"Josep Solomon Marcovici and Hanna Raiter Marcus Marcovici came to the U.S. from Husi in 1901, bringing their 3 youngest children with them. Living in New York City, records show that Josep was a butcher. Many of their grandchildren came 20 years after this pair had passed away, so they did not know them."

Josep Solomon Marcovici was born in Husi in 1834 to Leazer and Rivka Malka "Esther" Marcovici. He married Hanna Reiter Marcus in 1863. They had seven children: Itic, Jacob, Morris, Cannie, Rifka Malka, Goldie, and Charles.

Josep had a brother, Marcu Marcovici, who — according to this civil marriage record — was born in Husi in 1846. Marcu married Sura Creinta Grossman in 1868. Sura was the daughter of Luppu and Minta Grossman of Iasi.

Emma Marcovici Firestein

"Emma married Sam Firestein in the U.S. and joined him in Beattyville, Kentucky, where he had already lived for 15 years. They moved to New York City after their two girls were born. Emma died soon after at the age of 29, leaving behind her two young children."

Rifka Malka "Emma" Marcovici was born in Husi in 1880. She came to the U.S. in 1901 with her parents and married Sam Firestein. Their children were Stella and Cletta. They moved from Beattyville to New York around 1907, a year or so after Cletta was born. Emma died in 1910.

Jacob Markowitz

"Jacob 'Jake' Markowitz was born in Husi, Romania on January 6, 1868 and came to this country before 1884. In 1886, Jake's cousin, Nathan Markowitz, immigrated to Brunswick GA, where the two of them opened a saloon. They married sisters, Rose and Lena Kupfer. Jake moved to New York City, where he had a children's clothing store. Later, Jake went into the manufacturing of the Mason line of fancy children's wear."

Jacob Markowitz was born in Husi in 1868. He married Hannah Rose Kupfer in New York City in 1892. They had four children. Jake died in New York in 1941.

Jake's brother, Morris Markowitz, came to the U.S. in 1893, was naturalized, and was living with Jake's family in New York City at the time of the 1900 Federal census. Morris married Dora Gottlieb and they had three children. Morris died in Spring Valley, NY in 1972.

"Cletta [Firestein] Marks said that Cannie was a wonderful aunt to her when her mother, Cannie's sister Emma, died when Cletta was only 4. Cannie told Cletta many stories about Emma and made Cletta a bathing suit out of a red checked tablecloth."

Cannie Marcovici was born in Husi in 1874. She married Leon Hoffman and they had two sons.

Cannie's other sister, Goldie Marcovici, was born in Husi in 1883 and came to the United States with her parents in 1901. Goldie married Michael Kupperman and they had two children. She died in 1972.

Itik Marcovici

"Itik was said to be a womanizer. Even so, his wife, Brana, used to iron his shirts before he went out for the evening. Itik died in Romania."

Itik Marcovici was born in Husi in 1864. He married Brana David in 1887 and they had eight children: Lizzi, Adela, Simon, Milo, Herman, Emilia, Toni, and Betty. Itik died in Bucharest in 1913.

Brana David Marcovici

"She left Husi after her husband died. She was a great cook who took care of all of her flock who joined her in Tampa, Florida. She would cry if one of her children had a problem and needed money. She would cry and beg until one of the others put forth a contribution."

Brana David was born in 1875 in Husi. She died in 1931 in Tampa, Florida.

Toni Marcovici with her brother, Herman

"Toni was a fabulous individual. She had a confident manner about her and more common sense than most. She was a great cook. Before her death at 104, she was still very busy and a mentor to all the family. She is missed."

Toni Marcovici was born in Husi in 1903. In 1922, she married Abe Herscovitz. They had three children. Toni died in Homestead, Florida in 2006.

"Herman Marks was a handsome, exceedingly likable person, and the sanest man I ever knew — handsome, charming, and with simple tastes. He left Husi at age 20. Early in the Depression, when he had no money, he said 'Let's go to a movie!' He painted the first signs for the Monkey Jungle in south Florida. He was a smart poker player. Every year he went with his nephews on a houseboat fishing trip off the Florida Keys. As a gardner, he grew his own dill, which he placed beside his plate every night. He bought an empty acre of land next to his house and planted it with fruit trees. He was the town pickle maker and traded his pickles with his local farmer friends. He pickled cucumbers, green tomatoes, and green peppers stuffed with slaw ingredients. Fantastic! He owned a small department store in Homestead, Florid and served on many area boards. He was a big man in a little pond, but a man with no regrets. His tombstone reads 'This Was A MAN.'"

Herman Marks was born in Husi in 1901. He married his cousin, Cletta Firestein, in 1924. They had two children. Herman died in 1983."

Lizzi and Max Losner

"Lizzi was very beautiful. And Max was quite handsome. He came to the U.S. in the early 1900s and later returned to Husi to marry Lizzi. Lizzi was very artistic and had a gift for sewing. She made a beautiful velvet red chuppah for her wedding. Herman [Lizzi's brother] recalled going up and down the steps to the cellar to fetch the wine for the celebration. Lizzi and Max helped to bring Lizzie's family to the U.S. In Florida, Lizzi painted pictures of Florida animals and views of her native country. Max founded the First National Bank of Homestead during the Depression. Today, they have two great-great-grandchildren named Lizzi and Max."

Lizzi Marcovici was born in Husi in 1891. She married Max Losner in 1913 and they had three boys. Both Lizzi and Max died in Homestead, Florida in the mid-1960s.

Betty Marcovici

"We remember Betty who died in her teens in Husi. She is never forgotten. She is and was always in the shadows for those who came after. She left her sewing notes, written in Romanian, in a rich, red suede covered notebook."

Adela and Heiman Peckett

"Adela and Hiam came to the United States in 1920 with other family members and settled in Tampa, Florida. On their way to the States, they and the others stopped in Paris for a bit of fun. Adela kept a clean house that was open to all. Hiam sold wholesale produce. Their big, front porch in Tampa had one of those old, wooden swings that hung by heavy chains. We loved swinging on that porch."

Adela Marcovici was born in Husi in 1891. She married Heiman Peckett and they had three children. Adela died in 1947.

Simon Marks

"Simon was blond and handsome. He went to Canada to live with his Aunt Sara at about age 16 to avoid conscription in the Romanian army. But then he joined the U.S. Army and met his wife, Fannie, at a party for recruits. She was smart and funny. Simon was a shoe salesman, mostly traveling in Florida. His son would put frogs in Simon's empty shoeboxes and Simon would dump them out on the weekends."

Simon was born in Husi in 1896. He married Fannie Stubinsky and they had two children. Simon died in Florida in 1963. Fannie died in 1992.

Emilia and Isidor Brening

"She was the flirt, always with sparkle. She made afghans for all of her nieces and nephews. She married the handsome Isidor twice: the first time in jail during the Bolshevik Revolution and then later, properly. They lived a good life until they were delayed for many years in Cuba during their quest to reach the U.S."

Emilia Marcovici was born in Husi in 1899. She married Isidor Brening in Bucarest in 1919. Their first two children were born in Bucarest, the third in Cuba. The family arrived in Miami, Florida in 1944. Isidor died in Tampa in 1965 and Emelia died in 1983.

Bertha and Luis Berthe

"Louis Berthe was born Milo Marcovici. On his way here, he lived in Santa Domingo and Cuba. He used a dead man's passport to reach the U.S. and was known as Louis Berthe until his death. He was the instigator of a lot of mischief. I remember him standing behind the counter in his pawn shop, maybe with a cigar in his mouth, and greeting me by pinching both my cheeks and saying something that sounded like 'Itchy chitchy' several times. Bertha was a very sweet person."

Milo Marcovici was born in Husi in 1898. He married Bertha Shalet and they had three children. He died (as Luis Berthe) in Lakeland, Florida in 1958.

Marcovici/Markowitz/Marks reunion, 1950s

"Our first family reunion was Adela's funeral. She died when she was 56 years old. (Brana also died at the age of 56. The women in the family were 'obsessed' with the age of 56!) Everyone sat around and said, 'If we can get together for a funeral, why can't we get together for a good time?' Reunions have been held every year since."