THE DESCENDANTS of J. HEINRICH SCHÖMBS

Return to the Parents of Philipp Peter Schömbs

8.5.....Philipp Peter Schömbs (*26.09.1806 Friesenheim, +02.08.1882 Offenbach)

Philipp Peter Schömbs is the founder of the Offenbach Line, a Hessian Lithograph family, which over the years became very professional and successful. The line produced many who went on to obtain high levels of education and affluence. Peter Schömbs was first active in his parent's business where he learned the occupation of printing. Later he moved to Offenbach am Main where he worked as a lithographer.

Philipp Peter Schömbs was a strict Catholic. Before he entered the field of Lithography he had studied theology.

On 22.04.1830 he married Anna Catharina Böhm (*27.03.1804-+ 25.04.1877 Offenbach).

Children: (12) (The names and birthdates of two of the children, who died very young, are unknown)

12.1.....Johann "Heinrich" Schoembs (*25.09.1830 Offenbach, *20.08.1883 New York NY)

Heinrich Schoembs was the first child of Philipp Peter Schömbs. He married Anna Maria Agnesia Rind (*23.12.1837 + 20.07.1860 Frankfurt). A year after the death of Anna Maria on 14.8.1861 Heinrich married Mathilde Georgine Thomas (*07.06.1841 Frankfurt) in Frankfurt. He was a merchant in the paper business running his own company, as an advertisement in a 1865 directory of traders shows.


Advertisement, 1862 Click to enlarge	Advertisement, 1866 Click to enlarge

Advertisement from 1865 for the paper merchant business of Heinrich Schoembs

His career seemed to be not very succesful. Law journals from 1867 and 1869 report about two court proceedings against him. It is passed along by the family that Heinrich emigrated due to financial troubles and died in Brooklyn. His wife Mathilde was in a mental asylum.

Article from the "Wiener Allgemeinen Zeitung"
dated 29 June 1881

English Translation of the Article from the "Wiener Allgemeinen Zeitung" dated 29 June 1881
Click to enlarge

In 2020 Monika Schoembs (MS) found additional newspaper articles from the Frankfurt (28 June 1881) and Vienna (5 July 1881) newspapers, providing clarity of what had happened. Heinrich and an associate were tried and convicted in Frankfurt of fraud and embezzlement. Heinrich was sentenced to one and a half years in prison! Given that he emigrated in early August 1882, and assuming he was imprisoned, he must have been released in less than eighteen months.

*** MS Comment: I imagine what feelings must have been triggered for Heinrich's brother 12.4 Gottfried (*1834) when a trial in Frankfurt found so much resonance in the Viennese press. Gottfried already had many business contacts in Vienna before moving to Vienna from London in about 1870 and marrying into the Gauss family of merchants, who were very respected in Vienna. ***

The records of his emigration and his death give his age as being born in 1823 rather than 1830. But they confirm his occupation as a merchant. This, coupled with the family lore saying he emigrated and died in New York, and the fact that we have no other Johann Heirich or Heinrich Schömbs or Schoembs born in the 1820's is persuasive that the 1882 emigrant was Johann Heinrich Schömbs (*1830 Offenbach).

1882 Emigrant to New York City, USA
Click for the Story of Johann Heinrich Schoembs

Heinrich passed away at the age of fifty-three only eleven months after he emigrated. It is not known what caused his death.

Children: (9)

With his first wife Anna Maria Rind: (1)

9.1.....Anna Catharina Schoembs (*01.12.1857 Frankfurt, +28.12.1858 Frankfurt)

Children with Mathilde Georgine Thomas: (8)

9.2.....Helene Henriette Mathilda Anna Schoembs (*02.06.1862, +1872)

Helene Schoembs married Christoph Wilhelm Kuhlmann (*30.01.1854, +07.01.1934 Bad Homburg). Christoph was an engineer and chemist in Ahlden.

Children: (6)

6.1.....Dr. Wilhelm Kuhlmann (*18.11.1885 Offenbach, +07.08.1962 Limburg)

Dr. Kuhlmann was a government official. In the time of Hitler and the National Socialists he was removed from his position because he did not support the policies and programs. Dr. Kuhlmann married Margarethe "Gretel" Müller (*13.01.1886 Blessenbach).

Both Wilhelm and Margarethe were musical. He played the violin, she the grand piano. Their home concerts must have been special to enjoy. They lived in Limburg at the time. Following Wilhelm's death in 1962 Margarethe moved to a home for the elderly in Diez.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Dr. Dietrich Wilhelm Kuhlmann

Dr. Dietrich Wilhelm Kuhlmann was a doctor in Mainz. He married Hildegard Urban.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Thomas Kuhlmann (*1952)

3.2.....Andreas Kuhlmann

3.3.....Martina Kuhlmann

2.2.....Christine Helena Kuhlmann

Christine Helena Kuhlmann married Heinz Eberhard, a doctor practicing in Braunschweig.

Children: (2)

2.1......Nikola Eberhard

2.2......Hans-Dieter Eberhard

6.2.....Carl Kuhlmann

6.3.....Ernst Kuhlmann

6.4.....Hans Kuhlmann

6.5.....Leni Kuhlmann

6.6.....Elisabeth Kuhlmann

9.3.....Margaretha Sophie Schoembs (*14.08.1863, +06.01.1945)

Sophie Schoembs married Heinrich Philippi (+Offenbach).

Children: (2)

2.1.....Leni Philippi

Leni Philippi was mentally ill.

2.2.....Anni Philippi (*1903)

9.4.....Johann Heinrich Friedrich Schoembs (*3.05.1865 Frankfurt)

The birth record of Joh. Heinrich Friedrich Schoembs (*1865) gives critical information about his later years.

Birth Record of Joh. Heinrich Friedrich Schoembs (*1865)
Click to enlarge

Seventeen years later in the left column was added (Note the difference in handwriting):

"According to the deed of the royal government to Wiesbaden of 27 March 1882 N° 6595 I A from the German state association released to America."

This is a notation that Joh. Heinrich Friedrich had received on 27 March 1882 his official authorization allowing him to emigrate.

The next document is an immigration record from New York City of Heinrich Schoemb's arrival dated 31 July 1882. He was a seventeen year old German arriving on the ship "Rhein" which departed Bremen with a stopover in Southampton, England. He was reportedly "Staying in the the USA". He is entered on Line 5 of the passenger list page. He does not appear to be traveling with any other family members.

1882 Emigrant to New York City, USA
Click for the Story of Joh. Heinrich Friedrich Schoembs

No records have been located of Heinrich Friedrich's life in Amerika. Nor a possible return to Germany. We do know that his father emigrated and settled in New York City a month after Heinrich Friedrich. But then his father passed away a year later. One distinct possibility is that Heinrich Friedrich changed his surname.

9.5.....Bartholomäus Schoembs (*24.08.1867 Frankfurt, +24.08.1867)

9.6.....Anna Catharina Irena Schoembs (*25.08.1872, +10.09.1872)

9.7.....Ludwig "Louis" Paul Schoembs (*16.02.1874 Frankfurt, +06.08.1941)

Steamship Albano

As young children "Louis" and his sister "Emmi" were sent due to family problems to a unmarried brother of Mathilde in Poland, who was running a horse breeding farm there. After this uncle passed away the siblings returned to Offenbach. Temporarily they were taken in by their aunt Emilie Schoembs, widow of Friedrich Schoembs, but she couldn't keep them permanently. "Louis" was provided with an apprenticeship place by his older sister Helene and went to Frankfurt. There he got in trouble with the law due to a petit larcery and went to prison. After his discharge Emilie Schoembs and Cousin Carl Schoembs looked out for him. Carl bought him a ticket for a passage by ship to America. "At that time a well-tried method to get rid of such problems" as Carl's spouse Franziska noted in her memories. On March 26, 1896 "Louis" started out for America at the age of 21 under the name of "Paul Schoembs".

He traveled on board the steamer "Albano" with the shipping company Robert Miles Sloman & Co. from Hamburg to New York. His ticket was booked on the 'tween deck and he was enrolled as a merchant.

1882 Emigrant to New York City, USA
Click for the Story of Ludwig Paul Schoembs

But for whatever reason his life in Amerika was not to Louis's liking. At some time thereafter he returned to Germany. In 1941 he was put to death in the concentration camp at Hadamar-Mönchberg, a facility for mostly mentally and physically ill patients as well as Jews.

9.8.....Emilie Anna Schoembs (*4.10.1875, + mit 19 Jahren in Mainz)

The Community of
The Good Sheperd Home in Mainz

While her brother "Louis" got an apprenticeship place in Frankfurt, Emmi's older sister Helene found for her a post as a nanny. It was told in the family, that Emmi was a very beautiful teenager at this time in an age of about 18 years. She lost her job after a short term whereupon she ran away. After this "Emmi" was taken into the charge of the "Community of The Good Shepherd" in Mainz. A year later she died of consumption at the age of 19.

9.9.....Julius Schoembs

12.2...Friedrich Schoembs (*21.10.1832, +11.09.1879 Offenbach)


Friedrich Schoembs (1832-1879)	Emilie Schoembs nee Lang with Children Karl, Hermann and Granddaughter Frieda (um 1861)

Friedrich Schoembs was like his father a lithographer. He founded in 1859 the firm "Lithographische Anstalt Friedrich Schoembs" with its headquarters in Offenbach, at Kaiserstraße 13. The business was formed in 1930. Probably Karl Schoembs, one of the brothers of Friedrich, also worked in the business.

Friedrich Schoembs was married on 13.05.1856 to Emilie Lang (*26.07.1831 Fauerbach bei Nidda, + 29.06.1903 Offenbach ). Emile Lang, who was small of stature and had 6 pigtails, died of a stroke. A brother of hers, Heinrich Lang, a shoemaker, emigrated in 1849 to Amerika. Two other brothers, Jakob Lang and Hermann Lang were teachers by profession.

Emilie Lang was a Protestant. With the marriage of Friedrich and Emilie, Friedrich abandoned the strong family tradition of Catholicism and this branch of the family was raised Protestant.

Organizational Papers of the Lithographic Business, Offenbach, 1859

Diabetes is passed along as the cause of death of Friedrich Schoembs. Friedrich had a big and powerful stature.

Children: (6)

6.1.....Philipp "Carl" Schoembs (*05.08.1856 Offenbach, +13.09.1933 Karlsruhe)

"Carl" Philipp Schoembs, like his father, stayed in the printing and lithographic business and was an owner. He was married on 30.05.1891 to Franziska Anna Catharina Ruckel (*26.10.1872 Mainz, +31.07.1955 Offenbach).

Carl Schoembs and Franziska Ruckel (ca. 1891)

The family moved later to Karlsruhe. In a letter dated 1953 from Franziska Ruckel to Jaques Schoembs, two years before his death, we know the family lived then in Karlsruhe-Grünwinkel at Konrad Kreuzerstraße 7. Franziska gave her familyname as "Hoffmann." By hand, probably as a piece of information for the reader, she put down "Schoembs" beside it. After the death of her husband Carl, Franziska married again, this time in about 1940 to Oskar Hoffmann (+ ca. 1951), a retired public official from Karlsruhe (a widower with many children). She signed the letter as "Aunt Franzel", apparently how she was called in the family.

The father of Franziska Ruckel was a restauranteur who came from Frankfurt. He, however, also lived in Mainz for some period and was listed in the addressbook as "Ferdinand Ruckel, Wein-Bier-Kaffeewirth, Gutenbergplatz 3-5."


Apartment at Kaiserstraße 13	Carl Schoembs, 1891


Wedding Announcement for Carl and Franziska Schoembs	Wedding "Ad" from the Business Friedrich Schoembs AG

Advertisement of Lithographische Kunstanstalt Friedrich Schoembs in a city guide of Offenbach from 1905

Company personnel picture in Offenbach, Kaiserstraße 13,
far right is Carl Schoembs

Carl Schoembs played a dominant role in the family. He was the owner of the lithography business at Kaiserstraße 13. It is not known if his brother Hermann, also active in the printing business at the time, was involved in the same company. Probably Carl started the business in 1879 with his uncle Karl Schoembs.

Die Technik der Lithographie oder dem Steindruck bestand darin, dass auf eine blank geschliffene Steinplatte das Bild mit einer Ölfarbe gemalt wurde. Die angefeuchtete Oberfläche wurde dann mit einer mit Ölfarbe angestrichenen Walze abgerollt, wobei nur auf dem Ölbild Farbe hängen blieb. Dann wurde auf den Stein Papier gedrückt,

welches das Bild dann aufnahm. Die Steine konnten aufgrund dieser Technik mehrfach verwendet werden.

Carl Philipp Schoembs was a big and powerful man. Apparently the second and third toes on each foot were grown together. Also it is said that his ears stood out from his head (jds Note: although it is not obvious from the pictures we have). He died of a heart condition.

Children: (5)

5.1.....Maria Schoembs(*02.06.1894, +1976)

Grandmother Emilie Schoembs, nee Lang, with grandchildren (ca. 1902) From left: Emilie Schoembs, Frieda Schoembs, Maria Schoembs, Lilly Schoembs, Front: Hanna Lippmann

Maria Schoembs married on 20.11.1920 Dr. Hans Vier (*07.12.1897 Karlsruhe, +17.12.1980). Maria Schoembs, who by profession taught handcrafts, was a sturdy woman. She died in Niefern-Öschelbronn in an old peoples home (Antroprosophischen Altersheim).

Children: (3)

3.1.....Johanna Vier (*1922 Karlsruhe)

Johanna Vier married on 23.12.1950 Robert Weiler (*08.04.1921). The family lives in Pforzheim.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Hans Michael Weiler (*1951)

4.2.....Christof Weiler (*1954)

4.3.....Martina Weiler (*1955)

Children: (4)

2.1.....Lea (*1980)

2.2.....Tanja (*1982)

4.4.....Angelika Weiler (*1957)

3.2.....Bernhard Vier (*1924)

Bernhard Vier married Rosemarie Brandenburg (*10.05.1924, +1996). He lives in the area of Pforzheim.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Ulrike Vier (*1954)

3.2.....Andreas Vier (*1955)

3.3.....Claudia Vier (*1957)

3.3.....Peter Vier (*1930)

Peter Vier married Marie Luise Lange (*23.10.1939, +03.08.1973). Following the death of Marie, Peter married Hannelore Sachers (*30.06.1945 Gablonz). The family lives in Oberweier-Friesenheim. Peter Vier was a master organ maker and owned his own business.

Children: (3)

Children with his first wife Marie:

3.1.....Martin Vier (*19656)

3.2.....Christiane Vier (*1967)

Children with his second wife Hannelore:

3.3.....Cordula Vier

5.2.....Friedrich Johannes "Fritz" Schoembs (*02.06.1897 Offenbach, +07.03.1969 Kitzingen)

Friedrich Johannes Schoembs married Susanne Margaretha Xenia Schneider (*06.10.1900 Kramatorskaja, +07.08.1963 Offenbach) on 10.04.1922. Susanne Margaretha Schoembs was a pianist and concert singer. She, however, no longer performed after the War. Fritz Schoembs married a second time, this time to Senta Weth, widow Fischer (*08.01.1915) in 1964. She lives today in Kitzingen.

Fritz Schoembs was also of a large stature. The family lived in Offenbach-Waldheim at Birkenwaldstraße 9. Fritz also learned the profession of printing, and was active in the famly business along with his brother Wilhelm. After the collapse of the family business in 1930, Fritz managed several other printing firms, including one in Bielefeld.

Fritz Schoembs developed improvements to the offset printing press. In 1951 he opened another printing business. He died in 1969 of a heart attack. The business was sold in 1973 and later closed.

v.l.: Friedrich "Fritz" Schoembs, Hanns Schoembs, Friedrich Schoembs, Carl Schoembs (four generation picture) ca. 1928

Children: (2)

2.1....Johannes (Hanns) Schoembs (*21.02.1923 Offenbach, +15.05.1996 Offenbach).

Cover of Book by Traute Schoembs
(Swabian stories from the Heilbronner lowland)

Hanns Schoembs married Traute Seifert (*19.05.1925 Kochendorf, +19.09.1987) on 10.02.1948. Hanns Schoembs, like his father, learned the printing profession. In 1957 he joined his father in the business. In 1972 the business was moved to Diezenbach where they had more space.

But the next year – 1973 – the business was sold to a French concern. After a few more years the business was closed due to outdated technology.

Hanns Schoembs continued on as a self-employed consultant to printers after the closing of the business.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Brigitte Schoembs (*1949)

Brigitte Schoembs was married on 07.03.1973 in Neu-Isenburg to Joachim Leske (*1950 Kiel, +21.12.2015 Altdorf).

Children: (1)

1.1.....Susanne Leske (*1981 Nürnberg)

Susanne heiratete Sebastian Franz Josef Salzer (*1979 Neumarkt) am 30.05.2003.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Sophie Marie Salzer (*2002 Nürnberg)

2.2.....Maximilian Salzer (*2004 Neumarkt)

3.2.....Martin Schoembs (*1951)

Martin Schoembs

Martin Schoembs married in Neu Isenburg Monika Anne Cluin (*14.02.1952 Offenbach) on 04.04.1972.

Martin teaches in Beruflichen Schule Nürnberg, a vocational school, in the field of printing and media.

3.3.....Cornelia Schoembs (*1953 Thayingen/Schweiz)

Cornelia Schoembs was married on 17.08.1973 in Neu-Isenburg to Jean Gallimard (*08.07.1946). They lived in Dijon, France. Jean died 16.10.1975 in a traffic accident. Cornelia lives today in Dijon with her life partner Christan Poussard (*31.10.1954 Dijon, France).

Children: (3):

3.1.....Valery Gallimard (*1974 Offenbach)

3.2.....Nathalie Poussard (*1981 Dijon)

Nathalie lives with her partner Nicolas Baup (*1978).

Children: (2)

2.1.....Alexis Baup (*2009)

2.2.....Lucie Baup (*2014)

3.3.....Julie Poussard (*1984 Dijon)

Since 01.04.2004 Julie has been with her life partner Jean-Sebastièn Gaudot. They were married on 28.04.2007 in Dijon.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Noelyne Cornelia Béatrice Gaudot (*2011 Dijon Frankreich)

2.2.....Tobias Hans Luc Gaudot (*2014 Dijon Frankreich)

2.2.....Bärbel Schoembs (*1941)

Bärbel Schoembs is married to Klaus Camphausen (*21.06.1934, Mühlheim/Ruhr). She is an active organist in their church.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Thomas Camphausen (*1962, Frankfurt)

Thomas Camphausen on 23.11.1998 in Berlin married Cathrin Aßmann (*1976 Schleswig).

Children: (5)

5.1.....Philipp Camphausen

5.2.....Tobias Camphausen (*2001 Frankfurt am Main)

5.3.....Elisabeth Camphausen (*2004 Frankfurt am Main)

5.4.....Benjamin Camphausen (*2006 Frankfurt am Main)

5.5.....Hannah Camphausen (*2008 Darmstadt)

4.2.....Ulrich Camphausen (*1966 Frankfurt)

4.3.....Tilmann Camphausen (*1970 Frankfurt)

4.4.....Martin Camphausen (*1973 Frankfurt)

Family Picture ca. 1930
from left: Hilde Schoembs, Carl Schoembs, Hanns Schoembs,
Friedrich "Fritz" Schoembs, Franziska Schoembs,
Johanna Vier

5.3.....Katharina Schoembs (*02.12.1900, +03.12.1900)

5.4.....Dr. med. Hilde Schoembs (*29.01.1899, +12.08.1984 Offenbach)

Dr. Hilde Schoembs, who did not marry, was a medical doctor in Offenbach. She lived in the Villenviertel of Offenbach, on Bierberer Berg. From an article in the "Offenbacher Post" we can see that she was well liked. She was known to be concerned about the mental well being of her patients, not just the physical symptoms.

5.5....Wilhelm" Karl Schoembs (*17.10.1902, +15.09.1982 Offenbach)

Wilhelm Schoembs took on the famlily business in Offenbach. He was tall and slim. Wilhelm was twice married, his first being in 1934 to Elli Miehrke (*08.07.1896 Hamburg,+ 13.06.1968 Offenbach).

After the death of his first wife Wilhelm married again in 1970 to Elisabeth "Elli" Lehmann, widow of Kronlage (*21.02.1915 Dortmund + 24.01.2012 Buseck). In Franziska Ruckel's letter of 1953 she refers to Elli as "Li".

Family Picture from 1952
Back left.: Fritz and Wilhelm Schoembs
Front left.: Hilde, Franziska and Maria Schoembs

6.2.....Jakob "Hermann"Heinrich Franz Schoembs (*10.03.1858 Offenbach, +20.01.1888 Offenbach)

Hermann Schoembs was founder of the firm Hermann Schoembs & Co. in Offenbach, which made zinc printing plates. Hermann Schoembs married Anna Brockmann (*31.10.1860 Offenbach, +02.05.1938 Darmstadd) on 15.04.1884 in Offenbach. After the death of Hermann, Anna married Karl Ludwig Wiegand on 31.08.1889. Hermann Schoembs was an accomplished fencer as a hobby.

Hermann died of a chest disease. Since 2010 a costier-de-luxe suitcase from about 1880 belonging to Hermann Schoembs is among the exhibits of the museum "Haus der Stadtgeschichte" in Offenbach am Main. Hermann Schoembs created as well the printing of the artistic form of the label, which named "Friedrich Daniel, Offenbach, Louisenstraße No.18" as the manufacturing company.

After the death of Hermann, Anna married Karl Ludwig Wiegand on 31.08.1889.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Emilie "Berta" Nelly Schoembs (*17.02.1885 Offenbach, +29.06.1973 Darmstadt)

Berta Schoembs married "Otto" Alexander Friedr. Curt Brömme (*14.06.1883 Wiesbaden) on 25.08.1809. They divorced in 1921.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Otto "Helmut" Werner Brömme (*25.06.1915 Darmstadt)

Helmut Brömme was married 31.01.1948 in Darmstadt to Dorothea Eckert (*07,07.1920).

Children: (2)

2.1.....Albrecht Brömme (*1953 Darmstadt)

"Albrecht Broemme, born in 1953, grew up in Darmstadt, where he became an assistant of Technisches Hilfswerk (Federal Agency for Technical Relief) in an age of 17. The opportunity to learn practical help fascinated him. During his studies in electrical engineering at Technische Hochschule Darmstadt he was interesting in a career at the fire brigade. The member of THW changed over to the city area of Freiwillige Feuerwehr Darmstadt (volunteer fire department) and beside his studies he did his job as a volunteer at the professional fire brigade Darmstadt. As an engineer with a diploma Broemme starts his career at the fire brigade of Berlin. In 1989 (the turnaround) he was organizing the amalgamation of the fire brigades of the eastern and western part of the city of Berlin in his official capacity as a chief of staff.

At the age of 39 he was the leader of the Germans biggest fire brigade with about 6.000 volunteer and professional fire fighters. In 2006 there was a vacancy of the THW-Präsident (President of the organisation) and the Federal Minister of the Interior Wolfgang Schäuble appointed Albrecht Broemme as the President of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief. Since that time he is responsible for about 80.000 full-time and honorary employees, who see use in emergency management as well as in humanitarian projects in Germany and foreign countries - a mission which already was fascinating to him 30 years ago as a THW-assistant."

Children: (2)

2.1.....Kira Brömme (*1991)

2.2.....Luis Brömme (*1994)

2.2.....Dagmar Brömme

3.2....Anna Elisabeth "Lilly" Frieda Schoembs (*13.02.1886 Offenbach, +10.04.1981 Darmstadt)

Lilly Schoembs was married on 04.01.1909 to "Richard" Otto Heinz. (*06.10.1878 Neuhaus/Rennweg, +25.04.1918). After his death Lilly lived with her sister Bertha in Darmstadt.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Richard "Rudolf" August Hermann Heinz (*27.04.1910 Neuhaus am Rennweg)

Rudolf Heinz married on 04.01.1965 in Darmstadt Inge Margarete Keutel widowed Händel (*29.06.1921 Peine, +26.10.2004 Darmstadt).

3.3.....Emilie Schoembs (*31.08.1887, +23.03.1888 Offenbach)

6.3.....Anna Margareta "Maria" Emilie Schoembs (*29.10.1859, +06.12.1876 Offenbach

Maria Schoembs died at the age of 17 from a lung disease.

6.4.....Anna Katharina Friederika "Frieda" Schoembs (*26.01.1860 Offenbach, +15.11.1938)

Frieda Schoembs was married on 17.05.1882 to Johannes Lippmann (*14.01.1858 Offenbach, + 08.02.1935 Darmstadt). Professor Johannes Lippmann, was a sculptor and landscape painter in Lichtenberg/Odenwald. A 1894 original painting by him is on display in the Offenbach Stadtmuseum. In this painting Professor Lippman has memorialized a number members of the families Schoembs, Ruckel and Lippmann as visitors to the Marktplatz (market place).

Professor Johannes Lippmann:
Marktplatz Offenbach am Main (1894)

Children: (3)

3.1.....Karl Friedrich Lippmann (*27.10.1883 Offenbach, 30.05.1956 Offenbach)

Karl Friedrich Lippmann was, like his father, a sculptor and landscape painter. On 28.02.1908 he married Martina Ruch (* 01.01.1885 Kitzbühl/Österreich, + 10.03.1972 Mossaustal). Martina Ruch was born to the Postmaster Martin Ruch. She too was an artist. She lived first in Innsbruck (Austria) and later in Munich, where among other things she was a designer for the fashion industry. Later she was a respected portrait and still-life painter in Michelstadt.

After his first marriage ended in divorce, Karl Friedrich married Berta Böhrer (* 28.11.1895 in Ulm, + 05.02.1980 Offenbach) on 08.02.1941.

Children: (4)

4.1.....Eva Lippmann (*1910 Offenbach)

Eva Lippmann was married on 15.11.1930 in Frankfurt to Hans Breidenstein (*15.08.1895, +01.08.1989 Frankfurt).

4.2.....Mila Lippmann (*16.03.1912 Offenbach, +1999 Innsbruck/Österreich)

Mila Lippmann married Herbert Pawloski (*1910, +1996 Innsbruck/Österreich).

Children: (3)

3.1.....Carin Pawloski (1939)

3.1.....Hella Pawloski (1940)

3.1.....Olaf Pawloski (1943 Innsbruck)

4.3..... Martin Lippmann (*1915, +1940 Gefallen 2. Weltkrieg)

Martin Lippmann did not marry.

4.4.. ..Peter Lippmann (*1920 Ofenbach)

Peter Lippmann was married on 25.09.1947 in Mossau to Luise Schmucker (*20.03.1925, +11.12.1991 Mossau).

Children: (3)

3.1.....Friedrich Martin Lippmann (*1948 Erbach)

His first marriage was in 1972 to Anita Berres. In 1976 he married Dagmar Jauer (*1952 Senftenberg).

Friedrich Martin Lippmann operates the Privatbierbrauerei Schmucker, a brewery.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Nina Lippmann (*1976 Erbach)

3.2.....Felix Lippmann (*1978 Erbach)

3.3.....Maya Lippmann (*1981 Erbach)

3.2.....Peter Lippmann (*1951 Erbach)

Peter married Oda Anderson (Österreich).

3.3.....Michael Lippmann (*1958 Erbach)

Michael Lippman married Regina Pölitz. His second marriage is to Claudia Frinth.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Ines Lippmann (*1981)

3.2.....Janis Lippmann (*1983)

3.3.....Lisa Lippmann (from the second marriage)

3.2.....Ludwig Lippmann (*04.06.1886 Offenbach, +25.12.1960 Worms)

Ludwig Lippmann was married on 19.02.1923 to Katharina Will. After their divorce in 1929 he moved in 1931 to Worms and in 1960 married there his work colleague Marie Freudenberger.

3.3.....Johanna "Hanna" Lippmann (*01.03.1897, +31.12.1971)

Johanna Lippmann was married on 27.10.1917 in Lichtenberg to Friedrich "Fritz" Stock, (*09.11.1894, +04.03.1949 Offenbach).

Children: (2)

2.1.....Hans Stock (*09.11.1918, +09.04.1943 Ukraine)

2.2.....Gisela Stock (*19.04.1920, +19.04.1979 Erlangen)

On 19.05.1943 Gisela Stock married Albert Zimmermann. They had one child but divorced after the War.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Heidi Zimmermann (+2000 Nürnberg), unmarried

Children: (1)

1.1.....Stephanie Zimmermann

6.5....."Emilie" Emma Henriette Ferdinande Schoembs (*13.04.1862, +20.03.1934 Offenbach)

Emilie Schoembs married Robert Hartmann (*21.07.1856 Lichtenau) 22.02.1892 in Offenbach. They had no children. Emilie was a landlord by profession.

6.6.....Auguste Schoembs (*25.05.1863, +27.09.1863 Offenbach)

12.3....Valentin Schoembs (*ca. 1833 Offenbach, +Russland)

12.4....Gottfried Robert Schoembs (*12.08.1834 Offenbach, +01.07.1903 Wien)

In the family chronicle written in 1954 by Franziska Schoembs, née Ruckel comes new information about Gottfried Schömbs: "One son – Gottfried – emigrated to Vienna and established a big banking company. There he allegedly was very successful."

His name is identified as well in the book of Peter Assion "From Hessen in the New World", 1087, page 7. There a page is printed which Gottfried had designed for his friend Julius Dauber from the Pfalz who was emigrating to America. Such pages, in which the faith and memories of the departing (emigrating) were praised, were made at the time primarily among people of certain wealth and education. The text to the following album page says:

"Vergiß mein nicht, Sie zeigt Dir stets - mit dem Glück verbunden - nur wonnereiche Stunden Und wird Dir einst die Nachricht zugesandt, daß zu den Vätern ich versammelt wäre, So trink und sprich: Ich hab ihn auch gekannt Mach hier ein Kreuz _und gib mir eine Zähre (Anm.:Träne) Nimm meinen Abschiedsgruß zum Pfande daß niemals Dich mein Herz vergißt, und es mit zartgewebtem Bande Dich liebevoll getreu umschließt."

Gottfried Schömbs, Offenbach, 24. Januar 1853

Translation:

"Forget me not, It always shows you, linked with luck, only blissful hours And once the message will be sent to you, that to the forefathers I am gathered, Drink and speak: I have also known him Make here a cross and give me a tear Take my farewell greeting as a pledge That my heart never forgets you, and with tender-woven bonds My heart surrounds you lovingly and faithfully."

Gottfried Schömbs, Offenbach, 24 January 1853

Album Page 1853, written by Gottfried Schömbs, Offenbach,
prior to the emigration of his close friend Julius Dauber

For a long time these were the only facts known to us about Gottfried Schömbs' life. His home in Offenbach am Main in January 1853 is documented by the "Albumblatt". Now, however, we have a hint for 1854 that he traveled to England and lived there for several years.

1854 Emigrant to England, then after 1869
to Austria.
The Story of Gottfried Schoembs is told here.

Among the passengers who arrived at Dover on 16 July 1854 coming from Calais, France by the ship "Princess Mary" is recorded a "Schombs" from Germany. Link: Schombs - England, Alien Arrivals, 1810-1811, 1826-1869 - Ancestry.co.uk

Click to see the original book including the List of Aliens, arriving Dover.

It is not absolutely certain this entry refers to Gottfried Schömbs, because the information is so limited. However four years later a "Naturalization Paper" with number 2801 was issued on December 1, 1858 to Gottfried Schömbs, born about 1836 and immigrated from Hesse Darmstadt. This is documented at the "National Archives of England." Link: The National Archives | The Catalogue | Full Details | HO 1/87/2801

On an "England Census" carried out on April 7, 1861 the residence of "Godfrey R. Schoembs, born about 1836, 25 years old, native country Germany, was registered in the County of Middlesex". Link: Gottfried Schoembs - 1861 England Census - Ancestry.co.uk

Click to see the Census from 1861

The spelling of his name was given as "Godfrey R. Schoembs" in this document. For the first time there is also a clear indication of his occupation. He referred to himself as a "leather merchant and exporter". At the time of the Census he was living unmarried with a housemaid and a servant at 43 Queens Road in St. John's District in St. Marylebone, Middlesex, which was a minor village on the outskirts of London. Today it is a part of the City of Westminster. This address belonged to the parish of "All Saints Church". At the "England Census" carried out 10 years later in 1871 there was no further entry about the person of Gottfried/Godfrey R. Schoembs.

Map of London 1868 -- St. John's District is marked by the rectangle

London -- Queens Road and All Saints Church are marked with arrows

It is clear Gottfried Schoembs stayed in England until at least 1867, for in the "National Archives" exists a file of a lawsuit at the Court of Chancery from 1867. Link: The National Archives | The Catalogue | Full Details | C 16/423/H230

In case number 1867 H 230 "Heydemann versus Legg", Gottfried Schoembs, together with Edward Heydemann and Zacharias Wilhelm Goldstnecker are plaintiffs. Edward Heydemann – immigrated from Prussia and leather merchant as well – was probably a business partner of Gottfried Schoembs. Coincidentally, the Naturalization Paper of Edward Heydemann with no. 2802 was issued on December 1,1858 also. The certificate of Gottfried Schoembs (see above) shows no. 2801. The only infomation we know of Zacharias Wilhelm Goldstnecker is that he came from Prussia as well. The defendant in the lawsuit was Cyrus Legg, a retired "wool stapler" (wool merchant). The purpose of the ligitation was not mentioned.

Click to see Summary information from the Chancery Court.

Recently discovered (2012) documents show Gottfried Schoembs also lived from 1867 to 1873 in London. In a "Supplement to The London Gazette" from the 27th of February, 1866, he is mentioned on page 1464: "Schoembs Godfrey, 22, Harp-lane, E.C., Merchant." It is a publication required by law of banks. There are also entries dated the 25th of February for the years 1868, 1870 and 1873 with different addresses.

Further information about the above mentioned business with Heydemann and Goldstücker is from "The London Gazette, April, 9, 1869" wherein it says:

"Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting and carried on by the undersigned, Edouard Heydemann, Gottfried Schoembs, Zacharias Wilhelm Goldstücker, and Julius Ernst Oppenheim, as Leather Merchants, at no. 70, Great Tower-street, in the city of London, under style or firm of Heydemann, Schoembs and Co., has this day been dissolved by mutual consent. The business will in future be conducted by the said Edouard Heydemann and Zacharias Wilhelm Goldstücker, under style or firm of Heydemann, Goldstücker, and Company, and they will pay and receive all the debts owing by and due to late firm. – Dated this 5th day of April 1869
E. Heydemann. G. Schoembs.
Z.W. Goldstücker. Julius Ernst Oppenheim."

In other English publications there are more hints about the professional activities of Gottfried Schoembs. In the time from 1865 to 1868 he held a leading position in a bank. In an issue of "The Economist - Commercial History and Review of 1865" from the 10th of March, 1865 Gottfried Schoembs – alias Godfrey Schoembs – is mentioned as one of nine "Directors" at the "London and South Western Bank Limited" which had its head office in 29, Lombard Street, E.C. in the centre of London.

As one of six directors of the Bank Gottfried Schoembs is found in "The Joint Stock Companies' Directory" by Charles Barker & sons, London published in 1867. The entry shows then 410 shareholders and 31 branches.

Then "The London Banks, Credit, Discount, and Finance companies", published in March 1868, listed Directors, Managers, Capital, Dividends, and other information. 26 branches are listed at this time. The number of shareholders is specified with 400. The address of the head office is 29, Lombard street, London E.C.

More information about the Bank is in "A Handbook of London bankers" by F.G. Hilton Price from 1876 and in a historical summary of the "Barclays Bank" in London. Accordingly this "London & South-Western Bank Limited" was established in London on 1 November 1862. Its head office was at 27 Regent Street, London. The Bank had many branches in the suburbs. Between 1917 and 1918 the United "London and South Western Bank Ltd." (established in 1864) and the "London and Provincial Bank" merged. Under the new name "The London Provincial and South Western Bank", the company acted only a short time. Then in 1918 the bank converted to "Barclays Bank" in London.

All of these records have the abbreviation "Esq." after his name. The antiquated expression "Esquire" is a courtesy title, which was appended to the name in official documents or formal correspondences, corresponding to the "Hochwohlgeborenen" (high-born) in German.

How long Gottfried Schoembs' involvement with the "London and South Western Bank Limited" lasted is not known. After 1873 the trail of Gottfried Schoembs in England disappears.

It is still not clear under what circumstances Gottfried Schoembs came to Vienna, Austria. In 1870 he was mentioned in "Adolph Lehmann's allgemeiner Wohnungsanzeiger nebst Handels- u. Gewerbe-Adressbuch für die k.k. Reichshaupt- u. Residenzstadt Wien u. Umgebung" – a Vienna directory – for the first time. The entries were made as Schömbs as well as Schoembs:

"Namensverzeichnis 3. Sämmtliche Einwohner von Wien nebst Umgebung Schömbs Gottfried Ges. d. F. Schoembs & Waltz Warencmsns. u. Agenturgesch., II. Gr. Mohreng. 25"
http://www.digital.wienbibliothek.at/wbrobv/periodical/pageview/30052

"Branchenverzeichnis 5. Handels- und Gewerbe-Adreßbuch. Nachweis der Geschäfts- und Gewerbetreibenden, nach Geschäften und Gewerbe geordnet. Schömbs & Waltz, Warencommissions- u. Agenturgesch., Grünanger 5"
http://www.digital.wienbibliothek.at/wbrobv/periodical/pageview/30243

From 1870 to 1882 Gottfried Schömbs was running a "Warencommissions- und Agenturgeschäft" (goods commission and agency business) as a company member (authorized to sign) in partnership with Anton Waltz. In 1871 there was noted Ferdinand Waltz as a third companion. The company existed for many years at "Große Mohrengasse 25" in the II. District of Vienna. Presumably in 1882 Gottfried Schömbs broke up with his partners, because of the entry in the directory for 1883 is noted as a private person. His company members operated under the name of "Firma Waltz & Co." until 1889 at the same business address.

In the period from 1870 to 1897 Gottfried moved several times to new residences in Vienna. From 1897 until his death in 1903 he lived in Hohe Warte 13 in Döbling in what is today the 19th district of Vienna in the northwest of the city at the outskirts of the Vienna Woods. Today it is considered to be an affluent neighborhood.

Karoline „Lina“ Gauß Schoembs
Click to enlarge

Gottfried Schoembs married Karoline "Lina" Gauß (*31.03.1848 Vienna,+29.09.1917 Vienna) on August 8, 1869 after a short engagement. They probably met during one of the numerous visits that Gottfried Schoembs made to Vienna from 1857 to the spring of 1869. Karoline Gauß was the older of two daughters of Karl Gauß (1816 - 1891). He was a partner of the company "Gebrüder Gauß“ in Vienna, which he ran together with his brother Josef Gauß (1818-1888). Since the early 1840s, the Gauß brothers operated a "commission and export business in manufactured goods" in the textile trade and possibly Gottfried Schoembs had business connections to the Gauß company. In the following years, Karl and Josef Gauß were active in the Vienna City Council as well as in various supervisory boards of Viennese stock corporations and belonged to the management team of the „Private Austrian National Bank" and the "Central Bank for Trade, Industry and Commerce".

Karoline Gauß was a theater actress and acted as "Lina Baßmann" or "Caroline Baßmann". She probably chose the stage name in order not to damage the family's reputation in case of a possible failure.

Karoline made her debut in 1866 at the theater in Brünn (Brno, CZ), where the press attested her to be an "extraordinary and promising actress". She possessed "not only a very recommendable outward appearance, a very flexible speech organ, but her graceful posture and movement shows the lady of good upbringing...".

After her debut she had engagements at various German theaters such as Cologne, Leipzig and Stettin, as well as offers from theaters in Berlin and Prague. Karoline Schoembs was cast primarily in roles of the young, tragic lover. In theater publications she received much positive attention, not least for her appearance. In 1868, the magazine "Die Deutsche Schaubühne" wrote: "Caroline Baßmann is a blonde of beautiful figure, evenly built, busty, with a slim waist and noble...".

After her marriage to Gottfried Schoembs, she completed another engagement in Stettin in 1870. After that she retired from the stage apparently because there are no hints for a further acting activity.

Unfortunately we know nothing more about the lives of Gottfried and Karoline in Vienna.

The Grave of Gottfried (*1834) and Karoline Schoembs, and the Families Romako and Gulz
Click to enlarge

The grave of Gottfried and Karoline Schoembs is found in the Döbling Cemetery, 65 Hartäcker Street. The Cemetery's website gives us this information. Link: www.friedhoefewien.at and Link: Döbling Cemetery - Wikipedia

Accordingly, Gottfried Schoembs passed away on July 1, 1903 at the age of 68. As cause of death the Sterbebuch (death register of the municipality) attributes his death to "chronic liver inflammation“. He was laid to rest in grave no. 9, group 27. Karoline Schoembs turned 69 and passed away on September 29, 1917. The death book of the church community states "malignant new formation on the chest" as the cause of death. She was buried October 2, 1917 in the family grave. Five other persons are buried in this plot. Among them are Colonel Otto Romako and his wife Dorothea Romako née Bauer, daughter of Karoline's sister Helene Bauer née Gauss. Nothing is known about the relationship of the three others -- Elizabeth Gulz, Gustav Gulz, Liselotte Gulz -- to Gottfried and Karoline Schoembs.

12.5....Karl Schoembs (*ca. 1835 Offenbach, +Russland)

Karl "Carlo" Schoembs, according to oral history, was a successful businessman in Moscow, Russia. Some information indicates that he returned to Germany, although this might have been just to visit. Another reference suggests he died in Moscow. In his later years he is said to have paid for his unmarried sister Anna to live in a home for the elderly where she died in 1931.

In December 2006 Jim Schembs tracked down and met with Norbert Schoembs, the great-grandson of Karl Schoembs. Unfortunately the family history was only partly passed down through the generations. Norbert believed that Karl had probably had a son while in Moscow and that the son's name was perhaps Eduard, born between 1860 and 1880. This Eduard was then the father of a son also named Eduard and born in Moscow in 1909. The second Eduard later moved to and lived in Berlin. He had two sons, Norbert being the oldest. The two sons emigrated during the 1960s to the United States.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Eduard? "Karl"? Schoembs (*perhaps between 1860 and 1880 Moscow, Russia)

Eduard Schoembs probably moved from Moscow to Berlin during the 1920s. For the first time in 1922 "Karl Schömbs" appears in the Berlin directory living at Menzelstraße 23.24. He is identified first as an "agent" and in subsequent years as a salesman and bookkeeper. The last records showing him in Berlin are in 1943.

Children: (1)

1.1.....Eduard Karl Heinrich Schömbs (*1909 Moskau)

Eduard Schömbs was married on 05.09.1936 in Berlin-Steglitz to Elfriede Emma Hartwig (*02.09.1909 Berlin-Steglitz).Von 1939 bis 1943 Eduard Schömbs was a sergeant and later a staff-sergeant in the German Wehrmacht according to the Berliner Adreßbüchern.


Klick zur Vergrößerung	Klick zur Vergrößerung

Children: (2)

2.1.....Norbert Schoembs (*01.02.1938 Berlin,+13.03.2009 Palm Coast FL)

Norbert Schoembs (*1938)

Norbert Schoembs emigrated to the U.S. in about 1960 and was in the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. He was stationed in Zweibrücken, Rhineland-Palatinate. Norbert met and married Erika Mahlein from Nürnberg in 1966. They first lived in Englewood NJ, then later moved to Palm Coast, Florida. They were members of the St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Palm Coast. Norbert passed away in 2009.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Michael Schoembs (*1969)

Michael and his wife Melissa have two daughters. They live in Orlando, Florida.

Children: (2)

2.1.....Blaze Schoembs

2.2.....Kaylee Schoembs

2.2.....Stephen Schoembs (*1973)

Stephen lives in Palm Coast FL.

2.2.....Udo Otto Erich Schoembs (*1941 Berlin)

Udos Frau heißt Erika. Udo ist auch in die USA ausgewandert.

Children: (3)

3.1.....Peter Schoembs (*1972)

3.2.....Heidi Schoembs (*1974)

3.3.....Christopher Schoembs (*1977)

12.6....Jakob Schömbs (*31.08.1837 Friesenheim, +27.03.1888 Offenbach)

Jakob Schömbs at 42 (1880)

Jakob Schömbs was, like his father and brother, a lithographer. He married Maria A. (Charlotte) Chambosse (*25.02.1845 Offenbach, +17.02.1916 Bad Soden).

Lithograph of Jakob Schömbs
(um 1875)

Jakob was a painter and student of the then famous painter Karl von Piloty. He earned his living from the proceeds of his lithographs. Jakob painted on stone, then transferred the image to paper or silk. Later he operated himself in imaginary photography business, with which he made the photosensitive layer with protein and silver nitrate. The continuous working with various chemicals led to his early death at age 50.

Children: (6)

6.1.....Wilhelmine Marie Josephine "Fina" Schoembs (*17.06.1866 Offenbach, +07.01.1958 Bad Soden)

Fina Schoembs did not marry. She came in 1906 with her mother and siblings to Bad Soden. She lived there with her younger sister Louise and their mother, whom the sisters looked after until her death in 1916. Fina lived until almost 92 years of age. An article in the Bad Soden newspaper in 1956 commented about how active she still was, both physically and mentally, and how she took care of herself. She was at that time the oldest inhabitant in Bad Soden and was honored by the Mayor and others.

6.2.....Dr. Philipp August Jacob "Jaques" Schoembs (*05.10.1867 Offenbach, +29.04.1958 Heidelberg

Jacques Schoembs was married on 16.07.1904 in Riesenburg/Westpreußen to Lisa Diehl (*26.05.1886 Riesenburg, +08.07.1965 Rheine). Lisa was then only 17 years old (jds Note: Jaques was 37).


Dr. Jaques Schoembs, 28 years (1895)	Jaques at 90, 1957

Due to his father's illness and early death, Jaques took on the responsibility of his mother and 5 siblings. Because the family had no money, Jacques did not go to secondary school. Later in life he studied philologie and philosophy in Heidelberg and Berlin, ultimately earning his certificate in Straßburg.

Jacques was very versatile and gifted in literature. From 1901 until 1903 he was a private tutor on a coffee plantation in Guatemala. During this time he wrote a book on the grammar of the local Mayan Indians "Aztekische Schriftsprache, Grammatik mit Lautlehre", as well as two other books "Die neue Familie, ein Roman in zwei Bänden" ("The New Family, a Novel in Two Parts") and "Ohne Schuld verschuldet".

Certificate of the "Secretary of Foreign Relations of the Republic de Guatemala (Ausländerbehörde von Guatelmala) 1903

On his return from Guatemala to Germany, Jacques took passage on the ship "S.S. Olympia" from Puerto Cortes, Honduras to New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. While this is a little bit of speculation, he probably visited his brothers Carlo and Freddie in New York as he passed through the United States. The "Manifest of Alien Immigrants" indicates his "final" destination in the U.S. as New York City. It is also interesting to read some of the other information which the U.S. Government was collecting on immigrants in that era. In addition to the expected data of age, nationality, marital status, etc., the questions dealt with how much money he was bringing into the country; whether he had a ticket to his final destination (New York City); whether he had been in the U.S. before; ever been in prison or a poor house or supported by charity in the U.S.; whether a polygamist; whether under a contract to work in the U.S.; health; condidtion; and whether crippled or deformed.

After undertaking teaching assignments in Danzig, Nordhausen and Marienwerder, Jacques became a director of graduate students at an institution in Berlin-Oberschöneweide. In his later years Jacques continued to travel, especially to Italy and Libya where he increased his knowledge of Italian. He even learned Arabic and Russian!