Treasure Chest Thursday: FLPBA members, 25th anniversary publication (part 1)

The were 72 members of the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association at the 25th anniversary (1936) of the group's founding. This week I will identify the members in the first (left) column. Those buried in one of the three FLPBA burial plots: Montefiore plots at gates 156N [M-156N] or 567W [M-567W] and Beth Moses [Beth].

• M. Alperin - Morris Alperin [M-567W]
• J. Alperin - Jacob Alperin [M-156N]
• I. Bauman - Isidore Bauman [M-156N]
• M. Berman - Morris Berman [M-567W]
• S. Bauman - Sidney Bauman [Beth]
• N. Charney - Nathan Charney [M-567W]
• A. Charney -Abraham Charney [M-156N]
• L. Charney - Louis Charney [M-567W]
• S. Cantor - Samuel Cantor [M-156N]
• D. Cohen- David Cohen [Beth]
• I. Cohen - Israel Cohen [M-567W]
• A. Dann - Abe Dann
• L. Felzin - Louis Feltzin [M-156N]
• I. Fell - Joseph [?] Fell [M-156N]
• M. Garber - Max Garber [M-156N]
• N. Garber - Nathan Garber [M-156N]
• M. Kargman - Meyer Kargman [M-156N]
• A. Krakowsky - Abraham Krakowsky [Beth]
• A. Klein
• J. Kraslow - Joseph Kraslow [M-567W]
• F. Kraslow - Frank Kraslow

Tombstone Tuesday: Samuel and Fannie Schwartz, Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY

Samuel Schwartz' tombstone translation was a challenge. Apparently, the Hebrew text just does not hold together very well. It took a collective of Tracing the Tribe FaceBook page translators to make sense of it.[1] Translations such as these are definitely an art. Ultimately, I chose the translation provided by Robin Meltzer as the one likely closest to the spirit and intent.

Fannie Schwartz' tombstone text was much simpler and did not pose any special challenges (I was able to handle it by myself).

As mentioned in a previous post, there are three men named Sam Schwartz interred in the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association (FLPBA) plots at Montefiore Cemetery in Queens, NY. All three were glaziers in New York City. This is the Sam (and family) who purchased an advertisement in the FLPBA 25th anniversary commemorative publication. 
 

Here lies

My husband and our beloved father

crown of our heads and the most glorious of men

known as a man of acts of loving kindness

praised in all assemblies and congregations

Meshulam Zisye son of Eliyahu, the Levite

Died 22 Tamuz 5696

May his soul be bound in the bond of life

BELOVED HUSBAND

DEAR FATHER

SAMUEL

SCHWARTZ

DIED JULY 12, 1936

AGE 50 YEARS

---------

HUSBAND

The text on Fannie's tombstone was much more straight-forward. 

Here lies

Pesye daughter of David

Died 11 Sivan 5713

BELOVED MOTHER

AND

GRANDMOTHER

FANNIE

SCHWARTZ

DIED

MAY 25, 1953

----------

FOREVER

REMEMBERED

Sam (born about 1887 in Labun, Volhynia Gubernia, Russian Empire) and Fannie (born about 1889) were married in the old country and had their son, Harry (b. ca. 1911-12), there. 

GoogleMaps (28 Apr 2015)

Sam left for the United States in 1912, leaving his wife (then named Pesie) behind.[2] I have not located Fannie and Harry's manifest. But since USA-born younger son, David, was recorded as two years old in the 1925 New York State Census (then census date was 1 June 1925), Fanny and Harry likely arrived in New York in the early 1920s.[3] 

The family resided for many years in Queens at 109-06 103rd Avenue, Richmond Hill, Queens. [4] They owned their single family home.

Samuel is buried in block 89, gate 156N, line 5R, grave 5. Fannie is buried in line 8L, grave 1.

Notes:
1. Special thanks to Tracing the Tribe's FaceBook participants for sharing their expertise: Israel Pickholtz, Esther Chanie Dushinsky, Liba Zilber, Nurit Kraus-Frieberg, and Robin Meltzer.
2. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 22 August 2010), manifest, S.S. Grant, Hamburg to New York, arriving 1 August 1912, p. 7, line 29, Sische Schwarzmann; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, Roll 1906.
3. Queens County, New York, 1925 New York State Census, population schedule, Queens, assembly district 15, election district 49, page 6, entries 27-30, Samuel and Fanny Schwartz family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 April 2015); citing New York States Archives, Albany.
4. Queens County, New York, 1930 U.S. Census, populations schedule, Queens, enumeration district 519, sheet 11A, dwelling 155, family 207, Samuel and Fannie Schwartz family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 August 2010); NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1068.
    Queens County, New York, 1940 U.S. Census, populations schedule, Queens, enumeration district 41-1697, sheet 11A, household 250, Fannie Schwartz family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 April 2015); NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 2751.

NY MUNI on digitizing band wagon (and Hell has not yet frozen over)

Every time I hear about a fire in a record repository somewhere, I worry about New York City records. Yes, vital record certificates have already been microfilmed, but sometimes not very well. And there is so much more stored at the Municipal Archives (and their warehouses) and the Old Records Office. 

So, I am thrilled to report that the New York City Municipal Archives is digitizing (in full color) birth, marriage and death certificates in their possession.[1] The first article in the most recent issue of The New York Researcher, the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society's quarterly magazine, describes the project and the process.[2] [Frankly, I'm not sure how I missed this one earlier. It seems like this information should have been floating the blogs before April 2015!]

The contractor's team has already completed all marriage certificates and Manhattan death certificates through about 1896. They expect to complete all city death certificates by early fall and will then begin digitization of birth certificates.

Each of the 10.6 million vital records certificates have 2 sides. The project, targeted for completion in June 2016, will create 21.2 million full-color, high-resolution images.

I have previously written posts regarding New York City vital record indices at ItalianGen, Ancestry and FamilySearch. And I had previously seen MUNI's January announcement about their new digitization project to place historical records online. This is wonderful news. No mention in the January news release or the NYG&B article, unfortunately, of putting images of NYC vital record records online.  

The New York Researcher article does note, however, that the City may not make a profit from making copies of their digitize images for patrons and that, as a result of the vital record digitization project, they expect costs to go down and service to speed up. One may hope, at some point, they will also see that the best and most cost-effective customer service would include online images of their vital records.

One side note of great interest to NYC researchers: there may be a hint of thaw in the records frozen at the New York City Department and Health. No records have been transferred to MUNI since 1992. And the Department of Health has been very protective of their records (beyond, some genealogists believe, the protections of NY State law). 

MUNI seems dedicated to public access. One may only hope that attitude will somehow warm the cockles of the hearts of those at the NYC Department of Health. Apparently, MUNI and the Department of Health are conferring. While I am not optimistic, considering the current national climate regarding records access, that they will err on the side of great liberalization, any thaw is welcome.

Notes:
1. These include births (1866-1909), marriages (1866-1937) and deaths (1862-1948). Records in some boroughs start a bit later in date.
2. "Digitizing New York City's Vital Record Certificates," The New York Researcher, Spring 2015, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 4-5.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Samuel Schwartz advertisement, FLPBA 25th anniversary publication

More Sam Schwartz! In my last post I spoke about glazier Sam Schwartz married to Eva. Today we learn about Sam Schwartz, a glazier married to Fannie.

"Mr. and Mrs. Sam Schwartz and Sons," in this case, are Sam and Fannie Schwartz and their sons Harry and David. 

Sam arrived in the United States on the S.S. Grant on 1 August 1912. He was 27, married, a bookbinder and had left his wife, Peisie, behind.[1] He reported that he would be meeting his cousin Louis Myers in New York City. It is possible that Sam was a cousin to Louis (my great great uncle), but that name is, thus far, not a known name in my family. At least, Sam and Louis were from the same town: Labun.

I do not actually have any records of Louis Myers either living or working at that address. His brother, Myer Myers, however, had his glass store at that address from about 1913 to 1916.

Sam and his family lived in their home in Queens for several years.[2] After his death in 1936, Fannie, Harry and his wife Miriam and David continued to live in the house.[3]

Notes:
1. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 22 August 2010), manifest, S.S. Grant, Hamburg to New York, arriving 1August 1912, p. 7, line 29, Sische Schwarzmann; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, Roll 1906.
2. Queens County, New York, 1930 U.S. Census, populations schedule, Queens, enumeration district 519, sheet 11A, dwelling 155, family 207, Samuel and Fannie Schwartz family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 August 2010); NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1068.
3. Queens County, New York, 1940 U.S. Census, populations schedule, Queens, enumeration district 41-1697, sheet 11A, household 250, Fannie Schwartz family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 April 2015); NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 2751.

Tombstone Tuesday: Sam and Eva Schwartz, Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY

There are three immigrant men named Sam Schwartz interred in the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association plots in Montefiore Cemetery. And all three (!) became glaziers in New York City. Fortunately, they all married women whose first names help differentiate them.

Here lies

Chava daughter of Tzvi Leib

Died 8 Nisan 5702

May her soul be bound in eternal life

EVA SCHWARTZ

DIED MARCH 28, 1942

AGE 69 YEARS

-------------

Here lies

Yoel son of Moshe Chaim

Died 13 Tishri 5703

May his soul be bound in eternal life

SAM SCHWARTZ

DIED SEPT. 24, 1942

AGE 70 YEARS

-------------

IN OUR HEARTS YOU LIVE FOREVER

-------------

BELOVED MOTHER - BELOVED FATHER

I have not located his manifest or naturalization record, but according to census records, Sam Schwartz arrived in the USA about 1913. His wife and four daughters made the voyage in about 1921.[1] That gap coincides with World War I and the Russian Revolution which curtailed emigration to the United States from Eastern Europe.

New York City directories from 1913 on list a Sam Schwartz glazier operating out of 330 1st Avenue in lower Manhattan. The 1925 New York State Census lists the Sam and Eva Schwartz family at that address, as well.

Sam was born 4 July 1873 in the Russian Empire to Moshe (Anglicized as Morris on his death certificate) and Shirley Simon (also likely Anglicized).[2] 

Eva was reportedly born on 10 February 1873 in the Russian Empire. Her father was Hirsch Leib Kelman and her mother, Sarah Rosen.[3] 

Sam's and Eva's four daughters, all born in Russia, were: Bertha (born ca. 1902), Ida (ca. 1904), Ruth (ca. 1910) and Gertrude (ca. 1913).

Since I have been thus far unable to locate records that might shed light on Sam's and Eva's origins, I do not know which, if either, of them were from the community associated with this landsmanshaft plot: Labun (aka Lubin), Volhynia Gubernia, Russia.

The couple's tombstone is located in block 89, gate 156N, line 6L, graves 2 and 3. 

Notes:

1. New York County, New York, 1925 New York State Census, Manhattan, Assembly District 12, Election District 5, page 26, entries 14-19, Sam and Eva Schwartz family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 April 2015); New York State Archives, Albany.
  New York County, New York, 1930 U.S. Census, population schedule, Manhattan, enumeration district 31-580B, sheet 28A, family 504, San and Eva Schwartz;
digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 April 2015); NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1561.
  New York County, New York, 1940 U.S. Census, population schedule, Manhattan, enumeration district 31-1098, sheet 11A, household 126, Sam and Eva Schwartz;
digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 April 2015); NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 2650.

2. New York County, New York, certificate of death no. 18983 (24 September 1942), Sam Schwartz, New York City Municipal Archives, New York.

3. New York County, New York, certificate of death no. 6825 (26 March 1942), Eva Schwartz, New York City Municipal Archives, New York.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Joseph Myers advertisement, FLPBA 25th anniversary publication

I shared a short biography and photograph of Joseph Myers (1889-1945) in an earlier post about the 25th anniversary publication for the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association. He was a glazier who had joined his brothers (Myer and Louis) in the United States, arriving in 1906.[1]

He married Rose Adler on 25 March 1913.[2] By 1936, when the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association celebrated its 25th anniversary, Joe and Rose had lost their second born, Marvin. They had a daughter Lillian (born 15 February 1914) and a son Eugene (born 10 August 1918).

Their home in 1936 was just around the corner from Joe's glass and picture framing shop at 590 3rd Avenue. Unfortunately, the buildings now at 155 E. 39th Street and 590 3rd Avenue are of more recent construction.

Notes:

1."New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 19 June 2009), manifest, Batavia, Hamburg to New York, arriving 16 November 1906, p. 18, line 10, Jossel Malzmann; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, Roll 798.
2. New York County, New York, Certificate and Record of Marriage number 5284 (25 March 1913), Joseph Myers and Rose Adler, New York City Municipal Archives, New York.

Yom HaShoah: Remembering

I really did not anticipate this when I started my genealogical research, but the greatest benefit, by far, has been discovering and honoring the memory of those whose lives were cut short by hateful people. 

I recall asking tentative questions of my parents. They seemed fuzzy, themselves, on who had been left behind in Europe and who had succumbed during Hitler's rampage.

For some who died, all I have is names. For others, there are bits and snatches of recollections from other family members or information I have gleaned from records. For just a few, we have recollections of those who knew and loved them.* 

My relatives did not die in concentration camps. Some were removed from their homes and sent to ghettos in nearby towns. How long each lived before being shot and dumped into a ditch is unknown.

Today is Yom HaShoah. We honor their memory on this day. I have yet to find all of my family members with connections to the Holocaust. I hope my research continues to uncover their stories.

Killed in/near Labun, Ukraine (ca. July-September, 1941):

• Perl Garber Zabarsky (born about 1888, age 53 at death), daughter of Avraham Garber and Chana Mazewitsky. Sister of my grandfather Jack Garber.
• Chana Zabarsky (b. 1 August 1926, age 15) , daughter of Perl Garber and Isseck Zabarsky.
•  Shmulik Mazewitsky (b. ca. 1915, age ca. 26), son of Monia Mazewitsky and Tzipa. Monia was (likely) the brother of my great grandfather Isidore Morris. 
• Sonia Weisman Mazewitsky (b. ca. 1916, age 25), wife of Shmulik and daughter of Liba.
• Aron Mazewitsky (b. ca. 1935, ca. age 6), son of Shmulik and Sonia. 

Died during service in the Russian military:

• Leib Bebik (Ber) Zabarsky (b. 8 December 1916, d. 17 January 1941) 
• Motel (or Mark) Zabarsky (b. 19 December 1918, d. 7 June 1943)

Both men were the sons of Perl and Isseck Zabarsky.

Died near Tluste, Ukraine (July 1943):

• Jutte Ett Barath (b. 21 January 1894), daughter of Hersch Leib Ett and Perl Wenkert. Perl Wenkert was my great grandmother's sister. 
• Moshe Efraim Barath, husband of Jutte Ett.

May their souls be bound in everlasting life.

------------------------------------

* Records include:

• pages of testimony on the Yad Vashem website;  
• digitized documents (accessed via the Steve Morse One-Step webpage) for Russia's Fallen website; and
•  Kniha Skorboty Ukraine, Khmel'nyt︠s′ka oblast, volume 2, 2002.

Tombstone Tuesday: Meyer Loveshak (Loscher or Loschak), Montefiore Cemetery

It took me a while to figure out that this person, identified on his tombstone as "Myer Loscher" was the same person identified in the Montefiore Cemetery internment index as "Meyer Lovashak," and Meyer Loveshak, who I knew to be the son of Sarah and Baruch. 

Here lies

Meier son of Baruch

MYER

LOSCHER

DIED

FEB.19, 1964

AGE 64

MAY HIS SOUL BE BOUND IN ETERNAL LIFE

Meyer arrived at Ellis Island with his elder sister Leia (later called Lena) in 1911 from Labun.[1] Their surname on the manifest was Loschak.

I have found no evidence that Meyer Loveshak ever married. He lived his life with his mother and sisters (and later just his sisters), who also never married, in Brooklyn.

Meyer's sisters were Lena (2 March 1894 - March 1972) and Doris (12 December 1904 - January 1983).[2] There may have been an additional sister (Anna - born about 1907), but I have been unsuccessful in finding her after her one appearance (in the 1930 census).[3]

When I saw the name Loschak on Lena and Meyer's manifest, I searched on that name in the JewishGen Family Finder. Although that surname was not listed for the community of Labun/Lubin, it was listed for a researcher whose interest was Gritsev - a community 8 miles southwest of Labun.

I contacted that researcher and found that she had been looking for the descendants of Baruch Loschak - a sibling of her ancestor. My research on the Sarah Loveshak/Loschak family fit nicely with hers and we made a match. Sarah Alpern was from Labun and married Baruch Loschak from Gritsev. According to Lena and Meyer's manifest, the family (in 1911) lived in Labun. Baruch died after his eldest children (Meyer and Leie) left for the United States and sometime before Sarah and Doris (and, perhaps, Anna) emigrated about 1920.

Meyer is buried in the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association plot in Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY: block 5, gate 567W, Line 3R, grave 7. I have not been able to find graves for Lena or Doris, nor probate records in the Bronx, Kings or Suffolk Counties for Sarah or her children.

Notes:

1. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 July 2013), manifest, S.S. Lituania, Libau to New York, arriving 16 July 1911, list 8, lines 26 & 27, Leie and Meyer Loschak; citing NARA microfilm series T715; roll 1709.
2. "U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1936-2014," index, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 May 2013); entries for Lena Loveshak and Doris Loveshak.
3. Kings County, New York, 1930 U.S. Census, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district 24-880, sheet 12B, dwelling 45, family 337, Lena Loveshak family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 May 2013); citing NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1538.

Indices: Explore all Options

It's one o'clock in the morning. Do you know who else has indexed your data set?

Record collections are coming online with astonishing frequency. Many times we sigh with resignation as company B follows company A, which published the same collection a year or so previously. Later, company C provides the same  online collection. Aside from competition for customers, what's the point? The point is, researchers can benefit from independently indexed collections.

from Wikimediacommons

There are several reasons for searching the same or similar collections on more than one website. Different companies may have:

• their own proprietary image enhancement technology that may significantly improve viewing of otherwise identical images (compare, for example, enhanced 1940 U.S. census images on a variety of websites);
• advanced search options and tools allowing one to focus one's search energies;
• a variety of methods for moving within datasets to browse for images of interest (for example, I much prefer to browse manifests on sites that allow me to jump around among the images, not force me to advance only one image at a time; I also like to be able to rotate census images so I can read through the street names quickly when I am searching through an enumeration district); 

But none of this is important if you cannot find the image or have no idea where to look within the collection. 

Indexers often get a bad rap. Yes, indexing is a prime area where errors may be introduced. Ancestry has been criticized for using foreign indexers. FamilySearch has been criticized for not allowing input for corrections to their indices. A common complaint from researchers whose ancestors came from Eastern Europe is that Ellis Island manifests have been indexed by researchers who have no familiarity with those surnames and places. Because of that, some of the indexing errors seem bizarre to those of us who have some familiarity.

The truth is, despite these issues, indexing is the heart and soul of genealogy research. Yes the computer has revolutionized research. But, if not for indexing, much of that would not have been possible.

We all have our favorite websites and search tools, but when all else fails in your search, bail and go to another site that has the same collection, indexed via a different set of indexers.[1]

I will admit, that I have been an ardent follower of the freely accessible Italian Genealogy Group and German Genealogy Group indices of New York City vital records. These entities partnered in a volunteer effort to index records available through the New York City Municipal Archives. I would sometimes use the Steve Morse One-Step search forms to access them. But, even after Ancestry put indices of these same records online, I still saw most benefit in staying with the ItalianGen/GermanGen indices.

Unfortunately, one thing we do not see often enough with complex record sets is independently derived indices that include different/additional information. I have lamented previously that I did not see much value added when FamilySearch decided to initiate their own indexing project for New York manifests. I wanted to see additional information indexed, such place of birth, closest relative in the old country and address and/or name of the person the immigrant planned to meet at their destination.

New York City vital records? Enter FamilySearch. 

On 20 March 2015 they added [2]:

• New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949

• New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909

• New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1866-1938

As I usually do, I immediately tested the new indices with one of my unusual family surnames: Liebross. I figured after all these years I'd pretty much exhausted the Liebross vital records collections in New York City. But, FamilySearch added an element to their indexing of death records that had not been included by previous indexers: parents' names (parents' names are also included in birth and marriage record searches).

ItalianGen/GermanGen and Ancestry indices have coded first name, age at death, date, certificate number and county. Results in the marriage index also provide easy access to spouse names.

Using the Steve Morse search form one can also get results that include the FHL microfilm number. One would not see parents' names until one had acquired the original record. Where there were several people indexed with the same or similar names, this created a bit of a crap shoot. Many of us have ordered records we thought might be correct only to discover that the parents names were not. 

The new FamilySearch index not only adds a bit more certainty to the process of record acquisition, but also to the hope of finding new records.

Results of my recent Liebross search surprised me. Early in my family history research I'd found that my great aunt Rose who, I thought, had never married, had indeed married (in 1926) and later divorced (in 1931) a dentist named Nathan J. Bernstein. I'd located the marriage certificate indexed on ItalianGen.[3]

In FamilySearch's new NYC Municipal Deaths index database, I waded through the expected indexed records and then, towards the end, noted records where Liebross was the deceased's mother's surname.

Oh, my! Rose Liebross Bernstein had a baby who had died: Ira Howard Bernstein.

 

He was born and died between census enumerations. It is unlikely I ever would have found him. While I have since found him in the same cemetery (Mt. Lebanon) as the rest of the family, he and his parents were not buried in the same plots.  

[It is interesting to note that when I searched on Liebross in the FamilySearch marriage index I received no hits. Several Liebross family members are identified in the ItalianGen marriage index search results. This is another example of why one should use more than one index in one's searches.]

Of course indexers always make choices. While FamilySearch has included much more information that previous indexers, cause of death is not indexed; nor identification of the informant, the doctor, funeral home, etc. I have no particular criticism of that.  

The results provide more information than may be searched from FamilySearch's search box. It would be nice if the search box allowed for searching on particular dates (or even months) of death and birth. Right now one may only search on a range of years. Why not allow searches on particular addresses (the smallest geographical unit one may now search on is city)?

Regardless, this new index is huge. I have already found my great aunt's previously unknown child. By searching on family surnames, one may be able to find death records for women whose married names were previously unknown. 

If FamilySearch allowed more specific time or area searches, one one might be able to conduct research into community deaths in one small area of the city. Think of the context one might develop for understanding one's family and their lives at particular times and places.

I now await delivery of a copy of the original death record for Ira Howard Bernstein from the New York City Municipal Archives.

Let's hope new indices keep coming from a variety of sources. As researchers we must try new indices to expand our opportunities for success. 

Notes:
1. It would be nice if companies were up-front about how their collections were indexed? In addition to collection descriptions on websites, they should include how indices were derived. That way one might be able to tell if indices on different websites were independently developed or copied from another (also accessible) source.
2. The data sets do not actually contain death records from 1949 or marriage records from 1938. The records end the year before those designations. It would be good if FamilySearch corrected that so researchers do not think they might find death records from 1949 and marriage certificates from 1938.
3. Queens County, New York, marriage certificate no. 3319 (1926), Nathan Judas Bernstein and Rose Liebross, 14 November 1926; Municipal Archives, New York.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Meyer Schultz advertisement, FLPBA Anniversary publication

Meyer Schultz' photograph was included in a prior post about the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association's 25th anniversary publication. A few pages later, he and his family sponsored an advertisement.

Rose (27 March 1895 - 27 April 1962) and Meyer Schultz (20 March 1894 - 27 January 1965) had three daughters: Ethel Schultz Berger (16 November 1917 - May 1995), Lillian Schultz Horodner (27 March 1919 - 7 January 2001) and Mae Schultz Sussman (29 May 1925 - 26 July 2001).

Rose and Meyer likely married about 1917. In the 1920 census enumeration they lived at 320 Cherry Street, NY, NY.[1] By 1925 they lived in Brooklyn at 2130 E. 13th Street.[2] They were still in Brooklyn in 1930, living at 501 E. 93rd Street.[3] In 1940, their two eldest daughters were married and living elsewhere. Meyer, Rose and Mae lived in the Bronx at 1210 Elden Avenue.[4]

While I suspect that the address in the advertisement (1531 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY) was a place of business, I have no records for documentation.

Notes:
1. New York County, New York, 1920 U.S. Census, population schedule, Manhattan, enumeration district 114, sheet 9A, dwelling 143, family 143, Meyer and Rose Schultz family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 November 2010); citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 1183.
2. Kings County, New York, 1925 New York State. Census, population schedule, Brooklyn, assembly district 2, election district 61, sheet 16,  Meyer and Rose Schultz family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 July 2014); New York State Archives, Albany.
3. Kings County, New York, 1920 U.S. Census, population schedule,Brooklyn , enumeration district 24-1234, sheet 15A, dwelling 111, family 430, Meyer and Rose Schultz family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 November 2010); citing NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1493.
4. Bronx County, New York, 1920 U.S. Census, population schedule, Bronx, enumeration district 3-955, sheet 10A, household 151, Meyer and Rose Schultz family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 July 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 2485.

Tombstone Tuesday: Sarah Loveshak, Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY

Researching the surname Loveshak does not produce easy Google search results. When one Googles on "Loveshak" one gets either information on the B-52's hit single or sites concerned with (uh-hum) interpersonal relations. 

Here lies

our beloved mother

Chaya Sarah Loveshak

daughter of Yisrael Alpern

Died 7 Adar 5696

May her soul be bound in eternal life

------------

OUR BELOVED MOTHER

SARAH

LUVESHAK

DIED MAR. 1, 1936

AGE 58 YEARS

  
Tombstone engravers seem to have gotten it wrong, as well. Once in the United States, Sarah and her children consistently spelled their new surname: "Loveshak" not, as it says on the tombstone "Luveshak." Even Montefiore Cemetery has it indexed incorrectly. If one searches on Loveshak or Luveshak, there are no hits. Try "Lushak."

In addition, the Gregorian calendar date of death on the tombstone is actually the date of burial. She died on 28 February 1936.[1] Since it was 7 PM (likely after dark), the Hebrew date, which starts at sundown, is correct.

This tombstone includes useful genealogical information not often included on Jewish tombstones, specifically Sarah's maiden name: Alpern. My research shows she is the sister of Jacob Alperin, and Morris and Milton Alpern, also from Labun. Their parents were Israel Alpern and (Anglicized) Katie or Clara Sporin.

Unlike her brothers, she likely arrived in the United States after WWI and the Russian Revolution. I have yet to locate her manifest, but the 1925 New York State census indicates an approximate arrival in 1920.[2]

Sarah was a widow before she emigrated. Her husband Baruch was from Gritsev, a community 8 miles west of Labun. They had four children who came to the United States: Lena, Meyer, Doris and Anna. 

Sarah is buried in the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association plot in Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, New York: block 5, gate 567W, line 1L, grave 2.

Notes:
1. Bronx County, New York, death certificate no. 2346 (1936), Sarah Loveshak, 28 February 1936; Municipal Archives, New York.
2. Bronx County, New York, 1925 New York State Census, population schedule, the Bronx, assembly district 2, election district 74, page 21, Sarah Loveshak; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 May 2013); New York State Archives, Albany.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Joseph & Rose Myers advertisement, FLPBA 25th anniversary publication

We continue coverage of the 25th Anniversary commemorative publication for the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association (FLPBA) with an advertisement by Joseph Myers and his family.

Joseph Myers was discussed earlier in this series because he was identified as the Ex-Treasurer of the FLPBA and his photo is shared earlier in the publication. But I have also previously blogged about his gravestone and his and Rose Adler's marriage certificate. He was the brother of my great grandmother Sarah Myers Morris (Malzmann Mazewitsky).

Joseph, another Lubin glazier, and his wife Rose had a daughter and a son who lived to adulthood: Lillian Myers Langer and Eugene Myers.

In the 1930 Census and a 1933 New York City Directory, the family was recorded at 219 E. 40th Street, New York, NY.[1] 

By the 1940 census, they were enumerated at 155 E. 39th Street where they paid $45 each month for rent.[2] Joseph is listed as owning a retail picture framing business. In answer to the census question regarding their residence in April 1935, the response was "same place" (meaning same city) rather than "same house." The family likely moved to 155 E. 39th Street sometime in either late 1935 or early 1936 - before the FLPBA 25th anniversary. 

By the time Joe registered for the WWII draft (April 1942), he resided at 212 E. 39th Street.[3] 

I tried to locate the building on Google Street View, but it appears that the building in that spot is of more recent construction.

Notes:
1. 1930 U.S. Census, New York County, New York, population schedule, New York, enumeration district 31-1217, sheet 14A, dwelling 19, family 425, Joseph and Rose Myers family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 March 2008); citing NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1562.
1933 City directory
2. 1940 U.S. Census, New York County, New York, population schedule, New York, enumeration district 31-816, sheet 5B, household 274, Joseph and Rose Myers family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 April 2013); citing NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 2643.
3. "U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 April 2012); Joseph Myers, Serial no. U2235, New York; citing NARA, St. Louis, Missouri.