Top row: Danny Pullman, Steven Pullman, Bob & Carol Kugler, unknown, Sidney Pullman, Jack Daly, Robert Kanofsky

Bottom row: Florence Pullman, Izzie & Bessie Pullman, Henrietta Daly, Joanne Kanofsky

In front Robin & Debbie Kanofsky

An Apparent Minsk Connection

Jonah Pullman and Jacob Rosenberg apparently belonged to a Minsker Landmannschaft - the "Minsker Independent Old Men's Benevolent Association." Jonah and Ida are buried in Beth David (Queens, NY) in that Landmannschaft's section. Likewise for Jacob and Rachel but in Montefiore (also Queens). Most apt explanation is that they lived in the province of Minsk. Possibly Jonah and Ida met and married there and subsequently moved to the Ukraine. According to the 1900 US census they were married 12 years. A wild guess is that the surname Polewsky is derived from the village of Polevtsy, which is 72 miles south of the city of Minsk (and in Minsk province).

Pullman Family c1955

Standing: Eddie, Jean (nee Roth) , Paul , Al Bernstein (Dora's 2nd husband), Izzie, Henry Siegal, Anna (nee Javitz), Sam

Sitting: Dorothy, Millie, Dora, Bessie (nee Feigensohn), Minnie

Simon & Fruma with (L to R) Henrietta, Anna, & Sally

Sally was born in June, 1891 so this must have been taken late 1891/early 1892. Henrietta was 4 and Anna 2.

Simon Cohen & His Brothers

L to R: Ike, Simon, Harris Seated: Moishe

Muriel Cestare

REVERAND, Muriel Muriel Cestare Reverand died on December 25, 2010 in the Laramie Care Center after a long illness. She was born on December 5, 1916, in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of Dr. Anthony Lloyd Cestare and Rae Cohen Cestare, the oldest of their four children. She attended public schools in New York, and then Adelphi College, from which she graduated, first in her class, in 1941. While in college, she had a part-time job as editorial assistant to the dancer Ted Shawn (founder of Jacob's Pillow), who was working on a book and was sufficiently impressed with Muriel's editing skills that he wanted her to accompany him to Paris where he intended to finish his book over the summer. Muriel being about nineteen, the year being about 1935, Paris being Paris, her mother did not let her go, which she lamented for decades. In June of 1941, Muriel married Cedric D. Reverand, with whom she had a son, Cedric D. Reverand II. During the war, the family moved to Hartford, CT, when Cedric Sr. began working as an engineer and design analyst for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. They moved into the John Hooker House, a historic mansion built in 1853, whose luxurious parlors and bedrooms had been divided up into apartments; Mark Twain had lived in the Hooker House in 1871 while his own dream house, one block away in Hartford, was being built. In the late 1940s, Muriel took a job as an actuary at the Aetna Life Insurance Company, the only female actuary in the company, and eventually became head of the group actuarial department, until her retirement in the late 1970s. When Cedric retired from Pratt & Whitney, he and Muriel began alternating between winters spent in a house they had built in Bloomfield, Connecticut, and summers in Weybridge, England, their base for extensive touring, including every British cathedral, every great country house, and every castle imaginable, summer after summer. And in 1977, Muriel finally got to go to Paris. In the early 1980s, Cedric and Muriel moved to Perkasie, Pennsylvania, where Cedric died in 1987; in 2004, when Muriel's health began to fail, her family moved her to Laramie. When Muriel lived in Connecticut, she regularly traveled to New York to see Broadway musicals, which she loved; later, when she summered in England, she simply started going to London to see musicals. She could play piano by ear—her mother had been a movie-theater pianist in the days of silent movies—and she knew literally hundreds of songs, and all the words. The one sport she really enjoyed was baseball: the Dodgers, when she, and they, were in New York (but never the Yankees); the Mets when she lived in Hartford; the Rockies when she moved to Wyoming. She was a crossword puzzle fanatic; she usually completed the New York Times daily crossword, and all the Sunday puzzles, including the double crostic and the puns & anagrams. In her prime, she was an inveterate reader. She astounded the Bloomfield librarians by regularly checking out six books at a time, and returning them two days later—she generally read three books a day—working her way through stacks of mysteries, and most of the bestseller list. She was extremely smart, very funny, and not the least bit sentimental. Muriel is survived by her son, Cedric D. Reverand II of Laramie; she outlived all three of her siblings. At Muriel's request no services will be held and cremation has taken place. To send condolences or sign the on-line guest book, go to www.montgomerystryker.com.

Frances Rosenberg

A 1917/1918 New York Times article.

Frances Rosenberg. 509 E136th St.

Age 17. Weight 125 lbs. Been in the Bronx 7 years. A decided blonde. Attended PS4 and graduated from PS132, then took a course in commercial training. Is an efficient stenographer and typewriter. She is fond of music and a reader of fiction. Poses for moving pictures and as a model occasionally. Expert dancer and delights in swimming. She has an aquatic record. Received commendations on her elocution. Has a receptive mind, can memorize lengthy lines with ease. Very methodical and systematic. Raised in a Hebrew home among a large family of actual business people. Does not know what an idle moment is. When she is not at her place of employment she is exercising and enjoying fresh air.

Her sisters Minnie and Ida were also blondes. I guess that came from their mother.

"..large family of actual business people"?

"Age 17." Frances was born 26 Jul 1900 so this article must be from 1917/1918

"Been in the Bronx 7 years...Attended PS4 and PS132" Frances immigrated in December, 1910 and initially stayed with the Pullman family at 450 E175th Street. PS4 and PS132 are within a mile of that address so it appears the Rosenberg family was in that neighborhood up until the publication of this article.

Bordoff Family 1942

L to R Top: Phil Herman, Edith Bordoff, Fay& Bill Ionin, Frances & Irving Bordoff Middle: Henrietta Herman, Barnett Bordoff, Shaindel Bordoff, ? Bottom: Herman Ionin, Abe Bordoff, Florence Ionin, Paul Herman

The Barber Shop On Christopher Ave, Brownsville

LtoR: Harry, Sam (seated), Morris, and Irving Bordoff. Probably about 1916.

Morris Bordoff

Cherkassky

Sylvia Marshall was the same age (20) when Cherkassky gave her this photo. I don't know how well they knew each other.

The Last Of The Immigrants(?)

In November of 1922 Bessie Feldman arrived in Halifax on the Regina from Danzig. Traveling with her were four of her children - Michael ,Sally, Harry, Abe. Passage was paid for by her son Morris. Bessie and the children had been staying with her daughter Manya in Warsaw. Bessie was a widow. Her husband and a son had died of typhoid fever in Russia. There was one other daughter, Fanny, whose whereabouts I am uncertain of. Manya eventually emigrated to Argentina.

Ellis Island Data Base

Jonah Pullman arrived in New York on Oct 16, 1897, on the Southwark out of Antwerp. His name in the passenger list is Jonas Plovskij, age 34, married, a joiner from "Volkomir." Passage paid by his sister Fanny Cohen of Brooklyn. Fanny (Fruma) arrived in 1888 but I have yet to find that record.

Ida, Dora, and Minnie arrived in New York on Jan 15, 1900 on the Aragonia. Their names on the passenger list are Eidle, Scheindel, and Marie Pullmann, from Zhitomir. Ages given are 30, 10, and 8. The ship sailed from Antwerp. Traveling with them was Ludik Tabacznik, a tailor, also of Zhitomir, who claimed to be a brother-in-law of Jonah Pullman. If so he must have been the husband of one of Jonah's sisters.

Jacob Rosenberg arrived March 4, 1904 on the Blucher out of Hamburg. He is 36, a smith (?) from Koroscin (Korosten?). Izzie Pullman arrived July 8, 1904 on the Carpathia out of Liverpool. The entry in the manifest is Isser Pullmann, 17, joiner, from Kiev. Traveling with him are two purported relatives, Leiser Magude and Leiser Antil, both married,both joiners,both from Zhitomir; one is 30 years old and the other 31. Magude claims to be a cousin of Jonah Pullman and Antil a nephew.

So who were Ludik T, Leiser M, and Leiser A? Never heard of those surnames. There is no trace of them in the US. Likely they changed their names but still, if they were relatives, they would have remained in touch, even if they did not stay in New York City.

Izzie's uncle Abraham Kordon arrived on July 31, 1904 on the Umbria out of Liverpool. In the manifest he is Abram Kardansky, 28, married, a joiner from Kiev. Abraham first lived in the Lower East Side. By 1915 he was in the Bronx, where he lived the rest of his life. He had a carpentry business.

Minnie and Ida Rosenberg arrived on July 16, 1908 on the Zeeland out of Antwerp. Their names in the manifest are Mania and Edie Rosenberg, aged 19 and 17 respectively. Both are described as 5'6", blond, and blue eyed. There previous home is given as Kowno, where there closest relative, (illegible) Rosenberg, lived. Their occupation is servant.

The Bordoff family arrived together on Oct 30, 1908 on the Samland out of Hamburg. They appear in the manifest as the Borodowski family - Moische, Scheindel, Aron (Harry), Jenta (Henrietta), Nute (Nathan), Josef, Schlieme (Sam), and Itzik (Irving). With them is Shaindel Pullman Bordoff's brother in law, Aron (Harry) Dick. Jonah's half-niece Henrietta Dick arrived July 17, 1909 on the Zeeland out of Antwerp. She was 11 years old. She was alone. Her mother Lena Portenoy Dick and sisters had been with her in Antwerp, but her sister Hinda had been refused entry because she was blind, so her mother sent Henrietta ahead, left the other sister, Rae, in Antwerp, and returned to Russia with Hinda. On the manifest she is Jente Dick, of Radomsyl, Kiev, Russia.

Lena and Rae arrived on March 4, 1910 on the Finland out of Antwerp. They are in the manifest as Leic Dick and Riwe Rick. Their previous address is given as with "sister Celia Portneoj in Radomsyl." Hinda had been placed in a home. Hinda later married and had at least one child.

I suppose that Celia was another half-sister of Jonah, Fruma, and Shaindel. Shaindel was born 1874 and Lena in 1880. Their mother was born Yenta Rosa Goldberg. Her first husband was Levi Yankel Polewsky (Pullman) who must have died between 1874 and 1880. Yenta then married Evchef Zitnick.

Rachel Rosenberg arrived on December 30, 1910 on the Kursk out of Libau. With her were Eva, Aaron, and Frances, who are in the manifest as Chave (17), Aron (15), and Fanna (9). Their previous address is given as Iskorost, with "father (maybe brother) Srul Feldman." Srul was Jacob Rosenberg's brother in law, the husband of Basia/Bessie. The Feldman family had a tannery and were wealthy. Their birthplace is given as Korosten; Korosten and Iskorost are different names for the same place. Also interesting that they had been staying with the Feldman family. All are dark haired, dark eyed. Rachel is 5'4", Eva 5'6" (notation of "defective muscular development, flat and deformed chest"), and Aaron is 5'3". They are on their way to join Jankel (Jacob) Rosenberg, c/o the Pullman family in the Bronx.

Curious that Jacob did not have his own place, and that he had been in the country nearly 7 years, unless he had gone back to Russia. It must have been pretty crowded at the Pullman residence, which was 450 E175th Street in the Bronx, the notorious Park Ave/Bathgate Ave neighborhood. 175th St was the Irish-Jewish boundary, with the Irish on the other side of the street. Earlier that year, in the 1910 census, the Pullman family was in Brownsville, so they had not been at this address long. Izzie Pullman married Bessie Feigenson earlier that same month. Both gave 450 E175th St as their address, so perhaps they met there.

All of these records can be found at Ellis Island Data Base

Death Record For Jacob Rosenberg

  He died March 16, 1924 at home in the Bronx (1343 Bristow St).  Cause of death was a strangulated femoral artery due to an inguinal hernia.  In 2005 my older sister had this same hernia and strangulated femoral but was able to get immediate medical treatment.

Naturalization Record s

name, year, petition vol, petition #, soundex

Eastern District
Pullman Ida 1926 50671 P455
Pullman Isidore 1927 303 87780 P455
Bordoff Joseph 1940 1086 300172 B631
Bordoff Irving 1927 306 88678 B631

1930 Census - Herman & Henrietta Messing

courtesy of Fred Messing

1900 & 1910 Brooklyn census records for Simon & Fanny Cohen

In 1900 Simon (shoemaker) gives his age as 30 and Fanny as 33. In 1910 they are Solomon (shoe factory superintendent) and Frances, both 43. They are on Seigel St in 1900 and Bainbridge Street in 1910 (in 1920 they are also on Bainbridge St and back to being Simon & Fanny). Henrietta is married and not in the household by 1910.

The Rosenbergs in 1920

These census records give 1910 as the year of immigration of most.

Ida Malley (32) and her husband Isadore (35) live in Detroit. Their son Max (11) and daughter Marian (8) have New York for birthplace, Michigan for Louis (16 mos). New York is also given as Ida's birthplace, and as the birthplace of the mother (Ida) of Max, Marian, and Louis. Isadore gives his birthplace as Russia, with 1905 as the year of immigration. Date is Feb 4th, 1920 so Ida likely was born in New York in 1888. Isadore gives "ironing clothes in a laundry" as his profession.

Minnie Adler (31) and her husband Nathan (41) live in New Rochelle. Four of the children (Lewis, Rose, Bertha, and Ruth) are of Louis' late wife. Mary (7) is Minnie's daughter from her first marriage. The infant May is the child of Minnie and Nathan. Nathan has a cigar store. Lewis (16) works there. All the kids have New York as their birthplace. Parents list Russia. Minnie gives 1910 as her year of immigration. Date is January 8th/9th

Eva Gassman (25), her husband Abraham (30) and their daughter Gwendolyn (3) live at 1788 Lexington Ave (100th Street). Eva gives Russia as her birthplace and 1910 as the year of immigration. Abraham gives 1892 as his. He is a manager at Western Union. Date is January 10th.

Jacob (53) and Eva (53) live around the corner at 177 E100th St with their son Harry (23) and daughter Frances. All list Russia as their birthplace as 1910 as the year of immigration. Harry (Aaron) is a law student. Frances is a sales lady in a dept store. Jacob is a building contractor. Date is January 3rd.

So how did Ida came to be born in the U.S. in 1887 and Minnie in Russia in 1888? Ida is the only one with English as her mother tongue. If Ida remained in the U.S. while Jacob and Rachael returned to Russia whom did she live with? I cannot find a record in the 1910 (as Malley) or 1900 (as Rosenberg) census.

From 1910 until the 1920's Jacob's sister Ida Pullman was living in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Her husband Jonah's sisters Lean and Shaindel also lived in Brownsville,all within a block of each other, but quite far from E100th St in Manhattan.

Bordoff 1910

405 Christopher Ave, Brooklyn

Morris, 48, barber (own shop)
Sarah (Jennie, Shaindle), 36
Harry, 18, barber
Samuel, 15
Henrietta, 13
Isidore (Irving), 8
Nathan, 4
Joseph, 2
Fanny, 3 months

They were still at this address in 1920. Fanny was the first child to be born in the U.S. All others are given as born in Russia

Bordoff 1920

405 Christopher Ave, Brooklyn
Morris 53, barber
Jennie, 46
Irving, 17, barber
Nathan, 13
Joseph, 11
Fanny, 9
Abraham, 7