Charles GOLDENBERG Family Tree

Sophie GARFINKEL Family Tree

Harry SHANKMAN married Rosabel GOLDEN in Chicago 1920; Rosabel was born June 1900, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Rosabel GOLDEN’s parents were Charles GOLDENBERG (Born 1863 Bessarabia, (Tolchien) Russia, immigrated circa 1882 (est. age 19), and Sophie “Toby” GARFINKEL (born July 1877 Russia). Sophia GARFINKEL’s parents were Henry (Elijah/Eli/Ely) & Mollie (Malkah/Matilda) GARFINKEL nee RUBINSTEIN who lived at in Philadelphia, PA.  Henry/Elijah died in 1911 and Mollie died in 1915; They are buried in Har Nebo Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA.  Sophia’s marriage license shows their home address in 1893 as 319 Catherine St .

Photo above: Catherine Street and 4th Street corner.

The 1900 Philadelphia Census does not list Henry and Millie GARFINKEL; a different family resides at their single family residence at 319 Catherine Street. The 1910 Philadelphia census lists Sophie’s parents, Eli and Matilda GARFINKEL living at 442 Emily St with their children Reba, Nettie, and grandchildren Elizabeth & Catherine LARGEMAN.

In 1900 Charles & Sophie were living in Philadelphia at 611 South Street with their children Samuel ‘Jacob’ and Herman. No immigration, census, or burial records have been yet been found for Henry.  Millie, (Matilda on the 1910 Census), known as ‘Mollie’ on her will, died in Philadelphia August 20, 1915. Mollie Garfinkel Last Will  listing her children and noting date of death; there is no mention of her husband.
Mollie had six children:
Charles, William, Sophia (GOLDENBERG), Rose (MANDEL), May (RICE), and Rebecca (FLOMENHOFT).

Sophia’s parents were Nahum and Amelia RUBINSTEIN.  Amelia’s maiden name is unknown.  In 1894 Chaim RUBINSTEIN and his family joined his son, Schleume, who lived at 319 Catherine Street where Sophia’s family lived.   See manifest lines 21 – 26.  It is not known if the GARFINKLE family moved or if the RUBENSTEIN family needed an initial destination upon arriving in America.  The manifest lists Chiam’s wife as Marjam.

Other GARFINKEL Philadelphia relatives have been documented. Eli GOLDENBERG is listed on the marriage license as Sophie’s father when she married Ben BERESIN in 1916.  Sophie may have intended the surname GARFINKEL, or perhaps her father had changed his name to GOLDENBERG.   A 1910 Philadelphia census lists an Eli and Matilda GARFINKEL who proved to be Sophie’s parents (Elijah & Mollie) based on Mollie’s will.

Charles GOLDENBERG and Sophia GARFINKEL married August 1st, 1893 in Philadelphia, PA. The licence noted he was a merchant residing in Troy, AL. and that Charles was born in Russia.  It states Sophia was born in Philadelphia although other documents show Russia. Charles was born about 1865.  It is currently a mystery how Charles knew Sophie in Philadelphia.  Perhaps they knew each other in Europe.

Sophie Garfinkel (Garfield) 1893 Philadelphia Marriage License data

1. Charles resident of Troy, AL. 2. His age listed 27 with DOB c1866. If Oct 1863, from 1900 census, is correct he was really about 30 when he married. 3. Both show place of birth Russia 3. Sophie age 19 with DOB c1874. If July 1877, from 1900 census, and c1878 from 1920 census are correct she was really about 16/17 when she married. Census 1900 Philadelphia

1. Sophie age 22, with July 1877 on form

2. Charles age 36 with Oct 1863 on form

3. Both show place of birth: Russia 4. Sophie:

4 children, 2 living. With child Samuel listed born 1894, and another 1897. This would indicate she lost 2 children (twins?) before marriage.

5. Immigration: 1882

Census 1910 Chicago

Charles, Sophie.  Children:  Samuel, Herman, Rosabel, Florence (Flo).

Census 1920 Chicago

1. Sophie age 42 DOB c 1878

2. Place of birth Pennsylvania.

Charles was a businessman who had lived in Troy, Alabama prior to returning to Philadelphia to marry Sophie in 1893.  They moved to Troy, Alabama following the marriage.  After Charles’ business failed in 1896 the family was next documented in Philadelphia according to the 1900 Philadelphia census which listed Charles as a Dealer in Dry Goods. It is probable Charles was a traveling salesman based in Philadelphia with stores in the southern states (Alabama & Tennessee). At some point the family moved to Chicago since  Sophia and Charles divorced 1915 in Chicago.   Evidently the GOLDENBERG family moved to Chicago sometime after the 1900 (PA census) and the 1910 Chicago Census where he lived at 598 West 14th Street with his family and was a salesman.  In 1915 he divorced. The 1920 Chicago Census listed Charles as a clothing salesman living with his son Herman. Charles’ parents were both born in Bessarabia, Russia. Family lore is that he lived in Odessa and Kiev and was probably born in Tulchin.  The census shows he immigrated about 1889 (no manifest found). It’s probable that he arrived earlier since he most likely lived in New York on arrival and lived in Troy Alabama 1892 (per Mason membership).

Charles as a Master Mason.  Records show he was a Master Mason member of the Troy ,Alabama Lodge 56 in 1892 and last paid dues in 1910. It is not know when he initially joined the Masons or joined the Troy Lodge.  If records are found they could help determine when Charles moved to Alabama.  The extent records show he lapsed his dues in 1893, which is the year he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to marry Sophia Garfinkel. The 1910 Census has Charles living in Philadelphia, PA. His resumption of dues to the Troy Lodge (1895-96) indicate that he either continued his business activities in Troy, lived there, or only supported his old Lodge.  Charles lived in Chicago in 1910 (US Census) which could explain why he stopped paying dues to his Troy Lodge.  Records from a Chicago Masonic Lodge have not been found.   

Troy Lodge 56 Membership Rosters Listing Charles Goldenberg:
Mason_Lodge_Alabama_Troy_56_Pike_1892
Mason_Lodge_Alabama_Troy_56_Pike_1893
Mason_Lodge_Alabama_Troy_56_Pike_1894
Mason_Lodge_Alabama_Troy_56_Pike_1896
Mason_Lodge_Alabama_Troy_56_Pike_1900
Mason_Lodge_Alabama_Troy_56_Pike_1911

The main principles of Freemasonry insist that each member show tolerance, respect and kindness in his actions toward others; practices charity and care for the community as a whole; and strives to achieve high moral standards in his own personal life. Honor and integrity are at the core of the Masonic belief system. Members are obligated to practice self control and treat the people around them with respect, regardless of their own personal opinion of that person. Source: www.masonic-lodges.com/masons.html

Sophia and Charles first two children were Samuel Jacob GOLDENBERG, born Dec 1894, and Herman GOLDENBERG, born July 1897, both born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Samuel’s World War I 1917 draft registration lists his last name as GOLDENBERG, while the 1920 census lists GOLDEN. Rosabel’s sister, Florence GOLDEN, was born in Chicago July, 1902.

Florence married Herman JACOBSON in 1924; he is listed on the 1930 census as an auto parts proprietor. They lived in Chicago. Florence second marriage, in 1955, was to Benjamin ALBERT (view marriage certificate), who was much involved with the Chicago labor union movement and, at the age of 94. Read the letter he wrote about his ALBERT family genealogy history which includes him recalling the Cossack pograms when he was a boy in Tiraspol (Bessarabia, Ukraine). Ben ALBERT came to America in 1899, and became a citizen in 1906, according to the 1920 census, where he is listed as a labor organizer; and on the 1930 census as a real estate dealer.

According to family lore, Charles GOLDENBERG went to Philadephia, from Alabama, to marry Sophia. Charles was wealthy and owned some dry good stores. Charles paid for his siblings passage to America (Jacob “Jake” and Johanna). Charles gave his brother Jake a store to manage in Tennesee, but Jake was a gambler and Charles lost not only the store, but went into bankruptcy. Charles, Sophia and their children lived in Chicago per the 1910 census.

SOME FACTS About Charles and Jake (Jacob):  According to the Troy Alabama newspaper, The Messenger, Charles was a successful owner of the store called The Bee Hive.  In 1891he added an employee.  In 1892 he joined the Troy Masons which indicated he was civic minded and also that he was accepted into local society. In 1893 he returned from marrying Sophie in Philadelphia after visiting New York, Cincinnati and Chicago.  In 1894 his brother Jake (Jacob) arrived after leaving Troy to marry Johana ‘Annie’ HERTZBERG of Chicago.  Jake and Annie left Alabama returning to Chicago where they had their first child in 1895.  Jake remained in Chicago until his death in 1946.  Jacob & Johanna had 8 known children.  See bottom of page for Jacob & Anna’s children’s family history.

Yaakov Ben/(son of) Reb Yitchak Yeshiah.

This is evidence that Jake was working with Charles  in Troy prior to his marriage and that Jake could have been the cause of the November 1896 notice that Charles went bankrupt.   The article states, “This is unfortunate for the city as well as for Mr. Goldenberg.  We were hopeful that Troy would escape anything of the kind this fall but it seems that fate is against us.”  That supports that Charles was an honest and successful businessman.

The real cause of Charles’ business failure probably was not caused by his brother Jake’s gambling as was the family lore..  It might have been, but probably was the result of the 1893 Financial Panic which lasted until 1897.  Its impact was disastrous to many. “The Panic of 1893 was a major national economic depression which began in 1893 and lasted until at least 1897, causing widespread unemployment and numerous business failures.”  “As a result of the panic, stock prices declined. 500 banks closed, 15,000 businesses failed, and numerous farms ceased operation. The unemployment rate hit 25% in Pennsylvania, 35% in New York, and 43% in Michigan. Soup kitchens were opened to help feed the destitute. Facing starvation, people chopped wood, broke rocks, and sewed by hand with needle and thread in exchange for food. In some cases, women resorted to prostitution to feed their families.”  Source: Parshall, Gerald. “The Great Panic Of ’93.” U.S. News & World Report 113.17 (1992). For details of the impact on Alabama: https://www.bhamwiki.com/w/Panic_of_1893

In actual fact, Charles did not declare bankruptcy in the normal understanding of the term.  He used as process called the ABC process (See ABC Option explanation below).

Boston Daily Globe 20 Nov 1896 and 1 Dec 1896. Articles listing Charles as having made an assignment.  And in the articles below you can see the number of companies that were going bankrupt.  Charles sold shoes, and many shoe manufactures were going bankrupt.  So it was not his brother Jake but the financial meltdown of 1893-1897 that was the cause.  Those who lived through the 2008 financial depression should be able to understand how a good businessman was forced to close because he could not pay ‘in advance’ for the goods he bought on credit when his loans were called.    The ABC Option. In many states, another option that may be available to companies in financial trouble is an assignment for the benefit of creditors (or “general assignment for the benefit of creditors” as it is sometimes called). The ABC is an insolvency proceeding governed by state law rather than federal bankruptcy law.

Charles was next documented in 1900 living in Philadelphia, but he remained a dues paying Mason until 1911 and so may have remained in contact with people in the Troy area.  The Montgomery, AL Times, 15 November 1911 issue, notes he arrived at the Gay-Teague hotel listed as from New York. Perhaps he was enroute to or from Troy and used New York for business reasons.  Recall that Charles and his family were living in Chicago in the 1910 census.   Charles and Sophie divorced 1915 in Chicago. The 1920 Chicago census showed Charles living with his son Herman.  Charles died of cancer in 1940, age 73.

These are the discovered newspaper articles.

Sophia divorced Charles in 1915 and marrried Ben BERESIN  (1874-1951 Chicago) who owned a tailor shop, as noted on the 1920 Chicago census.

Ben owned a tailor shop in Chicago at least since 1905 as evidenced by this Chicago City Directory entry.

The 1916 Cleveland City Directory has Benj Beresin dry cleaners 6916 Superior Ave NE
They were married July 1916 in Cleveland, Ohio.  Ben had a son Samuel, and daughter Estelle, from a previous marriage; both children were born in Chicago. Ben BERESIN arrived in New York in 1894, listed as a carpenter on the manifest. His naturalization papers show Ben born in Novazibcow (sp?), Russia, on March 8th, 1874, as Benjamin Podberegin; he changed his name to BERESIN in 1922 when he became an American citizen. In Ohio, July 1916, Ben married Sophia; she used the surname GARFIELD, and listed her parents: Eli GOLDENBERG and Amelia RUBINSTEIN.

Sophie and Ben. Front from left: Vera, Millicent, and Arthur SHANKMAN

Family History of Jacob, Charles GOLDENBERG’s brother

Jacob married Johanna HERTZBERG in Chicago, 1894.  They had 8 children.  I’m researching the children and new information will be added as discovered.

Isadore ‘Irving H’ GOLDENBERG
Born Chicago, Illinois 1895 – Died Los Angeles, California 1960
Married Leta (her mother’s name: CHANDLER).  Children: Lilyan; Donna; Rosalis.
Note:  Birth information in registry entry. Early records were kept in register books beginning in 1877. By the early 1900s most events were recorded on pre-printed forms. Legislation in 1819 required physicians to record births and deaths for their practices.

WWI Service:  Served in France 1918 – 1919

Draft Registration Card 1917

Ship manifest enroute to France 1918

 Sent to front line as replacement from the 86th Division, 171st INF Brigade, 342nd Infantry Regiment. Individual units within the Division, particularly the 171st Infantry Brigade and 172nd Infantry Brigade, were used to reinforce or replenish frontline units.  Irving returned from France, July 1919, from US Camp Hospital #52, located in Le Mans. It is not currently known if Irving was posted there as staff, or was a patient.
Further research should provide the answer. From The History of the A.E.F. by Shipley Thomas: The 86th Division. Upon arrival in France, the division was ordered to the Le Mans area, where it was broken up and cadres formed for training replacements for combat divisions at the front.

The Official History of the Eighty-Sixth Division by John G. Little
Following excerpted from the book: The 342nd Infantry trained at Camp Grant, Rockford, IL, then to Camp Logan, Texas where they became part of the 33rd Division. Departed for France in British ships. Irving was on the Minnekahda. The troop quarters were so densely packed that there being little ventilation to begin with, it became at times difficult to breathe. The peculiar smell of those holds is a thing that probably will not soon pass from the memory of the American soldier. It is a small in a class by itself; there is no other smell anywhere else exactly like it. 
They arrived in Liverpool, England. They marched 6 miles in drenching rain, slushing through mud angel deep to leaky tents located at Knotty Ash. They entrained a few days later to Southampton for going to land in Havre, France. The Spanish flu caused many to die before leaving England. They traveled to Le Mans via trains designed for 40 men or 8 horses. They often slept in relays for lack of space.
There were 30 combat divisions in France that needed over 100,000 infantry replacements but there were only 66,000 available. Soldiers from the infantry regiments, including Irving’s 342nd, on about October 1918 were transferred to the First, Second, Thirty-second and Eighty-ninth Divisions, and others joined various other organizations.
Irving’s 342nd Infantry Regiment was formed into the Third Provisional Regiment and remained in Le Mans. They were tasked with being part of the American embarkation center to prepare for troops return voyage and immediate demobilization. The embarkation service was to charged with feeding, reclothing and equipping the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who would pass through, and which also required a form of a hotel service.
The Third Provisional marched about 18 miles to La Roche and LaBrielle where they stayed for about two weeks. In February 1919 they entrained enroute back to Le Mans were they took over the classification camp until they themselves returned to America July 1919.
AND it is important to note that I have not yet been able to confirm where Irving was assigned: With another unit on the front lines, at the embarkation center, or elsewhere.

Camp Hospital No. 52 was established in August, 1918, at Le Mans, Department Sarthe, intermediate section, its personnel being taken from the American Expeditionary Forces at large. It was located in the old monastery, which had been occupied by the French complementary hospital No. 49. The monastery was poorly suited for hospitalization, for its large halls and high ceilings and stone floors made it damp and difficult to heat. Plumbing and wiring were insufficient and a large force of men was required to keep the building in repairs. In addition to the monastery, 2 schools, a girls’ and a boys’ normal school, each accommodating about 200 patients, were taken.

Returning from France to America 1919

WWII Draft Registration Card 

Married Leta B. FREILING 1937 in Tulsa, OK
Manager International Auto Association (Phoenix, Arizona, 1930 census; 1929 City Directory)

Owner of beauty shop ( California, 1940 census).

Benjamin ‘Beni’ GOLDENBERG
Born Chicago, Illinois 1897

WWI Draft Registration 1917

Louis GOLDENBERG
Born Chicago, Illinois 1897

Florence GOLDENBERG
Born Chicago, Illinois 1902

Arthur GOLDENBERG
Born Chicago, Illinois May 21, 1904 – Died Chicago 1972

Arthur’s WWII Draft Registration Card

Selma GOLDENBERG
Born Chicago, Illinois 1906

Evelyn GOLDENBERG
Born Chicago, Illinois 1910 – Died Chicago, 1963
Married Nathan STEINER 1937 New York

Roselyn GOLDENBERG
Born Chicago, Illinois 1913 – Died Chicago, 1928