Tombstone Tuesday: Sam and Yetta Kurman, Beth Moses Cemetery, Pinelawn, NY

While Sam Kurman's parents, Harry and Yetta Kurman, are buried in one of the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association (FLPBA) plots in Montefiore Cemetery, Sam and his wife Yetta are interred in the organization's plot in Beth Moses Cemetery. 

Here lies

Schmuel son of Tzvi Hersch ha-Levi

May his soul be bound in the bonds of the living

SAM

BELOVED FATHER

GRANDFATHER

GREAT GRANDFATHER

OCT. 5, 1889

JULY 8, 1967

----------

Here lies

Yetta daughter of Yisrael Avraham

May her soul be bound in the bonds of the living

YATTIE

BELOVED MOTHER

GRANDMOTHER

GREAT-GRANDMOTHER

APR. 15, 1888

JULY 18, 1967 

Sam Kurman was born Schmiel Kurman in Labun, Russian Empire and immigrated to the United States with his mother and siblings in 1909.[1] His father, Hersch (Harry), had arrived in New York City with Schmiel's brother, Chaim, in July 1906.[2]

While Sam's father was in the clothing industry, Sam and his brother, Hyman, like so many Lubiners, became glaziers.

On 12 December 1915, Sam Kurman married Yetta Kaufman, daughter of Israel Kaufman and Minnie Goldberg.[3]

In 1917, Sam and Yetta lived at 205 South 2nd Street, Brooklyn.[4] By 1930, they'd moved to 1068 Newport Street, Brooklyn.[5] In April 1940, they resided at 491 E. 94th Street.[6] Two years later, they were at 79 Remsen Avenue, Brooklyn.[7]

Sam and Yetta had three children. Their first, Isidore, was born 13 October 1916 and only lived five days, dying 18 October 1916. Until working on this summary for Sam and Yetta, I'd been unaware of Isidore. He is not listed in the Montefiore Cemetery online database and I did not locate his grave when I recorded all graves in the two Montefiore Cemetery FLPBA plots. There are at least two possibilities: either his grave was never marked with a stone or a stone of relatively porous material was placed and has since deteriorated beyond readable (Since I have used an indexed record, here, there is a third possibility that the indexer did not accurately record the cemetery location. Although, considering that both Montefiore and Springfield Gardens was noted, I think this last suggestion is unlikely.).

The first inkling of Isidore's existence was the 1940 census enumeration of the family. Yetta was selected for supplementary questions and she indicated that she'd had three children. Since I'd only previously seen two documented, this new information sent me to New York City death records. 

FamilySearch lists an indexed  death certificate for Isidore Kurman, whose parents were Sam Kurman and Kaufman, in their "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949" collection and indicates that he was buried in Montefiore Cemetery (Springfield Gardens). I will order a copy of his death certificate. 

The couple's second child was Miriam, born 18 December 1917. Sidney was born 14 September 1922.[8]

I have not been able to track Miriam, but I have located Sidney Kurman, who died on 8 October 1974, buried in Beth Moses Cemetery, as well. He is in another plot (block 5, row XF-XG, grave 31) next to his wife Edythe Kurman.[9] Their graves were photographed and reported on Find A Grave. I am particularly happy that someone not only recorded the interments, but also photographed the stones.

Sam and Yetta Kurman are buried in block 24, Maccabee Road, Beth Moses Cemetery, First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association plot.

Notes:
1. Manifest, S.S. Volturno, 12 November 1909, p. 8, line 11, Schmiel Kurmann, age 18; images, "New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 December 2010).
2. Manifest, S.S. Lucania, 28 July 1906, p. 14, line 5, Hersch Kurmann, age 40; images, "New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 December 2010).
3. "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," index, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 31 October 2016); entry for Sam Kurman and Yettie Kaufman,12 December 1915, Manhattan, marriage certificate no. 28620 (1915); FamilySearch microfilm 1,614,231; citing New York City Municipal Archives. I have not yet acquired a copy of the original record.
4. U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 October 2016), card for Sam Kurman, serial no. 315, Draft Board 52, Kings County, New York; citing NARA microfilm publication M1509.
5. 1930 U.S. Census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district 24-1234, sheet 24B, dwelling 138 [crossed out], family 573, Sam and Yetta Kurman family; images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 October 2016); NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1493.
6. 1940 U.S. Census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district 24-134B, sheet 11A, household 231, Samuel and Yetta Kurman family; images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 October 2016); NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 2550.
7. U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 July 2011), card for Sam Kurman, serial no. 1955, Kings County, New York; citing NARA (St. Louis) record group 147.
8. Sam Kurman petition for naturalization (1930), naturalization file no. 143654, Eastern District of New York; Record Group 21: Records of the District Courts of the United States; National Archives - Northeast Region, New York City.