Mrs. Louisa (Louise) Krüsi (née Roesen)

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Louisa Krüsi née Roesen (b. 1850 or 1851, New York; d. January 10, 1903, New York) (2) (4) was a nurse and governess for William Steinway's children during his marriage to Regina Roos Steinway. She married the Rev. Bartholomew Krüsi. Louisa played a role in the divorce proceedings between William and Regina.

William Steinway trusted Louisa with several delicate and intimate family matters. Louisa's mother, Mrs. Minna Roesen, had been a nurse and midwife for the family and had delivered William's son George.(3)(Diary, 1865-06-03) In 1868, when William lost a custody battle for his brother Henry's children, young Louisa brought the children to their mother Ernestine in Braunschweig, Germany.(Diary, 1868-09-03) Louisa left the Steinway's employ late in December 1868 (Diary, 1868-12-08), only to return in June 1869.(Diary, 1869-06-12) A year later, she married the Rev. Bartholomew (Bartholomäus) Krüsi, pastor of the German Presbyterian Church in New York City.(Diary, 1870-05-31) The couple was deeply involved in William's divorce proceedings in 1876. Louisa told William that she knew of Regina's adultery.(Diary, 1876-03-14) She testified at his divorce hearing that she had witnessed Regina's adulterous affair with Louis Stern while working in the Steinway house in 1867.(3) She also swore that Regina had confided in her about the affair.(3) When Regina was sent to Germany, Louisa Krüsi witnessed her passport application and accompanied her while she booked passage. (Diary, 1876-05-15)

Louisa Krüsi was rewarded by William for her loyalty. After her husband died, William recommended her for a job with the Charity Organization Society.(Diary, 1893-11-17) He also made donations to this organization (Diary, 1894-08-10) and recorded in his diary that Mrs. Krüsi visited him on behalf of other charities.(Diary, 1884-03-04, 1888-11-06) Mrs. Krüsi was also president of the Frauenverein.(1) William left Louisa Krüsi and her four daughters $2,000 each in his will.(5) Louisa's daughter Anna continued in her mother's and grandmother's footsteps by working as a governess for William's daughter Maud and granddaughter Meta.

Louisa Krüsi died on January 10, 1903, from a stroke. (1) (2) The weekly review Charities, January 24, 1903, reported that she had worked for nine years in the Joint Application Bureau of the Charity Organization Society.(1)

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Sources:

Charities, a weekly review of local and general philanthropy, Vol. X, No..4, January 24, 1903. p. 84. available at Google Books
"Death List of the Week," The New York Times, January 18, 1903, p.19.
Fostle. D.W. The Steinway Saga. New York: Scribner, 1995, p. 202.
United States Census 1880, Series T9, Roll 871, Page 429.
"Wm Steinway's will," The Music Trade Review, Vol. 23, No. 21, December 12, 1896, p. 7 www.arcade-museum.com/mt