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Reb Shmuel Levy (he called himself Simon Levi in the US) (1854?-1923) was born in Drohitchen, (or possibly Antopol 16 miles to the west) both in Belarus, the son of Abraham and Rose? Levy. I have also learned that the family name had been Lev, rather than Levy or Levi. I don’t yet know the significance of that, but will look into it. He had several siblings ( Golda, Meyer and Isaac) that I have just discovered recently. He came to the US (Chicago) in order to raise money for his guest house and sundial building in the middle of old Jerusalem. He was married to Chana Ita Gratch (1856-1922). She did not travel to the US with him, but stayed in Jerusalem. He spent so much time in the US, that when he finally came to Jerusalem, he was not sure where his family lived and had to ask. Shmuel was 6 feet tall with blue eyes. He died of cancer, in his home on Jaffa Road in Jerusalem, 9 January, 1923. He was buried on the Mount of Olives.
Above maps from Hap Panedol’s incredible website: Topographic Maps of Eastern Europe – An Atlas of the Shtetl
(Form For Naturalized Citizen)
No. 7731 Issued Mch 1/94
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
State of Illinois
County of Cook
I, Simon Levi a naturalized and loyal citizen of the United States, do hereby apply to the Department of State at Washington for a passport for myself. In support of the above application, I do solemnly swear that I was born at ? Divischin (Drohitchin), in Russia, on or about the 7th day of September, 1856; that I emigrated to the United States, sailing on board the Suevia from Hamburg, on or about the 15th day of Febry, 1887; that I resided 7 years, uninterruptedly, in the United States, from 1888 to 1894, at Chicago; that I was naturalized as a citizen of the United States before theSuperior Court of Cook Co, at Chicago, on the 2nd day of April, 1893, as shown by the accompanying Certificate of Naturalization; that I am the IDENTICAL PERSON described in said Certificate; that I am domiciled in the United States, my permanent residence being at Chicago, in the State of Ills. where I follow the occupation of tailor; that I am about to go abroad temporarily; and that i intend to return to the United States within two years with the purpose of residing and performing the duties of citizenship therein.
OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.
Further, I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion: SO HELP ME GOD.
Sworn to before me this 27th day Simon Levi (signature in Yiddish)
of febry, 1894.
Signiture of Notary Public
Description of Applicant
Age 38 years
Stature, 6 feet…..inches, Eng.
Forehead, broad
Eyes, blue
Nose, regular
Mouth, regular
Chin, full beard
Hair, dark brown
Complexion, light
Face, oval
IDENTIFICATION.
Chicago, Feb 22, 1894
I hereby certify that I know the above-named Simon Levi personally, and know him to be the identical person referred to in the within-described Certificate of Naturalization, and that the facts stated in his affidavit are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Alexander Kopperle 569 So. Canal St.
Applicant desires passport sent to following address:
S. Jaffe
c/o A Kopperl
569 So Canal st.
Chicago, Ills.
Translation of Above Inscription
And to —- together(?)
that which I carved in life
Shmuel (Samuel) son of Avraha(m)
The founder of the great synagogue A—
Tiferet Z(ion)
Yerushalayim (Jeruazalem) and Beit Hamidrash
and behold these are Died 21 Tevet 5–
may his soul be bound in the bonds of (eternal) life
Translated from the Hebrew by David Dubin and Jacob Shayzaf
These timelines are a research tool for me to work out the mysteries and details of an individual’s life, but there are lots of interesting details for you to explore. If you would like to view images more closely, click on the image and use the magnifying glass icon to zoom into the document.
This birth date may not be accurate but it is what he put on his 1994 Passport application.
On his 1910 Passport application, he said he was born October 23rd, 1854.
On his 1919 Passport application he said his birth day was October, 6th 1854.
On his US Consular Registration Application, in Sept 1921, he said he was born October 1st, 1854.
On his Death Report form the State Department - it says he was 76 at the time of his death in January 1923...which would make his birth year 1847.
Probably in Drohitchen, Belarus. This is a guess, as their oldest child, Chaya Sarah Levy was born in Drohitchen circa 1872.
In Drohitchen, Belarus
In Drohitchen, Belarus.
1876-1936
Married Sarah Hinde Cohen in Jerusalem in 1895
In Drohitchen, Belarus.
She married Isak Jacob Lipson, in Jerusalem, circa 1900.
1880-1952
I am not at all sure this is our relative. The date seems too early. However, I know he traveled on the Suevia, because he says that on his passport application. He got citizenship in 1893. This is more than 10 years before that. Also he lists himself as a "clerk" rather than a tailor. The ship traveled from Hamburg. Captain was AC? Tangier. Arrived in NY on June 8, 1882. Simon was steerage passenger #85, age 30, male, clark, from Hamburg, to the US
This WWII draft registration for Joseph Levy shows his birth as January 15, 1885. It says he was born in Chicago, but that is false. He was born in Drohitchen. His father got false birth certificates for all his children, after the fire in Chicago, so that citizenship would be easier for them. He was living at 2413 East 23rd St. in Brooklyn, NY. He was 57 years old. His telephone number was DE2-8009. He lists his wife, Pesche-Leah {Arkin} Levy and his employer's name and address - Beth Chinueh? Yeladim at 242 Henry St. New York, NY. His signature is present on page two it says that he was white, 5'5", 175 lbs, blue eyes (like his father), gray hair and a dark complexion with no visible scars. It is dated April 26, 1942.
This is the World War I draft registration for Eliezer "Louis" Levy, son of Shmuel Levy. His Serial number was 4952, his order number was 1772. He calls himself Louis Levy living at 10 Wave Way Ave, Winthrop, Suffolk, Mass. He is 35 years old, born June 6, 1883, white. His listed as a US citizen by his FAther's Naturalization before Registrant' Majority. {His father was naturalized April 3, 1893, when Eliezer was 10 years old. Eliezer came to US in 1900 at age of 17. } His occupation is a Stitcher at the Cable Raincoat Mfg??, at 75 No. Hampton St. Boston, Suffolk, Mass. His wife, Sarah M. {Mochedlover} Levy is listed at same address on Wave Way. He signs it Louis Levy. He is short, of medium build with Hazel eyes and Brown hair, no scars. It is dated Sept 12, 1918.
American Foreign Service- Report of the death of an American Citizen; American Consulate General, Jerusalem, Palestine, July 13, 1944 (FA#6P 8/1/44 is handwritten)
Name in full: Moses Eliah Levy (also known as Moshe Eliahu Levy)
Native or Naturalized - Native born (in Chicago, 1885)
Last Known Address in the United States ------
Date of Death May 3 1944, Age 59
Place of Death Hadassah Hospital Jerusalem, Palestine
Cause of Death: Asphyxia. Leucoemia. Myeloic, as reported by the attending physician, Dr. Victor Einhorn, Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem.
Disposition of the remains: Perushim, General jewish Cemetery, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem....
Note that his place of birth is Chicago. He was not born in Chicago. He was born in Drohitchen. Again, his father had obtained a false birth certificate for him. I doubt he ever set foot in the U.S.
They moved around this time (this is a guess based on birth date of Ester Leah Levy who was born in Jerusalem, 20 May 1891, and the date of Levi's first travel to US February 15th? 1887, or 1st day of April 1887 on the Suevia from Hamburg. It is likely that Chana Ita and children went to Jerusalem on their own, and Shmuel Levy went to the US. There are many unknowns about this, for instance when was he in Paris?
Declaration of Intention of Naturalization of husband Abraham Chaim Wolman says she was born in Jerusalem on May 20, 1891
This is important because he went to Chicago in 1888, was naturalized there, lived there for 5 years, then returned to Drohitchen. Most likely Shmuel Levy was there at the same time.
This information and the photo is from the Drohitchen Memorial Book, 500 Years of Jewish Life; page 300 and 301. 1914, JewishGen, Inc.
Shmuel Levy (Simon Levi) is naturalized at the Superior Court of Chicago on April 3, 1893. Volume 36, page 579
On the back it says: "Issued to "Simon Levy" through "Israel Ruby" Nov 2, 1917.
I don't know who Israel Ruby was.
Passport Application – March 1, 1994, Illinois, Cook County, I Simon Levi, a
naturalized and loyal citizen of the US, do hereby apply to the Dept of Staet at
Washington for a passport for myself. In support of the above application, I do
solemnly swear that I was born at at …..? Dirichin, in Russia, on or about the 7 th
day of Sep 1856; that I emigrated to the US, sailing on board the Suavia? from
Hamburg, on or about the 15 th day of Feb 1887, that I resided 7 years,
uninterruptedly, in the US from 1888 to 1894, at Chicago, that I was naturalized
as a citizen of the US before the Superior Court of Cook Co at Chicago, on the 3 rd
day of April 1893 as shown by the accompanying certificate of naturalization;
that I am the identical person described in said certificate; that I am domiciled in
the US, my permanent residence being at Chicago, in the state of ILL where I
follow the occupation of tailor; that I am about to go abroad temporarily and that
I intend to return to the US within two years with the purpose of residing and
performing the duties of citizenship therein. Oath of Allegiance…
sworn to before me this 27 th day of Feb 1894, Simon Levi (his Hebrew signature
is in parenthesis between Simon and Levi.
age 38, 6 feet, broad forehead, blue eyes, regular nose, regular moth, full beard,
dark brown hair, light complexion, face oval.
Identification by Alexander Kopperle sp? at 569 Canal St., Chicago, Ill
Applicant desires passport sent to following address: S or J Jaffe, c/o A. Kopparl
569 So. Canal St., Chicago, IL 1
Shmuel Levy's brother-in-law & sister-in-law: Chaikel Gratch (age 21, tailor) - line 4, Esther Shapiro Gratch (age 21, wife) -line 5; along with Esther’s brother Moses Shapiro (age 22, painter) all in London for last 6 months, now going to see “B-in-Law
136 Monroe St. NY”, on SS Southwark leaving Liverpool Jan 30, 1895, arriving in Philadelphia, PA on Feb 13, 1895.
The B-in-law is likely Simon Levy.
Marriage of Sarah Hinde Cohen and Shmuel’s son Hersh Leib Levy. See Israel index to
Records from U.S. Consular Posts in Jerusalem, Jaffa, and Haifa, 1857-1935, Volume 224, Register UD
#453
left to right: Pearl Levy Greiver, Zvia Greiver, Nechama Greiver, Esther Leah Levy Wolman, Shoshana Greiver, Yosef Greiver
Pearl was born in Jerusalem sometime in 1898 and died in Jerusalem on March 14, 1984. Her sister Esther Leah Levy Wolman is also pictured here.
List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer At Port of Arrival
Required by the regulations of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor of the United States, under Act of Congress approved February 20, 1907, to be delivered to the United States Immigration Officer by the Commanding Officer of any vessel having such passengers on board upon arrival at a port in the united States.
S.S. St. Louis sailing from Cherbourg September 17, 1910; Arriving at Port of New York September 24th 1910.
Simon Levi is on line 12.
Name: Levi, Simon
Age: 55
Sex: M
Married or Single: M
Occupation: Tailor
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Nationality: France
Race: Hebrew
{But the above two answers have US Citizen written over them.}
Last Permanent Residence: Jerusalem
Name and Address of nearest relative in country whence alien came: His Wife Anna Levi at Jerusalem
Final Destination: NY, NY
{go to page 2 by clicking arrow on the right , middle of page - hard to see}
13. No. on List: 12
14. Whether having a ticket to final destination: -
15. By whom Passage Paid -
16.Whether in possession of $50 and if less how much: -
17. Wheether ever before in the United Sates; and if so, when and where: -
{for questions 14-17, USC is written in the answer space, ie US Citizen}
18. Whether going to join a relative or friend; and if so, what relative or friend, and his name and complete address: His home 28 Gouverneur St. New York City {lower Manhattan}
For the remaining questions, 19-19 it just says: US Passport 20356, Feb 15 1910 PCKnox {not sure what pcknox means}
July 12, 1911
Full Name of Groom and Bride: Louis Levy and Sarah Mochedlover
Age of Groom: 28
Age of Bride: 23
First Marriage for them both
Residence of Each at time of Marriage: 62 Fowler Street
Occupation of Groom: Tailor
Occupation of Bride: Paper Box Maker
Place of Birth: both put Russia
Parents of Groom: Samuel Levy and Hannah Gratz
Parents of Bride: Wichter Mochedlover and Rebecca Mendelson
Person who Married them: Raphael Minsky Ra {Rabbi?}; 3 Baldwin Place.
Not sure if Shmuel Levy was present at this wedding, but I would guess that he was.
