IV. THE SECOND GENERATION: 1900 - 1920 and MOVEMENT OUT OF NEW YORK CITY AND PHILADELPHIA

A. Samuel ("Menasha") Gottsegen and Rosa Mossberger (or Weissberger)

1. Max Gottsegen was born 15Mar1877 in Hungary. He immigrated with his mother and siblings in 1888 at the age of 11. In 1900, Max was living at home (604 9th Street) and was working as a cigarmaker. In November 1904, at the time of his father's death, Max was living at home at 128 Cannon Street. Max married Eva Tannenbaum on 16 February 1908. Eva had been born in Hungary in 1883, the daughter of ? Tannenbaum and Fany Stahlberger.

   Max's cigar manufacturing business was first listed in the New York City Directory at 419 1st Avenue in 1906-07. Between 1910, his business was listed at 316 East Houstoun Street; in the early 1920s, he apparently moved it to 246 East Houstoun. He and Eva lived just down the street at 353 East Houstoun between 1909 and 1917, at which time they moved to 48 Pinehurst Avenue. The 1920 Census listed Max as the owner of a cigar manufacturing business and living at 48 Pinehurst Avenue in Manhattan. Eva was not employed and their three daughters (Blanche, Frances and Hilda) were ages 10, 8 and 6.

   In 1930, when Max responded to newspaper notices regarding Simon Gottsegen's death and the whereabouts of his two sons, Henry and Jacob, Max was living at 41 Pinehurst Avenue and listed his place of business at 138 West 25th Street in Manhattan. Max had mentioned that he had visited Simon Gottsegen when he first arrived in NYC around 1890. In 1933-34, Max and Eva were listed as living at 515 Cathedral Parkway, apt. 11C, in Brooklyn(?). Max died on 12 November 1938 of a cerebral hemorrhage with cardiac problems as a contributing cause. Eva died on 17 October 1965 in the Bronx.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this family. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

2. Nathan ("Menachem") Gottsegen was born in 1872 in Hungary. He immigrated in 1888 at the age of 16 with his mother and siblings. He married Sarah Buchsbaum on 3 March 1896 in New York City. She was born in 1874 in Hungary and was the daughter of Leopold Buchsbaum and Celia Goldberger.

   Nathan worked primarily as a butcher, first in the Lower East Side and then in upper Manhattan. Between 1897 and 1907, Nathan was listed as a butcher at 93 Goerck Street in the Lower East Side. The 1900 Census listed Nathan living at 93 Goerck Street with Sarah, his wife, and their three children, "Mannie" (Morris), Helena and Bertie. They also had a servant, Rosie Gluck, a Hungarian, aged 22, living with them. Nathan's occupation was not given. In November 1904, at the time of his father's death, Nathan was still living at 93/95 Goerck Street.

   From 1909 to 1916, Nathan's meat business was listed at 820 East 161st Street and his residence varied, but included 821 East 161st (in 1910) and 860 Union Avenue (in 1911-12). In 1917-18, Nathan's meat business was listed at 849 East 165th and his residence at 869 East 165th.

   The 1920 Census listed Nathan and Sarah and their eight children living at 812 East 222nd Street in the Bronx. Nathan's occupation was listed as a cigarmaker. His children's ages and occupations were as follows: Morris ("Bob"), age 23, owned his own notions shop; Harry ("Bill"), age 19, was a clerk in a brokerage office; Helen, age 19, was a bookkeeper in a embroidery house; Bertha, age 20, worked as a filer at a bank; Max, age 17, worked as a "booker" at a bank; Alfred ("Mickey"), age 15, worked as a clerk at a wholesale house; Samuel (Marten or "Nash"), age 13, and Alexander ("Onch"), age 11, were both at home. Their youngest child, Ruth Claire, had died in 1916 at the age of 4. Sarah's mother, Celia Buxbaum, age 68, was living with them as was reported as working as a cutter for government clothing. A nephew, Morris Putch, age 23, was also living with them and was working as a "sloon keeper" of his own store. From 1920 through 1934, the last date the NYC Directories were published, Nathan and Sarah's address remained at 812 East 222nd Street. Nathan and Sarah died just a month apart of each other in 19___. According to Finkie Gottsegen, their daughter-in-law, the last one living "died of a broken heart".

3. Esther Gottsegen was born December 1871 in Hungary. She immigrated to NYC in 1888 with her mother and siblings. Around 1892, Esther married David Auslander who had been born in Hungary in March 1970 and had also immigrated in 1888. In 1900, Esther and David were living at 128 Cannon Street in the Lower East Side and had two children: Sady and Henry; a third child had also been born but had died. David was reported working as a meat dealer. In November 1904, at the time of her father's death, Esther was still living at 128 Cannon Street. David died some time before 1920 because the 1920 Census reported Esther as a widow living with her two children, ages 22 and 20, at 130 Cannon Street. Esther was reported as working as a retail merchant of a butcher store. Sadie, aged 22, was living at home and working as a schoolteacher. Henry, aged 20, was also at home and working as a credit manager.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this family. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

4. Gable (Fannie) Gottsegen was born in Hungary probably in the mid-1870s. She immigrated in 1888 with her mother and siblings. She married a man whose last named was Rosener. Nothing more is known of her. In November 1904 at the time of her father's death, Fannie was living at 444 East 8th Street in Manhattan.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this family. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

5. Hannah (Annie) Gottsegen was born 1879 in Hungary. She married Louis Schwartz on 15 March 1899. He was born in Hungary around the year 1876 and was the son of Adolf Schwartz and Fanie Weinberger; some records indicate he immigrated in 1892. In November 1904 at the time of her father's death, Annie was married and living at 28 Bartel Street in Brooklyn. In 1920, it is believed that Hannah and Louis were living at 568 Ralph Avenue in Brooklyn. Louis was working as an insurance agent. They had six known children: Emmanuel (age 18); Henry (age 17 and working as a clerk at a broker's office); Dina (a daughter aged 15); Beatrice (age 14); Samuel (age 12); and Sylvia (age 9). It is not known when or where Hannah or Louis died.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this family. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

6. Ida Gottsegen was born in 1875 in Hungary. She married Meyer (Max) Berger on 23 June 1895. He was also born in Hungary in June 1874 and was the son of Mendl Berger and Saly Grosse(?); he reported having immigrated in 1888 and by 1900, was a U.S. citizen. In 1900, Ida and Max were living at 304 East 3rd Street in the Lower East Side. He was working as a grocer. They had three children, Moses (Murray), Beatrice, and Harry; a fourth child had died. Annie Liebowitz, a sister-in-law, aged 16, was living with them. In 1904 at the time of her father's death, Ida was living as 113 Avenue D in Manhattan. In 1920, Ida and Max and their eight children were living at 745-747 East 6th Street in Manhattan. Max, age 44, was working as an insurance broker. Their eldest son, "Moe", age 22, was working a clothes designer and Beatrice, age 20, was a public school teacher. Ida and the rest of the children (Herbert, Milton, Blanche, Arthur, Clara and Lillian) were not working.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this family. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

7. 7. Jacob ("Anshel") Gottsegen was born in 1880 in Hungary and immigrated with his mother and siblings in 1888. He was the youngest son of Sam and Rosa Gottsegen. He died at 16 years old in 1896 at 117 Columbia Street in New York City of apoplexia cordis pach (phyhysis pulmonum(?)). His last place of residence was 604 East 9th Street, a tenement on the Lower East Side.

B. Samuel Gottsegen and Jennie Berger

1. Adolf Gottsegen was the oldest known son of Samuel Gottsegen and Jennie Berger. Adolf was born in August 1872 (1870?) in Hungary. He immigrated in 1888 at the age of 18 with his mother and siblings. He married his first wife, Lena Moskowitz, on 12 July 1891; she had been born in Hungary and was the daughter of Fielop (Phillip) Moskowitz and Mali (Mabel) Simonowitz. Adolf and Lena had one son, Sidney, born 11 April 1892. According to the NYC directory, Adolf operated a shoe store on 180 1st Avenue and lived at 400 East 11th Street between 1891-1893 and then moved the store to 263 East 10th Street between 1893-1895. Unfortunately, Lena died 12 Feb 1894 at the age of 25 years 5 months of excess fluid in the lungs and Sidney, their young son, died of diphtheria within several months on 14 May 1894.

   Adolf married his second wife, Fannie Friedman on 18 October 1896. She was born in Hungary and was the daughter of Herman Friedman and Fani Moskovics. It is not known whether or not she was related in any way to Adolf's first wife, Lena. (Given the similar names of their parents, it's possible that they were first cousins). During this time, 1897-1899, Adolf moved his shoe store to 112 3rd Avenue. Adolf and Fannie had one son, David, born 2 September 1897, before they left Manhattan and moved to the Albany area in upstate New York just before 1900.

   Adolf and Fannie were the first "New York City Gottsegens" to leave the City. The 1900 Census reported Adolf and Fannie and their children, David and William, living at 623 Liberty Place in Schenectady, NY. David was working as a shoemaker. Adolf opened a shoe store in Schenectady and he and Fannie had four more children: William (Harry) Gottsegen who later changed his last name to Goetz; Herbert Gottsegen who became a bandleader and changed his last name to Gordon; and two daughters, Helen and Regina Gottsegen. In 1920, Adolf and Fannie were living at 510 Summit Avenue in Schenectady. Adolf was still owned his shoe store. Their son, David, age 22, was working as an electrical worker. Fanny and the other children, William, Herbert, Helen and Regina, were not working. It is not yet known when or where Adolf or Fannie died.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this family. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

2. David Gottsegen was born 24 August 1873 in Hungary. He immigrated in 1888 at the age of 15 with his parents and siblings. On 21 June 1896, he married Lena Kaufman born September 1876 in New York, the daughter of Hungarian-born Isaac Kaufman and Ester Weitz. In 1900, David and Lena were living at 65 Walton Street in Brooklyn and David was working as a tailor. They were one of the earliest Gottsegen families to move out of the Lower East Side. By 1900, they had had three children: Helen and a set of twins: Ceclit (?) and Ruth. On 26 June 1901, the day that David became a U.S. citizen, he was living at 105 Hopkins Street in Brooklyn and working as a tailor.

   David and Lena eventually had nine children, eight of whom were girls. One daughter, Isabella, died 1 Oct 1911 at four years six months of age from burns sustained while playing with matches. In 1920, the family was living at 287 Monroe Street in Brooklyn. David was an auto clamps manufacturer and Lena was not employed. Seven children, ages 22 to 3, were living at home: Helen G. (a teacher); Ruth (a stenographer); Arthur (an office clerk); Pearl (a clerk at an electrical company); and Beatrice (at school); Caryll (at school); and Joice (age 3). It is not known where or when David or Lena died and since so many of their children were female, it has been very difficult to trace their descendants to the present.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this family. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

3. Morris Gottsegen was born 24 February 1876 in Hungary. He immigrated on 27 November 1887 at the age of 11 with his parents. On 28 May 1899, Morris married Bertha Rosenthal (born in January 1878 in Hungary), the daughter of Josef Rosenthal and Este Pollack. They were 24 and 22 years of age. In 1900, Morris and Bertha were reported living at 455 East Houstoun Street in the Lower East Side. Morris was reported as a "cigarmaker". Bertha's cousin, Herman Pollack, age 22 and working as a "waistmaker" was reported living with them. Their first son, Sidney, had also been born by that time. Their next three children, Irving, David and Edna, were also born in New York City.

   Morris became a U.S. citizen on 14 June 1901 and reported his address as 247 Wallabout Street, Brooklyn. It is interesting to note that although Morris still listed his occupation as a cigarmaker, his witness for citizenship was a David Hartman who was in the mineral water business-the same type of business in which Morris would later become very successful after moving to Cleveland, Ohio. It is not known whether or not David Hartman also moved to Cleveland or if he was ever in partnership with Morris.

   Around 1913, the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio where their last child, Harold, was born. The 1920 Census reported Morris, Bertha and their five children living at 3563 East 118th Street in Cleveland. Morris was listed as not employed, but this was probably an error since the 1919-20 Cleveland city directory listed Morris as the secretary-treasurer of the Ohio Blue Cast Mineral Water Co., mineral water business that he owned and which quickly became very successful. Sidney was reported as a salesman in a clothing store, Irving was a printer at a sweater factory and David was a stockboy at a sweater factory. Morris sold his mineral water business in 1936, retired and moved to California with Sidney; Howard and David followed several years later. Edna, who had already married Ben Wolf, stayed behind in Cleveland.

   Bertha died in 1944 in Los Angeles, California. Morris died in Los Angeles in 1945 -- two months after the end of World War II. Three of their sons, Sidney, Howard and David, changed their name to Goetz. Only one son, Irving, kept Gottsegen. Their fifth, child, Edna, married and took her husband's surname, Wolf.

4. Pauline Gottsegen was born April 1879 in Hungary. She immigrated in 1888 at the age of 11 with her parents. In 1900 she was listed as living at home with her parents and working as a pipemaker. Pauline married Harry Roth on 20 March 1901. He had been born in Hungary around 1876; his parents were Sam Roth and Fany Weitz. In 1920, Pauline and Harry were living at 296 Brook Avenue in the Bronx. Harry, age 43, was working as cigarmaker in a cigar factory. They had four children: Florence, age 17, working as a bookkeeper in a silk mill; Mable, age 15, working a clerk in a dry goods house; and Leona and Sanford, ages 12 and 4. Pauline, age 40, was not working outside the home.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this family. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

5. Sarah Gottsegen was born in 1879 in Hungary. She immigrated in 1888 at the age of nine with her parents. Sarah married Heiman Weitz on 22 March 1891 in New York City. He was the son of Samuel Weitz and Sara Weitz (this may not have been her maiden name). Heiman had been born in Austria around the year 1863. He was 37 and she was 24 when they married.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this family. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

6. Louis Gottsegen was born in 2 October 1880 in Hungary (some records indicate he was born in September 1880). He immigrated on 27 November 1887 (some records indicate he arrived in 1885 or 1888) with his parents and siblings when he would have been seven years old. Louis became a U.S. citizen on 31 May 1902. He gave his occupation as a "collector" was living at 716 Avenue D. His witness was Morris Gottsegen, his older brother.

   Louis married Jessie Weissberger; she was the daughter of Herman Weisberger and had been born 1 June 1884 in New York City. Since their first child, Sanford, was born 23 January 1907, they were probably married in 1905 or early 1906. Their second child, Gertrude, was born around 1911 in NYC.

   In or around 1912, the family moved to Cleveland. Louis' older brother Morris had also moved to Cleveland at or around the same time. Jessie's father, Herman Weisberger, aged 70, was living with them there in 1920; he was reported to have immigrated in 1886. According to the 1920 Census, Louis was working as a cigar salesman and the family was living at 10320 North Boulevard in Cleveland. Jessie, their two children (Sanford and Gertrude, ages 12 and 9) and Jessie's father, (Herman Weisberger, age 70) were also living there. Louis died in ____. Jessie died October 1969 at the age of 85 of a heart attack. Her last residence was 2527 Taylor Road in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

7. Hannah Gottsegen was born April 1884 in Hungary. She immigrated in 1888 at the age of 4 with her mother and siblings. In 1900 at age 16, she was reported as living at home with her parents and working as a cigarette maker. Sometime before 1908, she married Adolf Steinberger who was born around 1883 in Hungary. In January 1920, they were living at 534 East 138th Street in the Bronx. Adolf was working as a clothing proprietor. They had one son, Sanford, age 12, and Hannah's mother, Jennie Gottsegen, age 79, was living with them.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this family. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

C. Morris Gottsegen and Miriam Zucker

1. Leopold Gottsegen was born July 1875 in Hungary. He immigrated in 28 July 1888 with his mother and siblings. In 1900, Leo was living at home (731 9th Street) and employed as a cigarmaker. Leo became a U.S. citizen on 9 May 1896. He gave his occupation as cigarmaker and his address as 132 Cannon Street. In September 1898, he was still living at the same address and he gave his cigarmaking business was reportedly located on the southeast (?) corner of 5th Street and Avenue D in Manhattan.

   Leo married Rose Moskowitz sometime before 1907. Rose was born in 1885 in Austria/Hungary; her parents were Jacob Moskowitz and Peppie Bergida. They had one son, Jacob (Jack), born in 4 March 1907.

   On 1 August 1907, Leo started the Gottsegen Cigar Company, a cigar manufacturing business, with his partners Max Stark and Sam Lefkowitz and $5,700 to form a capital stock of $10,000. The business was located in the Lower East Side at 130 Maiden Avenue; during that time Leo lived at 67 Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn. In 1915-1917, the business was listed at 213 Pearl Street and Leo's home address was given as 274 Troy Avenue in Brooklyn. In 1918-19 the business was listed at 47 Greene.

   In 1918, Leo moved the business to Tampa and the name was changed to the Gradiaz Annis and Company (note that "Gradiaz" is a Spanishization of "God's Blessing!). From that point onward, Leo was listed as the president of the company and Julien B. Annis was vice president, secretary and treasurer. The 1920 Census listed Leo and Rose living at 274 Troy Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. He was 45 and she was 35; their son, Jacob, was 12. The NYC Directory listed Leo living at 535 East 75th during 1920-21, and then at 99 John Street in 1923. The 1933 Tampa city directory listed Gradiaz Annis and Company at 1204 North Howard Avenue and then at 2311 18th (Street?) in 1935. While Leo apparently lived at the Hillsboro Hotel during the early years in Tampa, he later had a residence in 512 Florida Avenue in Tampa. Rose died 18 July 1945 in Brooklyn of complications from diabetes at the age of 61. Leo died at the age of 72 on 7 December 1946 in Tampa, Florida.

2. Jacob Gottsegen was born in 10 October 1876 in Hungary (some records indicate he was born in September 1877). He immigrated on 28 July 1888 with his mother and siblings at the approximate age of 11.

   Following is a copy of testimony taken from Jacob Gottsegen's application to be admitted as a U.S citizen dated 19 September 1898. His address was given as 132 Cannon Street. Since Jacob arrived in the United States as a minor, he had to wait until he turned 18 (and then 5 years) before he could petition the court for his citizenship. The following testimony is especially interesting since it gives a view of not only what the immigration hearings were like but of the immigrants' education. The testimony follows.

   Jacob Gottsegen, the applicant, called and sworn, and as witness on his own behalf, examined by the court as follows: Q. What is your name? A. Jacob Gottsegen. Q. How old are you? A. Twenty-one, will be twenty-two October 10th. Q. Where did you come from? A. Germany. Q. How long have you been here? A. Since 1888. July 22nd. Q. What do you do? A. Peddling. Q. What? A. Dry goods. Q. Have you got any family here at all? A. Yes, sir, I have. Q. Who? A. Father and mother, brothers and sisters. Q. Have you ever gone to school? A. Never. I never went to school in this country. Q. Do you read and write English? A. Yes, sir, I was taught to read and write in evening school. Q. Evening school? A. Yes. Q. Have you read the constitution? A. Yes, sir, I have read the constitution. Q. What do you know about it? A. I know how to be a good citizen. Q. What? A. How to be a good citizen. Q. And what else? A. How the Declaration of Independence was written. Q. What is the Declaration of Independence? A. Declaration of Independence? Q. What does it say, does it say you should be a slave or free? A. We should be free republican-republic. Leo Gottsegen, called and sworn, and as a witness on behalf of the applicant, examined by the court as follows: Q. How long do you know Mr. Gottsegen? A. Well, since he was born. Q. Since he was born? A. Yes, sir. Q. Where was that? A. Hungary. Q. How long have you known him here? A. Since we came over, he is my brother. Q. Is he honest, industrious, hard-working boy? A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you think he will make a good citizen, if we take him? A. I think so. Q. Sure? A. Yes.The judgement of the court is that the application be granted and the applicant be admitted as a citizen of the United States of America. The court swears the applicant, and the applicant repeats the oath as follows: I, Jacob Gottsegen, residing at no. 132 Cannon Street, in the city of New York, do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States, and I do absolutely and entirely renounce and adjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty whatever, and particularly to the Emperor of Austria, of whom I was before a subject. The stenographer is ordered by the court to make a copy of the proceedings taken on the foregoing application, and to file said copy.

   In 1900, Jacob was listed living at home and working as a dry goods dealer. In 1905, the NY State Census lists him living at home and working as an insurance agent. In 1910, Jacob was still working as an insurance agent at 391 E 149th and was living at 352 (or 366) East 8th. On 5 February 1919, Jacob had formed an insurance company with William Schlessinger called Gottsegen and Schlessinger and reported living in Brooklyn at 341 East 82nd. The 1920 Census, however, listed him as living at home at 373 Vernon Avenue in Brooklyn. The business was located at 271 West 125th Street. In 1922-23, it even had a telephone (Tel. Morningside 653).

   Jacob married Rosika Deutsch on 17 June 1926. They were each 46 years old; it was his first marriage, her second. Rosika had been born around 1880 in Hungary and was the daughter of Leopold Deutsch and Hermenia Bohm. They had one son, Monroe, born in New York City.

3. Matilda Gottsegen was born in 1878 in Hungary. She immigrated with her mother and siblings in 1888 at the age of ten. Matilda was the first child of Morris and Miriam to marry. She married Isidore M. Prenau on 3 December 1899 in New York City. He was the son of Samuel Prenau and Rosa Marmelstein and was the born in Hungary around the year 1874. Matilda and Isidore had two sons: Sidney and Jerome.

4. Sarah (Sadie) Gottsegen was born Feb 1882 in Hungary. She immigrated with her mother and siblings in 1888 at the age of six. In 1900, Sadie was living at home (731 9th Street) and was working as a cigarmaker. Sadie married John Lichner on 4 June 1905 in New York City. He was born around 1878 in New York City and was the son of Wolf B. Lichner and Sofia Liberman. She was 20 and he was 27 at the time of their marriage. In 1920, Sadie and John were living at 815 Cauldwell Street in the Bronx. They had two children, Sidney, age 13, and Celia, age 7. John, age 40, was reported working as a cigarmaker in a cigar factory; Sadie was "at home".

5. Cecelia (Celia) Gottsegen was born Dec 1883 in Hungary. She immigrated with her mother and siblings in 1888 at the age of five. In 1900, Celia was living at home (731 9th Street) and employed as a cigar maker. In 1905, the NY State Census listed Celia still living at home (51 Avenue D) and working as a cigarmaker. Celia married Ralph Sachs on 27 October 1909 in New York City. He was the son of Jacob Sachs and Bertha Stein and had been born in Russia around the year 1879. His occupation was listed as cigarmaker on his marriage certificate. They had one son, George.

6. David Gottsegen was born 3 Sep 1884 in Hungary. He immigrated with his mother and siblings in 1888 at the age of four. In 1900, at the age of 15, David was living at home (731 9th Street) and was reported as "at college". In 1905, the NY State Census listed David as living at home (51 Avenue D) and working as a bookkeeper.

   David married Fanny Remer on 21 November 1909. She was the daughter of Charles Remer and Sarah Greenspan and had been born in New York City around the year 1887. In June 1920, David and Fanny were living at 213 Hart Street (Avenue?) in Brooklyn. David (age 36) was working as a Herring House (?) salesman and Fanny (age 32) was not employed. They had two sons: Milton (age 9 years 1 month) and Irving (age 3 years and 11 months).

7. Nathan Gottsegen was born 22 August 1885 in Hungary (some dates are given as July 1887). He immigrated with his mother and older siblings in 1888 at the age of 2 and a half and was naturalized in 1896. Although some records state that Nathan was only nine months old upon his arrival in New York City in July 1888, his death certificate indicates his birth date was 22 Aug 1885. In 1900, Nathan was living at home (731 9th Street) and was attending school. In 1905, the NY State Census listed Nathan as student living at home (61 Avenue D). Nathan was one of the first Gottsegens to be trained as a professional and in 1916, he opened his dentist office at 120 West 47th in Manhattan.

   Nathan married Minna Abrahamson on 17 February 1917. Minna was born in 1894 (some records indicate 1889) in Russia/Poland and was the daughter of Solomon Abrahamson and Maria Levison. They had one son, Sidney Robert, born 21 June 1919 in New York City; he is now a periodontist. In 1918, the NYC Directory indicates that Nathan moved the office to 155 West 47th. In 1920, he moved his office and home to 145 West 55th. The 1920 Census lists Nathan, Minna and their infant son living at 221 West 57th Street in Manhattan. In 1933-34, his residence was listed at 465 West 23rd Street. Nathan died on 17 November 1943 in New York City at the age of 58. Minna died in April 1991 at the age of 96(?).

8. Kate Gottsegen was born May 1889 in New York City, NY. She was the first child of Morris and Miriam's born in the United States. In 1900, Kate was 11 years old and living at home (731 9th Street) and was attending school. In 1905, the NY State Census listed Kate, age 15, living at home and working as a teacher. Kate married William Alexander on 23 February 1916 in New York City. He was born around 1879 in New York and was the son of Isidore Alexander and Fillis (?) Kohn. She was 24; he was 37. They had no children. In 1920, Kate and William were living at 10401 Jamaica Avenue in Queens. William was employed as a dry goods salesman.

9. Gedalye ("David"?) Gottsegen was born 20 March 1891 at 105 Goerck Street in the Lower East Side. He died 23 Sep 1894 of diphtheria at the same address. Both his birth and death certificates list his parents as Morris and Mollie Gottsegen. His death certificate gives his name as "David" which seems unusual given that there was already a living son with the same name.

10. Mark (Mack?) Gottsegen was born 8 September 1894 at 103 Goerck Street on the Lower East Side. He is known of only through his birth certificate. However, he probably died at a very young since there are no other records or family recollections of him. (This person could, however, very likely be Abraham Lewis Gottsegen since: (1) no death certificate can be found for this "Mark" Gottsegen; (2) no birth certificate can be found for Abraham Lewis Gottsegen; and (3) the birthdates are similar except by being off by one year.

11. Abraham Lewis Gottsegen was born September 1895 in New York City, NY. In 1900, Abraham was living at home (731 9th Street). In 1905, NY State Census listed Abraham living at home (51 Avenue D); he was 10 years old and "at school". In 1920, Abraham was living with his parents and brother Jacob at home (373 Vernon Avenue) in Brooklyn. He was listed as working as commercial traveler(?). Abraham married Anna Rosenblatt on 3 October 1922 in New York City. She was the daughter of Morris Rosenblatt and Grace(?) Kruwaud and had been born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania around the year 1900. Abraham's occupation was listed as a merchant on their marriage certificate. They had two children: Robert and Miki.

D. Simon Gottsegen and Amalie Mandel; and Esther Mandel

1. Moses Gottsegen was born 9 January 1881 in Manhattan, NY. He was the first Gottsegen child born in the United States. Unfortunately, Moses died 26 May 1885 at only 4 years, 3 months of age from tuberculosis.

2. Harry (Harvey) Gottsegen was born 9 September 1883, Manhattan, NYC. In 1900, Harry was living at home (516 East 81st Street) in Manhattan. He was 16 years old and was reported as working as a lithographer. He disappeared from home at the age of 17 or so with his brother, Jacob. He was seen once again by his family at the approximate age of 34 when he announced he was on his way to the War (World War I). See the story below. (Note: It is possible that this Harry Gottsegen is the same as Harold Winton Gottsegen who married Carrie Ayres MacBride in New York City in 1907 and later moved to Connecticut and made his living as a carpenter; they had one son, George).

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this person. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

3. Jacob (Oscar) Gottsegen was born 18 September 1885 in Manhattan, NYC. In 1900, Jacob was living at home (516 East 81st Street) in Manhattan. He was 14 years old and his occupation was listed as "laundry". He disappeared from home at the age of 16 or so with his brother, Harry. He saw his family once again at the approximate age of 33 and he said he was still living in New York City, but would not say where. It is likely that he changed his last name since his name is not listed in the 1920 Census. See the story below.

   Although Esther raised Simon's two sons (Harry and Jacob) from his first wife, apparently they were not close and did not get along well with the rest of the family. According to information contained in NYC probate records of Simon's will, Esther reported that her two stepsons "continued to live with them until they were about the ages of 12 and 14 years of age when they started staying away nights and then stayed away for periods of days at a time. The practice continued for a few years until when they were about 18 years of age when they disappeared entirely. That was about 30 years ago. [I] did not see them again until about the summer of 1916 or 1917 when they called on [her and Simon] for a few minutes and then left although [we] had tried to question them about where they were living and working". Their daughter Frances who was married but living with Simon and Esther reported that "Harry stayed only a few minutes and told her that he was on his way to War". Jacob Gottsegen called on her at her home around the year 1918 or 1919 and he also stayed only a few minutes. He said he was occupying a furnished room somewhere in New York but did not give her any address. After these brief appearances, no word was ever heard from them again.

   (Note: Since my search of New York City vital records has not turned up their marriages or deaths, they either died away from New York City or changed their names. I do not yet have any records of Harry Gottsegen serving in WW1. It is also not known whether they had any children.) I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this person. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

4. Frances Gottsegen was born 24 September 1887 in NYC. In 1900, Frances was living at home (516 East 81st Street) in Manhattan and was attending school. Frances married Sidney Furst around 1915 or so in New York City. Sidney born in 1885 in New York City; his parents are not yet known. In January 1920, Sidney was reported working as a button factory proprietor; he and Frances were reported living at 1163 Washington Avenue in the Bronx. They had three children: Ira (age 3 years, 6 months), and twins Mark J. and Shirley R. (age 10 months). Their fourth child, Herbert, had not yet been born. In 1930 at the time of her father's death, Frances was living at 1916 Osborne Place (in the Bronx?). Frances died in 1953 in _____. It is not known where or when Sidney died.

5. Fannie Gottsegen was born 13 October 1891 in Manhattan. She died at home on 1 July 1895 of diphtheria when she was 3 and half years old. The family was living at 321 East 78th in Manhattan at that time.

6. Bertha Gottsegen was born 13 December 1893 in NYC. In 1900, Bertha was living at home (516 East 81st Street) in Manhattan and was attending school. Her first marriage was to Michael Apfel and they had one son, Bernard. In November 1929 at the time of her father's death, Bertha was living with her parents at 215 West 90th Street. It is not yet known whether she had yet been widowed or if she and Micheal were both living there. It is not known when Michael Apfel died. Bertha married her second husband, Paul Hellman, in ___; they raised Bernard but had no additional children.

7. Julius J. Gottsegen was born 7 November 1895 in NYC. In January 1920, Julius was living at home with his parents at 483 East 141st Street in the Bronx and working as a photographer at his own "picture store". On 31 August 1920, he married Freida Zeeman, who was born in 1900 in New York City and was the daughter of Jacob Zeeman and Rose Rabinowitz. Julius and Freida had two children: Ruth and Martin. Martin later changed his name to Egen.

   Julius owned and operated a photography business, first called Empire Flashlight Company, Inc. (the name was based on the "old style" photography where ___ was ignited to create the flash). Between 1917 and 1921, Julius lived at 483 141st street.

   (Mention court case where Julius' partner stole his equipment).

   In 1922-23, Julius was listed at 865 165th Street, and then at 860 6th Avenue in 1924-25 (and then back at 483 E 141st in 1925-26). In November 1929 at the time of his father's death, Julius gave his address as 1177 Anderson Avenue. In 1933-34, he changed the name of his business to Empire Photographers; it was located at 1550 Broadway. Julius died 16 March 1941 in the Bronx. Frieda died ____.

8. Sydonia (Sadie or "Syd") Gottsegen was born in January 1898 in New York City. Syd married Bernhard Peppercorn on 2 January 1919 in Manhattan. He was the son of Marcus Peppercorn and Helen Kaiser and had been born in Austria around the year 1884. In 1920, Sydonia and Bernhard were living at 528 (East/West?) 111th Street in Manhattan. Bernhard was working as a manufacturer of fur coats. They later had two children: Hilda and Peggy. In November 1929 at the time of her father's death, Syd was living at 2185 Davidson Avenue. (Bernhard died? in ___ or they divorced). Syd later married a second time; the name of her second husband is not known.

9. Jeannette (Jeann) Gottsegen was born 28 July 1906 in Manhattan, NYC. In 1920, Jeannette was 13 years old and living at home with her parents at 483 East 141st Street in the Bronx. In November 1929, Jeann was living with her parents at 215 West 90th Street. She never married and nothing more is known of her.

5. William Gottsegen and Bertha Rosenthal (Roth?)

1. Emmanuel Gottsegen was born December 1881 in Hungary. He reportedly immigrated in 1890 with his mother and sister. In 1900, Emmanuel 18 years old and was living at home (81-R Lewis Street) in Manhattan and was working as a "pants examiner". Nothing more is known of him.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this person. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

2. Antonia Gottsegen was born in August 1884 in Hungary. According to the 1900 Census, Antonia immigrated in 1890 at the age of six with her mother and older brother, Emmanuel. In 1900, Antonia was 15 years old, was living at home (91-R Lewis Street) and working as a button picker. Nothing more is known of her.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this person. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

3. Tina (Fannie?) Gottsegen was born in 1888 in Hungary. She was not listed in the 1900 Census, even though she would have been only 11 or 12 years old. She married Abi Fein on 26 March 1907 at the age of 19. Abi was the son of Herman Fein and Housi Heser (?); he had been born in Russia around the year 1885. He reported his occupation as a laundryman.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this family. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

4. Samuel Gottsegen was born September 1893 in New York City; he and his sister, Lena, were twins. In 1900, Samuel was six years old and was living with his mother and siblings at 81-R Lewis Street and was attending school. At the age of 29, on 27 January 1924, he married Regina Weinberg, daughter of Joseph Weinberg and Rosy Marmolstein. She had been born around 1900 in Austria. Sam listed his occupation as a subway conductor on his marriage certificate and reported living at 131 East 12th Street.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this family. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

5. Lena Gottsegen was born September 1893 in New York City; she and her brother, Samuel were twins. In 1900, Lena was six years old, was living with her mother and siblings at 81-R Lewis Street and was attending school.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this person. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

6. Paula Gottsegen was born around 19 June 1896. She died at home 11 days later from intestinal problems. She is only known through her death certificate. Her family was living at 529 East 11th Street in Manhattan.

7. 7. Rosie Gottsegen was born 5 July 1898 in Manhattan, New York City, seven months after her father's death. Nothing more is known of her.

   I have not yet been able to trace the present day descendants of this person. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

6. Samuel Gottsegen and Becky Rosenfeld (Philadelphia)

1. Bessie ("Pearl") Gottsagen was born sometime between 1871 and 1882 in Hungary. Several sources give conflicting birthdates. However, given that she married in 1893 and reported her age as "over 21", it's likely that she was born in the early to mid-1870s. It's difficult to determine the reason for the six year age difference between Pearl and the second eldest child, Rose; as you can see from most of the children of this generation, the children were born only one or two years apart. It's possible that Pearl was the daughter of a earlier marriage of her father (although it isn't known he was married to anyone else than Becky. Or more likely, it's possible that her mother had other children after her that died (although that was not reflected in data contained in the 1900 Census).

   Bessie married Benjamin Gelb on 17 March 1893 in Philadelphia. He was 30 and had been born in 1862 in Hungary. He was the owner of a dry goods store and resided at 1317 4th Street in Philadelphia. In 1900, Pearl and Benjamin were living at 2130 South Street in Philadelphia, PA. Benjamin was working as a grocer and they had five children: Julius, age 5; Harry, age 4; Samuel, age 3; Leon, age 2; and Sarah, age 1. Pearl reported having had six children, five of whom were still living. In 1920, Pearl and Benjamin were living at 6007 Jefferson Street; his dry goods store was located at 6102 Landsdown Avenue. They had had three more children, Joseph, Jacob and Dorothy (Sarah had probably died since family tradition holds that there was only one daughter in the family). All of their grown children worked with them in the dry goods store. Only one son ever married and he never had children.

2. Rose Gottsagen was born 8 March 1879 in Hungary. She immigrated in or around 1883 with her mother; it is not known whether her father traveled with them or arrived before them. In 1900, Rose was living as a boarder at 2350 Front Street in Philadelphia and working as a saleslady. Two years later on 16 September 1902 at the age of 22, Rose married Mayer Steiner. Mayer was 24 years old; he had been born 25 March 1878 in Austria, reported immigrating in 1891, and was the son of Alexander Steiner and Hannah Buchsbaum (later, in 1916, his parents were living at 939 North 6th Street). Rose listed herself living at 531 McClellan Avenue. Mayer listed his occupation as a tailor and living at 207 George Street in Philadelphia. In 1912, the Philadelphia city directory listed Mayer working as a tailor and living at 1434 North 12th Street. Rose and Mayer had two children, Jack and Leon. Rose died on 10 April 1916 at the age of 37 from tuberculosis; she died at Morton's Sanitorium in Delaware County, PA. She had last lived at 531 Oxford at the time of her death. Mayer married Rose's younger sister, Bella, four months later.

3. Bella Gottsagen was born February 1884 in Philadelphia, PA. She lived at home at 7806 Laycock Street with her parents until her marriage on 13 August 1916, at the age of 30, when she married Mayer Steiner, age 38, her brother-in-law through her deceased older sister, Rose. In January 1920, Bella and Mayer were living at 1434 12th Street in Philadelphia, PA. Mayer was working as a tailor in a tailor shop and Bella at home. They had four children: Jacob, age 16 and working as an errand boy at a tailor shop; Leon, age 14; Samuel, age 2 and 4 months; and Morton (Martin?), age 10 months. Jacob and Leon were from Mayer's marriage to Rose. Bella died in __ and Mayer died in ___.

4. Anna ("Annie") Gottsagen was born 23 February 1885 in Philadelphia, PA. On 22 March 1906, Anna married Martin Markovitz. According to information on their marriage certificate, Martin had been born 28 December 1879 in Austria-Hungary; later Census records indicate Martin immigrated in 1892. At the time of his marriage, he was living at 2463 Kensington Avenue and was employed as a machinist. His mother's name was Lottie, but her maiden name, and his father's name were not given.

   In 1910, Anna and Martin were living at 1841 North 7th Street in Philadelphia; they had changed their last name to Marks. Their first son, Jerome, was one year old. Martin was working as a tool maker in a tool factory. They had two lodgers living with them. In 1920, Anna and Martin were living at 5830 Washington Avenue in Philadelphia; they reported owning their home. Martin (age 39) was still working as a machinist. Anna (age 34) was at home with their three sons: Jerome (age 11); Theodore (age 9) and Sidney (age 5). Martin's widowed mother, Lottie Marks, age 72, was living with them as was his nephew Edward Lipklvitz, an apprentice machinist, age 15. It is not known where or when Anna or Martin died.

5. Henry Gottsagen was born April 1886 in Philadelphia, PA. He was the eldest son of Sam and Becky Gottsegen. Henry was listed by the federal censuses and the city directories as a carpenter between 1909 and 1923; for one year, however, he was listed as a tailor. In 1912, city tax records listed Henry as the owner of two lots of 25'x100' foot lots; no buildings were located on them. Because of his skills as a carpenter and the fact that he was still living at home at the time, it's likely that he helped build the small synagogue, Ahavas Achem, located just a block away on Erwig Street in 1912. Henry lived at home (78th and Laycock) until _____ when he married Ruth Lefkowitz. They later lived at 5654 Pentridge Avenue. By 1920, Becky moved in with Henry at 5654 Pentridge Avenue; they lived there at least through 1925 according to the Philadelphia city directory. Henry and Ruth had two girls, Betty Ann and Doris. It is not known where or when Henry or Ruth died.

6. Edward Gottsagen was born 12 August 1890 in Philadelphia, PA. Edward varied his trade several times during his twenties. Philadelphia city directories list him as a soapmaker in 1910, a laborer in 1911, a driver in 1912, and then a soapmaker again in 1916. It is possible, however, that he worked in the soapmaking business the entire time. On 14 June 1921, Edward married Elizabeth Berks, his sister-in-law through his deceased younger brother, Emil. Edward raised Emil's son, Samuel, and had two more children with Elizabeth: Melvin and Alan. Edward died in November 1971 in Philadelphia. It is believed that Elizabeth died in July 1985, also in Philadelphia.

7. Emil Gottsagen was born 18 December 1893 in Philadelphia, PA. At a young age, Emil worked as a soapwrapper. In later years, however, he became a carpenter like his older brother, Henry. On 13 July 1917, he married Elizabeth Berks; she was working as a cigarmaker at the time of her marriage and living with her parents, Lena Peltz and Isaac Berks, a tailor living at 1521 South Second Street in Philadelphia. Elizabeth reported her birthdate as 9 April 1896 and her birthplace as "Russia". Emil and Elizabeth had one son, Samuel, born 2 Dec 1918. Emil died on 5 February 1920 at the young age of 27 from pneumonia. His address at the time of his death was 7812 Laycock Avenue. His wife, Elizabeth, remarried Emil's older brother, Edward, one year and 4 months later.

8. Ellena Gottsagen was born in 1893 in Philadelphia, PA; she died on 11 April 1897 at the age of 3 from croup.

9. Selena (Leah) Gottsagen was born February 1897 in Philadelphia, PA. She married Morris Feldman. They had two children: Sidney and Evelyn Rose. It is not known where or when Leah and Morris died.

7. Joseph Gottsegen and Esther Weinberger

1. Hannah Gottsegen was probably born in the late 1870s or early 1880s since she married Marcus Schwartz 15 March 1899. They had one son, Louis (Petey).

2. Freida Gottsegen was born in 1884 in Hungary. It is not yet known when she immigrated to New York City. Frieda married John Feldman on 11 August 1907 in New York City. He was the son of Moritz Feldman and Rosie Brecier (?) and had been born in Hungary around the year 1882 and had immigrated in 1901. In 1920, Freida and John were living at 3910 Fort Hamilton Avenue in the Bronx. They had one daughter, Rose, age 6. John gave his occupation as liquor store owner.

3. Gustave Gottsegen was born 18 November 1887 in Zemplen County, Hungary. He immigrated on 25 November 1903 on the ship Neckar; the ship embarked from Bremen, Germany, and the trip took seven days. On 27 June 1911, he married Frieda Schwartz, born around 1892 in Hungary. She was the daughter of Bernard Schwartz and Ilka Farkas. They had one son: William, born 5 May 1911. In 1916, Gustave and Frieda divorced. Gustave filed immigration papers on 14 February 1917. He was 29 years old, living at 130 Avenue D and was a merchant by occupation. He took his oath of allegiance and became a U.S. citizen on 8 June 1923.

   Sometime before 1920, Gustave remarried Irene (last name unknown); according to the 1920 Census, Irene was born in Hungary and immigrated to the United States in 1908; both her parents were Hungarian. In 1920, Gustave and Irene were living at 66 East 7th Street/Avenue? in Manhattan. Gustave's son, William, age 7, was living with them.

   Gustave's occupation was a cigarmaker. From 1915 through 1925, he owned The Avenue D Smoke Shop located at 130 Avenue D. He lived at 814 East 9th (1915), then at 530 6th (1916-17), and then at 306 East 10th during 1917 through 1923. In 1924-25, Gustave lived at 608 East 9th. In 1933-34, Gustave and Irene operated a restaurant at 619 East 6th; they lived at 222nd East 6th. It is not known when or where Gustave or Irene died.

4. Charlotte Gottsegen was born in 1895 in Hungary. It is not known when she immigrated to New York City. Charlotte married Harry Zimmerman on 9 Jan 1916; he was a cigarmaker by occupation. He was born in 1890 in Hungary and was the son of Jacob Zimmerman and Anna Wacksman. They had two sons: Edward and Milton.