My Genealogy Hound

CATHARINE LINDE. Christian Linde, deceased, husband of Catharine Linde, subject of this sketch, was the son of Philip and Gertrude (Dickel) Linde. He was born July 13, 1834, and died January 27, 1898.

Mr. Linde was a native of Berghausen, in Westphalia, Germany, and he attended in his youth the schools of his district, working in the intervals of school study at domestic and farm duties of various kinds. In 1848, during the troubled times in Germany, Philip Linde decided to emigrate with his family to America, which he did at the first favorable opportunity, landing in Philadelphia with his family of wife and four children. Two older children had been in the United States for four years, performing as violinists at concerts. One of these was Louis Linde, who was a pupil of the Prince Carl-Von-Wittgentein. He also subsequently gave his attention to the manufacturing of shoes.

Christian Linde came to America with his parents when fifteen years old. After reaching Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he and his brothers Louis and Frederick formed a co-partnership and engaged in the manufacture of boots, shoes, slippers, etc., for twelve years. In 1860 he retired from the shoe manufacturing business and engaged in the retail coal business, at Ninth and Poplar streets, Philadelphia, where he remained until 1877, when he removed to American street and Susquehanna avenue, where he continued in business up to the time of his death. In 1875 he bought the property of Eliza Hall in Lower Gwynedd township, formerly the Ellis estate, containing ten acres, and he found great pleasure in looking after the cultivation of the same.

Mr. Linde married, in 1867, Catharine, daughter of Gottlieb and Louise (Kater) Schmucker, of Philadelphia. Their children are Louisa Catharine, born May 15, 1868, died in 1872, William Bismarck, born December 17, 1870. Frederic Carl, born March 17, 1875, attended the Eight Square school in Lower Gwynedd township until he had reached his fourteenth year, when he entered the J. B. Hertzog German-American School at Marshall and Spring Garden streets, Philadelphia, remaining for two years, and graduating from that institution in June, 1888. In the meantime he was also attending the Philadelphia Musical Academy at 1617 Spruce street, Philadelphia, continuing there until he graduated in the class of 1899, since which time he has been professor of piano forte at the Leefson-Hille Conservatory of Music in the Weightman Building, Philadelphia, and is also engaged as private instructor of the piano at Ambler, and as organist at St. Paul’s Reformed church, Fort Washington, since October, 1897. He resides with his mother, being unmarried. Cornelia Maria Sophia, born November 16, 1875, attended the Eight Square public school and also the German-American Academy, in Philadelphia, until her sixteenth year, resides with her mother, being unmarried. George Whitman born January 25, 1883, attended public school until he was sixteen years of age, when he entered a grocery store at Ambler, where he is still engaged, residing with his mother. Harriet Magdalena, born May 15, 1888, attended the Eight Square school and later the public schools of Ambler, and expects to graduate in the class of 1905 at the Ambler high school; she resides with her mother.

In politics Mr. Linde was a Democrat, and while he always took an active interest in party affairs, never aspired to office. In religion the family have always adhered to the German Reformed faith. Mr. Linde was a prominent member of the Salem Reformed church at Fourth street and Fairmount avenue, Philadelphia, and was also connected in a musical capacity with that place of worship for nearly forty years.