Leonie Schuler Goulemus: A mystery in two or more parts

Leonie Madeleine Schuler was born in France in 1840.  She immigrated in March of 1845 to America with Catherine, her mother and her younger brother, Henri, known in the US as Harry. (Harry is my great great grandfather.)   

 The family reunited with their husband/father, Louis Schuler and settled with many other French/Germans in the fourth ward of New Orleans.  Louis and Catherine went on to have seven more children.  By 1880, Leonie is the only family member remaining in Louisiana. She is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in the tomb pictured above.   Also in this tomb is Frank/Francois Goulemus, Leonie's husband and six other people, Kleins, Karchers, Vitranos, all names I do not recognize.  Why do I not know these people? You wouldn't be buried with friends or casual acquaintances, members of what in genealogy circles we would refer to as the F.A.N. club, would you? My thinking is that these six other people must be relatives or closely connected to Leonie or her husband.  But who are they?

Our Darlings

Mary M. Klein 

Died Oct 17 1890

Aged 2 month & 19 days

Frank J. Klein 

Died June 21, 1891

Aged 5 years, 6 months and 8 days

I find it particularly compelling that the first two burials in this tomb are children. Very young children at that.  Leonie and Frank had no children (it states so in her will).  Leonie is listed in several city directories as a teacher. Could that be the connection?  

I have never been to the Greenwood Cemetery or visited New Orleans. Its only been about two years since I discovered that the Schulers, who I had identified as quintessential New Yorkers, ever lived in another place. I am still very much a novice when it comes to researching Louisiana and in particular, New Orleans.

Plot 17, Henderson-Magnolia-Hawthorne of Greenwood Cemetery is known as the Klein-Goulemus plot. My first clue that maybe these new found ancestors are connected to Leonie's husband's family.  But no other Kleins are listed on this tomb. Who are the parents of these young children?

The remaining graves are: 

My Darling Husband

Frank Goulemus 

Died August 10, 1891

Aged  68 years, 6 months and 7 days  

Albert Karcher 

June 24, 1914- September 1, 1971

Elaine Karcher Vitrano

She cared, she loved

October 6, 1936 - December 20, 2000

Bernard Vitrano 

September 10, 1932- February 26, 2003

Edith Lafaso Karcher

July 24, 1917 - January 11, 2007

No Kleins and none of these people are the right age to be the parents of the Klein children.  

The first document I locate pertaining to Leonie and her husband is the US Census of 1870.  They live together in the fourth ward and their household has three other members: Emma and Eugene Schuler and Katie Fish.  I know from the 1860 Census that Emma and Eugene are Leonie's sister and youngest brother. 

12 year old Katie Fish is a mystery to me.  There is no mention of parents for these three children and I can't find any other Schulers or Fish in Louisiana in the 1870 Census.  On the 1880 Census the household has shrunk to three: Frank age 57, Leonie age 39 and 21 year old Katie Fish, is listed as their niece.  I am pretty sure that Katie must be Frank's niece and not Leonie's, but now to prove it.  

I searched New Orleans, Louisiana Birth Records, 1790-1915 for both Katie and Katherine Fish, to no avail.  I did find Alice Blonche Fish, born 5 March 1859, to William Fish and Apolline Pauline Goukelmeiss.  Not Goulemus, but close enough to continue the pursuit.  

More soon.....