The Harry SHANKMAN (KRAZNITSKIE) and SKOLNICK Family

Harry SHANKMAN, born Hershel KRASNITSKIE  in Rzhischev, about 40 miles south east of Kiev, Russia on May 4th, 1893.  Birthdate and surname spelling based on his Social Security Application:

Harry was the son of Lazar KRASNITZKY and Chani (Bessie) KAPLAN.

When Harry’s father, Lazar (Leo on Harry’s Social Security Application), died, his mother Ida Bessie nee KAPLAN remarried, in Russia, Max SKOLNICK (Mordche SCHKOLNIK).  Max emigrated  in 1907 at age 33, and 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.  Note:  Bessie’s father’s name is Logan as was noted on her death certificate.

 In this c1893 photo, Lazar and Ida 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 Shankman) arrived at Ellis Island in 1910 at age 16. Harry’s ship manifest lists 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.

This is Harry Shankman’s Naturalization form revealing his original surname which in this document is spelled Crasnitzsky and on his ship manifest is spelled Krasnitzsky.

Since his step-father had 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. The assumption is that Harry learned the shoe trade while in Russia, from step-father Max who arrived in America in 1908.

Probable relatives were discovered based on DNA, but no documents have yet to be found validating our connection.  The following is provided for future reference in hopes we will connect our branches.  . . . we are related. Mainly because of the town Hershel was born in (Rzhyshchiv, which we have spelled differently. My guess is that your grandfather Hershel/Harry was probably a cousin of my grandfather since my grandfather was older. That would make Lazar his uncle, possibly his father’s brother. I wonder if Cousin Louis (below) was Layb or Lazar back in the old country? You and I know how the names repeated in families. Below is the information I have on my Krasnitsky/Cohen family. Great Grandparents “Bubby” and Yichiel Krasnitsky lived in Rzhyshchiv (22.8km from Kaharlyk). Their son Avigdor Krasnitsky (aka Krasnicki) (Victor Cohen) (1882-1952) married Yetta Patlashenko (Yetta Cohen) (b. 1887 or ’89 – d. 1982).  Victor came to American with his brother-in-law. Victor chose the name Cohen because his cousin Louis/Lewis came here first and took that last name. The following Krasnitskijs were found on the 1906-1907 Kiev Voter list from the Rrzhishchev Kiev District:
Volko Krasnitskij (father: Avrumov) from Rrzhishchev, Kiev District
Ios-David Krasnitskij (father: Kusev) from Rrzhishchev Kiev District
Shulim Khaim Krasnitskij (father:Gershkov) from Rrzhishchev Kiev District
Khaikel Krasnitskji (father: Yankelev) from Rrzhishchev Kiev District – Property 100 Rubles, private apartment
Shlema Krasnitskji (father: Ikhelev) from Rrzhishchev Kiev District – Property 150 Rubles private apartment
Ikhel-Itsko Krasnitskij (father: Avrumov) from Rrzhishchev Kiev District – Property 100 Rubles (likely Volko’s brother) Is this my great-grandfather Yechiel?
Ios-David Krasnitskij (father: Yankelov) from Rrzhishchev Kiev District – Property 150 Rubles
Khaim-Gersh Krasnitskij (father: Ioskov) from Rrzhishchev Kiev District – Property 150 Rubles
Volko Krasnitskji (father Pejsachov) from Rrzhishchev Kiev District – Real estate 100 Rubles
Mendel Krasnitskij (father: Moshkovich) from Tripole Kiev District, Private apartment
Ios’ Krasnitskji (father: Yankelev) from Krasnitsa Shepel v. Radomysl’ district, merchant

In 1917 Harry was drafted and served overseas during World War I.  When Harry Shankman first arrived in France in May 1918 the Division trained with the British, then rotated trench duty.

From August 8 – 13th it participated in the Somme Offensive Operation. During this time, the 3rd battalion of the 132nd Infantry Regiment, which included Harry’s Company “L,” fought at the battle of Albert. During much of this time his company also rotated trench duty on the front lines.

His 3rd battalion took part in the Meuse-Argonne Operations and took part in the attack on Bois De Fays. Harry’s battalion was exposed to intense artillery and machine gun fire and gas. The advancing lines were subject to artillery fire and gas causing the unit to suffered many casualties. Hand-to-hand fighting occurred frequently and machine gun nests were numerous and strongly placed. Every foot of the advance was contested. The fighting was so fierce that the troops could not be provided with proper rations.

Harry Shankman’s Company “L” had every officer killed or wounded; it was commanded by the Company First Sergeant until the objective had been reached. Harry might have been gassed during this battle; he died in 1949 from the after effects of being gassed. The battalion also captured 400 Germans. After the battle of Bois de Fays the 3rd battalion attacked the enemy in Buttneville and drove them to the north edge of town. Later, they received word of the armistice (Signed at the 11th hour, of the 11the day, of the 11th month of the year). During this last day of the war Company “L” suffered 1 killed and 6 wounded.

LINK to extensive and detailed information about Harry’s  World War I war service with the 33rd “Prairie” Division.

Harry at Camp Grant, IL 1917

His WWI 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.

Harry married Rosabel GOLDEN who died in childbirth 1926.

Rosabel SHANKMAN death certificate

He then married Ruth nee BRISKIN (pictured above top left).  Harry, Sophie GOLDENBERG BERESIN nee GARFINKEL (seated), sisters Vera and Millicent. Photo circa 1932

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

Chicago City Directory (1923) entry showing 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.

The 1923 Chicago City Directory listed Harry’s Tire Shop.

Harry with daughter Millicent c1929

The above photos are a 1940 Harry Shankman’s Lane Tech Cycle Club roller skating party. The picture was provided by a website visitor. Details below in the comment received.

Website Comment: Good afternoon!  I was looking through old photographs at my grandparent’s house and came across an old photograph. I decided to see if I could find some information on this photograph, as I have a family member in the photo (my great uncle’s sister). It’s a photograph from 1940 of some type of skating party. The ticket reads ‘Lane Tech Harry’s Cycle Club.’ The back of the frame has a stamp on it from ‘Harry’s Tire Shop’ with the address. which is how I stumbled on to your website.  On your website I read that you lost most of your documents and family memorabilia in the flood. I’d be happy to send you a picture of what I found. I believe, based on the pictures you have of Harry, that he is in the front, center of the picture. (Note: Harry’s name added by webmaster)

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

During WWII Harry provided photos to the Naval Intelligence Service that he had taken during his WWI service. They were returned to him in 1944.

Harry met Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, while he was active in veteran’s organizations.  While the date of this photo is unknown, the camera person was obviously nervous and the ‘shaky’ image resulted.

Harry was Commander of Jewish War Veterans Post 192 in Los Angeles.  This news clipping of interest.

 THE SHANKMAN FAMILY

Harry SHANKMAN (1894 – 1949) married Rosabel GOLDEN (1900 – 1926) in Chicago 1920; Rosabel nee GOLDEN was born June 1900, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They had two children, LaVera Lee and Millicent. Rosabel died following complications of childbirth. Harry later married Ruth BRISKIN and had a son Arthur Irving 1932 – 1956.

Harry Divorced Ruth in 1945 in Los Angeles, CA. The final judgement was 1946.

Harry died in 1949 at the age of 55 from his WWI combat injury (being gassed). On Harry’s grave stone, below, note the incorrect date of birth listed: 1883 instead of 1894.  And his photo was vandalized probably for the metal value.

Vera SHANKMAN married Bernard Morton MILLER (1921-1953) December 24th, 1941; two weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Bernard was in the Illinois Militia during WWII.

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

Millicent SHANKMAN married and had three children, one son and two daughters. Millicent had a long career in the consumer research industry. 1926 : 2009

Arthur SHANKMAN 1932 : 1956.  Married Yvonne LAVELLE and they had two sons Harry and Gary.  Arthur was killed in an auto accident; he was hit by a drunk driver.

Arthur owned a charter fishing boat in Longbeach, CA.  A boating note in the Fishin’ Around column of the Independent Press-Telegram, Long Beach CA,  3 June 1956.

 Photo from his high school year book, 1950 Los Angeles (Dorsey H.S.)

Article from San Bernardino County Sun (November 18, 1956)

Gary Shankman’s family:  Son Kyle and his children.

Rosabel GOLDEN’s parents were Charle GOLDENBERG (Born 1863 Bessarabia, Russia, immigrated circa 1882 (est. age 19), and Sophie “Toby” GARFINKEL (born July 1877 Philadelphia).

Harry Shankman’s mother, Ida Bessie ‘Chaje’ SKOLNICK, was born in Rutzas, Russia, where Harry’s father Lazar (Leiser) KRAZNITSKIE was born. Bessie KAPLAN, and her mother were also born in Rutzas. (View Bessie’s death certificate for genealogy details.).

Bessie’s sister was Chani KAPLAN.  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.

Burial: Waldheim Cemetery Forest Park, IL

Here Lies
Chaya Pessel, daughter of Leyzer Ze’ev
Died the 2nd of Iyaar, 5689. May her soul be bound up for life eternal

Bessie SKOLNICK’s sister, Harry’s aunt Chani KAPLAN, died 1926. Tombstone translation resources are available.  Chani KAPLAN address at death: 1522 S. Kildare, Chicago. NOTE: This is Harry SHANKMAN’s 1920 Census address; Chani not listed and assumed to have moved in some time after the census and before her death.  Chani’s husband is listed in the cemetery records as Louis Wolf KAPLAN. Source: Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index; FHL Film Number: 1877896.

Buried Silverman & Weiss Cemetery BMA Lot 204, grave 6.  GATE #41. BMA: B’nai Mosche Alexandrovsky.

THE SKOLNICK 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. They had 4 children:  Melvin, Adele, Leon ‘Bucky’, and Irwin Paul.

Harry Skolnik ‘Little Harry’ (Hersch Szkolnik)– Arrived 1911, Port of Philadelphia, age 7 on manifest was born in Russia in1902. He married Bertha VISHNY.
They had 4 children: Rochelle, Arlene, Leslie, and Harvey (see photo below).

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. They had 2 children: Beverly and Lester.

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. Report of death: Sally Skolnik Police Report

Harry Shankman ‘Big Harry’ (Hershel Kraznitskie) – Max was his step-father.  Harry 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. They had one child, Arthur.  Arthur married Yvonne LAVELLE and they had two children:  Harry and Gary.

Philip Skolnik – Born in America. (1915 – 2004), married Rhona COHEN (1922 – 2016).  They had 4 children:  Arnold, Dyon, Martin, and Burton.