Unknown persons, possibly Broidas? in Allegheny, Pennsylvania
➡ Broida Family
Cousin Mitch, a descendant of Max (Karklinsky) Broida (1891-1910), son of Jacob Zev (Karklinsky) Broida (1857-1932, born in Eišiškes, Lithuania), sent this image. It was in his mother’s photo album with a note that she did not know who the people were. The photography studio is a clue: Stewart, in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Mitch assumes that the men may be Broidas, because the other side of his mother’s family was not from Pennsylvania.
Brady Wilson Stewart opened a photography studio in Pittsburgh in 1912, and it was continued by subsequent generations in various locations until 1981. That just seemed too late for the image.
So I reached out for collaboration with other genealogists. One of the best groups on the web is the Rootsweb Allegheny County Pennsylvania list. I sent a note to them and within 30 minutes had a number of replies, suggesting good resources many of them have compiled, and one kind researcher even went through city directories for me! She found that J. A. Stewart was listed as having a photography studio at 60 Federal, Allegheny [City] in 1893. That gives us a time period. Stewart & Co. was also listed at 90/92 Federal in the 1889-1890-1891 directories per her research, but I have been challenged to find those entries.
If you know who these men are, or more definitely the time period this may have been taken, please let us know.
Notes, Sources, and References:
1) Photo in collection of family.
2) Carnegie Library entry on Brady W. Stewart (1882-1965): http://www.clpgh.org/exhibit/photog2.html. Their source was “A Photographer’s Photographer” by Rich Gigler in The Pittsburgh Press, Sunday Roto Magazine, March 21, 1982.
3) Historic Pittsburgh-
J.F. Diffenbacher’s directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1892/1893
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Fourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. 2A
The Broida family held reunions in both Youngstown, Ohio, and Pittsburgh Pennsylvania (about 65 miles away), two of the main cities of Broida family settlement. There were meetings and committees and newsletters and much planning to make the reunions a success, which they always accomplished. Reunions were held in the 1930s-1950s, and then there was a lull until two in the 1990s.
Broida Family Reunion in Pittsburgh Criterion, July 9, 1937, page 14.
The picture of those who attended is a long picture that must be rolled up for storage, hence some of the cracks in the images. Numerous family members still have this photo, and a copy may also be found in the Broida Family Collection, Saul Brodsky Jewish Library in St. Louis, Missouri.
A Broida Reunion News of 1937, written after the reunion, states there are many missing faces from the photo- over 300 attended the event. We do know that many of the descendants of John Broida attended, and there are a number of other Broida lines represented.
We are posting here sections of the photo, in hopes that crowd-sourcing will help us identify the people in the picture. We do know four persons and have included an annotated image with names.
Fourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #1Fourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #2BFourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #3Fourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #4Fourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #5AFourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #5BFourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #6AFourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #7Fourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #8AFourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #8BFourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #9AFourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #9BFourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #9CFourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #9C-annotatedFourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #9DFourth Annual Broida Family Reunion, July 11, 1937. Youngstown, Ohio. #10
Please contact us if you have information that would help identify some of the persons in these images. (We will not post information about those still living, but would like to know the information for our files.)
Notes, Sources, and References:
1) Family photo and ephemera collections.
2) Saul Brodsky Jewish Community Library, St. Louis, Missouri. http://brodskylibrary.org/archives.php. A small family reunion was held here with cousins from St. Louis and Colorado, to explore the collection.
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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 #123651973for 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.
John & Fannie Broida at the Beach, probably after 1904. (Click to enlarge.)
Our last post with silly swimsuits was such a hit ( See Silly Sunday- Joseph Cooper Family in Swimsuits c1912) that we thought we would share yet another high-fashion image to whet your appetite for the coming swimsuit season. At least with these swimsuits, one didn’t have to diet quite as much before the season started!
This image is of John Zelig Broida (1857-1938) and his second wife, Fannie. Her maiden name is unknown, but they married in 1904, when Fannie was 29 and John 47 years old. They lived in Pittsburgh, PA, and St. Louis, Missouri until their emigration to Palestine in September, 1920. John/Zelig died in Palestine, but we still don’t know much about Fannie and what happened to her.
Notes, Sources, and References:
1) Broida family photos
2) Family oral history
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Copyright 2014 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.
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.
“Old Cochran” in Directory of Pittsburgh and Allegheny cities, 1862-1863, p. 52.
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.
Logo of Cochran [Photography Studio] in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, c1895. (Front)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:
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
GOLOMB Family? Pittsburgh PA, c1895? RD Cochran, Photographer- Reverse (Click to enlarge or for a sharper image.)
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
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.
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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