Notes
Note NI0800 Index
Beile is really Child #6.
Notes
Note NI0801 Index
Joshua's son Nehemiah was the first family member to come to America in 1880.
In keeping with the vogue of that day, Nehemiah assumed the name of his mother, previously deceased, and became Nehemiah Gitelson.
Notes
Note NI0808 Index
He was a textile merchant.
Notes
Note NI0973 Index
Uncle to Jessie Lee Clay, which side unknown
Notes
Note NI1013 Index
Isadore was born about 1886 in Motele, Russia (the same hometown of the first president of Israel, Chaim Weizmann) which is about 26 miles outside of Pinsk in present day Belarus. Isadore was a twin. Isadore moved to Pinsk and met Ida Rose Grutz, born about 1888 in Pinsk, Russia. She married Isadore Morris Eisenberg in Pinsk about 1908.
Isadore emigrated to the United Sates from Rotterdam, Holland, on the 23rd day of Oct., 1909, and arrived in the United States at the port of New York, NY, on the 3rd day of Nov., 1909, on the vessel Potsdam. He sent for his wife, Ida and daughter Hannah. Ida was pregnant with Sylvia when Isadore left, and according to Eva, Sylvia was born on the ship during the crossing to NY. They settled in Chicago, because of relatives living there. Isadore later sent for his brother Dovid & his sister Tsivia. Isadore became a naturalized citizen on Feb. 14, 1918.
Isadore opened a shoe repair shop, as that was his trade, at 514 E. 39th Street on the south side of Chicago. The family lived in the rear of the shop, as there were complete living quarters there. Later, they moved into an apartment on Lake & 39th. Much later, he bought a duplex on Champlain and 60th.
Notes
Note NI1018 Index
Yetta was a twin.
Notes
Note NI1019 Index
Hebrew name Yechezkal. A very devout man. He died when a car ran into him while he was crossing the street on the way to temple. Name spelled with 2 t's on immigration papers. Pronounced Rootenberg.
Maybe in the banking or financial industry in Russia.
Jacob is listed as Jacob Rutenberg on the 1910 Census, age 52, with his wife Elizabeth and two of their sons: Roy (Leroy) and Joseph. They were living in Dayton, Ohio and Jacob's occupation is listed as dealer of cigars and tobacco. He is listed as owning his home in Dayton. It is difficult to read the census record as to the date of his immigration. It may be 1891 or 1896. Elizabeth, Roy & Joseph are listed as having immigrated in 1899. Both Jacob and Roy had been naturalized citizens by 1910. According to the 1910 census, Elizabeth (Leah) & Jacob had been married for 31 years and had 6 children, 5 of whom were still living. All family members are listed as being born in "Russ - Yiddish".
The sixth child may have been Rebecca or Rivka. That was her Hebrew name on the death record of the cemetery in Ohio. A Rutenberg family tree passed down to Thelma Fletcher (our distant Rutenberg cousin) lists her as Lillian.
Notes
Note NI1020 Index
Legally trained according to Milt Ruttenberg. Listed as Elizabeth Rutenberg on the 1910 Federal Census, age 51. On that same census it states that she had had 6 children, 5 of whom were living in 1910. Also listed as "Lizzie" on the 1909 Dayton, Ohio Directory.
Hebrew name Leba (noga)??
Notes
Note NI1058 Index
Eva's mother, Ida Rose Grutz, born about 1888 in Pinsk, Russia, married my father, Isadore Morris Eisenberg in about 1908. My father was born about 1886 in Motele, Russia. He left Russia in about 1910 at the age of 24, and sent for my mother with her 2 children: Hannah, born July 4, 1909 and Sylvia, born in 1910. They settled in Chicago, because of relatives living there. Another daughter, Gertrude, was born in 1912, and Eva (1914), Etta (1916) and Davey (1919) soon followed.
My father opened a shoe repair shop, as that was his trade, at 519 E. 39th Street on the south side of Chicago. We lived in the rear of the shop, as there were complete living quarters there.
This was where I had a very bad experience at the age of 4. My mother was expecting company -- her sister, and was getting all her girls dressed for the occasion. I was finished, and the neighbor's boy Leo Neuberger asked me to play with matches in the backyard. I said yes, and when he struck the matches one flew onto the edge of my party dress and began to burn. A colored soldier, home on leave from the war, observed this and quickly threw me in the dirt and smothered the flame. He saved my life. I never found out his name.
Later, my dad moved us into an apartment on Lake & 39th. Much later, he bought a duplex on Champlain and 60th. I went to Hyde Park High School and graduated a business course. The high school was on 63rd & Stoney Island.
With a large family money was very scarce. I was anxious to earn some money on my own, so I coerced my father to claim I was 16 (when I was really only 14) in order to get a Saturday job at the Neisner Store. The Neisner Store was a five-and-ten in the neighborhood. I pestered the manager until he hired me at $2.00 per Saturday. After graduating high school I got a full-time job at a Neisner's on the north side. This was a one-person office and the pay started at $12.00 a week. I had to ride for almost an hour on the "El," but I enjoyed the reading and doing crossword puzzles.
The store had a summer outing board the ship going on Lake Michigan to Indiana. This is where I met Sol Dorf. I always loved to dance, and the ship had a band. He asked me to dance and we got along real well. I was not sure that he was Jewish, and when he asked me for a date I was reluctant. I was intent upon dating only Jewish boys. I was 18 and he was 23. He was with Jonny Mulvaney and Jonny Valaysik on a drinking holiday. It wasn't love at first for me. He sent me a card and then called when he got home from his vacation to ask me out. I wasn't sure of him, so I asked him to bring a friend for my sister Sylvia. He brought Jonny Mulvaney. The next time we went together he brought Norman Goldman and his friend Pearl. I was very pleased to find Sol, who was a perfect gentleman. After many dates, I began to discover even more nice things about him, and we fell in love. Plus, we were a perfect dance team.
He introduced me to Norman's mother, Dora Zlotnick, who became my best friend. We adopted her and her family, and they adopted us. Sol lost his mother when he was 12, and his father assumed the role of the mother as well, with the help of Bess, Sol's sister.
We were anxious to get married and eventually tied the knot on November 5, 1933. My parents were pleased to see us so happy. Sol had a wonderful father, and he spent a lot of time with me, and I truly loved him too. He was very bright and had a wonderful sense of humor. Sol takes after him in this way, which makes him a good salesman.
I worked for a year, and then started our family. Jerry was born in Chicago in 1935. We then moved to Milwaukee to work the Wisconsin branch for the Paul Schulze Biscuit Company and Shelly was born in January of 1938. The branch grew, and the company wanted us to create another branch up north in Oshkosh, where Stanley was born in December of 1940.
We decided to move back to Milwaukee, and start our own business as MBC, Milwaukee Biscuit Company, a cookie and cracker distributor. I always helped Sol and he was always there for me, helping with the boys and the chores. My biggest complaint at that time was always that Sol was a workaholic, an never minded spending long hours at work. I complained that I wanted him home at regular hours and to be home for dinner with the boys. We managed to get a sitter for Saturday nights when we'd go out to dance or socialize.
I have no regrets over my life with one man. He is a perfect mate. I never tire of his company. Sure we have disagreements, but somehow we manage to work out our disputes. In growing up, he had to be a perfect father, as my family was my priority. Our Sundays were fun days with the boys. I always had some plan -- car rides, pony rides, visiting the zoo, visiting at Lake Peewaukee with the Smiths and friends. We developed friendships also with children of our boys' ages.
Sol is a fine salesman with integrity, honesty, sincerity and a sense of humor. The business continued to grow and develop over time with much effort and perseverance. Jerry and Stanley entered the business when they were through with their schooling. Shelly was always inclined to do talented things with his hands, and we supported his decision to enroll in dental school. We were very happy that he felt comfortable.
In the growing-up years, we were very active parents with school-PTA-club and the Boy Scouts, Temple E-manuel, for our religious training and holidays, and our contact with the Jewish faith and Jewishness.
This biography is not anything extraordinary, only a normal American family. As I write this, I realize that this is the life I've always wanted. I thank God for all our blessings, and for enabling us to reach this stage of our lives together.