My last post was on the family of Anna Kessman, her parents Louis Kessman and Rae Goldstein and her grandparents Morris Kessman and Sadie Steinberg. I also talked about the Hyman Kessman, brother of Louis as their story was intertwined. Allen Steinman, great grandson of Morris and Sadie, following the line of Louis shared some of his memories in the comment section which gave me some direction on which way I wanted to go next. Thank you Allen – I loved all the comments 🙂 Allen filled me in on the third child of Morris and Sadie, a daughter named Rose. I was excited to learn her name and am anxious to take a look at her but before I do, I decided to look at Rae Goldstein’s parents, Isaac Goldstein and his wife (Freda) Fanny Dornfest. While there is so much still to discover I was excited about the few things that have turned up while researching them. Allen had written “From memory…. Rae Goldstein Kessman, had a sister Dinah, and at least two brothers Seymour aka Sy and Hyman. Dinah married and had one son and one daughter, they lived on 150 th Street in Jamaica Queens NY. I don’t remember much about the brothers.” His comment launched me into a search for information on Dinah and her brothers…..and well, quite a few more siblings than may be known.
Isaac Goldstein (abt.1868) was born in Austria along with his wife Fanny LNU (abt.1862) Isaac and Fanny immigrated in 1884 which seems to be confirmed by all documents found. I have not located their immigration papers nor have I been able to locate any documents that would indicate or point me to where in Austria Isaac or Fanny were from. At the time of their births the Austrian – Hungarian Empire had just been formed by an agreement between Vienna and Budapest (1867) The fact that both listed Austria as where they were born could very possibly have been anywhere in the empire at that time.
The first census I found them in was 1900. (the 1890 census was destroyed and only fragments remain) Isaac was 35 and Fanny 38. They were living at 186 Rivington St, N.Y.C.. Isaac’s occupation was listed as laborer. Fanny had had 6 births, all of which were living and all born in NYC. Their names and birthdates were as follows Morris (1886) 14, Samuel (1887) 13, Retchell (1889) 11, Nathan (1893) 7, Tini (1894) 6 , and Seymour (1900) 3/12. Isaac spoke English and could read and write but Fanny could not.
By 1903 the family had relocated to Brooklyn and were living at 195 Smith St. Isaac has applied for citizenship. His birth date is missing but note his occupation now, dealer in second hand clothing.
Citation Information: Detail: National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, DC; ARC Title: Index to Petitions for Naturalizations
|
| Name: | Fannie Goldstein |
|---|---|
| Birth Date: | 1863 |
| Birth Place: | Austria |
| Death Date: | 24 Jul 1905 |
| Death Place: | Brooklyn, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York, United States of America |
| Cemetery: | Mount Zion Cemetery |
| Burial or Cremation Place: | Maspeth, Queens County, New York, United States of America |
| Has Bio?: | Y |
| URL: | http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-… |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Again not confirmed but believing I am on the right track I located the social security application for a Maurice Goldstein, very possibly our Morris, first born to Isaac and Fanny. The birth year matches up with the census recorded age of Morris.
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
| Name | Maurice Goldstein |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Race | White |
| Birth Date | 2 Dec 1886 |
| Birth Place | New York City, New York[New York Cit] |
| Father | Isaac Goldstein |
| Mother | Fannie Dornfest |
| SSN | 110092751 |
| Notes | Dec 1936: Name listed as MAURICE GOLDSTEIN |
Three years after Fanny’s death Isaac remarried a woman named Annie Ammer (1873) also from Austria. She was 17 years his junior. I must admit with the similarity in the first names I was a little confused at first thinking Fanny had simply morphed into Annie with the age a misprint. It soon became clear that this was a 2nd marriage.
By 1910 things began to look up again. The census record for 1910 had Isaac and Annie married for 2 years, which would be a 1908 marriage. Isaac was working as a tailor in a shop. Sam, now 22 was back living at home. His occupation was listed as knitter. Rae 21, was working as a stone setter in a jewelry store. (that intrigues me I would love to find out more) Nathan 19, was working as a wire worker in a factory. That left Dinah 16, Simon 9, and Pincus now Phillip, 8. The family has left 195 Smith St and moved to 73 Taylor, Brooklyn. I was able to locate the marriage record for Isaac and Annie and learned her last name was Ammer. They were married on January 11, 1908 in N.Y.C.. Locating social security records for both daughter’s Molly and Clara (yet to be revealed in this post) their mother was Annie Ammer. Next I checked italiangen.org (an Italian genealogy site that has a very complete free data base search for marriage/death records within the 5 boroughs) It was here I was able to find the complete marriage notation of Annie Ammer to Isaac Goldstein.
Married and settled in, Isaac and Annie made the move to 361 Osborn, Brooklyn listed as their residence on the 1915 census, only at home was Dinah (20) working in a dept store as a saleslady and Pincus (13). Annie and Isaac had now added 2 children, Leon (1913) and Molly (1914) Isaac (49) had no occupation listed but living with them was Juine/Jennie Hauff/Hauft (60) mother. I think it is safe to assume this is Isaac’s mother-in -law, judging by her age.
Once again the family makes a move and by 1920 they are living at 92 Willett St in NYC. Isaac (54) was working as a tailor – mens clothing. Adult daughter Dinah/Diana (23) and Pincus/Phillip (18) are both working, Dinah – ladies waist, Phillip – office. Leo (7) and Mollie (6) and mother Juine/Jennie is no longer with them.
The 1930 census gives us a good picture of Isaac’s family. All of his children from his first marriage are now on their own. Isaac (63) was still working in a tailor shop. His oldest child with Annie (43), Leo (17) was working already as a shipping clerk – umbrellas. Molly was 16 and in school. Isaac and Annie added 1 last child, a daughter named Clara/Claire (1929) I am amazed at the amount of moves Isaac and his family had made. In 1930 they had moved again and this time they are living at 31 Goerck St, N.Y.C.. I want to make mention too that in both the 1920 and 1930c their language was listed Yiddish. Going back to the first record 1900c the language was listed English for Isaac and also ticked off was that he able to read and write. I am wondering if perhaps new bride Annie was unable to speak English so Isaac reverted back to Yiddish.
1940c the family moved again to 1449 Minford Pl., Bronx. (the same location in 1935 as noted on census) At age 75 poor Isaac was still working this time as a collar maker – mens clothing. The census indicates he had worked 35 hours the prior week. I say ‘poor’ Isaac because he just had to be exhausted by now. He had immigrated from his homeland at age 19 to start this amazing life here in America. Beginning as a laborer he switched quickly to a street peddler and then into the mens clothing line/tailor. He buried his first wife, mother of 7 children. Then married a woman 17 years his junior and added 3 more children. He had, who I believe was his mother-in-law, at one time living in his home and most likely out lived and buried her too. Here he was, 75 and still working. His wife Anna (56) was still by his side. Their daughter Molly (24) was working as a bookkeeper in a dairy. Ahhh – most likely working with and for the family of her 1/2 sister Rae who’s husband and brother-in-law Hyman owned and operated a dairy store. Clara/Claire was 19 currently unemployed for the last 25 weeks but had worked as a bathing suit examiner.
That just about wraps up the story of Isaac Goldstein. We know he lived to be 75 and his last address was in the Bronx. There truly is much more to be discovered as I continue to search for records. For now, I was anxious to share and refresh your memories about the children of Isaac and 1st wife Fanny and hopefully added some unknown information on his 2nd wife Annie Ammer and the 1/2 siblings of Rae. I have been unable to locate a death record for Isaac at this time. I would love to find it as well as the immigration records. I am most certainly not finished with Isaac and his family.
Branches On Our Haimowitz Family Tree 