Treasure Chest Thursday: Citizens' Credit Union

Considering Max Liebross' troubled life, I was surprised to see him listed as an officer of the Citizens' Credit Union, which was led by his relative, successful businessman Louis Cohn. In the Jewish Communal Register of New York City, 1917-1918, Max Liebross is listed as Secretary and Louis Cohn, Max's first cousin by marriage, as President of the fledgeling enterprise started in 1916.[1]

Citizens' Credit Union . 115 Manhattan Ave., B'klyn. Organized 1916. Pres., Louis Cohn, 680 Flushing Ave., B'klyn. Vice-Pres., Harry Lapatkin, 36 Johnson Ave., B'klyn. Sec'y, Max Liebross, 14 Lewis Ave., B'klyn. Treas., Charles Forstadt, 680 Flushing Ave., B'klyn.

I have not located any index information in the New York State Corporation and Business Entity Database, but I have found three additional references to this credit union in publications of the New York State Legislature in 1918, 1919 and 1922.[2]

The Credit Union grew from 167 shares in force in 1917 and $ 2,206.33 in assets to 710 shares as of 1 January 1921 and $ 11,660.05 in assets. By the 1922 report, all the officers of the organization had changed except for Louis Cohn, who was still president.

Notes:

1. The Jewish Communal Register of New York City, 1917-1918, second edition (New York: Kehilah of New York City, 1918), p. 730; digital images, Google Books (http://books.google.com/ : accessed 17 July 2014).

2. New York Legislature, Documents of the Senate of the State of New York, 1918, vol. 6, nos. 12 & 13 (Albany: J.B. Lyon Company, 1918), pp. 485-486; digital images, Google Books (http://books.google.com/ : accessed 17 July 2014).

New York Legislature, New York Legislative Documents, 1919, vol. 1, nos. 1-5 (Albany: J.B. Lyon Company, 1919), pp. 494-495; digital images, Google Books (http://books.google.com/ : accessed 17 July 2014).

New York Legislature, New York Legislative Documents, 1922, vol 10, nos. 22023 (Albany: J.B. Lyon Company, 1922), pp. 416-417; digital images, Google Books (http://books.google.com/ : accessed 17 July 2014).

Treasure Chest Thursday: Louis Cohn's manifest

Louis Cohn, husband of Sarah Ett Cohn, left the port of Hamburg on the S.S. Batavia on 25 May 1903 and arrived in New York Harbor on 8 June 1903. Louis' naturalization papers confirm this arrival record.

"New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 10 November 2013), manifest, S.S. Batavia, Hamburg to New York, arriving 8 June 1903, List 31, number 13, Lewys Kohn; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, microfilm roll 365.

Lewys Kohn is listed at number 13 on the page.

detail of manifest page

[Items in red will be discussed further, below.]
 
Name: Lewys Kohn
Age: 20
Sex: m
Married or Single: s
Calling or Occupation: ? smith
Able to Read: yes
Able to Write: yes
Nationality: Austria
Race or people: Hebrew
Last residence: Kazmiowa
Final Destination: Brooklyn, N.Y.

detail of manifest page

Whether having a ticket to destination: yes
By whom was passage paid: cousin
Whether in possession of $50: $25
Whether ever before in the United States: No
Whether going to join a relative or friend: 
          cousin Max Wolkowicz
          Brooklyn, NY 223 Lynch Str

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Louis was a tinsmith in the United States and became a successful businessman dealing in sheet metal. He apparently brought some skills as a smith to the United States. It is unclear to me what the first word may be in his occupation information on the manifest. It is likely "tinsmith."

Austria is noted as Louis' nationality. He is likely to have been born in Kamyanets Podilskyy - at that point (in about 1883) within the Russian Empire, but very close to the border with Austria. Family stories suggest he may have been born in Kamyanets Podilskyy, but grew up in Czortkow (Chortkiv, Ukraine), which, at the time, was in the Austrian Empire.

As best I can decipher, the community of last residence was written as Kazmiowa. I am unable to find a community in eastern Europe with that name. Louis' Declaration of Intention to naturalize (the first papers he filed for naturalization on 27 January 1921), indicated that his last residence was in Kazimierz, Austria.[1] Kazimierz is today a suburb of Krakow, Poland. Prior to World War I it was within the Galicia province of the Austrian Empire. It is quite far from Chortkiv and one may wonder, if this is the correct town of residence for Louis, what he was doing so far from home.

Louis reported on his manifest record that his cousin purchased his ticket for passage and that he would be heading to his cousin Max Wolkowicz residing at 223 Lynch Street, Brooklyn, New York.

The X to the left of Louis's name on the manifest indicates that he was detained by immigration officials. Louis' detention page (found near the end of the manifest pages for the Batavia voyage) shows he was met by his cousin Max who then resided at 188 Middleton, Brooklyn.

Detail from: "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 10 November 2013), manifest (Record of Detained Alien Passengers), S.S. Batavia, Hamburg to New York, arriving 8 June 1903, page 184, number 8, Lewy Kohn; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, microfilm roll 365.

I have not located Max Wolkowitz at Lynch Street or Middleton in Brooklyn directories from the early 1900s. However, I have found Max Wolkowitz, a tinsmith from Austria, married to Clara and living on Ellery Street in the 1910 U.S. Census.[2] While I am not certain this is Louis' cousin Max Wolkowitz, this man's World War II Draft Registration record indicates he was working for a metal roofing company and was originally from Jagielnica, Austria.[3] Jagielnice (today Yahilnytsya, Ukraine) is six miles from Chortkiv. Further research may identify Max as a relative Louis Cohn and shed further light on Louis' origins.

Notes:
1. Louis Cohn Declaration of Intention no. 51717 (1921), Eastern District Court of New York, filed with Petition for Naturalization no. 81039, volume 325, page 189, Supreme Court, Kings County, New York.
2. 1910 United States census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, Enumeration District 480, page 17A, line 11, Max W. Wolkowitz; digital image, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 9 July 2014), citing NARA Microfilm publication series T624, roll 968.
3. "U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 July 2014), card for Max Wolkowitz, no. U-65, Kings County, New York, National Archives record group 147, Saint Louis, Missouri.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Sarah Cohn's Naturalization Petition

While Sarah Ett arrived in New York in December 1903 as Sali Ett, she did not naturalize until 30 September 1941.[1]

Sarah Cohn petition for naturalization (1941), petition number 291380, Eastern District of New York; Records of the District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives - Northeast Region, New York City.

[Items in red will be discussed further, below.]

To the Honorable the U.S. District Court of Eastern District of Brooklyn, N.Y.
This petition for naturalization hereby made and filed, respectfully shows:
(1) My full name is SARAH COHN
(2) My place of residence is 949 East 12th St., Bklyn, NY
(3) My occupation is Housewife
(4) I was born at Silaschicka, Poland on Sept. 26, 1887
(5) My nationality is Poland
(6) My race is Hebrew 
[item 7 is crossed out]
(8) I am married. The name of my wife or husband is Louis; he now resides at 949 E. 12th St., Bklyn, NY; we were married on August 5, 1907 at Brooklyn, NY; he was born at Poland on December 12, 1884; entered the United States at New York, NY on May 1903 for permanent residence therein; was naturalized on June 13, 1924 at Brooklyn, NY certificate No. 2025748
(9) I have 6 children, and the name, date, and place of birth and place of residence of each of said children are as follows:
Jack, April 9, 1908; Dorothy, Dec. 13, 1910; Pauline, Sept. 13, 1912; Blanche, Oct. 5, 1914; Rose, Sept. 26, 1919; Ira, Dec. 12, 1920. All born and reside in Bklyn, NY
(10) My last foreign residence was Silaschicka. I emigrated to the United States of America from Bremen, Germany. My lawful entry (arrival) for permanent residence in the United States was at New York, NY under the name of Sarah Ett on December 1903 on the vessel S.S. Brendon.
...

AFFIDAVITS OF WITNESSES

I, Louis Cohn, occupation Metal supply dealer residing at 949 East 12th St., Bklyn, NY, and 

I, Dorothy Brown, occupation Housewife residing at 146 Amherst St. Bklyn, NY

each being severally, duly, and respectively sworn, depose and say: I am a citizen of the United States of America; I have known and have been acquainted in the United States with SARAH COHN, the petitioner above mentioned since January 1, 1913 and that to my personal knowledge the petitioner has resided in the United States continuously preceding the date of filing this petition, of which this affidavit is part, to wit, since the date last mentioned at Brooklyn, NY on the County of Kings, State of New York continuously since Jan. 1, 1913 ...

I do swear (affirm) that the statements of fact I have made in this affidavit of this petition for naturalization subscribed by me are true to the best of my knowledge
/s/ Louis Cohn                              /s/ Dorothy Brown

(signature of witness)                                                 (signature of witness)

Subscribed and sworn to before me by the above-named petitioner and witnesses in the respective forms of oath shown above in the office of Clerk of said Court at Brooklyn, NY this 9th day of September, Anno Domini 1940 ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sarah identified her place of birth as "Silaschicka, Poland." The community was actually Zaleszczyki (today Zalishchyky, Ukraine). When Sarah was born it was within the boundaries of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Between World Wars, it was within Poland. Thus, Sarah's identification of the community as in Poland is a reflection of her knowledge of the contemporary situation of the town.

If Sarah and Louis were married in Brooklyn on 5 August 1907, their marriage certificate has not been indexed. I have not been able to find it within the ItalianGen.org index for New York City marriages. I have tried Cohn and Cohen; several possible first names; and kept the date flexible - no certificate.

Louis, Sarah's husband, sailed from Hamburg on 25 May 1903 and landed in New York on 8 June 1903. So, he entered the United States in June 1903, not May.[2]

Sarah's name on her manifest was not actually "Sarah Ett," but "Sali Et." The ship she arrive on was not the "Brendon," but the S.S. Brandenburg.

Both of Sarah's witnesses were family members. Louis was her husband and Dorothy Brown, her eldest daughter. 

I have not yet determined the significance of the 1 January 1913 date mentioned as the date by which she'd permanently resided in the United States and Brooklyn, N.Y. If Louis and Sarah married in 1907 and Dorothy was born in 1910, then they were familiar with Sarah and her whereabouts several years before 1913. The earliest census enumeration I have located for the the Louis and Sarah Cohn family is the 1915 New York State census record in Brooklyn.[3] In 1905, Sarah is living in Brooklyn with her sister Clara Rappaport and Clara's family.[4] If the 1 January 1913 date has some legal significance for Sarah's naturalization, I do not yet know what that might have been.
Notes:
1. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 22 November 2013), manifest, S.S. Brandenburg, Bremen to New York, arriving 26 December 1903, List 10, number 19, Sali Ett; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, microfilm roll 423.
2. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 22 November 2013), manifest, S.S. Batavia, Hamburg to New York, arriving 8 June 1903, List 31, number 13, Lewys Kohn; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, microfilm roll 423.
3. 1915 New York State Census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, Assembly District 6, Enumeration District 6, page 24, entries 35-40, Alexander and Sadie Cohen family; digital image, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 July 2013), citing New York State Archives, Albany, New York.
4. 1905 New York State Census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, Assembly District 15, Enumeration District 18, sheet 74, entries 8-11, Adolph Rappaport family and Sarah Att; digital image, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 8 July 2010), citing New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

Tombstone Tuesday: Louis and Sarah Ett Cohn

Sarah Ett, daughter of Hersch Leib Ett and Perl Wenkert Ett, was born 26 September 1887 in Zaleszczyki, Galicia, Austrian Empire (now Ukraine).[1] She arrived in New York in 1903. 

Louis Cohn landed in New York a few months before Sarah in June 1903.[2] He initially worked as a tinsmith but later owned his own sheet metal supply business and did quite well. Louis and Sarah married in Brooklyn on 5 August 1907 - at least that's what Sarah wrote on her naturalization petition. I have not yet located their marriage certificate.

Photo courtesy of Richard & Barbara Brown

Levi Yitzchak son of Yisrael Iser HaKohen

Died 15 Shevat 5727

LOUIS COHN

BELOVED HUSBAND

FATHER AND GRANDFATHER

DIED FEB. 8, 1966

AGE 80 YEARS

Photo courtesy of Richard & Barbara Brown

Sarah daughter of Hersch Leib

Died 17 Shevat 5731

SARAH COHN

BELOVED WIFE

MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER

DIED FEB. 12, 1971

AGE 83 YEARS 

Louis and Sarah had six children: Jack Cohn (9 April 1908 - 8 July 1998), Dorothy Cohn Brown (14 December 1909 - 13 May 2000), Pauline Cohn Pollack (13 September 1911 - 31 October 1994), Blanche Cohn Schwartzstein (5 October 1914 - 12 March 1999), Rose Cohn Weintraub (26 September 1919 - 4 August 1976), and Ira Cohn (13 December 1920 - 23 July 1983).

Death notices for both Louis and Sarah show that they were well-connected and active in several religious and fraternal organizations. They were members of Temple Beth-El of Rockaway Park (Louis was a Trustee) and the Jewish Community Center of Flatbush (Sarah was past President of the Sisterhood and Louis, Honorary President).[3] Louis was also the former long-time treasurer of the Metal and Roofing Distributers Association, Inc. and a Mason (Life Member of Compass Lodge, no. 1019, F. & A.M.).[4]

Sarah and Louis are buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Glendale, Queens, New York: Jewish Community Center of Flatbush plot, Section 2, Block 2, Map 6, Lot 38, graves 6 and 7.

Notes:  

1. Sarah Cohn, petition for naturalization (1940), vol. 1051, no. 291380, Eastern District of New York, National Archives - Northeast Region, New York, New York.

2. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 22 November 2013), manifest, S.S. Batavia, Hamburg to New York, arriving 8 June 1903, List 31, number 13, Lewys Kohn; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, microfilm roll 423.
3. "Louis Cohn," New York Times, 9 February 1966, p. 39; digital image, Proquest Historical Newspapers (http://obituaries.proquest.com/ : accessed 11 November 2013 online via public library home access).
"Sarah Cohn," New York Times, 13 February 1971, p. 30;
digital image, Proquest Historical Newspapers (http://obituaries.proquest.com/ : accessed 16 June 2014 online via public library home access).
4. "Louis Cohn," New York Times, 10 February 1966, p.37; digital image, Proquest Historical Newspapers (http://obituaries.proquest.com/ : accessed 16 June 2014 online via public library home access).

Treasure Chest Thursday: Sarah Ett Cohn's Manifest

Sarah Ett Cohn was the second Ett sibling to journey to the United States. Her elder sister Chaitza (anglicized to Clara) arrived sometime before June 1903 when she married Chaim (Adolph) Rappaport. Thus far, I have been unable to locate Chaitza's manifest.  I believe she and her husband likely did not naturalize. So, after Clara and Adolph's marriage certificate, Sarah's manifest is the first indication I have of the Etts in New York City.

"New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 22 November 2013), manifest, S.S. Brandenburg, Bremen to New York, arriving 26 December 1903, List 10, number 19, Sali Ett; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, microfilm roll 423.

Sali Ett is listed at number 19 on the page. She arrived on 26 December 1903 on the S.S. Brandenburg, which had sailed from Bremen, Germany on 12 December 1903.

Detail of Sali Ett manifest record (left side)

[Items in red will be discussed further, below.]
 
Name: Sali Ett
Age: 19
Sex: f
Married or Single: s
Calling or Occupation: maid servant
Able to Read: yes
Able to Write: yes
Nationality: Austria
Race or people: Hebrew
Last residence: Zaleszczyki
Final Destination: N.Y.
Whether having a ticket to destination: yes

Detail of Sali Ett manifest record (right side)

By whom was passage paid: self
Whether in possession of $50: $1
Whether ever before in the United States: No
Whether going to join a relative or friend: 
          uncle Lebenhauss Leizer 
          Bushwick Ave 299 Brooklyn

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In light of what I have already learned about Sarah's brother David Ett's manifest, it is interesting that Sarah traveled under her father's surname. In 1913, David traveled under his mother's maiden name, Wenkert, and changed it back to Ett upon immigration.

Sarah indicated that her last residence was in Zaleszczyki. Sarah's mother, Perl died in 1895 in Skole. Zaleszczyki had been the town (in today's Ukraine) where Perl Wenkert and her husband Hersch Leib Ett were registered. Other records, such as David Ett's manifest, indicate that some of the Ett children were born in towns, such as Uscieczko and Torskie, that are geographically close to Zaleszczyki. We do not know when, but sometime between Perl's death and Sarah's departure, the family moved back to the Zaleszczyki area.

Sarah reported on her manifest record that she would be heading to her uncle's home at 299 Bushwick Avenue. The handwritten name looks like Leizer Lebenhauss (or Leberhaus). In fact, Sarah's uncle was my great grandfather Leiser (Louis) Liebross. This is supported by the 1905 New York State census showing Louis and his family living at 299 Bushwick Avenue, Brooklyn.[1] The 1905 census also shows Sarah"Att" living with her sister Clara and her family in the same building.[2]

The small X to the left of Sarah's name on the manifest indicates that she was detained by immigration officials. Unaccompanied women immigrants were usually held until a relative could come to claim them and vouch for their welfare. Detention pages are usually found near the end of the ship's manifest pages.

Detail: "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 22 November 2013), manifest, S.S. Brandenburg, Bremen to New York, arriving 26 December 1903, Record of Detained Alien Passengers, 42 (stamped), number 23, Sali Ett; citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, microfilm roll 423.

 Sali Ett was met, not by her uncle, but by her new brother-in-law. His name is listed as "Alter Applrot" - an interesting take on the name Rappaport. Clara and her husband were living at 406 Bushwick Avenue in December 1903.

Notes:
1. 1905 New York State Census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, Assembly District 15, Enumeration District 18, sheet 73, entries 41-50, Louis Lebros family; digital image, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 8 July 2010), citing New York State Archives, Albany, New York.
2. 1905 New York State Census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, Assembly District 15, Enumeration District 18, sheet 74, entries 8-11, Adolph Rappaport family and Sarah Att; digital image, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 8 July 2010), citing New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

Treasure Chest Thursday: Sophie Ett and Charles Leiner Marriage Certificate

Sophie Ett, younger sister of Sarah Ett Cohn, Clara (Chaitza) Ett Rappaport and Dave Ett, and older sister to Jutte Ett Barath married Charles Leiner eight years after she immigrated to the United States.

Kings County, New York, Certificate and Record of Marriage no. 7336 (22 June 1918), Charles Leiner and Sohphie Ettinger [Ett], Municipal Archives, New York.

[1st page]

CERTIFICATE AND RECORD OF MARRIAGE

No. of Certificate

7336

 
Groom: Charles Leiner
Residence: 276 Stockton St.
Age: 28
Color: White
Single, Widowed or Divorced: Single
Occupation: printer
Birthplace: Man Boro
Father's Name: Henry Leiner
Mother's Maiden Name: Slata Silverman
Number of Groom's Marriage: (1) one

Bride: Sophie Ettinger
Residence: 94 Tompkins Av
Age: 22
Color: White
Single, Widowed or Divorced: Single
Maiden Name, if a Widow: ---
Birthplace: Galicia Austria
Father's Name: Harry Ettinger
Mother's Maiden Name: Perl Weingort
Number of Bride's Marriage: (1) one
 
I hearby certify that the above-named groom and bride were joined in marriage by me, in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, at 143 MecKiben St, in the borough of Kings, City of New York, this 22nd of June 1918.

Signature of person performing the ceremony:
                            /s/  Abraham Lehrman
Official Station: 220 Ellery St.
Residence: 601 Marcy Av.

Witnesses to the Marriage: Julius Shapiro
                                        Louis Cohn

[2nd page]
WE hereby certify that we are the Groom and Bride named in this Certificate, and that the information given therein is correct, to the best of our knowledge and belief.
                              /s/Charles Leiner Groom
                              /s/Sophie Ettinger Bride  

Signed in the presence of  /s/Julius Shapiro
and /s/Louis Cohn

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

Charles was born in New York City. Family lore says he was related to Benny Leonard (born Leiner) champion lightweight prize fighter. Thus far I have not been able to make that connection between Charles and Benny.

There are a few items of interest in this record. Sophie's name was written by the Rabbi as Ettinger and she signed Sophie Ettinger on the second page. Ett was the family name in the old county. Sophie emigrated as Sprinze Ett; her sister emigrated as Sarah Et and her brother Dave retook the Ett surname soon after immigration.[1] Attinger, however, was the name recorded on the 1915 New York State Census for both Dave and Sophie when they were living with their sister Clara and her husband Adolph Rappaport at 94 Tompkins Avenue.[2] That address is also Sophie's residence on this marriage certificate. 

Sophie's father's name (Harry Ettinger) is Americanized despite the fact that he'd never moved to the United States. And her mother's last name (Weingort) is likely the version taken by cousins who Americanized the original name (Wenkert) when they moved to the U.S.

Louis Cohn, one of the witnesses, was Sophie's brother-in-law (married to her sister Sarah).

The address at whch Sophie and Charles married should have been spelled McKibben St.

 

Notes:
1. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 12 July 2009), manifest, S.S. Kaiserin Auguste Victoria, Hamburg to New York, arriving 23 July 1910, list 49, passenger 18, Sprince Ett, citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, microfilm roll 1521.
"New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 22 November 2013), manifest, S.S. Brandenburg, Bremen to New York, arriving 26 December 1903, list 49, passenger 18, Sali Et, citing National Archives Microfilm Serial T715, microfilm roll 423.
2. 1915 New York State Census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, New York City, Assembly District 6, Enumeration District8, sheet 74, entries 26-34, Adolph Rappaport family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 December 2013), citing New York State Archives, Albany, New York.