Sophia Weber (1815-1891) who emigrated from Alsace

Sophia Weber (1815-1891) aka Sophia Webber, Immigrant from Alsace to USA (b. circa May 19, 1815, Strasbourg, Alsace-Lorraine, France/Germany - d. October 09, 1891, Manhattan, New York City, New York County, New York, USA)

Birth:
Sophia was born around May 19, 1815 to Jeanette and Alexander Weber.

Marriage and Emigration To Philadelphia:
Sophia married Oscar Arthur Moritz Lindauer (1815-1866) and on their honeymoon in 1834 they emigrated to the United States.

Children:
They had three children in Philadelphia: Charles Frederick Lindauer (1835-1921) who married Anna Augusta Kershaw (1841-1931); John Jacob Lindauer (1841-1888) married Nellie X (1853-1899) and may have married Elizabeth X (1840-?); and Louis Julius Lindauer (1842-1915) who married Mary Sheehan (1842-1888).

New York City:
The family moved to New York around 1850 and there they had a daughter: Eloise Lindauer I (1852-1944) who married William Arthur Ensko II (1850-1889). The Lindauers lived in Greenwich Village in New York City on Houston Street, and Oscar and his children may have operated a liquor store, or been policy dealers, or brokers, more research will have to be done in the Manhattan business records to determine their exact occupations. In the 1880s the three Lindauer boys had cigar stores in Jersey City and Hoboken, New Jersey under the name of Lindauer and Company, Tobbaconists. Oscar Lindauer may have been a Freemason since his obituary calls for members to attend his funeral, his son Charles was a member, and appears in the Freemason's Master Index. One or more of Sophia and Oscar's children may have served in the Civil War, but no written records have been found to date except for a "Louis Lindauer" who worked as a shoemaker, and he may not be our Louis Lindauer, since there were other Lindauers living in Northhampton, Pennsylvania at the time that may be related distantly. There in no known information, written or oral, that connects the two families.

Death of Husband:
Oscar Arthur Moritz Lindauer died in 1866 and he is buried in Cypress Hill Cemetery on 833 Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn, New York and his obituary appeared in the New York Herald on Friday, September 07, 1866. In 1870 Sophia, now a widow, appeared on the census living in Manhattan with her 4 children, and she listed her birth year as 1825. There is another set of entries in the 1870 Census in Manhattan for "Sophia Lindauer and "Eloise Lindauer"; and a "Charles Lindauer" living with "Caroline Lindauer" that may be the same or different people.

Move in with Daughter:
In 1880 Sophia was living with her son-in-law, William Arthur Ensko II (1850-1889) and her daughter, Eloise Lindauer.

Images:
The only known photograph of Oscar Arthur Moritz Lindauer and Sophia Weber came from the collection of Eloise Lindauer I (1852-1944) and she also inherited the Lindauer family bible. They are now housed with Eloise Ensko Higgins (1955- ) in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

Memories of Sophie and Oscar Lindauer:
In 1965 Eloise Ensko (1925-1993) wrote the following: "My great-grandmother Sophia married an Oscar Lindauer. They came from Alsace-Lorraine [to the US] on their honeymoon. Alsace-Lorraine was then owned by the French. Great grandmother brought a lovely picture of Napolean over from the other side - none of which I have ever seen duplicated. It is still in the family and in excellent condition. The Lindauer family owned a huge department store over there. When the newlyweds came to this country about the early 1800's they settled in Philadelphia. The living room furniture is still in the family. I have in my possesion one of the sitting chairs. It is a very pretty, light wood in color, Victorian style. It is now of heavy material and cover. Sophia's Oscar had three boys and later on one girl. The boys were Charles, Louis and John."

Furniture:
The Lindauer furniture is currently in the possesion of Charles Edward Ensko II (1921-2004) who had it refinished.

Death:
Sophia died on October 09, 1891 in Manhattan and her death certificate number was "34791".

Burial:
She was buried with her husband in Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn. There is no tombstone for her or her husband, but the site has two markers for other family members: William Arthur Ensko II (1850-1889); and Stanley Marlton Massey (1895-1902).