Family Harry SHANKMAN and SKOLNICK

The Harry SHANKMAN and SKOLNICK Family

Harry SHANKMAN, born Hershel KRASNITZKY in Rzeshtchieve, near Kiev, Russia on May 4th, 1894, was the son of Lazar Krasnitzky and Chani (Bessie) KAPLAN.

Lazar died before Hershel left the Russia.

In this c1893 photo, Lazar and Bessie are on the right. Photo interpretation indicates that Bessie's hands folded over her stomach was indicative of pregnancy. Best guess is that she was carrying Harry.

Hershel (Harry) arrived at Ellis Island in 1910 at age 16.  See his ship manifest listing his occupation as shoe maker. He was detained for being a likely public charge (LPC), but was granted entry. It could be assumed that he was able to verify he would be living with his step-father. Family history is that Harry lived with family friends in New York city named SHANKMAN before he came to Chicago to join his mother's family. Hershel took the name Harry SHANKMAN and settled in Chicago living with his mother and his step-father Max SKOLNICK. Since his step-father also has a child named Harry, they were called Big Harry (Shankman) and Little Harry (Skolnick). Harry worked in the shoe industry; Max SKOLNICK was a shoemaker. A logical assumption is that Harry learned the shoe trade while in Russia, from his step-father Max who arrived in America in 1907.

In 1917 Harry was drafted and served overseas during World War I. His draft registration card listed his employment as a shoe inspector at Sears Roebuck & Co. The 1920 Census listed his occupation as a store shoe clerk.

The 1923 Chicago City Directory listed Harry as a shoe cutter.

He later opened "Harry's Bicycle & Tire Shop" on North Western Avenue in Chicago - across from Lane Technical High School. The 1930 Chicago City Directory lists Harry's Tire Shop.

Harry's (c1944) WWII draft registration shows him owning Harry's Tire Shop.

Read about Harry's war service with the 33rd "Prairie" Division where he took part in many historic battles.

During WWII Harry provided photos to the Naval Intelligence Service that were returned to him in 1944 (Read the letter).

In 1920 he was Naturalized as a citizen; his naturalization papers made his name change to Shankman official.

 

Harry with Millicent c1929	Harry at Camp Grant, IL 1917
Ruth nee BRISKIN, Harry, Sophie GOLDENBERG BERESIN nee GARFINKEL (seated), sisters Vera and Millicent circa 1932

Harry SHANKMAN married Rosabel GOLDEN in Chicago 1920; Rosabel was born June 1900, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (view Harry & Rosabel's marriage certificate). They had two children, LaVera Lee (1922-2002) and Millicent (1926-2009). Rosabel died following complications of childbirth. Harry married Ruth BRISKIN and had a son Arthur Irving (1932-1956).

Vera SHANKMAN married Bernard MILLER in 1941 and had three sons. Bernard died of a heart attack in 1953. Vera wrote a column for the Jewish magazine, Sentinel; Read some of her articles describing many aspects of Jewish life. Vera later remarried and had a daughter. She created a volumn of Family History Stories for her grandchildren. The Sentinel articles and Family History Stories will open in a new browser window or tab.

Millicent SHANKMAN married and had three children, one son and two daughters. Millicent had a long career in the consumer research industry.

Arthur SHANKMAN married to Yvonne and they had two sons. Arthur was killed in an auto accident. Arthur owned a charter fishing boat in Longbeach, CA.

Rosabel GOLDEN's parents were Charles GOLDENBERG (Born 1863 Bessarabia, Russia, immigrated circa 1882 (est. age 19), and Sophie "Toby" GARFINKEL (born July 1877 Russia).

Harry Shankman's mother, Ida Bessie 'Chaje' KAPLAN,

was born in Rutzas, Russia, where her father Lazar (Leiser) KAPLAN, and her mother were also born. View Bessie's death certificate for genealogy details.). After marrying Max SKOLNICK (Mordje SZKOLNIK) in Kiev, Russia, where they had 4 children she - and her children - immigrated to America in 1911. Max, in 1907 at age 33, came to Chicago via Ellis Island (port of New York) on the ship Finland. In 1911 Bessie, at age 40, and their children arrived in America arriving at Philadelphia on the ship Pretoria where they rejoined Max in Chicago; Max and Bessie had another child in Chicago, Phillip. (Note: The family used the name SKOLNICK as well as SKOLNIK). Harry, Big Harry, traveled by car from Chicago to Los Angeles in 1930; it was quite a road trip compared to a road trip today. See all their ship manifests for more family details.

THE SHANKMAN & SKOLNIK family

• Max Skolnik (Mordche Schkolnik)- Arrived 1907, New York, Ellis Island, age 33 on manifest; occupation: Laborer. Married in Russia Bessie KAPLAN (Chaji Szkolnik on manifest)- Arrived 1911, Port of Philadelphia, age 40 on manifest.

• Fanny Skolnik (Feige Szkolnik) - Arrived 1911, Port of Philadelphia, age 9 on manifest was born in Russia 1900. She married Abe HERZOG occupation painter per 1930 census. They owned a paint store in Chicago.

• Harry Skolnik 'Little Harry' Herich Szkolnik- Arrived 1911, Port of Philadelphia, age 7 on manifest was born in Russia in1902. He married Bertha.

• Molly Skolnik (Manya Szkolnik) - Arrived 1911, Port of Philadelphia, age 5 on manifest was born in Russia May 4, 1904. She married Morris HYMAN. See Morris' High School yearbook page.

• Sally Skolnik (Scheindel Szkolnik) - Arrived 1911, Port of Philadelphia, age 3 on manifest. married Sam ASTRICAN. Born in Kiev, July 4th, 1907, on her 1939 Social Security Application she listed as her birth place Chicago and birth year 1911; not an unusual practice for the 1930-1940 era. Sally died 1981 (see report of death).

• Harry Shankman 'Big Harry' (Hershel Krasnitzky) - Arrived 1910, New York, Ellis Island, age 16 on manifest was born in Kiev, Russia, May 5th, 1904. His 1930 census occupation: Proprietor, Tire shop. married Rosabel GOLDEN. Children: Vera and Millicent. Rosabel died in childbirth, 1926; Harry married Ruth BRISKIN and later divorced.

• Philip Skolnik- Born in America. married Rhona.