Barbara (Schindel) Schuenemann (1865 - 1933)

Born 2 Aug 1865 in Prussia (Germany)

Wife of Herman E. Schuenemann — married 9 Apr 1891 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Descendants

Died 15 Jun 1933 at age 67 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

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Biography

Barbara (Schindel) Schuenemann is Notable.

Barbara (Schindel) Schuenemann has German Roots.

9 April 1891 married Herman Scuenemann - 3 daughters, Elsie, Hazel & Pearl (twins)

"Skipper Barbara" had to take over her husband's Christmas Tree shipping business after he was lost during a storm, in a shipwreck while bringing a shipment of Christmas trees down from Northern Michigan in November of 1912

...."When Capt. Santa failed to make Chicago, and there was no word, the lake communities knew Herman went down in that violent storm. As Herman did after August’s sinking, his wife Barbara and her daughters immediately took Herman’s place. Barbara was called "Mother Schuenemann" and dubbed “The Christmas Tree Queen” by the papers. By then railroads brought more trees than Christmas tree ships ever could, and trucking trees was in its infancy. In the year before Herman died, it was said Christmas tree ships brought 27,000 trees to Chicago, however the lake was not providing the efficient transportation it once had. Newspaper accounts suggest that they used schooners for several more years to bring trees to Chicago. Later, the women brought the evergreen trees to Chicago by train and then sold them from the deck of a docked schooner. After Barbara's death in 1933, feeling there was a legacy to protect, Herman’s daughters took over from Barbara, eventually phasing out the business in the mid-1930's."^[1]

1 June 1900: Chicago, North Town, Cook, Illinois; Married 10 years, 3 children, 3 living; E H Schuenemann, Sea Captain, 35 Wisconsin/Germany/Germany; Barbara Schuenemann Wife 35 Germany/Gweermany/Germany; Elsie Schuenemann Dau 8 Illinois; Hazel Schuenemann Dau 2 Illinois; Pearl Schuenemann Dau 2 Illinois; Clara Kratz, Cousin, 23 Iowa/Germany/Indiana; (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSQ7-194

16 April 1910: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; 1038 North Clark Street; Married 19 years, 3 children, 3 living; Herman Schunenmann, Sea Captain, Lake, 44 Germany; Barbara Schunenmann Wife 44 Germany; Elsie Schunenmann Dau 18 Illinois; Pearl Schunenmann Dau 11 Illinois; Hazel Schunenmann Dau 11 Illinois; (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKZJ-VGX

15 January 1920: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; 1638 North Clark Street; Barbara Schuenemann, Widow, Dealer in Christmas Trees,52 Germany; Hazel Schuenemann, Teacher in Public School, Dau 21 Illinois; Pearl Schueneman Dau 20 Illinois; Elsie Roberts Dau 27 Illinois; Anton Schneangal, Brother, Widowed, 55 Germany; https://www.familysearch.org/search/ark:/61903/1:1:MJQZ-FZ3

Sources

1. ↑ https://kewauneecountyhistory.blogspot.com/2016/12/algoma-schuenemann-evergleam-christmas.html

Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968; Hermann Schuenemann; Age 25; Residence Place Cook, Illinois; Birth Year (Estimated) 1866; Spouse's Name Barbara Schindel; Spouse's Age 25; Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated) 1866; Marriage Date 9 April 1891; Marriage Place Chicago, Cook, Illinois; (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7XZ-RZQ

Burial: Acacia Park Cemetery and Mausoleum

Find A Grave: Memorial #54232674 Barbara Schuenemann

Illinois, Cook County Deaths 1871-1088; Barbara Schuenemann; Event Date 15 June 1933; Event Place Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Address 158 Eugenie; Age 67; Marital Status Widowed; Occupation Housewife; Birth Date 1 August 1865; Birthplace Meinz, Germany; Burial Date 19 June 1933; Burial Place Chicago, Illinois; Cemetery Acacia Park; Spouse's Name Herman; Informant's Name Pearl Ehling; Entry Number 16510; (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2M8-5PJG

[http://www.rochellepenningtonbooks.com/cstmrsschuen.html Mrs. Schuenemann & Daughters Carry On; The Christmas Tree Ship] - excerpted from THE HISTORIC CHRISTMAS TREE SHIP: A True Story of Faith, Hope and Love by Rochelle Pennington

[1]

Young, David. "THE FIR TRADE." Chicago Tribune. 26 December 1999. chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 21 April 2021

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-per-flash-christmastreeship-1111-20121111-story.html]