta. They were living on Grand View in Ramapo where they were renting a home of value about $35,000, a significant value for the time and about average for the other homes listed in the neighborhood. They had been living in Spring Valley in 1935. The Census included the educational level of the people. Robert completed the 6th grade and Lorette the 8th. In 1940 Robert was looking for work and had not worked the prior year.

Robert passed away in 1947. His wife Lorette died 21 years later in 1968. She is buried at Brick Church Cemetery in Spring Valley. Her headstone includes her nickname "Nana". Robert is not buried at Brick Church Cemetery.


Settle Family Plot click to enlarge	Edna Souvay Settle click to enlarge

Children: (4)

4.1.....Joan Settle (*1933 New York)

Joan married a Mr. Blauvelt. The town of Blauvelt was nearby, apparently founded by his ancestors.

4.2.....Robert S. Settle (*1936 New York, +07.2019)

4.3.....David R. Settle (*06.02.1936 New York)

4.4.....Walter Curtis "Curt" Settle (*13.01.1938 New York, +12.09.2005 Boynton Beach FL)

Walter married Carol M. Stewart (+30.04.2012 Ridgewood NJ).

Curt's career was in police work. A memorial service, held at the Clarkstown Police Department in New City NY, gives a little of the history. New City is about ten miles north of Ramapo and Spring Valley NY.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Jaqueline Mary Settle (*24.02.1960 Suffern NY)

The year of birth is not clear. It is probably 1960 but it could be 1959. As a young woman Jackie lived in Nanuet NY before moving to the upper East Side in Manhattan. She married Charles R. Catalano. They live on William Penn Road in Warren NJ.

3.2.....Curt Settle (*1961, +05.2019)

Curt and Colleen live in Richmond Hill GA, near Savannah.

3.3.....John Settle (*abt 1965)

John and Suzanne live in Bardonia NY, not far from where his parents and grandparents lived in Spring Valley.

6.5.....Rosalia Schaembs (2 Aug 1879 Manhattan NY, +before 1910)

No further information is available about Rosalia Schaembs at this time.

6.6.....Emma Schaembs (1880 Brooklyn NY, +17.08.1899 New York City NY)

We first know of Emma through the record of her marriage on 10 April 1899 to George M. Dieringer (*1878 New York City NY, +13.06.1931 Queens NY), son of Columban Dieringer and Louisa Lesch. Apparently she was about four months pregnant at the time of the marriage. She passed away in August 1899. Her newborn son died a week later.

Children: (1)

1.1.....George E. Dieringer (*August 1899 New York City NY, +23.08.1899 New York City NY)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Lucille Blum, Zion Lutheran Church Baptismal Book 2, p. 148

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:
Research the two Schembs infant deaths in "Other Records from Brooklyn" above
City Directory Listings for Schaembs, particularly after 1876

I have enlisted the help of the Clarkstown Chief of Police (Michael Sullivan m.sullivan@clarkstown.org). He said he knows Curt Settle had at least one son, will attempt to contact him and forward my email. November 2015

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 Schengs 1875 Census - Martin Schembs 1880 Census - Martin JAMES 1905 Census - Martin Schaembs 1910 Census - Martin Schaembs 1910 Census - Hermann Schaembs 1920 Census - Morten Schcembs 1920 Census - Hermann Schaembs 1920 Census - Robert Souvay 1940 Census - Hermann Schaembs 1940 Census - Robert Souvay 1940 Census - David R. Settle