The Baker from Sinsheim
We continue for another week with our family story- this time from the side of Eduard Marx, the husband of Babette Rothschild.
This week, kathryn and I worked together to try to understand who the other siblings in the family were and who their parents were. During this research, with the help of inquiries and communication with additional archives in Germany, we also managed to identify the people who appear in the old family photographs that were preserved.
As a reminder- Eduard, our grandfather, is the brother of Joseph, Kathryn’s grandfather.
Their parents are Leopold Marx and Mina (Maria) Fleischer.
And yes… it really is confusing- four generations carried the same names
Leopold was the father of Eduard Marx.
Eduard was the father of Leopold Marx (from Shavei Zion)
And Leopold was the father of Eduard (Ephraim) Marx
Leopold Marx – Head of the Family
Leopold was first married on November 24, 1841, to Eva Ottenheimer.
Their son Levi was born on November 29, 1842, and another son, Joseph, was born on August 15, 1845, but passed away only six months later.
Eva died shortly afterward, on February 1, 1846.
The widower Leopold Marx remarried later that same year, on September 3, 1846, to Mina Fleischer, the daughter of the merchant Jacob Fleischer and Hefele (Eve/ Chava) Marx- yes, she too came from the Marx family.
The couple moved to live in Sinsheim, where on March 23, 1849, Leopold was accepted as a full member of the local bakers’ guild.
Sinsheim
The Jewish presence in the city of Sinsheim and in the Rhine region has been documented since the 13th century.
In the 14th century, there was a small community there, but in 1349 severe persecutions took place, during which many Jews were murdered or expelled.
Under the rule of Rupert II (1390–1398), all Jews were expelled from the area, and only in the 15th–16th centuries did they gradually begin to return, subject to heavy protection taxes and many restrictions.
In the 18th century, a stable community developed in Sinsheim, beginning with six families, and during the 19th century the community grew.
By 1800, about 40 Jews lived in the city, and by 1890, around 150.
They established a synagogue and a Jewish cemetery, and became well integrated into the city’s commercial and civic life.
A Family Man Who Could Bake — What a Catch!
Leopold Marx was a baker, confectioner, and innkeeper.
He trained apprentices in the crafts of baking and confectionery, and during the holidays he would sell sweets.
In addition, he also kept barrels of wine for sale.
Over the years, Leopold and Mina had 11 more children, four of whom died at birth or at a very young age.
Jakob Marx – born April 9, 1848
Zilli Marx – born August 16, 1849, died at birth
Sigmund Marx – born July 21, 1850
Lina Marx – born February 16, 1852
Emilia Marx – born June 26, 1853, died at age two
Eduard Marx – born November 25, 1854
Joseph Marx – born July 3, 1856
Binchen Marx – born April 4, 1859, died at one month old
Daniel Marx – born August 12, 1860
Ida Marx – born February 22, 1863
Emil Marx – born February 11, 1864, died at age one
The sons Jakob, Sigmund, Daniel, and apparently also Levi (from the first marriage), emigrated abroad.
Daniel left for health reasons, and Sigmund was already living in Paris by 1869, refusing to return to Sinsheim.
The sons Eduard and Joseph went into the textile business, and later Eduard moved to Cannstatt, while Josephemigrated to the United States.
Only the daughters- Ida and Lina - remained close to their parents; they married, started families, and continued working in the family business.
Next Week: Stories from the Inn
At last, some juicy stories -not just the tragic ones!
it’s starting to feel like The Grand Budapest Hotel…
Next week we’ll find out:
Who’s in the photos?
Whom did the daughters marry?
And which family member married his housemaid?And what really happened at the famous Marx family B&B/ Inn?
Shabbat Shalom!
