Jacob Dobrofsky (1883 - 1967)

Jacob Dobrofsky, known as Jake, is the brother-in-law of Sarah Ann Levin, my 2x great aunt. Helfet family HERE. Dobrofsky family HERE

Parents: Nachum Benzion Dubrowski (1845 - 1902) and Rosa Tander (1844 - 1918)

Tombstones for his parents Nachum Benzion Dubrowski and Rosa Hinda Dubrofsky. Nachum is buried in the Rice Lane Cemetery, Liverpool, England and Rosa in the Mount Carmel Cemetery, Sioux City, Iowa, USA

Born: 22 September 1883 in Mena, Sosnitsa, Chernigov in the Russian Empire, nowadays Mina, Chernihiv, Ukraine. However his date of birth on his World War 1 and 2 draft cards is given as 22 May 1883 and in a 1930 article his date of birth as given as 16 September 1882 

Siblings

• Sarah Dobrofsky (1869 - 1951) married Barnett Charles (Boruch) Shubb (1891 - 1918) before 1891
• Hyman Dobrofsky (1872 - 1916) married Sarah Nepomnickcha (1872 - 1948) before 1898
• Nathan Dobrofsky (1873 - 1950) married Mary Helfet (1879 - 1948) in 1899
• Katherine (Kalia) Dobrofsky (1877 - 1963) married Charles (Hatskel) Shubb (1879 - 1920) in 1901
• Rachel (Broche) Dobrofsky (1882 - 1961) married Barnett Ginsburg (1882 - 1960) in 1903

Charles and Bennett Shubb were brothers and Esther and Mary Helfet were sisters

Occupation: shopkeeper

Migration: Jake to Liverpool, England in March 1897 age 13 and then migrated to the USA in May 1902, age 19

Married: Esther Helfet in Chicago, USA on 6 September 1904 when Jake was 21 and Esther 18

Jake Dobrofsky

Children

Their first child was born in 1905 when Jake was 22 and Esther 19. Their last child was born in 1919 when Jake was 36 and Esther 33

• Lilian Dobrofsky (1905 - 1979) married George Greenspan (1903 - 1968) on 14 May 1932
• Katherine Dobrofsky (2 March - 27 December 1909)
• Tola Dobrofsky (1911 - 2010) married Milton Apel (1902 - 1994) on 16 June 1935
• Ruth Dobrofsky (1919 - 2005) married Jerry Adler (1920 - 2018) on 25 October 1943
• Naomi Dobrofsky (1919 - 2005) married Edward Zinkow (1921 - 2015) on 9 June 1946

Census details

1901

Jake is living with his family at 52 Warren Street, Liverpool, England. He is 19 and a general dealer. The family are his parents Benzion age 54 and Basi age 53 and his siblings Kate age 24, Rachel age 21. Hyman (Barnet), age 29, his wife Sarah age 27 and their children Rose age 3 and Nathan, an infant

1910

In 1910 Jake and Esther are living at 2a Main Street, Newcastle, Nebraska, USA. Jacob is age 27 and a store owner, Esther is age 26 and their child Lily is age 4

1920

In 1920 the family are living in Hinton, Plymouth, Iowa, USA. Jake is 37 and a store owner and Esther is age 35. The children are Lilian age 14, Tola (Sarah) age 8, and Ruth and Naomi (Mary L), the twins, are infants

1930

In 1930 the family are living at 211 South Central Avenue, Chino, San Bernardino, California, USA. Jake is 46 and a merchant and Esther is age 45. The children are Lilian age 23, Tola age 19, and Ruth and Naomi both age 10. There is also a servant, Lean Sutton, age 41

1940

The family are living at 341 South Euclid Avenue, Upland, California, USA. Jacob is 57 and an owner operator of a retail enterprise and Esther is 55. The two children still at home are Ruth and Naomi, both age 20

World War 1 Registration

Jake's World War 1 registration card dated 12 September 1918. He was living in Hinton at the time and had brown eyes, black hair, was short with a medium build and had one short arm

World War 2 Registration

Jake's World War 2 registration card 

Biographical information

Jake wrote a detailed autobiography entitled "This is my Life", which is available HERE

And here is an account of his life written in 1930

Getting Acquainted With Chino Business Men

J. DOBROFSKY Merchant 

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. That adage which has long been impressed upon us is well adapted to the subject of our sketch. this week. To us, who might not have been similarly situated, the life of this Chino merchant affords cause for some merriment and yet, pondering well the problems he has faced, one can readily realize the seriousness of the situations. 

Picture in your mind a small village in Southern Russia where Jacob Dobrofsky was born on September 16, 1882, to Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Dobrofsky, who were engaged in the wholesale fishery business. He was the youngest of seven children, three sisters and three brothers being older. In this environment young Dobrofsky lived for sixteen years of his life when finally persecution of his race caused the father to take his family to Liverpool, England, sacrificing practically all of his life's earnings to escape to a country where he could rear his family and live in peace and happiness. Something of the dogged determination which has ever characterized the people of Jewish descent bad been transmitted to this young man, today one of the leading merchants of Chino.

At the age of 20 young Dobrofsky decided to try his fortune in South Africa and purchased his ticket for that promised land. In doing so he spent 35 of of the 50 pounds sterling he had as his worldly wealth only to discover that a law required that he have considerably more finances before he could land in South Africa. So he traded his ticket for one to America and landed at Philadelphia in May of 1902. After three months he went to Sioux City, lowa, and for eleven months worked in grocery store.

Fortune favored the immigrant and he decided to try life in Chicago. There in 1904 he met and married Miss Esther Helfet. Sioux City still held its attractions and in 1907 the family returned to the city on the banks of the Missouri river. He remained there for a year and three months before chasing a general store at Newcastle, Nebraska. In this business the Dobrofskys prospered in spite of the small size of the village. But misfortune stood around the corner and on July 4, 1911, while most of the townspeople were elsewhere on celebration, a carelessly thrown fire cracker set fire to a nearby building and before help could reach the little town, the business district was wiped from the face of the earth. The Dobrofskys arrived back in Newcastle just in time to see the roof of their store fall. With that fire went all the possessions of the family and relatives in Sioux City had to help them return to that city.

Mr. Dobrofsky borrowed finance enough to start himself again in the grocery business and for four yours enjoyed prosperity again. In 1915 he sold his business in Sioux City and went to Hinton, lowa, where he purchased a general store which he operated successfully for seven years. Fortune had been too good and he sold out to enter the cleaning and dyeing  business in Sioux City. That enterprise spelled another ruin and only enough was saved from a good-sized bankroll to bring the family to Los Angeles in 1924.

He entered the wholesale grocery business in that year and then in 1926, in partnership with Herman Cohen, bought the Chino Mercantile Co. from I Cline. A year later Mr. Dobrofsky purchased the interest of his partner and has since continued the sole owner of the business.

During the years that fortune fluctuated, Mr. Dobrofsky retained a cheerfulness which carried him over the humps. His happy situation today is probably due to this optimistic outlook on life. He and Mrs. Dobrofsky have four lovely daughters, the two youngest being twins about nine years of age who provide enough diversion for any person, according to Mr. Dobrofsky.

During his residence in Chino Mr. Dobrofsky has taken part in the civic and social life of the community. He served as a member of the board of directors of the Chino Business Men's association and is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities. Chino Champion Fri, Sep 12, 1930

Death

27 May 1967 in Upland, California age 83. Jake was cremated and his remains interred in the Home of Peace Memorial Park, Los Angeles, Mausoleum, Corridor of Remembrance, Crypt 206 SW

Place of Birth

Jake was born in in Mena, Sosnitsa, Chernigov in the Russian Empire, nowadays Mina, Chernihiv, Ukraine

Mena is a historic town located in Chernihiv region of northern Ukraine, center of Mena district. Records from the early 19th century describe the general population in Mena at around 6,000 people. The Jewish population of this time is not mentioned but reference is made to the existence of a synagogue and another Jewish house of worship. Jews began to settle actively in Mena after the construction of the Liubavo-Romenska railway in 1873, which passed through Mena. The Liubavo-Romenska railway was one of the main routes for exporting grain from the Russian Empire. The Jews mostly lived on Shevchenko Street, which stretched from the centre of the town to the railway station.

According to the 1897 census, 6,277 people lived in Mena, more than a quarter of whom were Jews. The main activities of the Jewish population in the 19th and early 20th centuries were in trade and crafts. In 1902, the rabbi in Mena was Itshok- Isaac Lurvin (1865 -?) and in 1904-06, Shneur-Zalman Ginzburg (1876 -?).

Many Jews were involved in the purchase and resale of tobacco. Tobacco cultivation has been widespread since the 18th century, so Mena was called the capital of tobacco. This activity was pursued by small traders and merchants of the first guild, who had large warehouses in Mena. Jews would come from Mogilev, Shklov, and Gomel to buy tobacco. Before the Revolution of 1917, there were two synagogues in the town. 

Holocaust

At the war’s outbreak, many Jewish families found a way to evacuate to the east of the country. The main evacuation routes were railroads and water transport by the river Desna towards Bryansk. Those who remained in the city either had not been able to take a long journey or had been convinced of the “civilized” behavior of German soldiers. Many older adults remembered the Germans who occupied Mena in 1918 and did not want to evacuate. Also, for evacuation, money was needed, and most Jews in Mena were poor.

The Nazis occupied Mena in September 8, 1941.

The German commandant’s office listed all the Jews and forced them to wear yellow circles on their clothing. After that, policemen and Germans began systematically abusing Jews, forcing them to work, beating and robbing them, and raping many Jewish women. Local non-Jews threw a gun clip into the house of a tailor named Shmerlin and reported to the Germans that he was hiding weapons. The Germans came to his home and shot the entire family.

On October 15, 1941, the Nazi units and local policemen shot 124 Jews (according to other sources, 31 Jews) at the local Jewish cemetery. The mass killing continued throughout November and December. From the night of November 30th to December 1st, 1941, the Germans began to go to Jewish homes and shoot everyone they found there. The Pergament family and many other families perished this way. Among the killed was Mones the Butcher, who was 104 years old. The local residents pointed out the Jewish homes. Part of the Jews were taken to the Jewish cemetery and shot there. There are two fraternal graves at the cemetery, one smaller and the other larger. The victims of the second, largest shooting are buried in the larger one.

On November 29, 1941 near railway bridge on the Desna River in Makoshino  50 local Jews were killed. On December 15, 1941 on the territory of the monastery in village Dominitsy of Menskiy district The Germans shot and killed 34 children from the local orphanage. Among the dead were five Jewish boys and girls. The last mass shooting that occurred in Mena was held February 2, 1942 in an open field near the road to the village, Kukuvichi.

Residences

In 1930 the family are living at 211 South Central Avenue, Chino, San Bernardino, California. Where the property was has been replaced with a car park

In 1940 the family are living at 341 South Euclid Avenue, Upland, San Bernardino,California

Anna Cohen (1883 - 1946)

Anna Cohen, also spelt Annie, is the sister-in-law of Sarah Ann Levin, my maternal 2x great aunt. Helfet family HERE

Parents: Louis (Lozor) Cohen (1845 - 1924) and Sarah Cohn (1855 - 1931)

Louis and Sarah Cohen

Tombstones for her parents Louis and Sarah Cohen. They are both buried in the Waldheim cemetery, Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois, USA

Siblings

• Bertha Cohen (1875 - 1958) married Samuel Spivak (1872 - 1939) in 1892
• Mary Cohen (1876 - 1944) married Jay Abrams (1876 - 1941) before 1902
• Rose Cohen (1878 - 1961) married Harry Edelstein (1875 - 1950) in 1901
• Max Cohen (1882 - 1929) married Jennie Wollack (1884 - 1967) in 1908
• Ida Cohen (1885 - 1958) married Charles Amber (Bernstein) (1883 - 1960) in 1908
• Samuel Cohen (1887 - ?)

Born: 1883 in Germany. However in the 1900 census her date of birth is given as November 1879 and her death notice suggests a date of birth sometime in 1881. Other census returns suggest she was born between 1882 - 1884

Migration: The family came to the USA in 1891

Married: Harry Helfet in Chicago, USA on 3 December 1905 when Harry was 24 and Anna 22

Children

Their first child was born in 1908 when Harry was 28 and Anna 26. Their last child was born in 1913 when Harry was 32 and Anna 30

• Leah Mae Helfet (1908 - 1971) married 1) Harry A Wasserkrug (1906 - 1937) on 12 June 1932,  2) Theodore T Reisch (1914 - 1982) on 27 June 1938
• Jeanette (Gene) Helfet (1913 - 1998) married Melvin Salmon Sussman (1912 - 1986) on 11 July 1932

Census details

1900

Anna and her family are living at 381 12th street, Chicago. Her father Louis is age 55 and her mother Sarah is age 45. The children are Mary age 24, Rose age 22, Annie age 20, Ida age 15, Max age 18 and Sam age 13

1910

In 1910 Harry and Anna are married and living in Chicago, USA. He is age 29 and and owns a shop. He also owns his house. Anne is age 28 and their daughter Leah is age 2

1920

In 1920 the family are still in Chicago. Harry is 39 and a store owner. Anna is age 38 and their children are Leah age 12 and Jeanette age 6

1930

In 1930 the family are still in Chicago, at 7027 Sheridan Road. Harry is 48 and is now a real estate agent. Anna is age 46 and their children are Lea Mae age 21 and Gene age 16

1940

In 1940 the family in a rented home at 6810 North Greenview Avenue, Chicago. Harry is 56 and a manager in a real estate office. Anna is age 54. Living with them is their daughter Lea Mae age 30, her husband Theodore Reisch age 27 and their infant son Stanley age a month

Biographical information

Anna's brother-in-law, Jake Dobrofsky wrote a detailed autobiography entitled "This is my Life", which is available HERE and which contains some information on Anna and her family

Text supplied by George Kroloff

Death

January 1946 in Dade County, Florida age 63. She was buried in Rosemont Park Cemetery, now known as Zion Gardens, Chicago

HELFET- Anna Helfet, nee Cohen, age 64. beloved wife of Harry Helfet, mother of Lea Mae Reisch and Jean Sussman, sister of Ida Amber, Rose Edelstein, Bertha Spivak and Sam Cowen, beloved grandmother of Stanley Lawrence Reisch and Steven Sussman, Burial Miami Beach Florida. Chicago Tribune, 13 January 1946

Residences

In 1911 Harry and Annnie purchased no 748 South Oakley Boulevard in Chicago. Chicago Examiner 3 February 1911, p. 14

In 1930 the family are living at 7027 Sheridan Street, Chicago

In 1940 the family are living at 6810 North Greenview Avenue, Chicago

Jacob Baum (1883 - 1966)

Jacob Baum, known as Jack, is the husband of Rachel Baum, my maternal great great aunt. Baum family tree Here. Rosenberg family Here

Parents: Wolfe Baum (1855 - 1934) and Miriam Ellen (Mary) Levenston (1856 - 1920)

Tombstones for Woolf and Miriam Ellen Baum

Born: 12 November 1883 in Kovno, Lithuania and apparently he and his family came to Manchester, England in 1884 when he was 3 months old

Hebrew name: Ya'akov, son of Ze’ev

Married: 

• Minnie Goldblum in (April - June) 1910 in Manchester, England. She died on 15 October 1929. Jacob was 26 years old and Minnie was 28 years old when they were married, and he was 46 when Minnie died

• Rachel Baum in (October - December) 1930 in Manchester, England. Jacob was  47 years old and Rachel was 40 years old. They both shared the same surname but as far as I can tell they were not related to each other.

Children

Jacob and Minnie's first child was born in 1912 when Jacob was 28 and Minnie was 30. Their last child was born in 1923 when Jacob was 40 and Minnie was 41

• Maurice Baum 1912 - 2001
• Sarah R Baum 1914 - 1914
• Bernard After 1921 - 2018
• Isaac 1923 - 2007

Isaac and Bernard were probably brought up by both Raie and Jacob

Occupation: Jacob was a cinema film traveller, selling films, shorts and newsreels. On his son's marriage certificate in 1933 his occupation was listed as a cinema manager

Census details

1891
The Baum family is at 4 Nightingale Street, Cheetham, Prestwich, Manchester. Jacob's parents,  Wolf, age 34 is a travelling draper / hawker and Mary is 37. The children are Rose who is 11, Betsy is 6, Jacob is 9. There are also 4 lodgers

1901
The family are now living at 3 Maslow Street, Fairfield, Derbyshire. Wolf, age 46 is a self-employed furnisher and Mary is 45. The children are Rose who is 20, Jacob is 18, Betsy is 15 and Rachel is 9. There is also one boarder.

1911
Jacob married  Minnie in 1910 in Manchester but I am unable to locate them in the 1911 census

1921
Jacob and Minnie are living at 59 Faraday Avenue, Cheetham Manchester. Jacob is age 38 and a cinema film traveller. Minnie is 40 and their son, Maurice, is age 9

1939 register

Jacob is now married to Rachel and they are living at 5 Chandos Rd, Manchester, Lancashire, England. He is a cinema film salesman. The redacted line is probably for Jacob's son Isaac, who would have been 16 at the time

Death
31 July 1966 in Manchester, England at82 years of age. Buried in the Failsworth Jewish cemetery, Manchester, England

Tombstone inscription: In Loving memory of Jacob Baum who died July 31st 1966 aged 84 years. Sadly missed by his sorrowing wife, sons, daughter-in- law, grandsons, sisters, relatives and friends. M.H.D.S.R.I.P.

Hebrew translation: Here is buried Mr. Ya’akov, son of Mr. Ze’ev, passed away 14 Menachem Av (translates as, “May the month of Av become a comfort”) 5726. May his soul be bound up in the bond of life

Residences

In 1921 Jacob and Minnie are living at 59 Faraday Avenue, Manchester, England

In 1939 Rachel and Jacob are living at 5 Chandos Road, Manchester, England

Abraham Goorney (1883 - 1966)

Abraham Goorney, known as Abe, is the husband of Fanny Baum, my maternal great great aunt. Baum family tree Here. Rosenberg family Here

Parents: Harris Goorney (1855 - 1941) and Rachel (1849 - 1934)

Tombstones for Harris and Rachel Goorney

Born: 1 August 1883 in the Russian Empire. I don't know where, but as his oldest brother Samuel Lewis Goorney was born in Prashnitz (now Przasnysz in north central Poland) in 1877, one can assume Abraham was born thereabouts as well

Hebrew name: Avraham Aba, son of Tsvi

Migration: Abraham came to England as a boy or teenager sometime between 1892 and 1900 (age 9 to 17) as he and his family are listed in the 1901 census but in the 1891 census only his father is listed as being in England

Married: 

• Ada Finestone in Manchester, England on 31 December 1912. Abraham was  29 years old and Ada was 24 years old. She died in 1922
• Fanny Baum in (January - March) 1924 in Manchester, England. Abraham was  40 years old and Fanny was 39 years old

Marriage certificate for Abraham and Ada on 31 December 1912. His address was 13 Julia street, Manchester, England and she was living at Holly Bank, Highfield, Northwich, England

Children

Abraham and Ada's first child was born in 1915 when he was 32 and she 29. Their second child was born in 1921 when Abraham was 37 and Ada 35

• Rebecca Gladys Goorney 1915 - 1940
• Howard Jacob Goorney 1921 - 2007

Occupation: In 1901 he was a traveller (drapery) on his own account, although this has been crossed out and replaced by hawker; in 1911 he was assisting in the family drapery business, at the time of his marriage to Ada in 1912 he was a lace and embroidery maker, in 1921 he was a general draper on his own account, in 1929 he was a draper and in 1939 he gave his occupation as a general draper

Abraham Goorney and Simon Goorney, general drapers, 537, Cheetham-hill-rd., and 115. Bury New-rd., Manchester.

(The Daily Telegraph, London, Greater London, England · Saturday, April 23, 1927). 

NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us, the undersigned ABRAHAM GOORNEY and SIMON GOORNEY, carrying on business as general diapers at 557. Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, and 115. Bury New Road, Manchester, under the style or firm of A. and S. Goorney, has been Dissolved by mutual consent as and from the 31st day of March, 1927. All debts due to and owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Abraham Goorney-Dated the 13th day of April, 1927.

ABRAHAM GOORNEY. SIMON. GOORNEY.

Witness to the signatures of Abraham Goorney aud Simon Goormey: MAURICE WISK. Solicitor, 37. Cross Street, Manchester. (The Manchester Guardian, London, Greater London, England, Saturday, April 16, 1927)

In 1927 Abraham and his brother Simon dissolved their drapery partnership

Census details

1901
Abraham and his family are living at 13 Julia Street, Manchester. The family are Harris age 45 and a draper, Rachel age 48, Sarah age 22, David age 21, Esther age 19, Abraham age 17, Simon age 15 and Solomon age 11. They were all born in Russia

1911
Abraham and his family are still living at 13 Julia Street, Strangeways, Manchester. The family are Harris age 55 and a general draper, Rachel age 61, Esther age 29, Abraham age 27, Simon age 25 and Solomon age 21. They were all born in Russia and are all assisting in the family drapery business. The dwelling has seven rooms. Their son, Samuel Lewis Goorney, who is married, and aged 34 is visiting them.

1921

Abraham and Ada are married and living at 109 Halliwell Lane, Manchester, England. Abraham is 36 and a general draper, Ada is 33. Their children are Rebecca Gladys Goorney age 6 years and 3 months and Howard Goorney age 5 weeks. Also living with them is a servant, Olive May Stanfield, age 21

1939 register

Abraham and Fanny are married and living at 19, Moxley Road, Manchester, Lancashire, England. His date of birth is given as 1 August 1883. He is a general draper and she is a wholesale and retail grocery shop keeper. Their son Howard is 18 and a clerk in the executive department of the general hospital. Also living with them is Abraham's father, Harris Goorney, age 84 and a retired general draper

Death
13 June 1966 in Southport, England aged 82 years and 10 months as per his date of birth given in the 1939 register (although the death register states he was 84). Buried in Southport, England

Registration of Abraham Goorney's death giving his age as 84 years of age

Tombstone inscription: In Loving memory of Abraham Goorney beloved father of Howard Goorney passed peacefully away 13 June 1966 - 26th Sivan 5736. Deeply mourned and sadly missed by his devoted son

Hebrew translation: Mr. Avraham Aba, son of Mr. Tsvi, of blessed memory

Photograph

Photo taken in the 1890s. Left to right: Solomon Goorney, David Goorney, Sarah Goorney Cantor, Samuel Lewis Goorney, Ethel Finestone (Goorney), Abraham (Abe) Goorney, Esther Hyman, Ada Finestone (Goorney), Harris (Hershel) Goorney, Rachel Goorney. 

I have put an A where both Abraham and Ada are

Residences

In the 1891 census Abraham and his family were living 13 Julia Street, Manchester. He was still there at the time of his marriage to Ada in 1912. It is now a commercial district

In the 1921 census Abraham and Ada are now living at 109 Halliwell Lane, Manchester, England. It no longer exists and has been replaced by a mosque

In the 1939 register Fanny and Abraham are living at 9 Moxley Road, Manchester, Lancashire, England and they continued living there for many years