- The California Schembs
CLICK to trace the ancestors of Johan Schembs - The Story of Johan Schembs III
- Johan Schembs was the fifth Schömbs to emigrate in the Twentieth Century from Germany for the United States. His story is told in the following parts:
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- Johan Schembs
- Emigration of Johan
- Early Years in the United States
- Marriage to Hanna Curran
- Their Lives Together
- Descendants of Johan Schembs
- Johan Schembs (*16.11.1902 Cologne, +11.07.1991 Novato CA)
- Johan was the second Schembs to emigrate in 1926. While Otto Schembs (see The New Jersey Schembs) arrived in New York on January 15, 1926, it is unlikely that Johan and Otto knew each other. They were both part of the Laubenheimer Schömbs branch, but they were fourth cousins -- one from Darmstadt and the other from Köln (Cologne).
Johan Schembs (*1902, +1991) - Johan was born in Köln on November 16, 1902. As a young adult Johan lived in an apartment in Köln, down the hall from two female cousins (Anna and Marie) and their families. Anna and Marie were related on Johan's mother's side.
Not a great deal is known of his childhood and early adult years prior to his emigration. Economic times were extremely difficult in Germany, however, in the years following World War I. Johan decided to emigrate to the United States and a better chance in life.
He did tell of "roaming around the country (Germany) and going to Wiesbaden to see relatives." Apparently Johan had only gone through the 8th grade in school, but had a very good mechanical aptitude and was an avid reader. He was a self-educated man and great in discussions.[1]
One story endures, however. As a teenager in Köln, Johan was seriously injured in an accident in a railroad yard. He was severely paralyzed and not expected to live. The last rights were administered by a priest. As history would prove, the priest's efforts had been unnecessary.[1]
Johan was the second of three sons of Johan Schembs II (*1864, + before 1925) and Anna Maria Zimmerman (*1864, +abt 1928). Three daughters had died in early childhood. The oldest son Anthony Schembs (*1901, ~1944) remained in Germany, serving in the German Army in World War II and dying on the Eastern Front. Joseph Schembs (*1908, ~1930), Johan's younger brother, emigrated a year after Johan (see Joseph Schembs from Köln). 
Johan Schembs II (*1864) Anna Maria Zimmerman
Schembs (*1864)Johann Schems (*1836) Anna Maria Heeb
Schembs (*1841)Parents of Johan (*1902) Grandparents of Johan (*1902)
- Emigration of Johan (*1902)
Picture taken aboard the steamship Hamburg showing the arriving emigrants. Johan Schembs
is in the upper right part of the picture, wearing a hat and standing just above the lifering.- On July 2, 1926, Johan left Köln and went to Hamburg where he boarded a ship sailing for New York. He was processed through U.S. immigration at Ellis Island. Johan remembered, as they were entering New York Harbor on July 12, hearing people yelling. When he reached the deck the Statue of Liberty was within view. He related carrying his bags up a long ramp to immigration, and how friendly and helpful the immigration people were, an experience not enjoyed by all immigrants. They said "welcome" and shook his hand.[1]
- Early Years in the United States
- Upon arrival in New York, Johan changed his name to John. After several months he proceeded to St. Louis which had a large German immigrant population. He arrived in St. Louis on January 2, 1927. His family is not aware of any relatives he knew in America.[1]
In St. Louis he attended night school to learn mechanical drawing and engineering, as well as English. John found a job immediately with Liggett & Myers, the tobacco company, working as a plant engineer. According to his notes he started working on January 18, 1927. This led to a position as an engineer in a hospital in St. Louis, later moving to Kansas City where he worked in another hospital for room and board and a few dollars.
In September 1936, during the Depression, John left Kansas City aboard a bus for California seeking new employment. As the bus passed through Cheyenne, Wyoming, someone was on top of the bus stealing the luggage. He told of the bus breaking down, catching the thief, and having to return to Cheyenne to take the thief to see the sheriff.[1]
John arrived in Oakland and again found a position as an engineer in a hospital. - Marriage to Hanna Curran
- In Oakland, John lived in a boarding house. In 1936 he met Hanna Curran (*14.05.1908 Ventry, Cty Kerry, Ireland, +19.05.2001 San Jose CA) who lived in San Francisco but was visiting friends who happened to manage the boarding house. They courted and were married October 3, 1937, in St. Edward's Catholic Church in San Francisco. Their first child was born nine months and three days later.
Hannah Curran Schembs (*1908) - Hanna had emigrated from Ireland as a 19 year old in 1927. After the 6th grade she worked as a helper on the family farm in Ventry (near Dingle) in County Kerry. As was custom, the farm was passed down to her oldest brother. She saw no future working on the farm for her brother.[2]
An uncle who had previously emigrated to Chicago sent her money for ship's passage to Boston. Hanna's arrival in Boston was not as pleasant as John's had been. Apparently she had a scalp irritation, perhaps the shingles, and was terrified that she was going to be returned to Ireland. This was common treatment for immigrants with health problems. After testing she was allowed to stay.[2]
Hanna arrived in Chicago where she worked as a housekeeper, later reimbursing her uncle. In 1935 or 1936, Hanna traveled to San Francisco for the funeral of another uncle. She decided to stay, again finding employment as a housekeeper. - Their Lives Together
- About the time of their marriage, John left his job in Oakland for a position with Stuart Oxygen Company in San Francisco where he worked for thirty years until his retirement. Their first home in San Francisco was in a basement apartment. After a year or two they seized an opportunity to buy a fixer-upper house on Prague Street for nothing down. Here they lived until 1944, when they moved to Kentfield in Marin County.
John commuted across the Golden Gate Bridge for the balance of his career. After his retirement in 1969, John and Hanna moved to nearby Novato. They were members of Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church.
John passed away in 1991. His obituary talks about a few of his interests: - "He very much enjoyed working with wood and refinished a number of old pieces for his daughters and son. He also enjoyed gardening and coin collecting."
- John and Hanna had three children and six grandchildren, all of whom are still in the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Descendants of Johan Schembs
- Children: (3)
- 3.1.....Eleanor Hanna Schembs (*1938 San Francisco)
The Marriage of Eleanor and Robert Thiel, 1971 - Eleanor worked for the telephone company after graduating from school. She met and married Robert Lee Thiel (*1941 Seattle WA). Bob's parents were also from German roots.
Bob was raised in San Francisco. He went to the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, majoring in Electrical Engineering. Following college Bob taught in a Marianist Brothers (Catholic) school in Hawaii, then worked in Antarctica with Douglas Aircraft. After a stint working for an engineering company in San Francisco, Bob took a position with the Golden Gate Bridge District and is now the Electrical Superintendent.
In 1994, Eleanor and Bob traveled to Ireland to look up Hanna's relatives. In 1995 they went to Europe for a walking tour covering six countries. - Children: (2)
From left: Chris, Brad, Michele, Eleanor, and Bob - 2.1.....Michele Lyn Thiel (*1973 Greenbrae CA)
- Michele and Brad Carlson were married 24 June 2004 in Anchorage, Alaska. The timing was perfect, just about Midsummers. They closed their eyes and thought they were in Hawaii!
- 2.2.....Christopher Robert Thiel (*1975 Greenbrae CA)
- 3.2.....Mary Anna Schembs (*14.11.1939 San Francisco, +04.02.2009 Novato CA)
- Mary Ann received her degree from St. Joseph Nursing College in 1960, later gaining her B.S. in nursing from Cal State Sacramento. Mary Ann then received her teaching credential from University of California, Santa Cruz. She has taught (Gavilan College) and practiced nursing (Marin General, Santa Teresa, and finished her career at Alexian Brothers Hospital in labor and delivery. She died in early 2009 after a long fight against cancer.
Her husband, Frank Joseph Aftowicz (*1943 Passaic NJ) has his degree in mathematics from Rennselaer Polytechnical Institute, later receiving his masters from Columbia University in computer science. Frank comes from a family of Polish immigrants. His grandparents and his aunt emigrated. They left Poland for economic opportunity in the United States. Frank's parents were born in the United States.
Frank worked most of his career for IBM, first in Kingston NY, and next in Poughkeepsie. In 1978 he transferred to the San Jose CA facility. Frank and Mary Ann met soon thereafter and were married. After his retirement Frank continued working for a consulting firm on an assignment at IBM. - Children: (4)
- 4.1.....Wendy Teresa Aftowicz (*1981 Greenbrae CA)
- 4.2.....Rebecca Anne Aftowicz (*1982 San Jose CA)
- Becky is a librarian for the U.S. government and lives in Washington, DC. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with her loved ones.
- 4.3.....Thomas Michael Aftowicz (*1983 Seoul South Korea)
- 4.4.....Nicholas Brett Aftowicz (*1985 Seoul South Korea)
- Nick was married October 5, 2013 to Dorothy Trent. They met while in school at University of California Santa Cruz. Nick received his Bachelor's of Business Management and now works at Google where he is an Operations Analyst. They live in San Mateo. In their spare time they enjoy cooking, traveling and hiking. They do have one son.
- 3.3.....John Joseph Schembs (*1941 San Francisco)
- John served in the U.S. Navy aboard the aircraft carrier Kearsarge during the Quemoy crisis, prior to the Vietnam War. He studied drafting in college upon his return. He has worked in the San Francisco shipyards and private companies. John also enjoys making and refinishing furniture, which he has done from his home and sold. John married Karen Paxton (*1941) in 1971. In a few years they divorced but have subsequently gotten back together.
Schembs meets Schembs. From left: John Schembs, Pam Orton, Bob Thiel,
Eleonor Schembs Thiel, Jim Schembs, Maryann Schembs Aftowicz,
and Frank Aftowicz. Circa 1996.