Henriette Jenny Schottlaender (1857-1932)

Henriette Jenny Schottlaender was born on 9 Mar 1857 to Valentin and Johanna (nee Joachimczyk) Schottaender. The family lived in the city of Posen in the Prussian province of Posen (both now known as Poznan).

Regina, Johanna and Henrietta Schottlander, circa 1860-1863 — Regina, Johanna and Henriette, circa 1860-1862.

In 1859, Henriette’s sister Regina was born. Valentin worked as a grain merchant, and the family lived at Dominikanerstrasse 1. Presumably, Valentin died by 1865, as Johanna is listed in the Posen city directory at the same address. Henrietta was only nine years old.

Regina and Henriette Schottlander, 1863-1865 — Regina and Henriette, circa 1863-1865.

Geographically, Posen was located in an area fought over between the Prussian and Polish governments. In the mid-nineteenth century, Jews in Posen were a large minority and identified as German. Although not given full citizenship from the Prussian government, Jews were allowed to fight in the Prussian military and given relative freedom to move within the province, provided they stay in the larger cities. Most Jewish families of the time were of the merchant and middle class.

Not much is known about Henriette’s life as a child. The family most likely had some modest wealth they were able to live on, as Johanna is listed as either a Kaufmannsfrau (salesman’s wife) or widow in the city directories.

Henriette married Abraham Albert Loewenberg in Posen on 12 Feb 1880. Albert, as he was known at the time, was originally from Posen but had emigrated to San Francisco with his family in 1868. He subsequently worked as a merchant in Hawaii. Family stories are told that the Loewenberg and Schottlaender families were either cousins (although no evidence has been found) or they knew each other as children. Albert was 14 years Henriette’s senior, an eligible bachelor, and likely had travelled to Posen to find a bride.

The newlyweds travelled from Hamburg to New York City in March 1880 then later to Hawaii. On 8 Sept 1881, their first child, Alice, was born. Son Valentin Albert followed on 6 Sept 1882.

Henriette Loewenberg — Henriette in an undated photo. The photographer’s imprint on the back is the same as a photo of daughter Alice taken in Honolulu in 1881.

According to family history, Henriette became homesick and convinced Albert to moved back to Posen. The family had moved in the upper levels of Honolulu society, where Albert had been active in the German Benevolent Society, the German Club and the Odd Fellows. King David Kalalau gave the family gifts of pottery, tapestries and a Polynesian sewing kit as gifts of friendship when they left.

Hawaiian sewing kit — Sewing kit similar that what the Loewenbergs received from King David Kalalau.

By 1884 and back in Posen, the family lived in the same building as Henriette’s mother on Gruenstrasse 3. Albert maintained his business and dual citizenship in Hawaii, travelling between Honolulu and Posen for a number of years. Three more children followed: Bertha (b 24 May 1884), Harry Richard (3 Feb 1887), Alfred Ludwig (13 Dec 1890). Henriette’s sister Regina lived three doors down. Having her mother and sister nearby must have provided support for Henriette during Albert’s long absences. (Note, it would take at least six weeks just to travel from Posen to Honolulu in the 1880’s.)

By 1891 the family relocated to Berlin, and their final child Paul Kurt was born on 28 Feb 1892.

According to family history, Albert’s business and investments began to decline, and he died at the age of 64 on 27 Aug 1909.

Henrietta is reported to have had a strong and domineering personality, which may have led to the breakup of the family. Son Valentin was a leftist author who died at age 32 on 9 Sept 1914. Sons Harry Richard and Paul Kurt were disowned for marrying Christian women (Harry’s wife was also a divorcee). Son Alfred fled to England to avoid mandatory service in the German army during The Great War. Henriette and her sons did not maintain contact, despite Harry and Paul living only a few blocks away.

From at least 1917 until she died, Henriette lived at Kaiserdamm 96 in Charlottenburg, a suburb or Berlin, Germany. Her daughter Alice also lived just a few blocks away. Granddaughter Liselotte told many stories of Henriette’s stern and domineering behavior in which she was scolded if she did not stop by for afternoon tea when walking home from school.