21 Facts About Sophie Sosnowski

Sophie Wentz Sosnowski was an American educator who founded schools in the 19th century for the education of young women.

Sophie Wentz Sosnowski was born on April 23,1810 in Karlsruhe within the Grand Duchy of Baden.

In 1833 Sophie married a wounded Polish officer named Josef Stanislaus Sosnowski at Strasbourg Cathedral.

Sophie Sosnowski was one of a group of 6,000 officers exiled after the failed Polish Revolt of 1831 against the Russian empire.

Bishop Stephen Elliott recruited Sophie Sosnowski to teach at Montpelier Female Institute in Georgia, where she stayed until she moved back to Columbia in 1850.

Sophie Sosnowski taught German, instrumental and vocal music, and painting.

In 1860, Sophie Sosnowski opened a school of her own in central Columbia.

Sophie Sosnowski took over as headmistress of the Barhamville Institute in 1864, since the "venerable" owner, Elias Marks, had retired.

Sophie Sosnowski brought the students from her school to join those at the Barhamville Institute, which was over two miles from the central grid of Columbia.

Sophie Sosnowski used her acquaintance with another German-American Confederate officer, Gaspar Tochman, to advance her son-in-law's military career.

When Sophie Sosnowski heard that the Union army was heading toward Columbia, she arranged transportation for the remaining students to go to the Upcountry, a difficult task when the enemy approaches and disorder reigns at the railroad station.

Sophie Sosnowski, unarmed, used her interpersonal skills to talk trespassers into leaving the grounds of the Barhamville Institute.

Sophie Sosnowski repeatedly found Union soldiers to deter the more determined interlopers, but the soldiers would not remain around for long.

Sophie Sosnowski briefly spoke with Sherman himself, leader of the 60,000 Union soldiers.

Sophie Sosnowski told Sherman that the deportment of the soldiers compared unfavorably to that of their European equivalents and complained about the suffering from the war and occupation, especially to civilians.

Sophie Sosnowski met a unit of friendly Irish American soldiers, who spend the third night at Barhamville and drove off marauders.

Sophie Sosnowski left ruined Columbia and moved to Athens, Georgia, with her daughters and son-in-law Frank Schaller.

Sophie Sosnowski criticized Reconstruction, which was a time of economic and social difficulty in Georgia.

Sophie Sosnowski left to establish a school of her own, calling it "The Home School".

Sosnowski's daughter Sophie Augusta died in 1867 after the birth of her second daughter Sophie Schaller.

Sophie Sosnowski was highly educated, a brilliant musician and of very distinguished appearance.