Descendants of Nahum Zelig and Yente SARNATZKY

(To four generations with annotation)

Nahum Zelig and Yente SARNATZKY

1 Nahum Zelig SARNATZKY b: Abt. 1810 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia d: Abt. 1875
.. +Yente "of Leibe's Mishpocheh"

Yente was one of Leibe's 7 daughters.

..... 2 Avrom Yitzchok SARNATZKY d: Abt. 1843 in Skidel, Poland
............. 3 Avrom Yitzhok "Abraham" SARNATZKY b: Abt. 1843 in Skidel, Poland d: 02 February 1934 in New York City, New York

Avrom's father died before he was born. He ran a leather factory in Skidel.

................. +Dvorah Matke GABOWITZ b: in Skidel, Grodno, Russia m: Bef. 1879 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia d: 11 February 1934 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York

Dvorah or Deborah immigrated to the US in 1917. She was active in charity work in New York.

.................. 4 Bobke Leibe "Sarah" SARNATZKY b: Abt. 1880 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia d: 30 January 1959 in Kfar Giladee, Israel

She was named for Leibe who had been very sick, so she was given a second or added name, Bobke, to insure future health. When they lived in NYC, Golda Meir came to visit and stayed in their home.(from "As the Family Remembers") Sarah was the matriarch of family. She came to the US in 1914 and went to Israel in 1936. She owned a confectionery store.

....................... +Avram-Yedida CALLER b: 1872 in Volkovysk, Belarus m: Abt. 1896 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia d: 04 February 1951 in Kfar Giladee, Israel
.................... 4 Nahum Zelig "Nathan" SARNOTSKY b: Abt. 1881 d: 02 February 1959 in New York City, New York
....................... +Yetta Shumsky d: 29 December 1953 in New York City, New York
.................... 4 Rivka "Rebecca" SARNOTSKY b: 1889 in Skidel, Russia d: 1959 in New York City, New York
....................... +Zvi Hirsh "Harry" COHEN b: 1880 in Grodno, Belarus d: July 1924 in New York City, New York
................... 4 Eleizer "Lazar" SARNOTSKY b: Bef. 1888 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia d: 18 March 1957 in New York City, New York

Eleizer came to the U.S. via either Cuba or Mexico. He was also a POW in World War I.

.................. 4 Yakov Zeev "Velvel" SARNOTSKY b: 25 December 1890 in Skidel, Russia d: 03 September 1961 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York

Velvel became angry when some Cossacks were harassing his beautiful sister, Bobke. He punched one of them, but was not arrested. Instead, the authorities told his mother to "keep the rebel son off the street".

...................... +Ida FEDER b: 20 April 1896 in Deretchin, Belarus m: 07 January 1922 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York d: 06 June 1987 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York
................. 4 Malke "Mollie"SARNOTSKY b: 10 November 1896 d: 10 August 1956 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York
..................... +Benjamin ITZKOVITZ b: 23 April 1895 in Barbrusk, Ukraine m: 14 June 1913 d: 1986 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York

..... 2 Mayer SARNATZKY b: Abt. 1843 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia d: Aft. 1912 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia

"He was 2 years younger than Gittle. She was an 'old maid' of 18 when they married." (from: As the Family Remembers) In 1903, Mayer owned a Tannery that employed 25 workers. He was eligible to vote for the Russian Duma in 1912, a privilege which required ownership of substantial property.

......... +Gitla HARAWITZ/HARANTZ b: Abt. 1841 in Russia m: Abt. 1859 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia d: Aft. 1903

Gitla was the son of Geshel (Hershel) HARAWITZ. In 1903, she is among only 11 business owners mentioned in the Skidel business directory. She owned a "manufacturing tovar", located in her home.

............. 3 Chamke or Malka SARNATZKY
................. +"non-Jew"

Because she married a non-Jew, she was disgraced and disowned by the family. Her descendants are unknown to other members of the family. Family legend has it the family began its emigration from Russia to find good Jewish husbands for the rest of the daughters.

............. 3 Dobbe Liebe SARNATZKY b: 1865 d: 1945
................. +Alexander Ziskin KAGEN b: Abt. 1857 d: 1932

Dobbe Liebe became the eldest after her sister's disgrace. Alexander KAGEN was honored by the Czar because he helped organize the first census of Russia. He was an interpreter in about 10 languages. He was an advocate, a pharmacist, a gymnasia graduate, and had a liquor license, unusual for a Jew. (from As the Family Remembers)

.................. 4 Newman KALES b: 17 November 1886 in Grodno, Russia d: 28 November 1953 in Chicago, Illinois
...................... +Jennie SILBERBERG b: 17 October 1889 in Chicago, Illinois d: 28 April 1970 in Chicago, Illinois

Newman was a pharmacist.

.................. 4 Abe KAGEN b: 18 September 1888 in Grodno, Russia
...................... +Fannie BERGER

Abe immigrated to Chicago about 1908.

.................. 4 Louis KOHN-KAGEN b: 1889 d: 1944
...................... +Rose BROSTOFF b: 09 October 1906 in Chicago, Illinois
.................. 4 Jack KOHN b: 27 June 1890 d: 1960
...................... +Jeanette SCHULTZ b: 03 March 1896 in Chicago, Illinois d: 24 December 1980

Jack was a doctor.

.................. 4 Milton KAGEN b: 1892
...................... +Tania
.................. *2nd Wife of Milton KAGEN:
...................... +Cyril ZOLTOK b: 1899 m: 23 December 1919 d: 1948
.................. 4 Norton KAGEN b: 1893 d: 1952
...................... +Malvine

Norton was a pharmacist.

.................. 4 Herman KAGEN b: 02 August 1901 d: 1947
...................... +Ruth FELDMAN b: 11 August 1904 m: 07 January, 1926
.................. 4 Celia KAGEN b: 15 November 1906 in Grodno, Russia
...................... +Sol HAMMERMAN b: 18 October 1901 in Chicago, Illinois m: 25 August 1926

Celia came to the U.S. at age 5 on a visit which became quite prolonged because of World War I. (from "As the Family Remembers")

............. 3 Eshka SARNATZKY d: 1937 in Holocaust
................. +Itzrak BRENNER

Eshka was considered the queen of the family. She was killed by Hitler after she returned to Warsaw against her family's advice. Isaak BRENER was the son of Boris who owned the largest leather factory in Skidel in 1898. He was eligible to vote in 1912. He was listed as a druggist in 1928.

.................. 4 Rebecca BRENNER d: in Holocaust
...................... +Schmuel CHIRVIG
.................. 4 Yosef BRENNER d: in Holocaust

Yosef was 26 when he was killed.

.................. 4 Anne BRENNER b: 1905
...................... +Neal KANE b: 1918 d: 1969
.................. *2nd Husband of Anne BRENNER:
...................... +Sidney KAPLAN
.................. 4 Nahum BRENNER b: circa 1913 d: in Holocaust

Nahum was 24 when he was killed.

............. 3 Nahum Zelig SARNATZKY b: circa 1875 in Skidel
................. +Rachel ROSENTHAL b: circa 1880 in Skidel d: Abt. 1940 in Holocaust

.................. 4 Hershel SARNATZKY d: in Holocaust
...................... +--- d: in Holocaust
.................. 4 Yente "Lenore" SARNATZKY b: 1902
...................... +John WILLIAMSON d: 1993 in England
.................. *2nd Husband of Yente "Lenore" SARNATZKY:
...................... +Taras EINGORN d: 1955 in Moscow

Yente lived in the USA from 1923-1933, then returned to Russia with her baby and became an interpreter in the Kremlin. (from "As the Family Remembers")

.................. 4 Nechha SARNATZKY
.................. 4 Henia "Helen" SARNATZKY b: 21 October 1907 in Skidel d: 1984 in Israel
...................... +Herschel "Gregory ABRAMS" ABRAMOVICH m: 1932 in Grodno d: 1996 in Israel

Henia and Gregory came to Chicago in 1948. In 1960 they moved to Israel.

.................. 4 Yehuda SARNATZKY b: Abt. 1910 in Russia d: Abt. 1924 in Russia

............. 3 Zlotke SARNATZKY b: circa 1875 in Skidel
................. +Alter Gershon WEINSTEIN d: in Skidel

Nahum Zelig and Zlotke were twins.

.................. 4 Lillian WEINSTEIN b: 10 July 1910
...................... +Herman OSTRIN b: 1909 d: 21 August 1967
.................. *2nd Husband of Lillian WEINSTEIN:
...................... +Herman E. WYLOGE b: 20 August 1910
.................. 4 Reva WEINSTEIN b: 1902 in Skidel d: 1967
...................... +Arthur HAENDLE

Reva and her brother Sid came to the U.S. before Zlotke and her 3 other daughters. She and her husband were ardent communists. (from "As the Family Remembers")

.................. 4 Beatrice WEINSTEIN d: Abt. 1964
...................... +Adolph RABINOVITZ/RABIN b: Abt. 1893 in Lithuania d: 1961 in Chicago, Illinois
.................. 4 Shepsel "Sidney" WEINSTEIN b: in Skidel, Grodno, Russia d: Abt. 1964
...................... +Mae JAFFE m: 02 December, 1923
.................. 4 Diane WEINSTEIN b: in Skidel, Grodno, Russia d: November 1980
...................... +Sam FISHER d: April 1954

............. 3 Boshke SARNATZKY b: April 1868 in Russia d: June 1938 in Illinois
................. +Benyomin KANTROVITZ (KANTOR) d: Bef. 1920

Bessie immigrated in 1907. In 1920, she was a widow living in Chicago with her adult children and a nephew.

.................. 4 Yenta "Anna" KANTOR b: 24 August 1891 d: 15 August 1950
...................... +Zalman Mayer "Sam" SARNATZKY b: 30 May 1888 d: 04 April 1945
.................. 4 Harry KANTOR b: 1894 in Russia d: 1968
...................... +Bertha LEEB m: 26 December, 1920 in Illinois
.................. 4 Jeanette KANTOR b: 1896 in Russia d: 1943
..................... +Sam SAMUELS m: 1943
.................. 4 Samuel KANTOR b: 14 August 1905 in Russia d: 01 January 1978
..................... +Florence JOSEPH b: 05 January 1907

............. 3 Israel SARNATZKY b: Abt. 1869 in Skidel d: 17 February 1917 in Manhattan
.................+Feige "Fannie" FRIEDMAN b: 16 August 1872 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia m: circa 1890 in Skidel d: 20 June 1926 in Brooklyn

Israel owned a leather and footwear factory in Skidel which employed 44 workers in 1900, making it Skidel's largest employer. He emigrated through Bresnen on 27 August, 1908 at age 39. He is reported to have crossed the ocean many times for his business. Fannie, daughter of Chaim FRIEDMAN and Lenke PERLIS, emigrated in 1912 with her children. They lived in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Israel died of a ruptured appendix in 1917. He became ill on the sabbath and the family would not take him to the hospital.

From left: Hirsch, Iente, Feige, Nahum, and Israel SARNATZKY.
Picture from the private collection of Sheila GROSSMAN.

.................. 4 Hirsch "Harry Star" SARNATZKY b: Abt. 1892 in Skidel d: 1960
...................... +Esther EAGLE m: 21 February, 1915 d: before 1947

Harry immigrated to New York in 1911. He changed his last name to STAR. He owned a pharmacy in Chicago and once shot and killed a robber in his store.

.................. 4 Nahum "Nathan" SARNATSKY b: 01 December 1894 in Skidel d: 19 July 1956 in Mammoth Caves, Edmonson Co., Kentucky
...................... +Lilyan "Lillie" STEINFELD b: 01 September 1900 in Jassy (Iasi), Romania m: 03 October 1926 in Manhattan d: March 1981 in Bridgman, Michigan

Nathan immigrated to New York with his mother and sister in 1912. He was studying to be a doctor when his father died of appendicitis in 1917. He had to give up his studies to help support the family. Nathan and Lilyan moved to Chicago where he owned a pharmacy until Walgreens put him out of business during the Depression. Nathan continued to work as a pharmacist for his brother. He had a passion for science.

.................. 4 Iente "Anna" SARNATZKY b: Abt. 1900 in Skidel d: 1960 in New York
...................... +Philip THROPE b: 1898 in Skidel m: 31 December, 1921 d: 1969 in New York

Anna was well-educated and, unusual for a woman, studied Hebrew texts. She and Philip were cousins through their FRIEDMAN mothers, who were first cousins.

............. 3 Rose SARNATZKY b: 1869 in Skidel d: 05 May 1948
................. +Hyman SCHULTZ b: 1871 m: 28 November, 1893 in Chicago d: 01 February 1947

.................. 4 Jeanette SCHULTZ b: 03 March 1896 in Chicago, Illinois d: 24 December 1980
...................... +Jack KOHN b: 27 June 1890 d: 1960
.................. 4 Henrietta SCHULTZ b: 05 February 1897 d: 12 June 1978
...................... +Julius WIEN b: 10 January 1896 d: 21 September 1977
.................. 4 Lena SCHULTZ b: 1894 d: 1899
.................. 4 Anna SCHULTZ b: 28 November 1899 d: 17 May 1958
...................... +William RUSAKOV/RUSSELL b: 14 October 1897 d: 17 July 1956
.................. 4 Harry R.SCHULTZ b: 14 August 1903 in Chicago, Illinois
...................... +Vivian DROZDOWITZ b: 30 January 1906 m: 06 March 1927
.................. 4 Libbian SCHULTZ b: 13 July 1905 in Chicago, Illinois
...................... +David FELDMAN b: 03 February 1900 m: 23 December, 1925

............. 3 Isadore Mayer SARNATZKY b: 10 December 1878 in Skidel d: December 1964 in Illinois
................. +Fagel "Fanny" SIDRAN b: November 1880 d: 03 August 1951

Isadore was a triplet and small even in adulthood. The other two triplets died very young. Isadore was a favorite of his nieces and nephews and was fondly referred to as "little uncle".

.................. 4 Jack SARNAT b: 10 July 1902 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia
...................... +Edna SIEGEL b: 25 September 1915 m: 1941

Jack was a dentist.

.................. 4 Tena D. SARNAT b: 30 March 1904 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia
...................... +Leo SPIRA b: 26 December 1899 d: 30 June 1972
.................. 4 Bernard George SARNAT b: 01 September 1912 in Chicago, Illinois
...................... +Rhoda GERARD

Bernard is an accomplished plastic surgeon. The International Bernard and Rhoda SARNAT Prize in Mental Health is a national science award. The center for the study of anti-Jewishness at Brandeis University was founded by Bernard and Rhoda.

..... 2 Yankel SARNATZKY d: 1903
......... +Gutke
............ 3 Aryeh Leib "Louis" SARNATZKY b: Abt. 1874 in Russia d: Aft. 1912
................. +First Wife

Aryeh Leib travelled over the ocean over 16 times before World War I. Like many in the family, he was in the horse and cow hide business. (from "As the Family Remembers") He was eligible to vote in 1912 and is listed as Leiba SARNATSKI, son of Yankel.

................. 4 Eliezer/Leiser "Leishke" SARNATZKY b: 1877 d: in Skidel, Grodno, Russia
..................... +Leah b: 1875 d: on the road to Luna

............. *2nd Wife of Aryeh Leib "Louis" SARNATZKY:
................. +Second wife d: Bef. 1920

..................4 Zalman Mayer "Sam" SARNATZKY b: 30 May 1888 d: 04 April 1945
..................... +Yenta "Anna" KANTOR b: 24 August 1891 d: 15 August 1950
According to the 1920 Chicago census, Sam and his father and brother Maurice were still in the leather business. Sam came to the U.S. in 1903.

................. 4 Maurice SARNATZKY b: 15 July 1892 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia d: 10 February 1975 in Israel
..................... +Dena LEW b: 1901 in Russia m: 1922 d: October 1954 in Chicago, Illinois
................. *2nd Wife of Maurice SARNATZKY:
..................... +Alice HERMAN b: 18 February 1908 m: 1955
................. 4 Daniel SARNATZKY b: 1896 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia d: 31 October 1959 in Tel Aviv, Israel
..................... +Malka GABOWITZ b: 1901 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia d: 1935 in Tel Aviv, Israel
................. *2nd Wife of Daniel SARNATZKY:
.................... +Yohevet GABOWITZ b: Abt. 1910 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia

The 1928 commercial directory of Skidel lists Daniel SARNECKI, Dentist. He's the only SARNATZKY listed. Daniel left for Israel in 1932.

................. 4 Henia "Eugenia" SARNATZKY b: 1897 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia d: 1934 in Argentina
..................... +Solomon ZAK/SACK b: 09 February 1890 in Smolensk, Russia
................. 4 Yenta "Yetta" SARNATZKY b: September 1903 d: 01 July 1979 in Israel
..................... +Yachiel GRAVIER d: in Lake Michigan
................. *2nd Husband of Yenta "Yetta" SARNATZKY:
..................... +Herman POMRENZE d: 06 October 1978 in Israel

............. 3 Herschel "Zvi" SARNATZKY b: Abt. 1852 d: Aft. 1912
................. +Dvorah RUBIN

Hirsh SARNATSKI was eligible to vote in 1912.
Most of this family were herded into a synagogue and burned to death.

.................. 4 Leo SARNATZKY b: 1898 in Russia d: 1952
...................... +Alice HERMAN b: 18 February 1908 m: 1938

Leo left Russia in 1913 and attended Cheder in the US. He was the only child of Hershel and Dvorah to survive. He was boarding with aunt Bessie KANTROVITCH in Chicago in 1920 and still in the leather and hide business. Later he opened a drug store in Chicago.

................. 4 Yitzchok SARNATZKY d: before 1941
...................... +Unknown d: in Holocaust
.................. 4 Malke SARNATZKY
...................... +Unknown d: in Holocaust
.................. 4 Minna SARNATZKY d: in Holocaust
...................... +--- RACHOVSKY
.................. 4 Luba SARNATZKY d: in Holocaust
...................... +Unknown d: in Holocaust

............. 3 Gnesia SARNATZKY d: 1934
................. +Hyman WILENSKY d: 1915

.................. 4 Mania WILENSKY
...................... +Max MUELLER

Mania and her sister Fanyea lived in Moscow.

.................. 4 Reva WILENSKY b: 1898 d: 1970 in Chicago, Illinois
...................... +Abraham RAFELSON b: 1884 in Grodno d: 31 December 1948 in Chicago
.................. 4 Isaac Yitchok WILENSKY b: 1898
.................. 4 Helena "Yenta" WILENSKY d: in Holocaust in Warsaw ghetto.
...................... +--- TENNEBAUM
................. 4 Rochelle WILENSKY
...................... +Yankel ROBINOVITCH
.................. 4 Sonia WILENSKY d: in Holocaust in Warsaw ghetto.
...................... +--- LEVINE

Sonia and her three children were killed in the Warsaw ghetto.

.................. 4 Fanyea WILENSKY
.................. 4 Esther WILENSKY d: in Holocaust in Warsaw
...................... +Unknown d: in Holocaust

Esther was the youngest of the six sisters. She was visiting her sisters in Moscow when Hitler invaded. Against their judgement she returned to Warsaw with her daughter to her husband and all were killed. (from "As the Family Remembers")

............. 3 Sarah SARNATZKY b: circa 1856 in Skidel
................. +Yitzchok Tuvia BEVLI b: circa 1850

.................. 4 Sam BEVLI b: 1898
.................. 4 Nahum Zelig BEVLI b: circa 1900
.................. 4 Shoshke BEVLI b: circa 1902
...................... +Unknown d: in Holocaust

Shoshke's husband and three children were killed by Hitler. She went from Siberia to Israel.

.................. 4 Yankel BEVLI b: circa 1904 d: in Argentina
...................... +Yente

He was tortured in Russia, got to Argentina, but died there in an institution. (from "As the Family Remembers")

............. 3 Kunea "Gertrude" SARNATZKY b: circa 1858
................. +Joseph STEIN

.................. 4 Henry STEIN b: 15 April 1896 d: 1958
...................... +Anna RABINOVITZ b: 21 April 1888 d: 13 March 1961
.................. 4 Shuska "Sylvia" STEIN
.................. 4 Samuel STEIN

.....*2nd Wife of Yankel SARNATZKY:
......... +Unknown

..... 2 Zlotke SARNATZKY b: 18 December in Skidel
......... +Rev. Mordechai ROBINOVITCH b: in Vilna, Russia d: 1929

Mordechai ROBINOVITCH had a great library and his home was the meeting place of scholars. He was called "Fetter Mordechai", was always spoken of as "the great one, the learned man". He was a Maimonides scholar and wrote approximately 14 books plus articles.(from "As the Family Remembers") Mordkhel RABINOVICH, son of Koleiv, was eligible to vote in 1912, as was his son Abram RUBINOVICH.

............. 3 Leibe ROBINOVITCH b: circa 1880
................. +Rabbi Moishe Shalom STOHL d: in Holocaust

Rabbi STOHL studied under his great father-in-law in Vilna and became a rabbi in 1900. In 1907 he was rabbi in Frienberg, Latvia. In 1924 he was chief rabbi in Boisk, Latvia. He wrote three books, including one praising his father-in-law. This whole family were destroyed with the whole congregation and all their books were burned. (from "As the Family Remembers")

.................. 4 David STOHL d: in Holocaust

He was the rabbi of Freinberg and a teacher in Boisk. (from "As the Family Remembers")

.................. 4 Aaron STOHL d: in Holocaust

Aaron was a writer.

.................. 4 Yitzchok STOHL d: in Holocaust

Yitzchok was a teacher.

.................. 4 Daughter STOHL d: in Holocaust
...................... +Chaim Zalman KROHN

............. 3 Alter "Albert" ROBINOVITCH b: Abt. 1883 in Skidel, Grodno, Russia d: 1937 in Chicago, Illinois
................. +Rose KARPOLOVICH/KAPLAN b: Abt. 1872 in Grodno, Russia m: 1912 d: 1972 in Chicago, Illinois

Albert emigrated from Russia to the U.S. in 1910.

.................. 4 Mordechai "Milton" ROBIN b: 08 November 1913
...................... +Bernice FINE b: 08 March 1915 in Chicago, Illinois m: 09 March 1941

Mordechai was a doctor. Bernice FINE ROBIN was responsible for putting the family scroll, "As the Family Remembers" together. Much of the information on this page is due to her work.

.................. 4 Clarence Darrow ROBIN b: 27 March 1925 in Chicago, Illinois d: 1937
.................. 4 Jeanette ROBIN b: 07 March 1919 in Chicago, Illinois
...................... +Irving DURCHSLAG b: 05 January 1917 m: 1941

............. 3 Avramel ROBINOVITCH

Avramel was eligible to vote in Russia in 1912.

............. 3 Yankel ROBINOVITCH b: circa 1887
................. +Rochelle WILENSKY b: circa 1905

Rochelle is a descendant of Yankel SARNATZKY. Her parents were Gnesia SARNATZKY and Hyman WILENSKY, making Yankel and Rochelle first cousins.

.................. 4 Fima ROBINOVITCH
.................. 4 Teneh ROBINOVITCH

............. 3 Chaya ROBINOVITCH b: circa 1890 in Skidel
................. +David RABINSTEIN b: circa 1890 d: 1974 in Argentina

Chaya and David emigrated to Cordoba, Argentina in 1936 after being refused immigration to the United States. (from David and Chaya's granddaughter) David RABINSTEIN was a scholar and ran a grocery store. (from "As the Family Remembers")

.................. 4 Michla "Maria" RABINSTEIN b: circa 1920 in Grodno d: in Cordoba, Argentina
.................. 4 Samuel RABINSTEIN b: circa 1922
...................... +Sophie
.................. 4 Guitl "Katalina" RABINSTEIN b: circa 1925 in Grodno
...................... +Manuel KOHAN d: 06 October, 1996

Samuel and Katalina are twins.

............. 3 Nahum Zelig ROBINOVITCH

Based on information compiled by Bernice ROBIN in "As the Family Remembers"
and on research by Linda HUGLE.
Compiled by Linda Hugle.
Updated by LH 22 November, 1999.
Copyright © 1998 Linda Hugle.

Skidel Home Page History
1928 Businesses Travel Photos