One of my mother's cousins liked researching family history and discovered one of our ancestors in police records in Lithuania. Apparently he'd been murdered by robbers while driving his lumber cart through the forest in 1776. Otherwise, we'd never know he sold lumber for a living...
My mother's father was from outside Vilna, on a farm (not allowed for Jews, but the owner used to warn them when inspectors came to down so they could get themselves to the Jewish sector). They faked his death certificate when he was 17 so he could escape at night to get a boat from Hamburg. My mother's mother was born in Illinois -- her parents came from Latvia and Lithuania. My father's parents both came from Lithuania. His father was in Slobodka, probably for education -- he was a shochet there and became a rabbi in Chicago. Very strict. My uncle said he was so strict that other Jews didn't like him too much. In fact, according to my uncle, their father was so strict that God didn't like him!
My Great Uncle by marriage, Harry Epstein, started as a peddler in Wisconsin and went on to own a department store in Beaver Dam. By the time I came around (born 1949) my grandmother's seven brothers (immigrated around 1900) were all fairly successful businessmen. Did they start as peddlers? I should investigate. The next generation, my mother's, all went to college and were professors or lawyers and some continued in business. Be happy to dig around a little if that would be helpful. Sadly, we didn't get enough information before they all left this earth.
While not a "pedlar," my grandfather ran a general store in Wichita, Kansas (where my mother was born). He ended up moving from Kansas to NYC, where he got involved in Yiddish Radio.
One of my mother's cousins liked researching family history and discovered one of our ancestors in police records in Lithuania. Apparently he'd been murdered by robbers while driving his lumber cart through the forest in 1776. Otherwise, we'd never know he sold lumber for a living...
Where in Lithuania? My family is from Linkuva, near the Latvian border.
My mother's father was from outside Vilna, on a farm (not allowed for Jews, but the owner used to warn them when inspectors came to down so they could get themselves to the Jewish sector). They faked his death certificate when he was 17 so he could escape at night to get a boat from Hamburg. My mother's mother was born in Illinois -- her parents came from Latvia and Lithuania. My father's parents both came from Lithuania. His father was in Slobodka, probably for education -- he was a shochet there and became a rabbi in Chicago. Very strict. My uncle said he was so strict that other Jews didn't like him too much. In fact, according to my uncle, their father was so strict that God didn't like him!
My mother would also say that about someone who was too strict!
My Great Uncle by marriage, Harry Epstein, started as a peddler in Wisconsin and went on to own a department store in Beaver Dam. By the time I came around (born 1949) my grandmother's seven brothers (immigrated around 1900) were all fairly successful businessmen. Did they start as peddlers? I should investigate. The next generation, my mother's, all went to college and were professors or lawyers and some continued in business. Be happy to dig around a little if that would be helpful. Sadly, we didn't get enough information before they all left this earth.
While not a "pedlar," my grandfather ran a general store in Wichita, Kansas (where my mother was born). He ended up moving from Kansas to NYC, where he got involved in Yiddish Radio.