Bill Scholtz
Scholtz Photos
Scholtz family in Caracas, Venezuela, circa 1900. Back row: Jose' Henrique (1873-1854), Rosa Amalia (circa 1879-dec), Frederico (?-dec), Isabel (circa 1878-after 1954), Alfredo (circa 1881-dec), Obdulia (?-dec). Front row Elisa (circa 1877-dec), Carlos Alfredo (1864-1946), Johan Cristafel (father, ?-dec), Obdulia Roldan (mother, ?-dec), Mimi (?-dec) or someone else, Guillermo (?-dec) or Luis Roldan (circa 1869-dec). Josefina (Gozewina in Dutch) Alida (1864-1917) was probably in Curacao with her family. Louisa Theresa (1882-dec) may have been visiting her. There may have been one other child who had probably died by that time. (this image was made from a copy of the original)
Johan Christafel Scholtz (circa
1820-circa 1900) This picture was likely taken in the late 1800s.
Johan was probably born in Curaçao. He and his family lived in
Caracas. He was Consul in La Guaira, Venezuela for Holland,
Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and others because he was fluent in
several languages. Today, La Guaira is just a few minute ride
down the hill from Caracas, however, before the turn of the
century it was a long trip. So, Johan used to live during the
week in La Guaira and go home to Caracas when he could. (the original of this picture belongs to Liz Winebrenner)
Jose' Henrique Scholtz
(1873-1954). This picture was probably taken in the late 1890s.
Henrique was born in Caracas, Venezuela. As a child he went to
the docks with his father and got a rowboat. He rowed out to the
ships coming in and traded with the captains. He was doing so
well that one of his sisters decided to invest in his operation.
She bought another rowboat and hired someone to row it. Later he
started to import Steinway pianos. They became a status symbol in
Caracas and he did very well until he saturated the market. At
one point he had a plantation (possibly coffee) outside of
Caracas. One day the foreman came into town and said that he was
having trouble with one of the workers. Henrique told him that he
did not want to hear about it and that he, the foreman, was paid
to solve the problems himself. The next time the foreman was in
town Henrique asked how he solved the problem with the worker.
The foreman said he shot the worker. At that point Henrique
decided to sell the plantation.
He first came to America in 1896. After marrying Catharina in 1900, he and his family move back and forth between New York and Venezuela. Arthur (the only child born out of Venezuela) was born in Brooklyn but on his birth certificate his parents residence was listed as Caracas. Shortly after the turn of the century when a new dictator took over the country the people were hopeful things would finally improve. Henrique and his friend, Lorenzo Marturet, went to the palace where a crowd of people were calling for the new leader to come out and speak. The leader came out on the balcony and said "Let the people be quiet." The leader then returned to his room. Henrique turned to his friend and said that it was time to move out of the country and move to New York. His friend said that he would go only if New York had a good opera. They packed up their things and took their families to New York. They bought adjoining Brownstones in Brooklyn and went into business together. Within a year his friend moved back to Venezuela. In 1906, he and his brother Carlos founded Scholtz & Co where he worked until he retired in 1948. (the original of this picture belongs to Andrew Scholtz Jr.)
Joanna Catharina van Daalen Scholtz
(1881-1942). This picture was taken at the time of her wedding to
Henrique in 1900. Catharina was born in Curaçao. (the
original of this picture belongs to Angela Scholtz)
Henrique and Catharina's children taken
about 1912. Gertrude (1901-1992), Henry (1902-1997), Eleanor
(1905-1994), Arthur (1906-1989), Obdulia (1909-1993). (the original of this picture belongs to Liz Winebrenner)
Henry and Gertrude in costume at the
Carnival in Caracas, February, 1908. The picture was a gift with
the following written on the back: 'Para querida Tia Mimi' como
recuerdo del Carnaval de 1908. Sus sobrinos: Gurtruida y Henrique
Scholtz Febrero 1908' which means 'For dear aunt Mimi as
remembrance of the Carnival of 1908. Your niece and nephew:
Gertrude and Henry, February 1908', (the original
of this picture belongs to William Scholtz)