According to the All Lithuania Revision List Database and the Lithuania Taxpayers and Voters Database in JewishGen.org, Eyzer was a son of Izak. [1] We also know that 2 of Eyzer’s siblings were Ber (my branch) and Shmuel.
In addition, we know that Eyzer had at least one son, Rabbi Benjamin Blieden, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From Rabbi Benjamin’s death certificate, we learned that his father’s name was Louis. Using the Given Names database from JewishGen.org, we saw that Louis was used as an American name for Eliezer, which we feel we close enough to Eyzer. [2]
We know that Eyzer was considered middle class in Zagare and had to pay a candle tax. A Candle Tax was a tax on Sabbath candles and was collected for Jewish education. [3] [4]
That is about all we know about Eyzer at this time.
Rabbi Benjamin David, son of Eyzer
As mentioned previously, Eyzer had a son Benjamin David who married Sarah Etta Kibur in Lithuania in approximately 1878. They had at least three children born in “Russia”: Florence, Lena, and Morris. Benjamin emigrated to the US in 1886 and Sarah came a year later in 1887. Rabbi Benjamin worked in a grocery store. We learned this from the 1900 US Census. [5]
The picture below of Rabbi Benjamin and his family was taken in 1895. Four, or possibly five, children were born after this photo was taken. They are Abraham, Lillie, Harriet, and Hilda. There is another daughter, Edith, mentioned in the 1900 census. However, there is no other mention of her after this.
In the photo from left to right are:
- standing: Florence, Rabbi Benjamin, Lena
- seating: Morris, Sam, Sarah holding Annette, and Rosie
In 1905, we learned from a newspaper article that Rabbi Benjamin led prayers at a rally for Soviet Jews. According to one of his granddaughters, he was an itinerant Rabbi. That meant he performed Rabbinic functions but did not have his own congregation.
Sadly, in 1909, after performing a wedding, Rabbi Benjamin had a heart attack and died. He was only 52 years old. [6] [7]
He had been a beloved orthodox rabbi in Philadelphia and news of his tragic death was carried in newspapers across the country.
Note, though, how the newspapers got his name wrong.
On the right is the article from the The Philadelphia Inquirer – 1909-01-18 – Page 1 (Newspapers.com).
Below left the article is from the Jackson (Mississippi) Daily News – 20 Jan 1909 – Page 7 (Newspapers.com)
Below right the article is from the The Washington (DC) Times – 17 Jan 1909 – Page 2 (Newspapers.com)
He is buried in Har Nebo Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [26]
Sadly, his wife, Sarah, could not cope without him. Her older daughters were looking after her. According to family stories, one daughter went to the bathroom and when she returned to her mother’s room, found that her mother had climbed up onto the window sill and was trying to jump out the window. She died in January 1910, one year after her husband. Note that the Rabbi’s name is incorrect in the newspaper article. It should have said “Mrs. Benjamin Blieden . . .” and not Mrs Robert Blieden. [7]
Sarah is also buried in Har Nebo Cemetery.[26]
According to the 1910 Federal Cenus, all of the children except for Samuel and Edith were still living at home. Sarah’s parents had moved in to help care for the children, I presume. Below is a little bit about each one of Rabbi Benjamin’s and Sarah’s children, the grandchildren of Eyzer.
Although Rabbi Benjamin and Sarah did not live to see their children grow up, they would have had a lot to be proud of. The children took care of each other, were well-educated, and were active in Jewish affairs. However, one did have legal problems.
The Children of Rabbi Benjamin David and Sarah Kibur Blieden
1. Florence 1880 –
Florence was the oldest child born to Rabbi Benjamin and Sarah. She was born in “Russia” and was about 7 years old when she arrived in the United States with her mother.
In 1923, her sister. Annette, announced Florence’s marriage to Joseph Fine. Florence was 43 years old when she married. [9]
2. Lena 1882 –
Lena was the second child born to Rabbi Benjamin and Sarah. She was born in “Russia” and was about 5 years old when she came to the United States with her mother and sibliings. As an adult she was known as Lenore Judith.
According to the 1910 Federal Census (see above), Lena was living at home. She was 26 years old and was working as a bookkepper in a liquor store.
In 1914, she married Barnard Gordon of Philadelphia. They had one son.
She died from heart disease in 1967. Her obituary appeared in the The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Wed, Jan 11, 1967 Page 18, (Newspapers.com) [26]
The Death Certificate is from:
Detail Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pa; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Box Number: 2508; Certificate Number Range: 005700-008550Edit sourceSource information
TitlePennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964AuthorAncestry.com
3. Morris 1886 – 1976
Morris, who also went by Maurice Samuel, was the third child born to Rabbi Benjamin and Sarah. He was born in “Russia” and was only a year old when his mother brought him and his two older sisters to the United States.
In 1907, he completed his Declaration of Intention to become a citizen.
According to the 1910 Census (see above) he was living at home and was a doctor.
In 1914, he married Matilda Moses. They had one daughter, Sylvia.
From his WWII draft card, we learn that he was 5′ 5 1/2″ tall and weiged 160 lbs. He had brown eyes and hair. [10]
He died in March of 1976 at age 88. He is buried in Har Nebo Cemetery in Philadelphia with other family members. [11] [26]
4. Samuel T. 1888 – 1941
Samuel was the first child of Rabbi Benjamin and Sarah to be born in the United States. We cannot find him in the 1910 Census; however, by 1912, he was getting into trouble [12]. This was just a forerunner of legal problems to plague him later on.
In 1915 he married Anne Luckman. From the article we learn that his brother, Morris, was his best man and 2 sisters were attendants and another two were flower girls.
We also see that Mr. and Mrs. B. (Barnett) Handler from Harrisburg were among the guests. Rose Lilly Blieden Handler and Rabbi Benjamin were first cousins. [13]
I wonder if any of the other guests were also Blieden cousins.
According to the 1920 census, he and Anne had a daughter, Mitzi. Anne’s sister, an actress, was also living with them. [14]
His WWI draftcard shows that he was a clerk for a finance company. [15]
In 1931 he was in a serious car accident. [16]
Sam got into legal trouble during Prohibition. According to family stories, he had an office on Broad Street. The family would gather there to watch the Mummer’s parade. They knew he ended up in jail but thought it had to do with Prohibition. The newspaper article to the right from July 1936, tells a different story. [17]
In September of 1936, Sam was paroled for being ill. [18]
We could not find Samuel in the 1940 Census, but his wife, Annie, was living with her daughter at that time. Did she and Samuel separate?
It appears that Samuel died from a heart attack in 1941. Samuel Bleiden is buried in Har Nebo Cemetery, next to his sister, Lillian, so we can be pretty sure this is him. [26] Note how he changed the spelling of his last name. This is the spelling he was buried with.
The announcement of his death appeared in the Press of Atlantic CityAtlantic City, New Jersey · Saturday, May 31, 1941, page 12.
5. Annette (Anna) Naomi 1892- 1973
Annette was only 18 years old when her mother died. She remained at home with her siblings and her mother’s parents all who helped raise the other young, orphaned children.
In 1920, she married Max Ruttenberg who was also from Philadelphia.
The wedding was mentioned in the Courier Post, Camden, New Jersey, on Satruday, July 31, 1920 on page 12.
We know that by 1929, the young couple was living in Camden, NJ, at 210 State Street [19]. Camden was considered a surburb of Philadelphia as it was just across the Delaware River. Below is an old postcard showing the Delaware River Bridge in 1920. It is for sale on Ebay.
Max was a physician. He and Anna eventually had 3 children: Bertram, Serita, and Ruth.
The 1950 Federal Census shows that they still lived in Camden and that two of the children were still living at home. [20]
Anna died in 1973. She is buried in Crescent Memorial Park, Pennsauken Township, New Jersey. According to the cemetery, the funeral home was located in Atlanic City and her son, Bertram, made the arrangements.
The stone says she was the daughter of Mr. David Eliezer instead of Rabbi Benjamin David. Eliezer was the name of the Rabbi’s father.
6. Rosie 1893 – 1988
Rosie (Rose) was 17 years old when her mother died. Like most of her siblings, she was living at home in 1910.
She know that she studied to become a pharmacist and became a partner in her husband’s drug store. She wed Meyer Goldberg in 1916.
Her wedding announcement appeared in the Evening public Ledger, Philadelphia, PA, Friday, September 15, 1916.
She and Meyer had 2 children: Bernard and Anita.
Rose died in 1988 and is buried in Har Nebo Cemetery in Philadelphia, PA. [26]
Her obituary appeared in the The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Tuesday, November 08, 1988, page 31.
7. Abraham 1895 – 1954
Abraham was 15 when his mother died. In the 1910 Federal Census, he was still living at home with his other siblings and grandparents.
In the 1920 Census, [20] he was still living at home and was not working. He was probably in school, as we know he became a lawyer.
We know he married before 1942 as his wife, Mary,was listed as his next of kin, on his WWII draft card. From his draft card, we learn that he was 5’8″ tall and weighed about 150 lbs. He was single as of his WWI draft card
In the 1950 Census, we learn that he had a 9 year old son, Phillip. [21]
Abraham died in 1954 and was buried in Har Nebo Cemetery in Philadelphia. [26] Like his father, it looks like Abraham had a heart condition. [53]
8. Lillian 1897 – 1938
Lillian was 13 years old when her mother died. Through 1920 she was living at home with her siblings. She graduated from Temple University in 1916 and became a pharmacist. Note in photo below, there were only a few women graduates in the Temple University School of Pharmacy. [ 24] She never married.
She died in 1938 at the young age of 45.
Her obituary appeared in the Morning Post, Camden, New Jersey, on Saturday February 12, 1938.
She is buried in Har Nebo Cemetery in Philadelphia. Her brother, Sam, was the informant. [25] [26]
9. Edith 1900 –
No information has been found about Edith. Her name did appear on the 1900 Census for Rabbi Benjamin’s family, though (see above). Since she is not on the 1910 Census, I wonder if something happened to her. Could that have also affected her mother’s mental health?
10. Harriet (Hattie) 1901 – 1989
Harriet was only 9 years old when her mother died.
According to the 1920 Federal Census, she was working as a stenographer. (See Abe’s section)
Her engagement to Max Kahener was announced in the Courier-Post in Camden, New Jersey · Thursday, June 15, 1933.
Her husband, Max, died in 1954 and she remarried, I. Jay Carp. MD.
She died in 1989 in Boca Raton, Florida. She is buried in Har Nebo Cemetery in Philadelphia, where are parents and most siblings are buried. [26]
Her obituary appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Friday, December 22, 1989.
According to family stories, Hattie was beautiful and a treasure. Sadly she could not have children of her own but was a loving Aunt to her sibling’s children. She lived across the street from a niece, Barbara, and actually lived with Barbara before she died. However, according to another story, Hattie did not like Sam’s wife so she did not leave anything to Sam’s daughter.
11. Hilda Fay 1903 – 1993
Hilda was just seven years old when her mother died.
In 1927, she married Joseph D. Platt of Philadelphia. Her sister, Annette annuonced her marriage in the Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey · Wednesday, September 14, 1927 (from Newspapers.com)
Hilda was a beautiful bride. She and Joseph had two children.
Hilda died on July 18, 1993 and is buried at Har Nebo Cemetery in Philadelphia like so many of her other family members. [26]
Her obituary appeared in the The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Tue, Jul 20, 1993 Page 14 (Newspapers.com)
Sources
- [1] Jewish Gen Revision List for isak Blieden in Lithuania
- [2] Jewish Gen Given Names Database
- [3] Candle Tax Explanation
- [4] Jewish Gen Lithuana Taxpayers and Voters list for Isak Blieden
- [5] 1900 US Census for Rabbi Benjamin Blieden: Source CitationYear: 1900; Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 5, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1454; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0099 – Source Information, Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004, Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.
- [6] Death Certificate for Rabbi Benjamin Blieden: Citation information Detail Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pa; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 005801-009800Edit source Source information TitlePennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1969AuthorAncestry.comNotePennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1969. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
- [7]
- [8]Newspaper article about Sarah Kibur Blieden from Newspapers.com – The Morning Post – 26 Jan 1910 – Page 1 Sara Blieden death in 1910
- [9] Marraige announce of Florence Blieden appeared in The Morning Post, Camden, New Jersey · Thursday, May 03, 1923
- [10] – Morris Blieden’s WWII Draft Card DetailThe National Archives in Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States; Record Group Number: 21Edit source Source information TitlePennsylvania, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1795-1931AuthorAncestry.com
- [11] Morris Blieden Obituary appeared in the The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , March 10, 1976
- [12] Samuel T. Blieden sentenced to jail time. The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Thursday, June 27, 1912
- [13] Wedding announcement of Samuel T and Anne Luckman Newspapers.com – Evening Public Ledger – 1 Jul 1915 – Page 9 PublisherEvening Public LedgerPublisher date1 Jul 1915Publisher locationPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
- [14] 1920 Census for Samuel T. Blieden DetailYear: 1920; Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 30, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1634; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 972Edit source Source information Title 1920 United States Federal CensusAuthorAncestry.com
- [15] WWI draft card for Samuel T. Detail Registration State: Pennsylvania; Registration County: PhiladelphiaEdit source Source information TitleU.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Author Ancestry.com
- [16] Car Accident reported in Evening Star Washington, District of Columbia · Friday, July 10, 1931
- [17] Jail time for Samuel T. Courier-Post Camden, New Jersey · Tuesday, July 07, 1936
- [18] Parole for a sick Sam, The Plain Speaker, Hazleton, Pennsylvania · Thursday, September 17, 1936
- [19] Camden, New Jersey, City directory for 1929: Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995
- [20] 1950 Federal Census for Anna Blieden Ruttenberg National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Camden, Camden, New Jersey; Roll: 5249; Page: 7; Enumeration District: 24-11
- [21] 1920 Federal Census for Abraham Blieden and siblings Year: 1920; Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 1, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1614; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 12, Ancestry.com
- [22] 1950 Federal Census for Abraham Blieden and family: National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1486; Page: 13; Enumeration District: 51-196, Ancestry.com
- [23] Death Certificate for Abraham Blieden – Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1967; Certificate Number Range: 051601-054300, Source information, Title: Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1967
- [24] Temple University Pharmacy Graduating class: Ancestry.com. U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-2016 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010., Yearbook date 1916
- [25] Death Certificate of Lillian Blieden, 1938, Detail Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pa; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 010001-013000, Source informationTitle Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1969, on Ancestry.com
- [26] Har Nebo Cemetery Grave Information
Thank You
Thank you to the following family members for sharing their memories, stories, and photos with me:
- Saretta Platt Berlin
- Mike Platt
- David Platt
- Jen Hopkins
- Edward Kane
Missing Documents
- Ship manifests for Rabbi Benjamin and Sarah Blieden
- Picture of Rabbi Benjamin’s grave in Har Nebo Cemetery so we can see what his and his father’s Hebrew names were