Sarah Rebecca Green (or Sarah Gren) was born in Lithuania in November, 1874, possibly Kovno/Kaunas, or maybe Grincasek, both under control of Poland and Russia at different times. (Censuses for various family in different years lists Lithuania, Russia, or Poland as nativity.) We know her father’s name was Jacob Gren, but do not know her mother’s name. There is a family story that “…the father was lost in Europe…” and it may have been this Jacob Gren. We only know of one brother- Abraham Gren or Abraham Green, who is the direct ancestor we have studied.

This photo was taken in St. Louis, Missouri. Sarah’s brother Abraham immigrated to the United States in 1884, and worked as a tailor to save money and bring the family over. Censuses indicate 1889, 1890, and 1891 as arrival dates for Sarah, and we have not yet found immigration records for her, though we have not searched much since she is collateral kin.(Note to self: look for this information.) Sarah’s niece was born in 1891 in Pittsburgh, so we are assuming Abraham was living there then, though he may have moved to St. Louis to establish his tailoring business. We know he and his family were in St. Louis for the 1900 US Federal Census. Was this photo taken possibly when she immigrated and may have gone to live with her brother in St. Louis after 1891? Was it taken on a visit to St. Louis while she was living in Pittsburgh? Perhaps it was taken to send back to Lithuania to her family who may have remained there? Hopefully some of those out there researching the Golomb family, or who have Golomb family treasures, can help us learn more. (We do not have any pictures of Louis Golomb, hint, hint…)

Sarah married Louis Golomb on 28 May 1893 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Louis was also born in Lithuanian Russia, 23 Dec 1873; his parents were David Golomb and Sarah __ per his death certificate. Dates of his immigration vary from 1880-1888 at age 19, but he filed his Petition for Citizenship on 8 May 1894, listed as a native of Poland.   The 1900 census states he immigrated in 1888, had been here 12 years (the math works this time), and was naturalized. (He was not, unless it took them many years to file. He probably had just started the process.) Sarah had 13 children, two of whom died very young. Those who lived to adulthood were: Esther G. Golomb (1894-1942), Rose Golomb (1896-1989), Bessie Golomb (or Betty?) (1897-1972), Isadore Lawrence Golomb (1899-1969), Maurice Abraham Golomb (1902-1971- sometimes noted as Morris?, Abraham Golomb, sometimes called Albert? (1904-1967), Milton Wilbur Golomb (1906-1989), Bernard W. Golomb (1908-1985), David Golomb (1910-1997), Florence Golomb (1912-2010), and Norman Green Golomb (1915-1993).

Sarah and Louis are found in the US Federal censuses in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the rest of their lives. Louis worked as a painter & paperhanger at the time of the 1900 census, but by 1910 was a store keeper in a paint and glass business, and is listed as an employer. In 1920 he was listed as a merchant with a paint and wallpaper business, as an “emp,” not “OA,” or own account. By the 1930 census he was noted as a proprietor of a hardware store, and was living with his wife and children.

Sarah died on 15 March 1939 in Pittsburgh. Interestingly, her sons Milton and Maurice completed her death certificate, listing her as a widow, and with their father’s name as Herman, instead of Louis.  JewishGen and the headstone both state Louis’ death as 1942, and his death certificate states 23 Aug 1942 of’ ‘influenzal encephalitis.’ The informant was Albert Golomb (son Abraham?) and he was a widower. Sarah and Louis have headstones side by side in B’nai Israel Cemetery in Pittsburgh.

We have been unable to find a Pittsburgh census record for Louis in 1940. There was a Louis Golomb living in New York, Kings Co., New York, in 1940, who was born in 1872 in Russia. But he had a wife named Bella and two daughters, and was working as a salesman in a variety store. This could not be the same Louis, as he and Sarah were still having children in Pittsburgh when the NY Louis married in 1907. It would be interesting to learn more about the last few years of ‘our’ Louis’ life.

[NOTE: revised 7/11/14 after original publication to reflect new information learned. Also added Find A Grave links.]

 

Notes, Sources, and References:

1) Louis Golomb Petition for Citizenship-  Source Citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Washington D.C.; Naturalization Petitions of the U.S. District Court, 1820-1930, and Circuit Court, 1820-1911, for the Western District of Pennsylvania; NARA Series: M1537; Reference: (Roll 059) Jan 19 -May 11, 1894. 

2) 1900 US Federal Census, Louis Golomb, head of household- Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Pittsburgh Ward 8, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1358; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 0129; FHL microfilm: 1241358.

3) 1910 US Federal Census- Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Pittsburgh Ward 3, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1299; Page: 17A; Enumeration District: 0309; FHL microfilm: 1375312.

4) 1920 US Federal Census- Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Pittsburgh Ward 5, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1520; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 393; Image: 323.

5) 1930 US Federal Census- Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1975; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 0174; Image: 455.0; FHL microfilm: 2341709.

6) JewishGen, comp. JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry (JOWBR) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Original data: This data is provided in partnership with JewishGen.org.

7) Louis Golomb death certificate- note confusion as to marital status, but hard to read what was written in: http://interactive.ancestry.com/5164/42342_2421406260_0690-00792/4717762?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dPADeathCollection%26h%3d4717762%26ti%3d0%26indiv%3dtry%26gss%3dpt%26ssrc%3dgr_t4160486_p-1635419420_ktidz0q3d4160486z0q26pidz0q3d-1635419420z0q26hidz0q3d35662563121z0q26dbidz0q3d5164z0q26rpidz0q3d4717762z0q26ssrcz0q3dgrz0q26pgz0q3d32768z0q252c32782z0q26pgplz0q3dpidz0q252ctidz0q257cpidz0q257chidz0q257cdbidz0q257crpidz0q257cssrcz0q26pgpsz0q3d-1635419420_h35662563121&ssrc=gr_t4160486_p-1635419420_ktidz0q3d4160486z0q26pidz0q3d-1635419420z0q26hidz0q3d35662563121z0q26dbidz0q3d5164z0q26rpidz0q3d4717762z0q26ssrcz0q3dgrz0q26pgz0q3d32768z0q252c32782z0q26pgplz0q3dpidz0q252ctidz0q257cpidz0q257chidz0q257cdbidz0q257crpidz0q257cssrcz0q26pgpsz0q3d-1635419420_h35662563121&backlabel=ReturnRecord

8) Find A Grave memorial #123652024 for Sarah Green Golomb reveals her Hebrew name as Sarah Rivkah bat Yalev: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=123652024

9) Find A Grave memorial #123651973 for Louis Golomb reveals his Hebrew name as Elihan ben Yitzhak: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=123651973

 

 

 

 

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We would love to read your thoughts and comments about this post, and thank you for your time! All comments are moderated, however, due to the high intelligence and persistence of spammers/hackers who really should be putting their smarts to use for the public good instead of spamming our little blog.

 

Sites like Find A Grave have been incredibly helpful in my ramblings searching for family. The good volunteers at FAG have provided photos that have given us clues to relationships (or not) and sometimes additional information they may know just living close by. I especially appreciate those who allow us to use their photos on our Ancestry trees and blogs. It is good to know where our ancestors are ‘quietly resting.’

The Golomb family is collateral kin- Sarah Green (Sarah Gren), sister of our Abraham Green (Abraham Gren) married Louis Golomb and had 13 children- yes, 13. Our dear grandmother remembered that number but I had been unable to verify until a recent census recheck showed that two children had died before the census was taken. There also was a photo that was could not be conclusively identified thirty years ago, but as she aged, our grandmother also was able to recall that the portrait was of Sarah (Green) Golomb- so there may be at least one advantage of aging, with long term memory improving. ;P

These Golomb headstones are in B’nai Israel cemetery in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania.

The two stones on the right behind the large monument belong to Louis Golomb and his wife Sarah (Green) Golomb. They are in Section 4, Lot 7.

The two stones on the left in the back are of the eldest child of Louis and Sarah Golomb, Esther G. Golumb, and her husband, Joseph H. Slone.

The two front stones are for daughter Betty (Golomb) Eich and son Isadore L. Golomb.

Son Maurice A. Golomb and his wife, Mollie Tex, are buried in the same cemetery in Section 14, Lot 17.

 

More information to come about the Golomb family in future posts.

 

Notes, Sources, and References:

1) Find A Grave Memorials for all the above persons. Links to come in future posts as I add to the memorials.

 

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We would love to read your thoughts and comments about this post, and thank you for your time! All comments are moderated, however, due to the high intelligence and persistence of spammers/hackers who really should be putting their smarts to use for the public good instead of spamming our little blog.

 

This entry in a Pittsburgh City Directory made me stop and think about how tough life was back in the day- today too, but even fewer safety nets then like Social Security or food stamps. Manual labor was the only job available for many throughout their lifetime. Poor “Old Cochran”- not even known by his first name, just his age- was still working as a laborer at that point in his life. Still living on his own maybe, but sadly I did not notice other Cochrans nearby on his street. A daughter may have been nearby but we wouldn’t know because she, if even listed, would be under her husband’s name.

OK, that was another Heritage Rambling… on to the topic at hand.

I came upon the “Old Cochran” entry while looking for a R. D. Cochran, Artistic Photographer in Pittsburgh. Old City Directories are a great way to find family, friends, associates, and neighbors (the “FAN Club”), as well as nearby businesses, for those from times long gone. I have been trying to find a date for the photos discussed in this week’s “Mystery Monday” post:

http://heritageramblings.net/2014/01/20/mystery-monday…-golumb-family/

Since we have a photographer’s name/studio listed on the portraits, finding when the photographer was in business would help to narrow the date range of the photos. Unfortunately, Pittsburgh, PA does not have a listing of photographers (some other cities do have lists that family historians or archivists have compiled). The knowledgeable folks on the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania RootsWeb group suggested  that I search the many City Directories online for Pittsburgh at http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/text-idx?c=pitttextdir;page=browse;key=date

There is a search function on the page so I put in “R. D. Cochran” and got 16 hits. I had previously seen a photo of an African-American Civil War soldier posted online that was taken by R. D. Cochran (similar design on the advertisement), so checked the early directories first. My results:

Title: Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1863
Publication Info: Pittsburgh, Pa.]: G.H. Thurston, 1863, p. 58

“Cochran, Robert D., of R D Cochran & Co., n Woods’ Run”

Title: Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1865-1866, Pittsburgh, PA: G.H. Thurston, 1865
Collection: Historic Pittsburgh City Directories, p.80

“Cochran R. D., of R. D. Cochran & Co., McClure tp”

Title: Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1867
Publication Info: Pittsburgh, Pa.]: G.H. Thurston, 1867, p.96

“Cochran R. D. of R. D. Cochran & Co. McClure tp”

Title: Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1869-1870
Publication Info: Pittsburgh, Pa.]: G.H. Thurston, 1869, p.100

“Cochran R. D., of R. D. Cochran & Co., res McClure tp”

There are other R. D. Cochrans listed for many later years, mostly in the oil business. I was unable to find the studio listed in the business section of the city directory, but often a business would be required to pay for the privilege of being listed under “Photographers” in the directory, and many were not able to afford the advertising.

So if “R. D. Cochran & Co.” was a photography studio, we may have narrowed the date of the photos. Probably not though, as the Green and Golumb families did not immigrate to the United States until the 1880s, so the time frame is not correct for our image.

I did a US Federal Census search for R. D. Cochran, and found a Robert D. Cochran listed as a steamboat captain in the 1860 census for McCluer Twp, Allegheny, PA- so that might be the “R. D. Cochran & Co” I found in the City Directory in that same township. I searched through other censuses in Allegheny Co. for our photographer, but little luck in finding him or her.

We definitely need more information.

Probably the next step is dating the photos by clothing, hairstyles, and props. There are a number of books available to use for this research, so those will be bedtime reading this week. I also have an email out to a  person who includes the Golomb family on their tree, though they have not posted any photos. But I am really hoping that a cousin will see these photos and remember they have an acid-free storage box with the same photos, with individuals positively identified on them in archival ink. (A family historian’s dream…)

As always, suggestions are appreciated.

 

Notes, Sources, and References:

1) “Old Cochran- lab” may be found in the Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1862-1863, p.52, Collection: Historic Pittsburgh City Directories at

http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pitttextdir;cc=pitttextdir;idno=31735038289116;node=31735038289116%3A1.8;frm=frameset;view=image;seq=72;page=root;size=s

Accessed 1/18/2014.

2) The “FAN Club” is a way to help break through brick walls. By researching Friends, Associates, and Neighbors, you may find something about the ancestor you seek. I wish I could give credit to the researcher who originated the acronym, but do not know who came up with it as a quick way to explain what experienced genealogists have been doing for a long time. Researching siblings is another way to break through brick walls- especially helpful if one of the siblings had an unusual name whereas your direct ancestor might have had a common name. Siblings are often listed in obituaries, parent’s names may be on birth or death records, etc.

3) The Allegheny County, PA RootsWeb List: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index/PAALLEGH

The Allegheny County, PA RootsWebWebsite: http://www.pagenweb.org/~allegheny/index.htm

4) African-American Civil War soldier- Cabinet Card  found at http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/cabinet-card-african-american-soldier . Accessed 1/17/2014.

5) Robert D. Cochran: Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: McClure, Allegheny,Pennsylvania; Roll: M653_1065; Page: 379; Image: 386; Family History Library Film: 805065. Accessed on Ancestry.com 1/18/2014.

 

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Here are more delightful family pictures, but which family??? And are the photos related, other than being taken at the same photo studio? I answered part of my own questions by working on my FSLOW New Year’s resolution- Find it, Scan it, Label it, Organize it, and Write about it.

This group of photos was in with family treasures from the Green and Cooper families. I have just found notes from 30 years ago that identify the above picture as three of the children of Abraham and Rose (Brave) Green: Ann, Herman, and Bess, taken circa 1895. But why isn’t Estelle, child #2, in the picture with children #1, 3,4?

The back of the photos is charming:

I especially love the line: “Instantaneous Portraits of Children a successful Specialty.”

Here are two more photos with the same backing:

These last two photos appear to have been taken at the same place, possibly at the same time- note the chairs. Thirty year-old notes also ask the question- ?Golumb Family? for the image with the couple and baby- no hints for the picture of the two girls.

Could the two girls possibly be the same ones as in in the photo of the three children? Note the long fingers of the older girl in both, and the shorter, wider hands of the younger girl. To me, their facial features are somewhat similar in the other picture, just more mature.

Some old notes from family oral history state the girls in the last photo may be Estelle Green and Ann Green.

Ann Green was born 1885 in Lithuania, and Estelle on board the ship in 1887 that carried her mother and 1 year-old sister Ann to America. Abraham had immigrated ahead of them, as was often done, probably in 1886, and he had established his tailor business before sending for his family. Their next known baby is Bess Dorothy Green- she was born in 1891 in Pittsburgh. One thought was that the baby in the picture with the couple could be Bessie, but the couple just doesn’t look like I think Abraham and Rose would have looked when young, comparing other pictures. And it is strange to only have some of the children in the first and last picture- that would have been fairly unusual.

Another possibility is that the pictures are of the Golumb Family. Sarah Rebecca Green, sister of Abraham, married Louis Golumb (also Louis Golomb, Lewis Golumb, or Lewis Golomb, dear Google search engine), and they lived in Pittsburgh. In the 1900 US Federal Census, Lewis Golumb and Sarah were living with their 4 children, Esther, Rosie, Bessie, and Isadore, born 1894, 1896, 1897, 1899, respectively. Lewis was a painter and paperhanger and had been born in Poland/Russia like his wife. Censuses vary in when each arrived, but the 1900 census states they had been married for 7 years. Could these be photos Sarah sent back to her brother in St. Louis? If so, and again, why only some of the children, not all?

Here is a picture of Sarah Rebecca Green- well, the family thinks it is Sarah:

Does she look like a younger version of the woman in the photo with the baby? To me her face is too thin to be the same woman.

So there’s your mystery for today.

I am currently trying to find out when R.D. Cochran had the Pittsburgh “Artistic” photography studio, and that may help to confirm the date of these photos. Looks like we also need to learn when  the Fischer Studio was active in St. Louis, Missouri.

Any other information or ideas would be much appreciated.

 

 

Notes, Sources, and References:

1) Family oral history.

2) Family photo collection with identification on a very few.

3) Source Citation: Year: 1900; Census Place: Pittsburgh Ward 8, Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1358; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 0129; FHL microfilm: 1241358. Accessed on Ancestry.com on 1/17/2014.

 

 

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Bess Dorothy Green (1891-1978) owned this beautiful Friendship Handkerchief. The date on it is July 1909, and it contains the signatures of many friends and family members, all hand embroidered. The different colors, but especially the styles of the stitching, suggest that more than one person did the embroidery- maybe each person stitched their own name after signing the handkerchief, or just a few persons did the stitching as a gift for Bessie.

Bessie was just 19 when she married Phillip E. Broida on 08 Mar 1910, so this may possibly have been a gift for an engagement party, wedding shower, etc. if they had a long engagement. Sweetly, his initials, “P B” were inserted just above her name and under the month.

Below are images of sections of the handkerchief and a list of the names embroidered.

Bessie’s Friendship Handkerchief- 1 (pictured above post)
1909 July – Bess Dorothy Green, Stella Palfrey, Eloise Toomlis, Mrs. J. N. Massey, Mrs. M. Cohn, Margarett Unswer, Mrs. Morris Rosenbloom, Leonie Dolan, Pho Arii – Beatrice Crow?, Bessie Keller, Hazel P. Jones, Laura Keller, Helena Crow?

 

Bessie’s Friendship Handkerchief- 2
Ethel N. Leake, Rose Razawe?, Emma Grindhaven?, Stella Palfrey, Mrs. M. Cohn Margarett Uaawer? Mrs. J. N. Massey

 

Bessie’s Friendship Handkerchief- 3
Mary Schall, Becky Caplin, Charlene B. McClure, Anna Green Stampfer, Charlene B. McClure, Mary Schall, Nancy Yather

 

Bessie’s Friendship Handkerchief- 4
Stellla Palfrey, Eloise Toomlis, Charlene B. McClure, Becky Caplin, Eloise Toomlis, Margarett Us, Helena Crow, Grinhaven, N. Lenke, Ragawe

 

Bessie’s Friendship Handkerchief- 5
Edna A. Stelle, Willie C. McClure, Nellie M. Quinn, G. Newmark, Sara Ellen White, Esther G. Golomb, Adele Brown, Lena Goldberg, Tameranos

 

Bessie’s Friendship Handkerchief- 6
Mary White, Pauline B. Stamerson, Marion G. Newmark, Bessie Keller, Ellen White, Edna A. Stelle, Elma L. St Clair

 

Bessie’s Friendship Handkerchief- 7
Marion G. Newmark, B. Stamersen, Sara Ellen White

 

Bessie’s Friendship Handkerchief- 8
Estelle Green Ledwidge, Clara Lee Yatter, Bessie Keller

 

Bessie’s Friendship Handkerchief- 9
Etta J Newmark, Mary Yatter, Etta J. Newmark, Willie C. McClure, Adele Brown, Lena Goldberg

 

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