Joseph Michael Cohen (1881 - ?)

Joseph Michael Cohen, known as Joe, is the brother-in-law of Sarah Ann Levin, my 2x great aunt. Helfet family HERE

Born: 9 February 1881 in Minsk, now the capital of Belarus, according to his World War 2 draft registration form, but 9 February 1880 according to his World War 1 draft registration form

Migration: Joseph came to the USA around 1899

Occupation: Peddler, driver and furniture remover

Married: Minnie Helfet in Chicago, USA in 1906 when Minnie was 18 and Joseph 25

Children

Their first child was born in 1908 when Joseph was 27 and Minnie 20. Their last child was born in 1922 when Joseph was 41 and Minnie 34

• Leona Cohen (1908 - 1991) married Isadore Goffen  (1913 - 1988)) on 28 June 1950
• Rea Cohen (1913 - ?) 
• Jerome Cohen (1915 - 1916)
• Bernard Cohen (1918 - 1920)
• Eugene Cohen (1922 - 1992)

Census details

1910

In 1910 Joseph and his wife Minnie are living at 10a Oto Street, Sioux City, Iowa, USA. Joseph is 28 and a self-employed peddler. Minnie is 21 and their daughter Leona is age 1

1920

In 1920 the family is living at 311 West 15th Street, Sioux City, Iowa, USA. Joseph is 39 and a fruit peddler, Minnie is 32 and the children are Leona age 11, Rhea age 6 and Bernard age 2

1930

In 1930 the family is living at Unit 113, 4942 Spaulding Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Joseph is 49 and a chauffeur in the furniture moving industry. Minnie is 41 and the children are Leona age 21, Rhea age 17 and Eugene age 7

1940

In 1940 the family is living at 3747 Giddings Street, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Joseph is 58 and a driver for a storage warehouse. The children are Leona age 29, Rhea age 26 and Eugene age 17. His wife Minnie is in a psychiatric hospital

1950

In 1950 the family is still living at 3747 Giddings Street, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Joseph is 68 and a furniture mover. The children still at home are Leona age 41 and Eugene age 27

World War 1

Joseph's World War 1 registration card

World War 2

Joseph's World War 2 registration card

Biographical information

Joseph's brother-in law, Jacob Dobrofsky, wrote a detailed autobiography entitled "This is my Life", which includes information on Joseph and his family and which is available HERE

Here is a personal reminiscence from George Kroloff: 

"When I was a kid my mom, dad and sister Susan occasionally…better word might be rarely…visited Aunt Minnie/Minnah/Mushie.  I remember a long streetcar ride to the famous city transit “L”, changing trains to an extension and somehow walking or catching a bus to their house.  House.  That was a big deal.  It probably was the first time I had been in a single family dwelling in my hometown.  Everyone we knew, including schoolmates, lived in apartments. 

I don’t remember much about Minnie.  The info on her eye caught my eye,   While reading an Ellis Island document reporting that she had, what I recall, was a “low” eye.  And thinking about how nervous she would have been.  People deemed to be undesirable for one reason or another would be sent back to their embarkation port.   Minnie was with her sisters Sarah and Esther getting off a rather posh, for its time, Cunard Line cruise ship with a large number of last class passengers.  The promotional literature for the ship indicated that they could be sailing with their own cabin in steerage with a sink and running water 

So I remember Minnie was small.  Uncle Joe was a large man.  I remember little more, other than he didn’t seem to be of the type who would take advantage of people.  BUT, one thing I do remember is learning that he was the driver of a lumbering moving van.  Probably, mostly peoples’ furniture.  Also, I was told he was getting on in age and the the lifting and carrying of heavy items was a bit difficult, so he had been promoted, or however it was explained, to the easier job of driving. 

I also think I told my parents on the trip home that I was fascinated by Joe’s extremely thick glasses, thicker than I thought existed, and wondered if they had any way of forecasting when he might be in our neighborhood so I could warn my friends to keep off the street for safety’s sake.  

Meanwhile, their son Eugene was a really nice, soft-spoken chap.  My recollection was that he had a typical Chicago/Midwest accent.  After the end of WWII Eugene was working in a shop that sold leather goods.  My prize Bar Mitzvah present came from Eugene.  It was a very professional looking leather briefcase that I used until it just fell apart twenty or so years later. 

All this leads up to the most interesting “thing” about Eugene. Soft spoken, Midwest accent, US Army, Battle of the Bulge near the end of the War … Eugene was captured by the Canadians and held for several days before the-powers-that-be agreed that he really was an American and not a Nazi infiltrator. "

Death

Some time after 1950

Residences

According to the 1920 census the family lived at 311 West 15th Street, Sioux City, Iowa, USA. The property no longer exists

In the 1930 census the family is living at Unit 113, 4942 Spaulding Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, USA

In the 1940 census Joseph and his family are living at 3747 Giddings Street, Chicago, Illinois