Family Benjamin & Lena MILLER (MELAMED & SHARGORODSKY)

Benjamin and Lena MILLER
Benjamin MILLER Beryl MELAMED (1885-1978) and
Leah (Lena) nee SHARGORODSKY (CHARGO) (1888-1968)

Photo: Lena, Julius (Navy), Herman, Ben, Bernard holding Robert and Vera with Ronald c1946

Benjamin MILLER Beryl MELAMED (1885-1978) and his wife Leah (Lena) nee SHARGORODSKY (CHARGO) (1888-1968) were born and lived in the “Pale of Settlement” area of the Russian Empire.  Ben’s father, Boruch Mordechi MELAMED, was in the steel/metal fabrication business in Mozyr. Ben’s mother was Shaina KARPMAN.  See the KARPMAN Family page for more information. Ben’s grandfather, Barukh Gdalev MELAMED, was most likely also involved in the family business. Barukh was registered to vote in the 1906 Russian election (Read Barukh Gdalev’s information and his registration data during the 1906 election). No information has been found regarding Lena’s family occupation in Russia. Ben’s older brother emigrated to N.Y. (c1910-1913) staying with the Kapust family in New York City before returning to Russia.

Ben Married Lena in 1913 in the city of Kiev, Russia. Ben left for America in 1914; Lena joined him in 1920. This marriage certificate is a copy of the original.

The wedding took place on Tuesday the third day of Adar 2, 5673 in Kiev, Russia.
The Groom’s name was Dov Baer son of Baruch Mordechai.
The Bride’s name was Leah daughter of Yisrael Reuven Shargorotsky
The witnesses were: Chaim son of Dovid and Nachum son of Zelig.
David Ber son of Baruch Mordechai Melamed married Leah daughter of Yisrael Reuven Shregartsky on the third day from Shabat two days for the month of Adar year 5673 to creation in the town of Kiev, Russia the groom David Ber son of Baruch Mordechai known as Melamed said to the Virgin Leah daughter of Yisrael Reuven known as Shregartsky.

Date: Tuesday, March 11, 1913 or possibly Monday evening, March 10, 1913
Place: Kiev
Groom: Dov Ber son of Baruch Mordechai MELAMED
Bride: Leah daughter of Yisra’el Re’uven SHARGORODSKY
Witnesses: Chaim the son of David and Nachum the son of Zelik

Ben told stories to his grandson, Robert (Bob) Miller:  Ben was a conscript in Russian Army with a forced enlistment of 15 years.  Ben deserted and went to America via Canada. Ben worked as draftsman at Link Belt Company,  Chicago circa 1916.  Ben worked for Basting & Blessing in Chicago.  Ben tried borrowing funds from Basting & Blessing to bring wife over but was denied the loan.  Ben saved for 7 years to bring her over (she arrived in Sept 1920). Ben’s grandfather Gedalia Melamed started a 2nd family at an old age with a young wife; he had grown children at the time of his 2nd marriage. Ben’s father’s house in Mozyr, Russia was big as a Chicago city block with animals in center court yard. (In Chicago there are 8 city blocks to a mile.) Ben’s father had a sheet metal business concerning beer barrels, but also build water towers that towns used, and also built steel bridges..  Read more Miller family stories (link).

Ben MILLER, born 1885 as Berel MELAMED in the town of MOZYR, Administrative District of MINSK, Providence of MINSK, of the Russian Empire ruled by Tzar Nicholas II. This area since 1991 is now the Republic of Belarus. The chart below may help illustrate the governmental relationships during the time Ben was growing up. The 9 district cities of the Minsk Gubernia correspond with the nine districts: Minsk, Pinsk, Rechitsa, Borisov, Bobruisk, Slutsk, Novogrudok, Mozyr, and Igumen. Visit the Map information for more detailed views of the area.

1890 – 1917	1890 – 1917
Town of Mozyr, Rusaki or Berdychiv (Shtetl)	City of Chicago
Mozyr Administrative District (Uyezd Gorod)	State of Illinois County of Cook
Administrative District of MINSK (Uyezd)	State of Illinois
Russian Empire	United States

Ben was thought to possibly be a Sephardic Jew, descending from ancestors who originally came to Russia after being expelled from Spain in 1492.  Ben’s Sephardic practice of Tallis winding could also be indicative of Hassidic  Jews since they, the Ashkenazi Hassidic, adopted many of the Sephardic practices.  That could explain why grandpa Ben was observant in the Sephardic mode, but was really Ashkenazi.   Mystery  Solved:   In 2016 when Ben’s great grandson was in Israel he went to the “Four Sephardi Synagogues” in Jerusalem. They had a little museum setup with pictures of old men in ‘funny headgear’. He showed a couple of the attendants the picture of Abraham Miller, Ben’s cousin, with his ‘funny hat’.  He asked them if Abraham looked Sephardic. They said, with certainty, he’s Ashkenazi. He told them the story that Abraham’s nephew, Ben, had wrapped his tafilin the Sephardic way. They asked if this family was from around Kiev. He said, that’s right. They said it wasn’t unusual for all kinds of Jews to mix in Kiev because it was one of the main centers of Judaism for much of the 18th and 19th centuries.  So, another family mystery gets resolved. And, DNA testing validates that MELAMED descendants are essentially 100 percent Ashkenazi.

His family lived in Mozyr, where he was born in 1885.  It’s 1897 population was 8,000 with 5,600 Jewish. This Mozyr brewery, built in 1885, gives a sense of how prosperous the town was at the time.

Ben Millers mother’s maiden name is listed as Shaina KARPMAN on his social security application.

Ben never mentioned his family or siblings. He told his grandson that he had 7 or 8 siblings and he was the youngest child. The family rumors were that he was the youngest son in the family, and that he was forced to be drafted into the Czar’s army. At that time, this was a common requirement; ‘donating’ a son for military service to the Czar. True or not, he eventually deserted the Czar’s army and fled to America in 1914.

In 2018 a DNA match resulted in discovering Ben’s 7 siblings.  Their names are listed on this 1904 photo: Moisey, Rivah, Rose, Shevel, Lazar, Samuil, and Grisha. Note that Ben, age about 19 in 1904 is not in the photo.

DNA matches with several MELAMED individuals led to confirmation that this 1904 family photo are my extended family. Moses ‘Moisey’ MELAMED (1910-1984), my 1C1R, wrote a history of the Melamed family; the book -The chronicle of life Melamed Family. The history contains the following excerpt confirming our connection. My grandfather, Ben is listed, along with his address in Chicago.

Uncle Beryl (Boris), born in 1888, I do not remember him, because in 1913 (or earlier) he emigrated to America, went to look for a better life. His wife, Liza, went to America in 1920, and there she found him. I know that he corresponded with his mother, grandmother Sonya, but during the war all the property of my grandmother and my mother, who since 1940 lived in Rechitsa, on the street. Uritsky, 54, disappeared, all the documents also disappeared. . . . . The uncle’s surname was already Miller. His address (pre-war) was remembered by my brother Arkady, who, at the request of my grandmother, wrote her the address of his uncle: USA, Chicago, Harding 1023, Miller Boris Borukhovich. (NOTES: Bolding is mine. This is a Google Translation and some names may not have properly translated. E.g. My grandmother is Lena, not Liza.)

Ben’s wife, Lena, was born 20 September 1888 as Chaja Leja Shargorodsky in the shetl Ivankov in the same area; see  maps showing the location of this area. Her mother’s maiden name was MELTZER or WEISBERG. Ben worked for years, after arriving in America in 1914, trying to borrow passage money to bring Lena to America; he could not get a loan. Lena remained in Europe until 1920 when she arrived at Ellis Island and rejoined Ben in Chicago. Her passenger manifest noted that her nearest relative in Europe was her father-in-law Mr. MELAMED living in Proschitnie, Poland (Possibly Prostyn, Poland located 50 miles NE of Warsaw which is the village next to the Nazi Treblinka extermination camp).

Ben and Lena were married in Kiev in 1913 (most likely the province of Kiev, not the city of Kiev). View the Documents Page to see Lena’s citizenship application forms, Polish passport, and other documents to see what genealogy information can be gained. Lena had a daughter – who was killed by a cow, as Ben told his grandson Robert – and the birth certificate for their first child in America notes one previous birth and child now deceased.  Lena and her daughter were living with Ben’s family until she could start her journey to America; It was 7 years after he arrived in America.  Lena also spoke Polish and Yiddish and Russian and English but was not literate by our standards.

In 1925 he filed a Petition for Naturalization as Benjamin MILLER. He had filed a petition in 1919, but one of his witnesses was not valid, often due to not being a US citizen. Ben had to refile.It is not known exactly when or why Ben changed his name from MELAMED to MILLER. Conjecture would be that while in 1917 after moving in with, or perhaps while living with, his cousin Louis MILLER, he changed it. His WWI Draft Registration Card shows Ben MILLER; and Ben MILLER is his name on the 1920 Census.

Ben was a draftsman working for his father, in Russia. Ben’s son, Julius, recalled that his father told him that Ben’s father built metal water towers and bridges. Ben was drafted into the Czar’s Army where he played in the band (Read about the Russian military Jewish draft) . . . . and saw his first airplane. Read about the history of the Russian Air Force during his time in the Czar’s army, and the airplanes he most likely saw. Benjamin MILLER, Berel MELAMED on his ship manifest, departed Europe from the port of Liverpool, England, arriving in America on the ship S.S. Canada, via Port of Quebec, Canada and via Port Huron, Michigan on August 3rd, 1914, just as World War I began. Ben’s ship manifest listed his age as 26 and occupation as locksmith. Also traveling with Ben was his wife’s brother, Chaim Leib SHARGORODSKY (Hyman CHARGO). They took the train from Michigan to St. Paul, Minnesota where Chaim’s brother Ben Chargo was living (Ben had arrived in 1913, the year before). Ruben did not arrive in America until 1916.

In 1917, according to his WWI draft registration card, Ben worked as a sheet iron worker for the H.W. Caldwell company, 17th & Western Ave, Chicago, which was owned by Link-Belt Company.

The 1920 census listed Ben MILLER and his occupation as repairman at tire shop However, the line below lists metal worker, shop. It is probable that the census worker put Ben’s occupation on the wrong line since his 1917 occupation was sheet metal worker.

He was a draftsman at Link-Belt and evenually became the head draftsman. He left Link-Belt to open his American Soda Fountain Company building and repairing soda fountains which were very popular at the time.

In 1923, Ben’s 1923 Chicago City Directory Listing shows his American Soda Fountain business address on 1025 Blue Island.

The 1930 Chicago phone directory listed Ben MILLER as a hotel clerk and also listed his home address, 1023 N. Harding, and phone. Family stories indicate the hotel clerk listing was for the family who rented an apartment in the two-flat building where Ben lived and which Ben owned (Ben never worked as a hotel clerk). Ben opened the “American Soda Fountain Service” at 1736 W. Van Buren Avenue in Chicago.

In 1936 Ben enrolled in the ‘New’ Social Security program.  His application lists his parents names and his place of birth.

Ben later opened Ben Miller’s Soda Fountain Service at 3843 West Ogden.

Ben was a 50 year Master Mason and life member. 

Below is a letter outlining the history of Ben’s membership in the Masons, and his lodge membership history.  (Select to view larger image).

Ben corresponded with his family in Russia, including sending packages, until after WWII when he was advised by a brother, then a local Commissar, that the American letters and packages were gaining too much attention by the authorities. The families never communicated again. The Miller family grew. Read family stories about Ben and Lena.

There is a genealogy mystery.  Family lore is that Ben Miller’s brother arrived in the US and then returned to Russia.When he arrived, he stayed with the Kapust family in NY. In researching this ‘missing brother’ I have found information on the Kapust family that may be germane. While it does not solve the mystery by proving the identify of the missing brother, it does offer some insights. Also, I propose one possible ‘missing brother discovered’ to consider as a possibility. Further research is obviously needed, but perhaps more eyes on the documents may help.  This is a link to the information I’ve gathered about the KAPUST family.

A manifest for the ship S.S. Megantic, sailing from Liverpool on July 18, 1914 arriving in Quebec July 26, showing a Zurle MELAMED Zurle crossed-off, not admitted. This was either really Ben who missed this boat, or Ben’s brother. The similarities: Both listed with same age, eye color, occupation, destination, wife, relative in Russia; the only significant difference is Ben’s height 5′ 4 1/2″ and Zurle 5′ 6″. It is most probable that Zurle is a miss-translation of Berle, which is common when original documents are transcribed; Ben (Berle) did not sail on the ship Megantic; we may never know why he delayed the week. Most probable was that Ben was waiting for his cousin Chaim Leib SHARGORODSKY to arrive, or become available for the trip (Perhaps Chaim was detained for processing).

RESIDENCES

1914 Russia: Arrived US August. Last address Kiev.

1914 St. Paul, MN 248 State, St. (Stayed with his Chargo/Shargorodsky in-laws)

1917 Chicago: 809 S. Leavitte. (1917 WWI Draft Registration Card)

1919-1920 Chicago: 1137 Francisco (1919 Nat Dec & 1920 Census). Living with the Louis MILLER family.

1920: Lena Arrives from Europe.

1923 Chicago: 2218 W. Taylor (1923 City Directory) This was also the address of his cousin Louis TUROW in 1917.

Chicago: 1439 S. Kedvale Ave

1930 Chicago: 1023 N. Harding Ave. 1930 census & WWII draft.

C1956 Chicago: N. Greenview Street (about 6500)

C1971 Chicago: 1434 W. Lunt

1978 Niles, IL: 6601 W. Touhy Ave. Nursing Home

THE BEN MILLER family

Benjamin MILLER, Berl MELAMED Arrived August 1914, at Quebec, Canada, age 26 on manifest; occupation: Locksmith. Married 1913 in Kiev, Russia to Lena SHARAGORODSKY. They had three children: Bernard, Julius, and Herman.

Lena MILLER nee SHARAGORODSKY, (Chaja Leja MELAMED on manifest), Arrived 1920, New York, Ellis Island, Age 33 on the manifest.

Bernard Morton (1921-1953) was born in America, married Vera SHANKMAN December 24th, 1941; two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was IV-F due to having rheumatic fever complications resulting in a heart condition.  However, he joined the Illinois Reserve Militia during WWII.

 

“The Kiss” is a 10 second clip of Bernard & Vera at a cousin’s club picnic on Chicago’s lakefront c1950.   View “The Kiss” video.

They had 3 sons: Robert, Ronald and Scott.

Bernard died of a heart attack in 1953; he had rheumatic fever as a child. Bernie worked for his dad as a soda fountain repairman. Vera was a homemaker until Bernie’s death. She established herself as a secretary, eventually earning a position as the private secretary for Don McNeil who was the host of a popular morning radio program. Vera wrote a column for the Jewish magazine, Sentinel; Read some of her articles describing many aspects of Jewish life.

For many years she wrote and distributed a ‘Family Gram’ newsletter. This was during the era when typewriters and carbon paper, and eventually copy machines, were commonly used.   The Internet had not been ‘invented’ and Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram, Pinterest, and other social media were not even dreamed of.  This Family Gram example is representative and provides a wealth of genealogy information. It was provided by Bryan; I regret not saving every one that I received.

Vera created a book of family stories for her grand children that contain a wealth of genealogy materials which she titled, “For The Next Generation.”  Vera later remarried. She had two daughters.  1922 : 2002

Julius. Born in America. married Shirley GREENBERG. They had five children, two sons and three daughters. Shirley’s father was a house painter per 1930 census. Read the Greenberg family history for details.  Note: The history of the Greenberg family from Russia – their ship manifest name was Grunberg. The family originated from a town in the Ukraine called Mogilev-Podolsk. Julius, a WWII Navy veteran, participated in many famous battles in the Pacific Theatre of Operations.

He worked in the engine room of the Destroyer Escort USS Raymond which supported air operations 16 October 1944 against Leyte, Philippine Islands. On 25 October she participated in the Battle off Samar, during which she attacked Japanese ships, inflicting damage to a Japanese cruiser with 5″ gunfire, and picked up survivors from stricken escort carrier St. Lo.   View more information about the USS Raymond and its battle history

This is the narrative of the USS Raymond DD-341 Presidential Unit Citation:

“For extraordinary heroism in action against powerful units of the Japanese Fleet during the Battle off Samar, Philippines, October 25, 1944. Silhouetted against the dawn as the Central Japanese Force steamed through San Bernardino Strait towards Leyte Gulf, Task Unit 77.4.3 was suddenly taken under attack by hostile cruisers on its port hand, destroyers on the starboard and battleships from the rear. Quickly laying down a heavy smoke screen, the gallant ships of the Task Unit waged battle fiercely against the superior speed and fire power of the advancing enemy, swiftly launching and rearming aircraft and violently zigzagging in protection of vessels stricken by hostile armor-piercing shells, anti-personnel projectiles and suicide bombers. With one carrier of the group sunk, others badly damaged and squadron aircraft courageously coordinating in the attacks by making dry runs over the enemy Fleet as the Japanese relentlessly closed in for the kill, two of the Unit’s valiant destroyers and one destroyer escort charged the battleships point-blank and, expending their last torpedoes in desperate defense of the entire group, went down under the enemy’s heavy shells as a climax to two and one half hours of sustained and furious combat. The courageous determination and the superb teamwork of the officers and men who fought the embarked planes and who manned the ships of Task Unit 77.4.3 were instrumental in effecting the retirement of a hostile force threatening our Leyte invasion operations and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

Herman. Born in America. married Beverly BECK, they had a son and daughter. Herman, a Korean War veteran, participated in what were at the time highly classified operations while stationed in Japan.