Gustav Candidus

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Gustav Candidus (b. October 15, 1874 in Berlin, Germany; d. January 9, 1907 in New York City) was the son of William Candidus (the opera singer) and Wilhelmina Steinway Vogel Candidus, William Steinway's sister.(2) Gustave married Anna Schulz of Philadelphia in New Castle, Delaware on March 2, 1898.(1) William included Gustav in the family piano business; he worked for a time as a salesman for Steinway & Sons in New York and in Hamburg.

Gustav’s birth was noted by William in the diary.(Diary, 1874-11-01) Wilhelmina, Gustav’s mother, died a few months later.(Diary, 1875-02-01) This resulted in William becoming involved in family discussion about the care of the young children and having a role in the financial status of these children for several years.(Diary, 1875-02-02, 1878-06-06, 1879-02-28, 1888-09-03) On various trips to Europe, William saw Gustav as he grew up in Germany, including having dinner with the then sixteen year old and his father in Frankfurt.(Diary, 1890-08-26) On his next trip in 1892, William and Gustav's father met to discuss the Steinway Agencies at Frankfurt and Mayence (Mainz) and possible interest on the part of William Candidus to become involved in the business. William wrote to Holwede, the manager in Frankfurt, to discuss these matters.(Diary, 1892-08-20) Gustav made the return voyage with William to New York in the fall (Diary, 1892-10-02) and was introduced around at a concert attended by Grover Cleveland at the Armory and at the Liederkranz.(Diary, 1892-10-11) William eventually proposed Gustav for membership in the Liederkranz.(Diary, 1895-09-17) He also made some efforts to bring Gustav into the family business (Diary, 1892-08-20), and Gustav worked as a salesman for a time for Steinway & Sons in New York and in Hamburg.(4)

It was in the spring of 1895 that Gustav’s engagement to Anna, his cousin, was announced.(Diary, 1895-04-10) Shortly thereafter he returned to Germany for a few months. By December he was back in New York providing the Steinway family with some entertainment at a family gathering.(Diary, 1895-12-13) Anna was the daughter of Herman G. Schulz and Anna Schulz. Her mother may well have been a sister of William Candidus or perhaps more indirectly related as many members of the Candidus family, including William's parents, lived in the Philadelphia area.(3)

Gustav and Anna married in Delaware in 1898, after William’s death, but they most likely made their home in the New York area. He filed for a passport in late 1900, listing his address as Yonkers, NY. The application was vouched for by Charles H. Steinway, witnessed by Steinway employee and Notary Public Philip Burkhard, and the document itself delivered to Steinway Hall. He listed his occupation as “Salesman,” most likely for Steinway & Sons.(6) He and Anna sailed from Hamburg for New York aboard the Auguste-Victoria in late September 1900.(5) Gustav and Anna had two children. Henry Ziegler Candidus was born in New York City on November 1, 1904, and died there on August 4, 1959. A second son, Gustav was born on May 12, 1907, shortly after his father's death, but died on June 8th of the same year.(2) Anna died October 15, 1926 in New York City. Gustav died on January 9, 1907 in New York City. Gustav, Anna, and their son Gustav were buried at Green-Wood Cemetery.
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Sources:

1. Delaware Marriage Records, 1806-1933, Marriage Record of Gustave Candidus and Anna Schulz. Ancestry.com
2. Maniha, Ken, Steinway Family Genealogy.
3. National Archives/NARA, Pension Record of William Candidus, Sr., App. No. 351953, Certification No. 393021 for widow Lisette Candidus.
4. Pelletreau, William S. A History of Long Island – From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume III, New York and Chicago: The Leis Publishing Company, 1903, p. 263.
5. Staatsarchiv Hamburg. Hamburg Passengers Lists 1850-1934. Passenger List Auguste-Victoria, September 27, 1900. Ancestry.com
6. U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925. Passport Application, US Department of State, New York, New York, July 13, 1900. Ancestry.com