Marie A. Mertens Steinway Lefevre

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Marie A. Mertens Steinway Lefevre (b, July 26, 1866 in Hoboken, NJ; d., June 23, 1924) was the wife of Charles Herman Steinway, second son of Charles G. Steinway and thus William’s nephew. Marie married Charles H. on March 10, 1885, at her father’s house in New York City. Charles H. became president of Steinway & Sons in 1896 and served until 1919. Marie remarried in 1922, three years after Charles’ death; she died two years later in 1924.

William, when he met Marie a few days before the wedding, described her as “a stately and most charming young lady.”(Diary, 1885-10-04) Apparently Marie was often sick. William depended on Charles H. and was greatly dismayed when Charles H. was absent because of Marie’s illnesses. The Diary noted Charles H.’s trips with Marie and family to Bermuda and Europe, often for Marie’s health.(Diary, 1891-06-20) In the Diary entry for April 7, 1890, William noted Charles H. wanted to “… skip off again to Europe to see his wife.” On December 31, 1890, William wrote of Charles H. that his continued absence on account of his wife’s health was causing serious trouble. In 1894 Marie and Charles were in Bermuda, and William noted that Marie cabled that she would like Charles to remain there until February 8.(Diary, 1894-01-23) Illness continued throughout Marie’s life. In 1915 Marie’s doctor indicated that she needed to travel to Davos, Switzerland because of intestinal intoxication and chronic bronchitis.(3)

Marie and Charles H. celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary at Steinway Hall and at the St. Regis hotel, where 48 guests enjoyed dinner and dancing. Steinway & Sons office and wareroom staff surprised the Steinways with congratulations on the occasion and were treated by the couple to an impromptu supper at Luchow’s restaurant a few days later.(1)(4)(6)

Marie and Charles H. had four children, two of whom died early. Arthur M. died(Diary, 1889-05-21) of diphtheria before he was age three, and Madeleine L. died after only a few days.(Diary, 1890-12-31) Charles Frederick (1892-1969) and Marie Louise (1894-1954) survived. (1)(2) Clearly pleased, William noted the birth of Marie, calling it “joyful news.”(Diary, 1894-08-20) At the time of Charles H.’s death in 1919, Marie was living separately in Pasadena, CA. Charles H. bequeathed Marie a life estate in $193,000.(5) On August 18, 1922, after a romance of several years, Marie remarried to Capt. F. L. Lefevre in California. There was a disparity in their ages, but the groom declared “Mentally and sentimentally we are the same age. Love is as old as the world and as young as the morning dew. We love each other. We are very happy.”(1) According to Steinway family records, Marie died on June 23, 1924.
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Sources: 1. “Mrs. C. H. Steinway Weds Capt. Lefevre,” The New York Times, August 26, 1922, p. 7.
2. “Steinway Left $637,169,” The New York Times, May 28, 1921, p. 3
3. Steinway, Marie A., U. S. Passport Application, October 9, 1915.
4. “Steinway & Sons’ Staff the Guests,” The New York Times, October 12, 1905, p. 6.
5. “Steinway Fortune Put at $5,000,000,” The New York Times, November 26, 1919, p. 17.
6. “What is Doing in Society,” The New York Times, October 10, 1905, p. 9.