#85: Maternal Monday: Mary Schmoker (1834–1895)

Maternal Monday: Mary Schmoker (1834–1895)

My research into the Kräher line frequently brings me back to Mary Schmoker. She is one of my earliest ancestors to have immigrated to the U.S. and is on my mother's line. Mary remains a central figure in my research, representing the start of this family's time in New York. Finding records like her marriage and burial helps ground the broader history of this migration in a specific life. As seen in the documents below, the Swiss and German surnames are often misspelled, written phonetically by the person creating the document, but I am confident that I have correctly matched these records.

Her Origins

Mary was born on June 29, 1834, in Beatenberg, Bern, Switzerland. She left for the United States in 1857. Beatenberg is a small, elevated community located in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. Between 1834 and 1860, it was an isolated village primarily focused on agriculture and alpine farming. During this period, the area faced economic pressures and limited land, which contributed to local emigration trends. (Note: The background information provided regarding Beatenberg, Switzerland, was generated by AI Gemini.)

The Journey

Mary immigrated to the United States aboard the ship "Charlotte A. Stamler," arriving on July 3, 1857¹. The Charlotte A. Stamler was an American-flagged merchant ship built in 1854. It was a substantial vessel used for general freight and passenger transport, notably operating on routes from Antwerp to New York. Crossing the Atlantic in the mid-1850s was a daunting undertaking, and her arrival in New York marked the beginning of our family’s American experience.

Life in New York

Mary and Jacob Kräher settled into life on the Lower East Side. They were married on January 12, 1860. Their daughter, Mary Madelina "Lena" Kräher, was born shortly after on January 30, 1860.

Marriage Register Entry, January 1860. (Click to enlarge)

Detail view of the entry for Jacob Kräher and Mary Schmoker. (Click to enlarge)

Source Information:
Ancestry.com. New York, New York, U.S., Vital Records, Births 1847-1897, Marriages 1847-1903, Deaths 1798-1900 [database on-line].

Transcription:
Date of Marriage: January 12, 1860
Name of Male: Kreher [sic, i.e., Kräher], Jacob
Condition of Male: Single
Nativity of Male: Bavaria
Age of Male: 28
Residence of Male: 111 Delancey
Color of Male: White
Name of Female: Maria Schmoker
Condition of Female: Single
Nativity of Female: Switzerland
Age of Female: 25
Residence of Female: 111 Delancey
Color of Female: White

Given the timing of these events, it is likely that Jacob and Mary were already living together at 111 Delancey Street by the time of their marriage, or perhaps they were simply living in the same tenement building. Together, they navigated the challenges of tenement life. Below is the 1860 US Census that shows Jacob, Mary, and "Lena" just six months after their wedding.

An occupation listed as "Public House" in the 1860 US Census generally refers to a place that served alcohol and often provided food or lodging to the public, such as an inn, tavern, or pub.

Final Resting Place

Mary Schmoker passed away on November 21, 1895. Her death is captured in an index, along with a certificate number, but her death certificate is not available on the NYC Historical Vital Records Project website; I ordered a copy of the certificate on June 13, 2026. She was laid to rest at The Green-Wood Cemetery (Section 135, Lot 14964, Grave 352) in Brooklyn on November 24, 1895. Mary, her husband Jacob, and their daughter Mary are all buried in the same grave. The "mother" on the headstone refers to the daughter Mary, as the stone was placed by one of her sons.

Photo Credit ©️Virginia Elaine Summers Olsen.

Genealogy Snapshot

Name: Mary Schmoker
Spouse: Jacob Kräher 
Relationship to me: 3X great-grandmother

1. Mary Schmoker and Jacob Kräher 
2. Mary Kräher and Frederick Gillen
3. Edward Louis Gillen and Caroline Schmitz
4. Anna Marie Gillen and Charles Summers (Soltis)
5. My mother and father
6. Me

Key References:

• ¹ "United States, Germans to America Index, 1850-1897", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KDW7-N1S : Tue Apr 14 18:50:44 UTC 2026), Entry for Maria Smoker, 3 July 1857.