Carlo Schoembs of New York

Carlo Schoembs of New York

CLICK to trace the ancestors of Carlo Schoembs

The First in the Twentieth Century

When we expanded the research on Zacharias' descendants in 1999 to include those branches of the family with other spellings of the name (other than "Schembs"), one of the first groups that emerged was the descendants of August "Carlo" Schoembs (*28.11.1876 Offenbach, +3.11.1943 Flushing NY). Carlo emigrated from Offenbach, today a suburb of Frankfurt, in 1901.[4] He settled in New York, in the Flushing area on Long Island near the present day JFK Airport.


Carlo Schoembs (*1876) Picture believed to have been taken in about 1900, just prior to his emigration. The picture comes from Germany.	The meeting of the second cousins in the Friesenheim Cemetery. Right: Anja Schömbs Verdoorn, and her brother Paul Schömbs, both from The Netherlands; Bets Schoembs Feldmann, Massachusetts, granddaughter of Carlo; Harald Schoembs, Berlin; and Martin Schoembs, Nürnberg. Picture from 1999 Familientreffen.

Carlo was the sixth and youngest child of Jacob (*1837, +1888) and Maria Chambosse Schoembs (*1845, +1916) of Offenbach. Jacob (*1837) was born and raised in Friesenheim, the town to which many Schoembs can trace their roots on the way back to Zacharias of Undenheim. At the family reunion (Familientreffen Schömbs 1999), one of the events was the meeting of some of these Schoembs for the first time. In fact, a year before the family gathering the second cousins did not know of the others existence!

Carlo's Emigration and Marriage

Carlo was about 24 years old when he emigrated in 1901. Carlo's older brother Freddie (*1869, +1952) had emigrated sixteen years earlier. As is told in the Freddie Schoembs chapter, Freddie made several trips back to Germany. His last known trip was in 1901. It is unclear whether Carlo accompanied Freddie on his return to Amerika. What is clear is that a few years later they married sisters, Elizabeth Fischer (*1885 New Jersey, +12.11.1952 Philadelphia PA) and Julia Fischer (*1882, +1966) respectively.

Carlo, picture probably taken in Germany when Carlo returned to visit, in the late 1920s. Picture believed to be in Hamburg.

Carlo and Elizabeth were married 25 February,1905 in West New York, New Jersey. From their Marriage Certificate we know that Elizabeth, age 19, was the daughter of Frederic and Margaret Schnell Fischer, both born in the USA. Elizabeth's residence was shown as 111 Hermann Avenue, undoubtely the home of her parents. Carlo was living at 1959 3rd Avenue, New York City. His occupation was listed as "store keeper." Carlo's brother Freddie and Julia Fischer were perhaps married a year or two earlier than Carlo and Elizabeth. Freddie and Julia's first daughter was born in August, 1905. Carlo maintained close ties with his family in Germany. In 1913 his brother Hugo, who was living in Dusseldorf at the time, came to Amerika to visit Carlo and Freddie. Perhaps Hugo was considering following his two brothers to Amerika.[1] Hugo's wife and child did not make the trip. A year later World War I began. Carlo returned to Germany on a visit in the late 1920's.

His Career and Homes

In 1915 Carlo and his family were living at 191 Amity Street. He was working in wholesale liquor. In 1920 Carlo was a shipping clerk at a silk mill.[4] The family lived at 160 Amity Street in Queens. They had three boarders living with them: Joseph Sullivan, a syrupmaker, and his brother William, a salesman, both working at a candy store; and Herman Meyer, a clerk at a brass factory. Carlo worked at various jobs during his life.[1] In his later years he worked in a bank. His granddaughter Elizabeth remembers Carlo taking her into the safe deposit vault, when she was young. He may have also worked as a gardener during the Depression and Elizabeth as a housekeeper. It is unclear if Carlo and Elizabeth lived in Flushing during all of the Depression. They might have moved to Connecticut or further north in New England. Carlo did not talk much, particularly about the old country. He was diabetic, and had been since an early age.[1] In their later years Carlo and Elizabeth lived on Locust Street and then on Union Street, both in Flushing.


Carlo, Elizabeth and Fred, circa 1929 in front of their home	Carlo and brother Freddie, circa 1929

When Carlo died in 1943, Elizabeth, age 58, moved in with their son Fred and his wife for a few years. She then re-married. Her second husband was William Blanke. Elizabeth and William lived in Philadelphia for about six years before she died in 1952 at the age of 67 years.

Descendants of Carlo Schoembs

Children: (1)

1.1.....Frederick Charles Schoembs (*26.05.1906 West New York NJ, +26.04.1994 Brookfield MA)

Frederick was the only child of Carlo and Elizabeth. When he was about twenty years old, Fred worked as a woodsman cutting firewood.[1]

On Friday, January 25, 1929, Fred was to have a date with a nursing student in New York City. She was unable to keep the date, so Fred took out her friend. Fred and the friend, Ruth W. Jeffery (*15.05.1908 East Burke VT, +01.05.1995 Chicopee MA) were married on 28 Jan 1929 in Flushing, NY --- three days later!! They were married for 65 years. When their children were young, Fred would go roller skating in the streets with them. Sunday afternoons they would go to the movie. They also went picnicking frequently.

In 1943 when Carlo died, Fred's mother Elizabeth moved in with Fred and Ruth in Flushing.

Fred began his career as a cook, progressing up to chef working in hotels. Most of his life he was working in supervision for various hotel chains, overseeing the food service operations. Fred and Ruth moved several times, as his jobs required this. One of their last stops was Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where they were living when he retired in 1969 from Marriott. They then moved to Massachusetts to be near both of their children and their grandchildren.

Fred loved playing pinochle, which he did regularly with his friends. Fred and Ruth, when they were living in Flushing, also liked to go into Manhattan for dinner and go to a play. Ruth was a knitter. Fred was an avid golfer and member of the Dunroamin Country Club in Gilbertville, MA. He made a couple of holes-in-one.[1]

Children: (2)

2.1.....Frederick Charles Schoembs, Jr. (*10.02.1930 Flushing NY, +28.12.1999 Dunnellon FL)

Fred, Jr., was born four months after the stock market crash in 1929. The family had moved several times, due to his father's employment. While Fred was in high school the family was living in a hotel in South Carolina. Fred decided he wanted to go to military school, which he did for a year. He finished high school in Flushing, NY. Fred enlisted in the U.S. Navy out of high school. He married Helen Funovits (*1930) on 25 November 1948 in College Point, NY. They were stationed in San Diego, from where he made several Pacific cruises over a period of 2 1/2 years. Helen and Fred divorced after a few years, later remarrying two times. In all, Fred had five children.

Children: (5)

5.1.....Richard Michael Schoembs (*1950)

Richard married Karen (* ). He is in law enforcement in Arlington, VA.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Robert Adams Schoembs (*1978)

3.2.....Kirsten Schoembs (*1981)

3.3.....David Joseph Schoembs (*1992)

Following his active duty, Fred (Sr.) was in the Naval, then the Airforce Reserves. He moved to Tulsa, OK, where his parents, Fred and Ruth, were living. There Fred Jr. met and married his second wife, Joan Chambers (*1930). They were married in about 1954 and had one child. After their divorce Joan remarried a man with the family name Martin. He adopted Michael.

5.2.....Michael Schoembs Martin (*1956)

Michael married Becky Lynn Shelly (*1958) in 1974 in Oilton OK.

Children: (4)

4.1.....April Martin (*1972)

April married William Collier.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Ashton Taylor Collier (*1993)

4.2.....Tonya Martin (*1974)

Tonya married and has a child.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Hayden Michael Martin (*1995)

4.3.....Sam Martin (*1978)

4.3.....Blake Mitchell Martin (*1991)

Fred then moved to Connecticut, where he worked as a correction officer at the Connecticut State Prison for 20 years, and 12 years with the Marion County Sheriff's Department.[2] In Connecticut he married a third time. The wedding was in Hartford in about 1960. His wife was Carol Holmes (*~1936), with whom he had three children.

5.3.....Scott Schoembs (*13.03.1962 Hartford CT, +23.07.2011 Manchester CT)

Scott was a self-employed painter. He loved music, animals, fishing and the outdoors.

5.4.....Dawn Schoembs (*1963 CT)

Dawn married Jamie Gross (* ) in June, 1986, in Manchester, CT. Inn 2011 Dawn was living in Enfield.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Michael Gross (*1986)

In 2011 Michael was living in Maine.

5.5.....Christoper Schoembs (*1966 CT)

On 13 Jul 1991 Chris married Lisa Fonteichtla in Tolland, CT. They later lived in Manchester.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Kendra Schoembs (*1993)

Fred died tragically in 1999, three days after Christmas. He pulled over to help others in a traffic accident on a Florida Interstate. He was hit by another car as he went for help.[1]

2.2.....Elisabeth Jean "Bets" Schoembs (*18.03.1932 Flushing NY, +12.08.2012 Belchertown MA)

In February, 1949, Bets was at a party at the enlistmens' club at Fort Totton in Bayside, NY. There she met Gerald Charles Feldmann (*1927 Astoria NY, +2010 Warren MA). Being more conservative than her father, the wedding was not until April 18 in Flushing. Jerry had enlisted in the Army in 1944. He fought in the infantry at the Battle of the Bulge and was in Germany when the War ended. After the cessation of hostilities he was an MP at Regensburg, Germany. Jerry was career Army. A few months after their wedding he was sent to Fort Riley, KS, where he went to OCS and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in November, 1949. In 1950 he was shipped out to Korea. When he returned in February, 1952, he went to the Army Language School in Monterrey, studying Chinese. After another tour in Korea and then one in Formosa, he retired in 1964 as a Major.

While their children were young Bets and Jerry enjoyed picnicking, skating, biking, all other sports, and visiting any type of museum they could find. After retirement they bought a small farm in Lunenberg, MA, raising a few farm animals and five children. After several years in industry Jerry decided to "follow his daughter Kris and go to school to learn nursing."[1] He worked for fifteen years in the field.

Bets was primarily a homemaker, knitter, and enjoyed cooking. This was fortunate with five children and a husband overseas several times. They loved to travel and went R.Ving for several years.


Jerry Feldmann (left) swearing in Richard Nordin and Michael Feldmann as Second Lieutenants into the U.S. Army. Jerry Jr. and Denise participate in the festivities, circa 1979.	The Feldmanns: in back from left Denise, Jerry Jr., Steve. Sitting Kris and Bets


Bets Feldmann, circa 1999	50th Anniversary celebration, 18 April 1999: Jerry Jr., Steve, Michael, Jerry Sr., Bets, Denise and Kris

Children: (5)

5.1.....Gerald Charles Feldmann (*1950 Ft. Hood TX)

Jerry married Ginger Lee Rose (*1946 Astoria OR, +~2003) in 1973 in Carson City, NV. They had no children during more than 20 years of marriage. Jerry served in the Navy, and Army Reserve and has worked in Civil Service for almost twenty-five years. While in the Navy he did a tour in Vietnam during that War. Jerry and Ginger were divorced and Jerry later married Joan Washer (*1944 Newburg NY) in 1995 in Walkill, NY. Joan had three children from a former marriage. They are now divorced.

Jerry is now retired, living in Shohola, PA. He spends his time investing in stocks and traveling in his Winnebago.

5.2.....Christina Marie Feldmann (*1953 Camp Roberts CA)

Kris went to nursing school, practicing for a number of years after receiving her degree. She subsequently has received her Masters and does family counseling. Kris met and married Richard James Nordin (*1953 Lynn MA). The wedding was 6 Aug 1977 in Leominster, MA. Rich went to Boston University, receiving his degree from the Harvard Extension School in Russian! Rich went into the Army right after school. During his ten years in the service, they were stationed in Germany and a few stateside assignments. He was a paratrooper in the invasion of Grenada. After he got out he started working on his PhD and has completed all but the dissertation. He next worked for the Rand Corporation in California, then they returned to Massachusetts.

In about 1996 they moved to Moscow, Russia, where Richard made investments directed toward converting the Soviet military industry to civilian uses. He now, with a partner, raises investments to build and lease warehouses in Moscow. They are considering expanding to other parts of the former Soviet Union.

Pamela and I visited them in 2000 and stayed in their apartment. They had bought the third floor of an old run-down building in Moscow. Doing the work themselves, they remodeled it (down to the studs) into a very beautiful and comfortable home in the center of Moscow. Kris continued with her counseling, plus embroidery and pottery. They were members of the Moscow Country Club -- a short golf season, but they really enjoyed it. They have now moved back to a new home in Brookfield, New Hampshire.

Richard now is working with an investment company out of New York and is involved in their Russia investments.

Kris and Richard came to the first two Familientreffens in Herrnsheim, Germany -- 1999 and 2005. They enjoy traveling.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Richard James Nordin (*1978 Fitchburg MA)

Rich is employed in the computer industry, working for a college in the Boston area.

2.2.....Kirsten Margaret Nordin (*1983 Leominster MA)

Kirsten received her bachelors degree from Boston University. She returned to Moscow and worked with her father in the business. In June 2008 Kyra married Johnny Mutuberria (*6.1980 Los Angeles CA). Johnny is going to veterinarian school and Kirsten is in retailing.

5.3.....Denise Ruth Feldmann (*1954 Fort Ord CA)

In 1972 Denise married John Kindschi (*1944).

Children: (1)

1.1.....Cynthia Louise Kindschi (*1972 Fitchburg MA)

Cynthia married David Bartolucci (*1969). Cynthia works in scheduling for a hospital group.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Alexander Jacob Bartolucci (*1993 Springfield MA)

Alex is musically talented and planning to go to college.

Cindy works for the State Police as a dispatcher. She remarried in February 2006 to John Brower.

Denise and John were divorced. Needing an income, she and her father, Jerry, discussed various ideas. He suggested she consider law enforcement. She was a member of the first class at the Academy to include women in 1978. She has since retired from the State Police and written two books: "Heavy Hands" deals with domestic abuse; and "Smart Talk", which was being published in 2006, is on the subject of interrogation.

Denise received her Phd. degree in Criminal Justice and is now the chair of the department at Western New England University, Springfield MA. She is active in criminal justice associations and has participated in conferences in China, Turkey and Brazil.

In a second marriage, Denise married Robert Gosselin (*1946 Holyoke MA). They were married the first of September, 1990, in Granby MA. Bob too is retired from the State Police, teaches and loves to garden and cook. Robert was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam.

5.4.....Michael Frederick Feldmann (*1959 Fort Dix NJ)

Michael married Sue Ann Tousignant (*1959 Lowell MA) in 1980, October 18. He served in the army for four years. He and his brother-in-law Rich Nordin were commissioned in the same ceremony, sworn in by his father (Richard's father-in-law), Jerry Feldmann! During part of his service, Michael and Sue were stationed in Germany. After the service Michael worked with computers for several years.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Matthew Michael Feldmann (*1984 Frankfurt, Germany)

Matthew works in Connecticut in retailing. He married Danielle Tollider on 23 October 2011.

2.2.....Nicole Elizabeth Feldmann (*1987 Taunton MA)

Nicole is going to college in the Berkshires.

Michael divorced and later married Susan Hodder (*) in Lexington MA. Susan has a daughter Leah. Michael and Susan decided to change their careers and lives. They bought a bed & breakfast in Booth Bay Harbor, Maine. Visit the Welch House Inn. They are very active in local theater (both acting and sets), singing, and making homemade jewelry and beer.

5.5.....Steven Mark Feldmann (*1972 Fort Devens MA)

Steve was backpacking in Germany one summer in 1996. While in Europe he met his future wife Marie Vaskova (*1973 Prague, Czech Republic). They met in Prague at the Gula-Gula Cafe. They were married in 1997 in Prague. He had been working in computers, but decided to live in Prague. After a few years they moved to Boston, where Steve received his MBA from Northeastern in 2005. They own their own European bistro in Salem, MA, the Gulu-Gulu Cafe. And then they bought a pizzeria next door and now operate both businesses.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Mina Feldman (*2012 Salem MA)


Reinhold Schembs, Laubenheim; Harald Schoembs, Berlin; and Bets Schoembs Feldmann, Massachusetts at the Rheinischer Hof, Ginsheim, Germany.	Kris (Christina *1953) parties with Jochen Karl, Nürnberg, and his uncle Harald Schoembs, Berlin. Kris and Jochen are third cousins.
Fotos from the 1999 (First) Schömbs Familientreffen

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Elizabeth "Bets" Schoembs Feldmann (*1932)

[2] Fred Schoembs (*1930)

[3] James D. Schembs (*1942)

[4] 1920 U.S. Census

Fischer Addendum
As mentioned above, the brothers Freddie and Carlo married sisters Julia and Elizabeth Fischer. If one were to want to pursue the ancestry of the Fischer sisters, here is a starting place. The attached Family Page gives the family of Frederick J. and Margaret Fischer, the apparent parents of Julia and Elizabeth. The maiden name of Margaret Fischer was Margaret Snell. The information comes from various birth, marriage and other records found on the Web. From this website you should be able to access the individual event pages by using the pulldown menus on the right. In the 1910 U.S. Census for Guttenberg NJ, Frederick and Marguerite are enumerated together with two of their children, John (*1889) and Veronica (*1893). There is also a death record for a Frederick J. Fischer, single, on 18.08.1894, born 1884. Perhaps this was the legal name for Benedict (*1884). All this information needs to be verified. One important document would be the 1900 Census for the family, as Elizabeth and Julia might still be living at home in 1900. I have not yet looked for the 1900 Census.