Charles Schleicher - Belle Vallee (aka Carl Schleicher & Söhne): History

(Note: Initially, researching this company was a bit difficult for several reasons. First it was a German needle manufacturer, and many records are only in German which are sometimes hard to translate. Researching German records is also different from UK and USA records because Germany did not become a country until 1871 and records from various areas are different or do not exist. This needle company was from the Aachen, Germany area which was part of Prussia before 1871. Aachen is located near the border with the Netherlands and Belgium and some records are in French or other languages. In addition, the Schleicher family from this region was quite large making it sometimes difficult to tell which son was from which father. Also, there is some conflicting information on the internet about the Schleicher family members and it is difficult to know which is accurate without further evidence to prove it. In April 2025 a copy of a book which was written in 1919 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the firm Carl Schleicher & Söhne[1] was discovered. This book provided additional information about the history of this company. Therefore, the Schleicher history below is based on what appears to be most accurate and what makes the most sense, however, be advised that it may contain a few errors.)

The Company[2]

The needle manufacturing company that later became known as Carl Schleicher & Söhne was originally founded in 1819 by Carl’s father, Matthias Leonhard Schleicher. It was known as M. L. Schleicher at the time of its establishment and the mill where needles were made and the associated structures were given the name Schönthal. When translated into English, the German word Schönthal means beautiful valley[3]. The area around Schönthal was originally an undeveloped valley located about 22 kilometers east of Aachen, 2 kilometers southwest of the village of Langerwehe and a kilometer northeast of the village of Heistern. When the Schleicher family ancestors acquired this land in 1660, they built a brass mill here and in 1800 Matthias inherited this land. During the 19^th century Aachen was known as a major needle manufacturing city in Prussia. In the Middle Ages, during the time of Charlemagne, Aachen was called Aix-la-Chapelle[4] which is the French name for Aachen. Belle Vallee[5] are French words that mean beautiful valley. Often the Schleicher needle business was listed in directories as from Belle Vallee, Aix-la-Chapelle which means it was located in a beautiful valley near Aachen. Schönthal was also 11 kilometers west of the town of Düren and 11 kilometers northeast of the town of Stolberg, which were cities where events associated with Schönthal were often recorded. The needle packet[6] seen here contains the following words translated into English “Needle case for household use from the factory of Carl Schleicher & Sons Schoenthal founded in 1819”.

Matthias Schleicher expanded the needle factory by adding additional buildings that formed a courtyard around the entranceway which was topped with a small tower as seen in the painting here[7]. He also added a road so merchandise could be transported to other areas more easily and built workshops next to the mill. The river Wehebach, which flowed through the area, provided power to operate the machinery in the workrooms. Then in 1825, after the death of his second son, Matthias asked his fifth son, Carl Viktor Schleicher, to take over the needle factory with Matthias’s son-in-law, Johann Edmund Lynen, as a partner. That year the business became known as M. L. Schleicher & Söhne & Co. However, by 1833 Carl Viktor Schleicher took over full control of the company because Mr. Lynen was unable to handle business challenges. Carl modernized the company by adding additional buildings and workshops that handled specific functions related to the manufacture of needles. As a result, production increased dramatically over the years and the business became a global enterprise. The firm was known as Carl Schleicher in Prussia and the surrounding areas but became known as Charles Schleicher in France, the UK and USA. Most likely the name Charles was used because it was the French spelling of the Germanic name Carl and, also it would appeal to more English-speaking customers. Carl hired experienced needle workers from the Aachen area to come to Schönthal to help train the workers he recruited who moved to the area and resided in the living quarters built for them on his estate. In addition to good housing, Carl also provided health insurance for his employees. At least 200 people were employed at Schönthal in the early 19th century. During the 1830’s Carl added stamping and punching machines that were originally from Redditch, England to his factory which improved needle production significantly. Within 25 years the firm became quite well known and participated in the following exhibitions.

The 1851[8] World’s Fair at Crystal Palace in London where it was listed as:

“C. Schleicher, Schoenthal, near Aix-la-Chapelle. Manu. - Galvanized cast-steel wire. Various wire rings, and samples of unfinished and finished needles. The raw material is of English Origin.”

The 1853[9] New York Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations where the company was listed as:

“Chas. Schleicher, manu. Bellevallee, Aix-la-Chapelle, Prussia. Galvanized cast-steel wire; needles in various stages of manufacture.”

Two years later the firm participated in the 1855[10] Exposition Universal in Paris and was listed in the fair’s guide as follows:

“Mr. Schleicher manufactures 120,000 kilograms of steel wire. As for the needles, the quantity reaches 300,000,000 with a value of 600,000 francs. A large part of Mr. Schleicher’s steel thread is sold to other needle manufacturers, both in Aachen and Iserlohn. Its needles are of excellent quality and compete with needles from Redditch, in the Orient and America as well as on the European markets. The number of workers amounts to 650; the hydraulic wheels, aided by a steam engine, represent the force of 70 horses. Mr. Schleicher’s establishment is now at the head of Prussian needle manufacturing for product quality.”

In 1857 Carl Schleicher hired two Englishman who were living in Aachen, Germany to design a point grinding machine to be used in needle making at Schönthal. Then in 1858[11] and 1859[12] Schleicher patented in the UK machines for pointing needles which were also patented in Prussia, Austria and France. A couple years later in 1861[13] Charles Schleicher was listed in a Birmingham, UK directory as being a “manufacturer of patent needle pointing machines, Borough saw mills, Scotland street” which implied his firm was actually making these machines in Birmingham. Apparently, they were being sold to some of the needle manufacturers in the UK and that is how the Schleicher company became acquainted with Redditch area needle manufacturers who were located only 14 miles south of Birmingham.

A year later in 1862[14] the Schleicher needle business participated in the 1862 International Exhibition in London and it was listed as follows:

“Schleicher, Carl, needle-manu., Düren. Manufactory at Schönthal near Aix-la-Chapelle. London 1851 prize-medal; Paris 1855 silver medal and cross of the legion of honor; London 1862 medal . . . Samples of patented needle points; needles, fixed on cards and in papers, each containing 25 pieces.”

Four of Carl’s sons worked in their father’s needle business for a number of years. Carl’s eldest son, Hugo, as a young man traveled to Sheffield in England to learn about steel wire drawing. Then in 1845, after Hugo’s return to Germany, his father Carl converted another Schleicher owned mill, known as the Hüttentheiser Mill located in the Klein Schönthal area, into a cast iron and wire drawing factory. Hugo also traveled to South America and helped the business become efficient as an exporter. However, in 1877 he left the business to take over his father’s share in the paper processing factory known as Carl Schleicher & Schüll in Düren. Carl’s second son, Herman Alwin, moved to New York to promote the sale of Schleicher needles in the United States of America. Carl’s fourth son, Erich, took over Herman Alwin’s position in the firm at Schönthal and traveled to New York, Russia and France to promote sales abroad. Erich also was involved with the invention of a spindle-grinding machine which helped the firm increase its needle production. Erich left the company in 1880. Hugo and Herman Alwin son’s, Carl and Fritz, also joined the family business, with Carl becoming a partner in 1874 and Fritz in 1880. Since 1876 the family business became known as Carl Schleicher & Sons.

Carl’s youngest son Richard Schleicher joined his father’s business around 1860 and in 1864[15] at age 22 traveled to the UK where he registered a needle grinding machine. At the time of the registration, Richard was living in Redditch, most likely because it was the world’s center for needle production at that time. Presumably Richard did not live there for long as he was not listed in the 1871 UK census, however he must have had contact with other needle manufacturers from Redditch. Possibly he met William Avery during his time in Redditch and learned about the needle cases that Avery created. This A gold butterfly shaped object

Description automatically generated could be the reason why the name Charles Schleicher - Belle Vallee was stamped on 8 different Avery style needle case designs, 6 that were registered by Avery between 1868 and 1872 and 2 that were registered by the Birmingham die-sinker, stamper and piecer, Henry Jenkins & Sons, in 1869 and 1873. The two designs by Jenkins (the Butterfly Filigree front and partial back with name pictured below) have only been found with A gold plate with text on it

Description automatically generated the Avery or the Schleicher name which could mean Avery referred Schleicher representatives to Jenkins who was the one who actually manufactured the needle cases or Schleicher representatives met Jenkins while living in Birmingham. Also, in 1871[16] Charles Schleicher registered a patent for a needle wrapper in the USA. Copies of the pointing machine drawings, grinding machine registration document and the needle wrapper patent can be found in the Images section of this chapter.

After Carl died in 1883, his son Richard took over the needle business with his nephews Carl and Fritz as partners. The main factory in Schönthal was closed in 1899 and the business moved to the Bendenmühle (pictured here[17]) located near Langerwehe. This move was necessary because the separation of individual factory buildings at Schönthal made it difficult to be effective and a new factory where everything was in one place would be more productive. Richard left the company after it was relocated so he could focus his attention on managing his estate in the Schönthal area. At some point Carl and Fritz’s sons Hermann and Wolfgang also joined the business. Then shortly after Richard’s death in 1918, his grand-nephews, Hermann and Wolfgang, become the firm’s directors in 1919[18].

The company was listed in a guide to the 1925[19] Cologne Exhibition of the Rhineland which provided a short history of the firm transcribed and translated below which was written by Richard’s son Dr. Waldemar Schleicher[20]. Waldemar was also listed in the 1925[21] directory (pictured here) which when translated reads “Carl Schleicher & Sons . . . manufacturer of all types of needles including crochet hooks, hand needles and machine needles, Langerwehe Nr 4 . . . Schleicher Waldemar, Dr. jur., District Judge and Knight estate manager, 44 . . .” There is no evidence to suggest that Waldemar had any type of business relationship with the Carl Schleicher needle business and he may have provided this information as a hobby[22].

Here is the company history from the 1925[23] exhibition guide translated from German into English which provides additional information about the business.

“Portrait of the Privy Council of Commerce Carl Viktor Schleicher; born on February 6, 1803 in Stolberg; died on August 3, 1883 in Düren. Together with his father, Math. Leonhard Schleicher, he set up the “burnt mill”, later called Schönthal, for sewing needle production and founded the company Carl Schleicher Söhne, Schönthal, which first introduced the first machine processing of point grinding into needle production by exploiting an English invention in the 60s to 80s of the last century as the leading company in West Germany employing over 600 workers. The company celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1919.”

In addition to the history above, the following drawings, photographs and etc. at the exhibit were provided by Dr. Waldemar Schleicher.

· “Schönthal factory without steam power in 1843.

· The Carl Schleicher Söhne factory complex in 1873.

· The Bendenmühle side of the newly rebuilt company headquarters in 1899.

· The old Klein Schönthal factory that went out of operation since 1899.

· Photographic image of a painting from 1875 showing the main Schönthal factory with the Karlsburg castle behind it with the factory owner Carl Schleicher driving to the factory in a horse drawn vehicle.

· Documents of the appointment of Carl Schleicher to the Council of Commerce in 1857 signed by King Friederic Wilhem IV and to the Privy Council of Commerce in 1869 signed by King Kaiser Wilhelm I.

· Commemorative saying in poem form on the occasion of the closure of the Schönthal main factory in 1899.

· Documents about the awards received in London in 1862, Philadelphia in 1876, Dresden in 1911 and Vienna in 1913.

· Three patents from the years 1878 and 1880.

· A cabinet that contained all types of needles that the factory has manufactured since 1861.

· First hand sewing needles were manufactured, then sewing machine needles were added, later knitting machine needles, etc, needles and awls for shoemakers, saddlers, surgical needles, sewing machine components as far as they are related to the needle article.”

Since 1919 Carl Viktor Schleicher’s great-grandsons: Hermann Schleicher (Hugo’s grandson), and Wolfgang Schleicher (Herman’s grandson) managed the company as directors[24] until the business filled for bankruptcy in 1928. Then the company was run by Hermann until around 1934. The last time the firm appeared in a city directory was in 1937[25] where it was listed as “Carl Schleicher & Söhne”. At some point during the mid to late 1930’s the company was sold to Jungbecker of Aachen and it was shut down in 1944 because of the World War II fighting that took place in the valley. Unfortunately, much of the area around Aachen was destroyed during the war including parts of the Schönthal district where the Schleicher needle factory was originally located.

To date 8 Avery style needle cases have been found stamped with the Charles Schleicher Belle Vallee name[26]. It seems most likely that the company was listed as Charles instead of Carl because these items were made specifically for French or English-speaking customers. These were the Quadruple-Golden Casket - Fleur de Lis which were registered in 1869, the Stella Golden and the Butterfly-Filigree registered in 1869, the Butterfly[27] (front and partial back with name pictured here), the Revolving registered in 1871, the Bee Case and Butterfly Box - Oval Tub registered in 1872 and the Bird on a Box registered in 1873. Although the Butterfly-Filigree was registered in 1869, the Schleicher version contains the words “Patented Feb 24 73 No 301” indicating it was actually manufactured in 1873. Photographs of the other needle cases can be found in the Images section of this chapter.

The Owners[28]

The Schleicher family was one of the oldest and most important brass families in the Aachen area. Around 1571 one of the Schleicher sons, a brass master in Aachen, moved to neighboring Stolberg and established the first brass mill there in 1575. Additional brass mills were built in the area by his sons, grandsons, and other descendants over the years. Some members of the family also owned shares in other brass companies in the area through inheritance or purchases. As a result, the Schleicher’s were very successful, well known, and because of their high standing in society even had a coat of arms[29] which is pictured here. Generations later Matthias Leonard Schleicher was born in 1758 in Stolberg. He was the son of Matthias Schleicher (1726-1799) and Anna Maria Mewis (1721-1791). In 1786 Matthias married Maria Apollonia Hoesch, the daughter of Hugo Ludolf Hoesch (1727-1790) who was born in 1766 in Düren. Matthias and Maria had at least 12 children between 1788 and 1811: Matthias Ludolph, Johann Leonhard, Stanislaus August, Juliana, Johanna, Anna Sybilla, Sara Sophia, Napoleon Jeremias, Carl Viktor, Maria Apolonie, Hugues and Adolphe. In addition to having a brass mill, Matthias built a large industrially structured brass factory. In 1819 he founded the first zinc smelter in the Rhineland area and established the Schleicher needle manufacturing company known as Schönthal. Matthias died in Stolberg in 1836 at age 78 and his wife Maria died there 6 years later in 1842 at age 76.

Carl Viktor Schleicher was born in 1803 in Stolberg. While working in the needle manufacturing business that his father created in 1819, Carl married Carolina Wilhelmina von Auw in 1826 in Düren. Carolina was born in 1807 in Düren, the daughter of Johann Abraham von Auw (1766-1820) and Anna Catharina Schleicher (1773-1824). Carl and Carolina pictured here[30], lived in the Schönthal area where they had 7 sons and 4 daughters born between 1827 and 1843 although only 8 have been identified: Hugo, Herman Alwin, Matthias Leonhard, Viktor, Erich, Mathilda Caroline, Emma Elsie and Richard Rudolph. Carl took over the Schleicher family needle company in 1825 and spent his entire life working in this business which was very successful and well known throughout the world. Although he moved to neighboring Düren around 1840, he most likely assisted his youngest son Richard who built a villa near the family’s Schönthal needle factory and added a park which included numerous buildings and monuments surrounding a castle like structure called the “Karlsburg”. Carl served in the local government as a member of the Council of Commerce for a number of years. He also joined another man in 1862 and established a paper printing company in Düren known as Carl Schleicher & Schüll that had a license to print banknotes. Carolina died in Düren in 1883 at age 76 and Carl died there three months later in 1883 at age 80. Carl’s 1883[31] obituary is transcribed and translated below:

“Düren. The most outstanding defender of our local judiciary, the Councilor of Commerce, Karl Schleicher has here, 82 years old, died. He was the first in the local region to have dedicated apartments built for his workers, and tried to raise the social status of the workers even with great sacrifices.”

Hugo Schleicher[32], who was born in 1827 in Schönthal, was the eldest son of Carl Viktor Schleicher and Carolina Wilhelmina von Auw. Hugo married Aline von Auw and they had at least one child, a son who they named Carl after Hugo’s father. Hugo died in 1895. His son Carl, who was born in 1851 in Düren, married Julie Reinhardt and they had two sons: Hermann and Erich. Carl died in 1921. Hermann was born in 1882 and he was a director at the Schleicher needle factory in Langerwehe from 1919 until 1934. Hermann married Marie Hedwig Frederike Caroline Schmielau (aka Lotte) who was originally from Berlin, and they had a son named Horst. Hermann died in 1947. Horst was born in 1922 and lived in the villa next to the Schleicher factory in Langerwehe. After Horst went to the university, he became a casting engineer in 1952. He married a relative Herrat Schleicher and they had a son named Klaus. Horst died in 1955 at age 32 and his son Klaus currently lives in Stolberg.

Left: Hugo Schleicher. Center: Carl Schleicher. Right: Hermann Schleicher.

Carl Viktor Schleicher’s second son, Herman Alwin Schleicher, was born in 1828 in Schönthal, Langerwehe, Germany. Sometime between 1844 and 1848[33], Herman, who often went by the name Alwin Schleicher, immigrated to the United States and settled in New York City. He was naturalized there in 1849. Then in 1850 at age 22 he returned to Stolberg, Germany where he married his cousin, Malwine Schleicher, the daughter of Carl’s brother, Napoleon Jeremias Schleicher. Malwine was born in Stolberg in 1828. Shortly after their marriage Herman and Malwine returned to New York City and their six children[34] were all born there: Herman c1852, Julia c1854, Fredrick c1857, Walter c1858, Anna c1861 and Iwan c1863. In 1860 this Schleicher family was living in the Flushing, Queens section of New York City where Herman was working as a merchant. It seems most likely that as a merchant Herman sold many products including needles that were manufactured by his father’s company in Germany. Herman’s real estate was valued in 1860 at $20,000 (approximately equal to $770,600[35] today) and his personal estate at $40,000 (approximately equal to $1,541,200[36] today). Obviously, he was a very successful merchant. In 1863 Herman (pictured here on the right[37]) completed an application for a passport which also named his wife Malwine and five of their children: Julia, Frederick, Walter, Anna and Iwan. Then a couple years later the family traveled to Germany most likely to visit other family members in the Stolberg, Langerwehe and Düren areas. In April 1865 Herman and Malwine and four of their children sailed on the ship named the Germania from Hamburg to New York City. Herman was listed as a kaufman on the ship’s register, which when translated from German to English means merchant. Unfortunately, Herman died a little over a year later in 1866 at age 38 and was buried at the Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. When his estate was probated that year his two eldest sons, Herman and Fredrick (also known as Fritz as seen in the picture here on the left[38])), were listed as living in Düren, Germany whereas his other four children were living in the Flushing section of Queens, New York. His wife remained in the New York City area although she traveled to Bonn, Germany where she stayed for a few years from 1890 until 1893. She died in 1898, 32 years after her husband’s death, either at College Point in Queens, New York or in Bonn, Germany. When her estate was originally probated her children: Herman, Frederick, Iwan and Julia, each received $4,896 (approximately equal to $177,925[39]). Additional court records related to Malwine’s estate were recorded in 1903 and 1905 and they listed the eldest son Herman as living in Flushing, New York, whereas the other three children had returned to Germany with Julia living in Stolberg, Frederick in Düren and Iwan in Cologne.

The youngest son of Carl and Carolina Schleicher, Richard Rudolph Schleicher[40] (pictured here) was born in 1843 in Düren. By 1864 he was working for his father as a needle manufacturer when he traveled to the UK and registered a patent for a needle grinding machine. While in the UK he resided in Redditch for a period of time. In 1869[41] Richard built a villa near the Schönthal factory for his future family, which became known as Villa Schleicher, and he also purchased the park near his home which included the Karlsburg Castle. Because he was only 26 years old in 1869, was not married and his father Carl was in a much better financial position, it seems most likely that his father financed most of this. In 1879 Richard married Amalie Reuter in Rüdesheim am Rhine and after they returned to the Schönthal area they had at least 3 children: Waldemar who was born c1881, Edith and Lulu. To honor his children, Richard had a tower for each one built in the park near the Karlsburg Castle[42] of which two still exist to this day. Richard took over his father’s needle manufacturing business in 1883 after his father died and continued working there until 1899 when he decided to focus his attention on his other landed assets. In 1893[43] Richard purchased the manor estate known as Burg Holzhelm which was located just west of the neighboring village of Heistern. Richard died in at his home in Schönthal in 1918.

Charles Schleicher - Belle Vallee (aka Carl Schleicher & Söhne): Genealogy

(Note: most of the genealogical material presented here comes from ancestry.com, My Heritage and Family Search websites. Items marked with an * are listed in multiple family trees with these names and dates. Unfortunately, not many source records were found proving these names, dates and who their parents were. As a result, detailed research of all family members was not undertaken. The main focus here was on Matthias Leonhard Schleicher, Carl Viktor Schleicher, Herman Alwin Schleicher and Richard Rudolph Schleicher. Also, if a child was only listed in one place without source documentation, they were not included.)

Generation 1: Matthias Leonhard Schleicher (1758-1836) and Maria Apollonia Hoesch (c1765/66-1842)

· Born: September 19, 1758* Stolberg with parents Matthais Schleicher (1726-1799)* and Anna Maria Mewis (1721-1791)*.

· Marriage: May 10, 1786* Schneidhausen, Duren, married Maria Apollonia Hoesch who was born in 1765/66* in Düren whose parents were Hugo Ludolf Hoesch (1727-1790)* and Anna Catharina Deutgen (1735-1789)*

· Occupation: copper master, brass and needle manufacturer.

· Death: October 7, 1836* Stolberg.

· Wife’s Death: June 25, 1842* Stolberg.

· Children:

1. Matthias Ludolph Schleicher (1788-1831)*.

2. Johann Leonhard Schleicher (1791-1825)*. Marriage: June 25, 1816 Stolberg (S=Germany, Select Marriages, 1558-1929 available at ancestry.com), listed as Johann Leonard Schleicher age 25 born in 1791 in Stolberg whose parents were Matthias Leonard Schleicher and Maria Apollonia Hoesch with his spouse Cornelia Julianna Von Asten.

3. Stanislaus August Schleicher (1792-1865)*.

4. Juliana Schleicher (1793-1868)*. Marriage: September 35, 1813 Stolberg (S=Germany, Select Marriages, 1558-1929 available at ancestry.com), listed as Julie Schleicher age 19 born in 1794 in Stolberg whose parents were Matthias Leonard Schleicher and Maria Apolonie Hoesch with her spouse Ludolphe Mattias Hosch.

5. Johanna Schleicher (1795-1854)*. Marriage: May 9, 1817 Stolberg (S=Germany, Select Marriages, 1558-1929 available at ancestry.com), listed as Johanna Schleicher age 21 born in 1796 in Stolberg whose parents were Matthias Leonard Schleicher and Maria Apollonia Hoesch with her spouse Wilhelm Leonard Schull.

6. Anna Sybilla Schleicher (1796-1867)*. Marriage: October 2, 1820 Stolberg (S=Germany, Select Marriages, 1558-1929 available at ancestry.com), listed as Anna Sybilla Schleicher age 24 born in 1796 in Stolberg whose parents were Matthias Leonard Schleicher and Maria Apollonia Hoesch with her spouse Johann Edmund Lynen.

7. Sara Sophia Schleicher (1799-1835). Born: September 19, 1799 Stolberg (S=Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 available at ancestry.com), listed as Sara Sophia Schleicher with parents Mathias Leonard Schleicher and Maria Appollonia Hoesch.

8. Napoleon Jeremias Schleicher (1801-1875). Born: August 2, 1801 Stolberg (S=Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 available at ancestry.com), listed as Napoleon Jeremias Schleicher with parents Mathias Leonard Schleicher and Maria Apolonia Hoesch.

9. Carl Viktor Schleicher (1803-1883)*. See Generation 2.

10. Marie Apolonie Schleicher (1808-??/1823). Born: June 18, 1808 Stolberg (S=Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 available at ancestry.com), listed as Marie Apolonie Schleicher with parents Matthias Leonard Schleicher and Marie Apolonia Hoesch).

11. Hugues (aka Hugo) Schleicher (1809-1855). Born: December 24, 1809 Stolberg (S=Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 available at ancestry.com), listed as Hugues Schleicher with parents Matthias Leonard Schleicher and Marie Appollie Hoesch.

12. Adolphe Schleicher (1811-??/1812). Born: June 23, 1811 Stolberg (S=Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 available at ancestry.com), listed as Adolphe Schleicher with parents Matthias Leonard Schleicher and Marie Appollonia Hoesch.

Generation 2: Carl Viktor Schleicher (1803-1883) and Carolina Wilhelmina von Auw (1807-1883)

· Born: February 6, 1803* Stolberg (S=Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 available at ancestry.com), listed as Carl Victor Schleicher with parents Mathias Leonard Schleicher and Maria Apollonia Hoesch. Also listed in various records as Karl Viktor Schleicher or Carl Viktor Schleicher.

· Marriage: July 1, 1826*, married Carolina Wilhelmina von Auw who was born in 1807* in Düren whose parents were Johann Abraham von Auw (1766-1820)* and Anna Catharina Schleicher (1773-1824)*. Also listed in various records as Karolina.

· Occupation: needle manufacturer, paper manufacturer and commercial council member.

· Wife’s Death: April 18, 1883* Düren.

· Death: August 3, 1883* Düren.

· Obituary: Hermanner Volksblatt newpaper dated September 7, 1883, page 3, column 2 (S=www.newspapers.com).

· Children:

1. Hugo Schleicher (1827-1895*). See Generation 3.

2. Herman Alwin Schleicher (1828-1866)*. See Generation 3. Also listed in some records as Alwin Schleicher.

3. Matthias Leonhard Schleicher (1830-1872)*. Marriage: April 1855, Berlin (S=Germany, Lutheran Baptism, Marriages, and Burials, 1500-1971 available at ancestry.com), listed as Mathias Leonhard Schleicher age 24 born November 2, 1830 whose father was Carl Victor Schleicher with spouse Aline Josphine Odilie Hoesch.

4. Erich Schleicher (1831-1897).

5. Viktor Schleicher (1833-1834)*.

6. Mathilde Caroline Schleicher (1837-1898)*. Marriage: June 16, 1856 Duren (S=Germany, Select Marriages, 1558-1929 available at ancestry.com), listed as Mathilde Carolina Schleicher who was born August 8, 1837 in Schoenthal whose father was Carl Victor Schleicher and mother Carolina Von Aun with spouse Ernst Robert Lorenz.

7. Emma Elsie Schleicher (1841-1911)*. Marriage: July 23, 1860 Düren (S=Germany, Select Marriages, 1558-1929 available at ancestry.com), listed as Emma Elise Schleicher who was born February 4, 1841 in Dueren whose father was Carl Schleicher and mother Carolina Von Aun with spouse Carl Emil Hoesch. Also listed as Elizabeth Emma Schleicher in some records.

8. Richard Rudolph Schleicher (1843-1918)*. See Generation 3.

Generation 3: Hugo Schleicher (1827-1895 and Aline von Auw (??-??)

(Note: much of the information about this family was provided by Klaus Schleicher of Stolberg, Germany).

· Birth: April 26,1827

· Marriage Date: not found. Hugo Schleicher married Aline von Auw.

· Occupation: needle manufacturer and later a paper manufacturer.

· Death: February 27, 1895

· Children:

A. Carl Schleicher (1851-1921). Carl was born on June 7, 1851 and died on April 10, 1921. Carl married Julie Reinhardt and they had two sons: Hermann and Erich. Carl became a partner in the Carl Schleicher & Söhne business in 1874.

1) Hermann Schleicher who was born on December 5, 1882 in Langerwehe and died in Düren on December 26, 1947). Herman married Marie Hedwig Frederike Caroline Schmielau (nicknamed Lotte) who was from Berlin and they had one son: Horst. Since 1919 Hermann was one of the directors of the Carl Schleicher & Söhne business until 1934.

· Horst Schleicher was born in September 1922 and died in May 1955. Horst married a relative from Stolberg named Herrat Schleicher and they had one son Klaus who currently lives in Stolberg.

2) Erich Schleicher (??-??). He worked in the textile branch.

Generation 3: Herman Alwin Schleicher (1828-1866) and Alwine Schleicher (1828-1898)

· Birth: April 20, 1828 in Renish, Prussia, (S=1863 passport application on ancestry.com) and Schönthal (S=burial record on ancestry.com).

· Passenger Lists:

1. Departed Bremen, Germany and arrived in New York, New York, USA on June 18, 1844 (S=New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1957 available at ancestry.com). Listed as Herman Schleicher age 17.

2. Departed Liverpool, England and arrived in New York, New York, USA on April 29, 1848 (S=New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1957 available at ancestry.com). Listed as Alwin Schleicher age 20 of Germany.

3. Departed Hamburg, Germany on April 1, 1865 on the ship named Germania arriving in New York (S=Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934 available at ancestry.com). Listed as H. A. Schleicher with wife Malvine and 4 children: Julie age 10, Walther age 6, Anna age 4 and Juan age undecipherable. (Note: the name spelling and age of Walter appears to be a transcription error).

· Naturalization Declaration: April 7, 1849 New York, New York. (S=New York, U.S. State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1794-1943). Listed as H. Alwin Schleicher.

· Marriage: August 19, 1850 Stolberg, Germany (S=Germany, Select Marriages, 1558-1929 available at ancestry.com). Listed as Herman Alwin Schleicher whose parents were Carl Victor Schleicher and Caroline Von Stuw with his spouse listed as Malwine Schleicher.

· 1857 New York City Directory (S=ancestry.com). Listed as Herman A. Schleicher with a business at Henry Brooklyn, New York with occupation listed as hardware.

· 1860 U.S. Census, New York, New York (S4). Listed as Herman Schleicher age 33 born in Prussia who was a merchant who lived in Flushing, Queens, New York with real estate valued at $20,000 and a personal estate valued at $40,000 with wife Melvina age 31 born in Germany, 4 children all born in New York: Herman age 8, Julia age 6, Fredrick age 3, Walter age 2 and 3 servants. (Note: the surname is incorrectly listed in the census index as Seurleigher).

· Occupation: hardware and merchant.

· Passport Application: May 29, 1863 (S=ancestry.com). Listed as Herman A. Schleicher age 35 who was born on April 20, 1828 in Renish, Prussia.

· Death: July 17, 1866 (S=burial).

· Burial: July 19, 1866 Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York (S=ancestry.com), listed as Herman A. Schleicher. His burial was also listed in the Missouri Synod, U.S., Lutheran Church records, 1851-1943 on ancestry.com where he was listed as Herrmann Alwin Schleicher age 38 who was born in Schönthal, who died on July 17, 1866, who was buried on July 19, 1866 at Greenwood Cemetery and whose wife was listed as Malwine Schleicher Von Stollberg.

· Probate: September 11, 1866 Queens, New York (S=ancestry.com). Listed as Herman A. Schleicher of Flushing, Queens, New York whose will was dated December 14, 1862 with his wife listed as Malaria. (Note: his wife’s name appears to be transcription error).

· Wife’s Birth: November 14, 1828 and baptized November 15, 1828 in Stolberg, Germany (S=Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898 available at ancestry.com). Listed as Malwine Schleicher with parents Napoleon Jeremias Schleicher and Juliane Schleicher.

· Wife’s Marriage: August 19, 1850 Stolberg (S=Germany, Select Marriages, 1558-1929 available at ancestry.com). Listed as Malwine Schleicher whose parents were Napoleon Jeremias Schleicher and Juliane Schleicher with her spouse listed as Herman Alwin Schleicher.

· Wife’s Passport Application: April 29, 1893, completed at the consulate of the United States in Cologne, Germany and issued in Berlin, Germany (S=ancestry.com). Listed as Mrs. Malwine Schleicher age 64 born November 14, 1828 in Stullberg, Germany who resided in Bonn since arriving in Germany in 1890, who at the time of this application planned to return to United States within two years. Also, the application indicates her husband originally immigrated to the USA in October 1847 and lived there for 19 years and that she immigrated in 1850 and had a permanent residence in New York. (Note: her birth place seems to be a transcription error and should be Stolberg).

· Wife’s Will: written on July 26, 1898.

· Wife’s Death: November 27, 1898 New York or Bonn, Germany (S=probate records).

· Wife’s Probate: There are many court records related to her probate between 1899 and 1905 on ancestry.com. The February 20, 1903 Queens, New York court record listed her as Malwine Schleicher of College Point, Queens, New York with 4 children receiving $4,896 from her estate: Herman, Julia, Frederick and Iwan. Additional court records in 1903 and 1905 listed Julia as living in Stolberg, Germany, Frederick in Düren, Germany, Iwan in Cologne, Germany and Herman in Flushing, New York.

· Children:

1. Herman Schleicher, born c1852 in New York.

2. Julia Schleicher, born c1854 in New York.

3. Fredrick Schleicher, born c1857 in New York. Also known as Fritz who had a son named Wolfgang.

4. Walter Schleicher, born c1858 in New York.

5. Anna Schleicher, born c1861 in New York.

6. Iwan Adelbert Schleicher, born January 11, 1863 at College Point, New York and baptized May 22, 1863 with parents listed as Hermann Alwin Schleicher and Malwina Schleicher (S=Missouri Synod, U.S., Lutheran Church records, 1851-1943 on ancestry.com).

Generation 3: Richard Rudolph Schleicher (1843-1918) and Amalie Reuter (1855-1937)

· Born: October 20, 1843* Düren.

· Marriage: August 31, 1879 Rüdesheim am Rheine (S=Hesse, Germany, Marriages 1849-1930 available at ancestry.com). Listed as Richard Rudolf Schleicher age 35 born October 20, 1843 with parents Carl and Caroline Schleicher and wife Amalie Reuter.

· Occupation: needle manufacturer.

· Death: August 10, 1918 or October 8, 1918* Schonthal, Langerwehe, Düren.

· Wife’s Death: not Found.

· Children:

1. Waldemar Schleicher (c1880-??). Born: c1880, 1925 Address Book, page 309 which lists his age as 44 (S=Germany and Surrounding Areas Address Books, 1815-1974 available at ancestry.com). Also, listed in an 1932-1933 Address Book, page 115 as living in Düren (S=Germany and Surrounding Areas Address Books, 1815-1974 available at ancestry.com).

2. Edith Schleicher (1887-??).

3. Lulu Schleicher.

Avery Style Needle Cases Stamped with the Charles Schleicher Belle Valle name

1. Bee Case: Ornamental Design #263785 registered June 27, 1872 by W. Avery & Son, Redditch (S=The National Archives, Kew, UK).

2. Bird on a Box: Ornamental Design #270620 registered February 21, 1873 by Henry Jenkins & Sons, Birmingham (S=The National Archives, Kew, UK). This needle case stamped with the Schleicher name also has the date Feb. 24, 1873 stamped on it.

3. Butterfly: Ornamental Design #254656 registered August 4, 1871 by W. Avery & Son, Redditch (S=The National Archives, Kew, UK).

4. Butterfly Box - Oval Tub: Ornamental Design #261191 registered March 16, 1872 by W. Avery & Son, Redditch (S=The National Archives, Kew, UK).

5. Butterfly-Filigree: Ornamental Design #229393 registered May 13, 1869 by Henry Jenkins & Sons, Birmingham (S=The National Archives, Kew, UK). This needle case stamped with the Schleicher name also has the date Feb. 24, 1873 stamped on it.

6. Quadruple-Golden Casket - Fleur-de-Lis: Mechanical Patent #3517, Fig. 7-10 registered November 19, 1868 by William Avery and Albert Fenton of Redditch (S=British Library – Business and Intellectual Property Centre, London, UK).

7. Revolving: Mechanical Patent #1322, Fig. 19 registered May 16, 1871 by William Avery of Redditch (S=British Library – Business and Intellectual Property Centre, London), UK.

8. Stella Golden: Mechanical Patent #2998, Fig. 14 registered November 19, 1868 by William Avery and Albert Fenton of Redditch (S=British Library – Business and Intellectual Property Centre, London, UK).

Endnotes

[1] The book titled Chronik der Firma Carl Schleicher & Söhne G.M.B.H. & Co Schönthal b/Langerwere, Rhld. Anlasslich Hires 100 Jahrigen Bestehens Juli 1919 was scanned and sent to me by Klaus Schleicher of Stolberg Germany. Klaus is the great-great-great grandson of Carl Schleicher. Because this book was written in German, I used the ChatGPT program on the internet to translate it.

[2] Most of the historical information about this company comes from the first three sources listed here, although there are some discrepancies between these three which are highlighted in other endnotes. 1) The book entitled Chronik der Firma Carl Schleicher & Söhne G.M.B.H. & Co Schönthal b/Langerwere, Rhld. Anlasslich Hires 100 Jahrigen Bestehens Juli 1919. 2) Former Schleicher Needle Factory on Gut Schönthal near Langenwehe at the Industrial Museums Euregio Meuse-Rhine website (S=https://industrienmuseen-emr-de/de_DE/nadelfabrik-schleicher); 3) Schleicher (family) Origins, Coat of Arms, Family-owned copper yards, Changes from the time of industrialization (S=https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Schleicher_(Familie); 4) Sneaker (English translation of Schleicher) Biography (S=https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/sfz112719.html#ndbcontent-sfz112712; 5) Schönthal (Langerwehe) Geographical location, History, Economy, Traffic. . . (S=de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schonthal_(Langerwehe); 6) Carl Schleicher & Schüll (S=https://www.moneypedia.de/index.php/Carl_Schleicher_%26_Schull); and 7) Former Villa Schleicher (S=http://www.komoot.com/de-de/highlight/3072967). Also, all of the photographs in this chapter were taking by me in May 2025 during my visit to the Langerwehe and Stolberg area unless otherwise noted. During my visit to the area I met Klaus Schleicher, a descendant of Carl Schleicher, who informed me that the Schleicher family business was a brass business not a copper business.

[3] From a Google translation of the word Schönthal.

[4] From a Wikipedia article about Aix-la-Chapelle.

[5] From a Google translation of the words Belle Vallee.

[6] This needle packet is from the Nordiska Museet website (S=https://digitaltmuseum.se/011023749824/synal sbrev). This was translated from German to English using the Google translation website.

[7] This painting of the Schönthal factory is owned by Richard Simons of Langerwehe.

[8] Official Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, 1851, Spicer Brothers, page 10 (S=books.google.com).

[9] Official Catalogue of the New York Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations, 1853, George P. Putnam & Co, 1853, page 133 (S=books.google.com)

[10] Exposition Universal de 1855 Rapports de Jury Mixte International Tome II, Imprimerie Imperial, 1856, page 224 (S=books.google.com). This was originally written in French which was translated into English using the Google translation website.

[11] UK Letters Patent No 982 dated September 20, 1858 for Machinery for Pointing Needles, Pins, &c by Charles Schleicher in the book English Patents of Inventions, Specifications: 1858, 974-1038, 1858 (S=books.google.com). The drawings pictured in the Images section of this chapter were converted to black and white and sharpened as the original yellowish versions were very hard to read. Also, in the Birmingham Journal newspaper dated October 9, 1858, page 12, column 3 (S= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/), listed as Charles Schleicher of Bellevalle, near Aix-la-Chapelle, Prussia, an improved machine intended to make the point of needles, pins, and all other similar articles

[12] The Commissioners of Patents’ Journal 1860, George Edward Eyle and William Spottiswoode, 1860, page 1362. Listed as C. Schleicher of Bellevalle, near Aix-la-Chapelle, . . .”An apparatus for pointing needles, pins, &c” 5 Years - Dated 10th September 1859 (S=books.google.com).

[13] Corporation General and Trades Directory of Birmingham and Wolverhampton, 1861, William Cornish, page 288 (S=books.google.com).

[14] The International Exhibition of 1862. The Illustrated Catalogue of the Industrial Department. Vol. IV. Foreign Division, by Her Majesty’s Commissioners, 1862, page 123 (S=books.google.com)

[15] UK Provisional Specification No. 2224 for New or Improved Machinery to be used in the manufacture of needles dated September 12, 1864 by Richard Schleicher in the book English Patents of Inventions, Specifications: 1864, 2174-2236, 1865 (S=books.google.com).

[16] US Patent No. 115,529 for Improvement in Needle-Wrappers dated May 30, 1871 by Charles Schleicher of Schoenthal new Aix-la Chapelle, Rhenish, Prussia (S=https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com).

[17] From Chronik der firma Carl Schleicher & Söhne G.M.B.H. & Co Schönthal b/Langerwere, Rhld. Anlasslich hires 100 Jahrigen Bestehens Juli 1919, photograph from page 3.

[18] From information received from Hermann’s grandson, Klaus Schleicher, who currently lives in Stolberg, Germany who I met in May 2025.

[19] Führer Durch die Jahrtausend Ausstellung Der Rheinlande in Koln, 1925, pages 277-279 (S=books.google.com).

[20] Waldemar Schleicher was listed in the Wikipedia article about the Schleicher family as the son of Richard Schleicher a needle manufacturer. This article fails to mention Richard’s father, Carl Schleicher, and it has Richard’s birth year as 1838.

[21] 1925 Address Book, page 309 (S=ancestry.com). This listing was translated from German to English using the Google translation website.

[22] Based on my discussions with Klaus Schleicher of Stolberg, Germany (a descendant of Carl Schleicher) and his knowledge of the Schleicher family business, Klaus does not believe Waldemar was involved with the company but thinks he may have written a story and collected pictures of it as a hobby.

[23] Führer Durch die Jahrtausend Ausstellung Der Rheinlande in Koln, 1925, pages 277-279 (S=books.google com). This article was translated from German to English using the Google translation website.

[24] All of the information in this paragraph, unless otherwise noted, is from information received from Hermann’s grandson, Klaus Schleicher, who currently lives in Stolberg, Germany who I met in May 2025.

[25] 1937 Directory of Aachen, page 320 (S=ancestry.com).

[26] All of the full view needle case photographs in this chapter are from the author’s collection, however the ones in the author’s collection are not all stamped with the Schleicher name. The detail photos with the Schleicher name are mostly from sales over the years on eBay.com or other auction websites.

[27] Detail photo of the Butterfly needle case with the Schleicher name (S-eBay).

[28] This section includes some information from the same sources as the first endnote with additional information about Matthias, Carl and Richard from the Genealogy section of this chapter.

[29] This Schleicher coat of arms is from the Schleicher family article on Wikipedia.

[30] These portraits of Carl and Carolina Schleicher are from the My Heritage website. It seems most likely that these photos were originally found in a book mentioned on Google but with no pages which was about the celebration of the couples golden wedding anniversary entitled Familientafel der Ehegatten Carl Viktor Schleicher und Carolina von Auw in Düren errichtet am Tage ihrer goldenen Hochzeit 1, Juli 1876 (S=books.google.com).

[31] See the Genealogy section for source details. This obituary was translated from German to English using the Google translation website and Carl’s age appears to be a writer’s error.

[32] The drawings of Hugo and Carl Schleicher seen here are from the book entitled Chronik der Firma Carl Schleicher & Söhne G.M.B.H. & Co Schönthal b/Langerwere, Rhld. Anlasslich Hires 100 Jahrigen Bestehens Juli 1919, page 19. The photograph of Hermann Schleicher was obtained from his grandson, Klaus Schleicher. Much of the information in this paragraph came from Klaus Schleicher.

[33] It is unclear exactly when he immigrated. Two passenger lists were found for a man with his name, one in 1844 and another in 1848. Also, on his wife’s passport application in 1893 she indicated her husband immigrated to the USA in 1847.

[34] Their names and birth years are based on their listings in the 1860 census, 1865 passenger list and Iwan’s baptism record.

[35] From the US Inflation Calculation website at www.in2013dollars.com. This is the value of $20,000 from 1860 to 2025.

[36] From the US Inflation Calculation website at www.in2013dollars.com. This is the value of $40,000 from 1860 to 2025.

[37] The drawing of Herman Alwin Schleicher seen here is from the book entitled Chronik der Firma Carl Schleicher & Söhne G.M.B.H. & Co Schönthal b/Langerwere, Rhld. Anlasslich Hires 100 Jahrigen Bestehens Juli 1919, page 19. The photograph of Mr. Schleicher’s grave is from the Find A Grave website at https://www.findagrave.com/.

[38] The drawing of Friz Schleicher seen here is from the book entitled Chronik der Firma Carl Schleicher & Söhne G.M.B.H. & Co Schönthal b/Langerwere, Rhld. Anlasslich Hires 100 Jahrigen Bestehens Juli 1919, page 19.

[39] From the US Inflation Calculation website at www.in2013dollars.com. This is the value of $4,896 from 1903 to 2025.

[40] The drawing of Richard Schleicher seen here is from the book entitled Chronik der Firma Carl Schleicher & Söhne G.M.B.H. & Co Schönthal b/Langerwere, Rhld. Anlasslich Hires 100 Jahrigen Bestehens Juli 1919, page 19

[41] This date is from the plaque above the door at the Villa Schleicher house today which is pictured in the Images section of this chapter.

[42] This is from a sign on display in the Karlsburg Castle park which I saw during my visit there in May 2025.

[43] This date is from the plaque above the door at the manor house at Burg Holzhelm which is pictured in the Images section of this chapter.

Return to the Avery Needle Case Resource Center homepage