The Steinberg Family from Mlynov (continued...)

Simon Steinberg. Courtesy of Becky Pederson and Larry Steinberg.

There are various ways of reconciling all these records. It could be that Abraham Steinberg was from Dubno and married Sarah Hannah Shulman before or after she came to Mlynov. The couple may have had their first son David in Dubno and then moved to Mlynov, which was close, by the time their children Matil, Rose and Abraham were born. Alternatively, all the children may have been born in Mlynov and David Steinberg may have listed "Dubno" on his 1923 record because the town was better known in the US than the tiny Mlynov. Unfortunately, David's name has not been located on the 1914 manifest of the ship he listed for his naturalization Petition.

The Steinberg Migration

Reconstructing the Steinberg migration, Simon was apparently the first of the three Steinberg children to migrate to the US, though his manifest has not been located. The much later 1951 Naturalization Petition of his second wife, Estelle (also called Sarah), indicates he arrived on March 14, 1907. Simon's Declaration and Petition for naturalization, which could provide additional information, have unfortunately not been located.

What we know for certain is this: Simon appears in US records for the first time in 1909 in Wisconsin living with his first cousin David Schulman (also called John in some records). David was the son of Eli Schulman, the brother of Simon's mother. A letter written by David Schulman's son, Sol, (dated Nov. 2000), recalls how David Schulman ended up in Wisconsin in 1902. Sol wrote to his cousin Irv Settleman:

Thought you might be interested in the little I remember about my family. My Dad, who was married before he left Europe, came to America and was sent to Three Rivers Wisconsin [he means Two Rivers, Wisconsin] by the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society (they felt he had a chance for a good job there). After a short period he started selling insurance, did well and sent for my Mom. [Their first child] Leon was born in Three Rivers. They moved to Milwaukee: I was born and then [my brother] Robert. (Letter Courtesy of Irv Settleman)

David Schulman's home became the launching pad for brother, Josef, and his cousin Simon. Josef Schulman, who also arrived in November 1907, the same year as Simon, lists his last residence as Mlynov suggesting that perhaps the first cousins Josef Schulman and Simon Steinberg planned their migration together around the same time.

When Simon arrived in the US, he apparently headed to the home of his first cousin David Schulman in Milwaukee. We find him in the Milwaukee city directory for the first time in 1909 as a "molder" living at the same address as his cousin David Schulman. The 1910 city directory shows he is still living with David's family and David's brother, Josef, in 1910 at 505 9th Street in Milwaukee. It now seems almost certain that the "Simon Schulman" listed as "brother" and "tanner" in the 1910 census with David's family was in reality Simon Steinberg, his first cousin. His occupation as tanner appears again in later documents. Descendants of the Shulman family recall that David Schulman did have a brother named "Juan" [possibly originally Simon] but that that brother settled in Mexico and never came to the US, according to descendants of Josef Schulman.[3] The brother Simon Schulman listed here was apparently first cousin Simon Steinberg. Whether the census taker made a mistake or Simon was hiding his real identity is not known.

1910 Census for David "John" Schulman in Milwaukee at 505 Ninth Street with his wife Annie, son (Leo), his brother Josef, and his brother Simon (aka Simon Steinberg) (see or download original).

A photo of Simon preserved by descendants is remembered as one where he is with "the family that sponsored him to come to the US." This might be a photo of his first cousin David Schulman in Milwaukee with his wife, Anna and son Leo, who was born in 1906.

Simon Steinberg with family who sponsored him, believed to be that of David Schulman. Courtesy of Becky Pederson.

1909 Addresses of Simon Steinberg and his first cousin David Schulman in Milwaukee

A Milwaukee marriage record indicates that a Simon Steinberg got married on Aug. 5, 1911 to a young girl named Lena Feldman. Simon's descendants recall that he had a first wife but not her name. Lena Feldman was born in 1894 and arrived with her family in the US in 1905. She was about seventeen years old when they married. Lena appears in the 1910 census in Milwaukee with her parents and 3 younger brothers living at 410 Walnut Street. This is the same address that Simon appears at in 1911 in the city Directory. He apparently moved in with Lena's family that year. When Simon's brother David Steinberg arrived in 1911, his manifest on the SS Main shows he was headed to his brother "Steinberg, Shlermieh Milwaukee" at this same address, 410 Walnut in Milwaukee (to see/download original document page 2 line 12; and also p. 1, line 12) . Simon remained in Milwaukee until 1915. By then his sister Rose also arrived, as discussed now.

Rose and David Steinberg's Arrivals

In 1913, Ruchel (Rose) Steinberg followed her brother, Simon, to the US traveling with members of the Berger family and Yankel Wulach (Wallace) who were headed to Chicago. Rose's destination on her manifest was her brother "Shlermieh Steinberg" (Simon) at 549 8th Street in Milwaukee. Simon is listed as a "tanner" at that address in the city directory. (Rose's original manifest p. 1 line 1; and also p. 2, line 1)

Rose did not stay long in Milwaukee. She was probably already betrothed to Nathan (Nuchim) Berger and she was back in Chicago and married Nathan by July 12, 1913. Their son, Hyman B. Berger was born in 1914. A daughter, Libby/Lydia (married name Levin) was born in 1915. The family was still in Chicago in the 1920 census but by the 1930 census moved to Hammond, Indiana, just across the Indiana border near the south end of Lake Michigan and still part of the Chicago metropolitan area.

Rose and Simon's brother, David Steinberg, apparently arrived a second time in the US in February 1914 according to his naturalization petition, which he signed in Philadelphia in 1923. The document indicates that David's birthdate was Jan. 4, 1877 and that he was a bookbinder. As noted previously, he indicated his wife, Chaya, and his three children (Bessie, Hyman and Harry) were born in Dubno. David's Petition also indicates he arrived in New York on Feb. 6, 1914 on the SS Grosser Kurfurst which sailed from Bremen on Jan. 6. The SS Grosser Kurfurst did in fact arrive in New York on Feb. 5, 1914 though it left Bremen on Jan. 14, not Jan 6. A review of the manifest of the Grosser Kurfurst for that date has not turned up David's name on that ship.

It is apparent that David followed his siblings from Wisconsin to Chicago or Hammond, Indiana. His Declaration of Intention to naturalize was filled out on July 19, 1919 in Hammond, Indiana. And a city directory shows he was still there in 1921. Why was David's 1923 Petition signed in Philadelphia? It seems likely that David Steinberg followed his first cousin, David Schulman (who earlier lived in Milwaukee),to Philadelphia when the latter was offered a lucrative position in an insurance company there, according to a letter written by his son and circulated in this Shulman family.

David Steinberg's Family Arrives

David's wife, Ida and three children (Bessie, Hyman and Harry) arrived in the US in 1925. They departed Antwerp, Belgium on the SS Pittsburgh on February 25 and arrived in New York on March 8. David's wife, "Chaja Feiga Sztejnberg," was listed as 39, daughter Basia (Bessie) 17, son Chaim (Hyman) 16, and son "Uszer" (Usher/Harry) 13. Interestingly, Chaim was described in the manifest as a "student" but the younger Uszer as a "scholar." The manifest lists "Boremel" as Chaja Feiga's birthplace and "Mlynow" as the birthplace of the children and their last residence. Their closest relative there was the children's uncle "Fajwel Berger" (Faivel Berger) who was the husband of Matil, the other Steinberg sibling who remained in Mlynov. Their destination was Chaya Feiga's husband, and the children's father, David Steinberg who was living at 1112 S. Hermitage Ave in Chicago at that time. He apparently had not stayed in Philadelphia for long after he filled out his naturalization Petition. Notation on the second page of the family's manifest indicates that Chaya Feiga was hospitalized for 4 days upon arrival and not released until "3/12" (March 12th). (Download manifest p. 1 line 8; and p. 2 line 8)

David and family appear all together in the 1930 census living in Chicago at 1331 Millard Avenue. David was 50, Ida (Chaya Feiga) was 45, Bessie 22, Hyman 20, and Harry (Usha) 17. David was described as a laborer in [book] binding. Ida passed away in 1940 and in the census that year David is head of household. His son "Hymen" age 30 and daughter Bessie age 28 are still single and living with their parents. Bessie is described as a "framer" in "ladies hand bags" and Hyman is an organizer in the Jewish Workers Alliance.

Simon's Missing Years

As noted earlier, Simon left Milwaukee and followed his sister Rose to Chicago by 1915. In 1917, he filled out his Draft registration card indicating his birthdate was Jan. 10, 1889 and his birthplace "Mylnoff." He was still working as a tanner for a business concern called "G. Greenebaum." By this point, his draft registration record indicates he was already married. He requested an exemption from the draft because he was "sole support of wife and parents" (even though his parents were still back in Mlynov). He also described himself as a "conscious objector." His address on the draft registration card (1145 So Albany) is identical to the one that appears on draft registration of his wife's brother (Morris Feldman) showing that he was still living with his wife's family at the time.

In the 1920 census, a couple named Simon and Lena Steinberg appear at 1255 Madison Ave in Chicago. If this is the same couple, then Simon is now working as a proprietor of a hotel at that address. Simon is 31 years old (an implied birth year of 1890/91). Lena is 26 with an implied birth year of 1896. The record indicates that both arrived in the US in 1906. Simon's naturalization status is difficult to read, but it appears to say "[first] paper," suggesting that he had already started his naturalization process. No children are listed for the couple. In 1927, Simon and Lena's relationship had a tumultuous ending that made the newspapers of the day and they went their separate ways.

No other records have been discovered of Simon's presence in the 1920s until he reappears in Hammond Indiana. A record shows that on July 14, 1930, he married his second wife, Estelle Forman (also known as Sarah in some records). A 1929 city directory in Hammond, Indiana shows Simon and Estelle already residing together. Simon and Estelle had three children: Allen Harris Steinberg (1931-1966), Rhoda Lee (married name Marney) (1937-still living in 2024), and Marvin Steinberg (1940-2023).

The Arrival of Sarah Hannah Steinberg

Sarah Hannah, the mother of the three Steinberg siblings, arrived in America in 1926. She was 66 years old and a widow now. Her brother, Tsodik and his family, had already left Mlynov in 1921 with the help of their nephew David Schulman, who had gone back to Mlynov to assist Tsodik's family with their migration. "Sura Sztejnberg," left Rotterdam on Jan. 30, 1926 on the SS Veendam and arrived in New York on Feb. 10, 1926. Her destination was her daughter, Rose Berger, who was living in Chicago. Sarah Hannah's last residence was "Mlykow" and her closest relative there was her daughter, "Matel Berger," who lived at 26 Szkolna [Street].

1926 Manifest of Sarah Hannah Steinberg (nee Shulman) showing daughter "Matel" in Mlynov. (Download page 1 and page 2)

Handwritten Shulman family tree, showing gaps in knowledge. Documented by Bernard Shulman, sent to Fred Mann, both Shulman descendants.

Discovering Matil Berger

The fourth of the Steinberg siblings born in Mlynov was Matil (probably pronounced Ma-teel) Steinberg. In a handwritten family tree in the Shulman family (see above) she appeared as "Motel," leaving those doing family history thinking Motel was a male child and noone knew what had happened to him. Sarah Hannah's manifest revealed the forgotten story. Motel was "Ma-teel Berger" and was a daughter. Her photo appeared in the Mlynov Memorial book and she was later a victim of the ghetto liquidation. She married Faivel (also called Shraga) Berger and they had at least one daughter named Batia. Faivel was one of four Berger brothers living in Mlynov (see the Berger family story). His brother, Ben Zion Berger, was the father of Nathan Berger who married Matil's sister, Rose Steinberg.

This Berger family perished in the Shoah. Steinberg descendants in Chicago did not know from family oral traditions that they had a relative who stayed behind in Mlynov and perished in the ghetto liquidation in early October 1942. Matil was lost to memory until the 1926 manifest of her mother Sarah Hannah Steinberg was discovered.

Descendants of the Steinberg family in Chicago did not preserve a memory of Matil and her family until her name was discovered on a passenger manifest of her mother coming to America in 1926. Sadly, as research on this family revealed, Matil, her husband and her daughter, Batia, perished in the Mlynov ghetto liquidation. An essay in the Mlynov Memorial Book called "Jewish Farmers in Mlynov" (English vol., pp. 72-74) shows the only known photos of Matil and her daughter and tells how her husband Feivel aspired to become a farmer in Palestine but his aspiration remained unfulfilled. The author of the essay was Berger descendant (Aaron Harari) who made aliyah from Mlynov in the 1930s. The story of how this family line was rediscovered from a DNA match and a handwritten family tree is recounted in an essay, "Finding Simon Steinberg."

Matil (Steinberg) (seated right) with her husband Feivel Berger and (in front of) her daughter Batia. They are with Feivel's brother Wolf Zeev Berger and his family. Photo taken by Wolf's son, Aaron (Berger) Harari, during a visit in 1937-1938. Mlynov-Memorial Book page 76 [English volume].

Matil's daughter, Batia, milks a cow in Mlynov in 1937-1938. Photo taken by her first cousin, Aaron (Berger) Harari, in 1937-1938. Mlynov-Memorial Book p. 75 [English volume].

Further Reading

Learn how the Steinberg/Shulman family connection was rediscovered from a DNA match and a handwritten family tree in an essay, "Finding Simon Steinberg." Or return to the beginning of the Steinberg story.

Notes

[1] A manifest of the SS Main from 1911 shows David Steinberg arriving in Baltimore on June 6 and heading to his brother Shlermieh (Simon) Steinberg in Wisconsin at 410 Walnut Street where Simon was then living with the family of his first wife, Lena. However, David's Naturalization Petition from 1923 indicates he arrived in 1914 suggesting that he was going back and forth to his family who didn't arrive until after WWI. ↩

[2] See note 1. ↩

[3] Thanks to Joseph's grandson, Barry Shulman, for this information. ↩

Compiled by Howard I. Schwartz
Updated: July 2024
Copyright © 2021 Howard I. Schwartz, PhD
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