I invite you to send me any stories, memories, letters (even if untranslated), documents and photos concerning Benjamin Horowitz and I will add them to this website.
Letter from Sarah’s son Al Horowitz to his daughter Betty (Alberta) Horowitz Goldenberg/Heaney, 1959.
Page 1.
Notes Regarding Page 1.
By “Big Michael’s Town” he may mean Velyka Mykhailivka….which is a small town near Odessa, 446 km from Kiev – translated – Velyka means “big or great” and Mykhalivka means “Michael’s or St. Michaels town”
“Daddy” – Al Horowitz
“your grandparents” would be Morris and Sarah Benioff Horowitz
“your grandfather” – Morris Horowitz
“Benjamin” was most likely named after Sarah Benioff’s father Benjamin
“The City of Lemberg” is now Lvov in Ukraine
Page 2.
Notes Regarding Page 2.
Argylle Press ???…
Rosensweig
The farm in Viola was probably that owned by Isaac Benioff, Al’s uncle.
Moved to LA on Aug 9, 1900
Uncle Simon is Simon Benioff, a ladies tailor
“mother and dad, and the rest of the family, except Simon, came to L.A. in 1905. – This Simon is Al’s brother Simon Horowitz.
“mother and I were married in 1909” – Mother is Hilda Topper (1889-1975).
“Blanche’s father Mr. Sofsky” – Blanche Sofsky Heany was Al Horowitz’s daughter Bettie’s mother-in-law. Bettie married George Albert Heaney.
“Russian section on East 1st Street, near L.A. Soap Co.” – In those days Russians lived in Boyle Heights and Claremont….so I am guessing this was in Boyle Heights – actually on 1st street between Vignes and Alameda Streets – not exactly Boyle Heights (L.A. Soap Co.).
In 1905 there is an article about a confederate bill passed to M. Horowitz at 363 East First Street; by 1908 the family was living at 922 West First Street. In 1910 they were living at 4414 Long Beach Ave. At some point Al started a store at 322 E. First Street, as noted here.
Page 3.
Notes Regarding Page 3.
“uncle” means Uncle Simon – a Lady’s Tailor…
Bright’s Disease – an outdated term – it used to represent a group of kidney diseases characterized by excess protein in the urine, edema, and hypertension…glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and chronic kidney disease.
“three daughters and four sons” – Isaac, Joel, Frida, Leo, Sarah, and Chaika. However, there was also Benjamin who died as an infant in Russia, as well as a still birth and another infant death, one in Russia, one in New York. Frida, Chaika and Joel were left behind when the family came to US.
Grandpa is Benjamin Benioff and Grandma was his wife Bertha Morosow or Maroz or Scheidt.
Page 4.
Notes Regarding Page 4.
Henry Klein, Star Clothing House, 102-104 S. Main St. Los Angles….???
It may actually have been “Klein-Norton Co. Henry Klein retired in August of 1909
Jim Gully is James Mathias Gulley (1870-1955), married to Elma Mae Dingman (Ellen) (1873-1959) and daughter Hazel Gulley Metcalf (1893-1977) Historical Newspapers, Birth, Marriage, & Death Announcements, 1851-2003
Published in the Los Angeles Times – 29 Jul 1952, Los Angeles, California
James M. Gulley
Funeral service for James Mathias Gulley, 85, Insurance and Investment Broker, in West Hollywood will be conducted at 3 P.M. at Utter-McKinley’s Funeral Chapel. Internment will follow at Grandview Cemetery. Mr. Gulley, his grandparents Mathias and Elizabeth Swall were among the first West Hollywood pioneers. He resided at 835 No. Hillsdale Ave., and retired from active business in 1952. He leaves his wife Elma, His daughter Hazel G. Allen, a granddaughter and 2 great-grandchildren.
Hazel’s husband Bradley Revere Metcalf died in 1936 and she married Winthrop Salisbury Allen.
Al’s store in Sherman called “Horowitz” at 211 Santa Monica Blvd. in 1922 – shortly became “Horowitz Dry Goods Company”
Page 5.
Notes Regarding Page 5.
Text goes here…
Page 6.
Notes Regarding Page 6.
Text goes here…
Page 7.
Notes Regarding Page 7.
Mabel Walker Willebrandt was a law partner of Fred’s.
Pioneer-Lucky Strike Gold Mining Company Was a court case that Fred and Dave were involved in.
Hildegarde Topper was Al Horowitz’s wife…so Dave Topper would have been her brother.
Harry’s 3 sons were:
Frederick Lester Horowitz
Clarence William Horowitz
Robert Lester “Bob” Horowitz
The Thomas Flyer was an early automobile. The accident took place in 1908. On September 21, 1909, 13 year old Fred was awarded $2000 in damages (the suit was for $50,000) – against W.A. Morehouse. Simon Benioff, Fred’s uncle, acting as his guardian, brought the suit against Mr. Morehouse. At the time of the accident, Fred was out trying his new kite which he invented to receive wireless messages.
Eli Citron – I believe Al is mistaken, Jess Citron’s younger brother was named Joseph.
