Taube raised the 6 children of Bertha, Max’s first wife, alongside her own 6.
Minnie’s father was Max (Yechiel Mechel Leber, who was born in 1829 in the Galicia region of Austria. His first wife was Bertha Leber [Wolf]. She was born in 1833 also in the Galicia region of Austria. They had six children and as of 2018, there were over 85 descendants from Max and Bertha. Only the oldest 2 generations are listed below. For a more complete look at all of the generations of Max and Bertha, check out Michal’s Extended Family Tree on MyHeritage.com
The six children and grandchildren of Max and Bertha are: Ida, Celia, Abraham, Blema, Samuel, William. You can learn a little bit about each one of them below.
Ida
Ida Steuer [Leber] was born on May 21, 1872, in Galicia, Austria. She died on Jul. 15, 1921 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, USA.
She married William Steuer on Mar. 22, 1893, in Manhattan, New York, New York, USA.
- William, son of Mordechai Steuer and Rose Steuer [Keller],
- born on Sep. 15, 1870 ,in Krakow, Krakow, Galicia, Austrian Empire
- died on Nov. 7, 1938, in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, USA.
William was a butcher and 2 of their children became lawyers.
Sitting is William’s mother, Rose Keller Steuer.
Back row from left to right: Harold, Max, Bertha, Ida
Front row from left to right: Joseph, Sadie (Shirley), Frieda (Faye) and William
1917 Directory Listing for William’s home and business
The children of Ida and William Steuer were:
- Bertha Dina Unger [Steuer]
- born on Jan. 24, 1894, in New York City, New York County, New York, USA
- died on Mar. 26, 1966, in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, USA.
- Max Steuer
- born on Jun. 24, 1895, in 400 East 44th, Yorkville, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
- died on Jan. 23, 1944, in Miami, Dade County, Florida, USA.
Max Steuer
- Harold Steuer
- born on Jan. 30, 1897, in Suffolk County, New York, USA
- died in Feb. 1965, in Suffolk County, New York, USA.
- Joseph Steuer
- born on Dec. 26, 1901, in New York City, New York, USA
- died in Jun. 1979, in St Petersburg, Pinellas, Florida, USA.
- Frieda Steuer
- was born on Aug. 1, 1904, in New York City, New York, USA
- died on Jun. 17, 1996, in Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA.
- Sadie Steuer
- was born on Mar. 3, 1907, in New York City, New York, USA
- died on May 3, 1995, in Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA.
- child Steuer died Before 1900.
Celia
Celia Forman [Leber] was born on Jul. 7, 1874, in Tarnov, Galicia, Austria. She died on Sep. 8, 1946, in New York, USA.
She married Harry Forman in 1895. Harry was a tailor.
- Harry was born on Oct. 7, 1872, in Austria
- He died on Apr. 23, 1941, in New York, USA
The children of Celia Forman [Leber] and Harry Forman were:
- Bertha D Forman
- born on May 21, 1895, in New York, USA and
- died on Feb. 8, 1980, in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA
- Fannie Forman
- born on Dec. 10, 1897, in New York, USA and
- died on Aug. 7, 1985, in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA.
- Tess Berson [Forman]
- was born on Mar. 28, 1901, in New York, USA
- and died on Jan. 10, 1994, in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, USA.
- Henry Forman
- was born on Jan. 19, 1904 in New York, USA
- died in Sep. 1968 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, USA. v. 30.
- Frieda Forman
- born in 1906 in Mastic, Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, USA. vi. 31.
- child6 Forman
- born Between 1907 and 1909 in Mastic, Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, USA
- died Before 1910 in Mastic, Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, USA. vii. 32.
- child7 Forman
- born Between 1907 and 1909 in Mastic, Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, USA and
- died Before 1910 in Mastic, Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, USA.
Abraham
Abraham Leber was born on Oct. 25, 1877, in Tarnov, Galicia, Austria and died on Jul. 7, 1953 in Bronx Borough, New York City, New York, USA.
He married Fannie Leber [Salpeter] on Jan. 2, 1900, in Beth Hamidrosh Hagodol Anshel Resha, Manhattan, New York, USA.
- Fannie, daughter of Sam Salpeter and Ester Salpeter [Puter],
- born in 1882, in Galicia, Austria and
- died on Dec. 14, 1962, in New York City, New York County, New York, USA.
Abraham was a painting contractor and worked with Samuel, his brother. He attended the orthodox shul, Beth Hamidrosh Hagodol Ansel Resha. He and Sam lived in buildings that were next to each other and Abe’s, daughter, Bertha Laber Michaelson, lived next door to him.
The children of Abraham Leber and Fannie Leber [Salpeter] were:
- Bertha Laber
- born on Jan. 27, 1901, in New York, USA and
- died on Oct. 19, 1992.
- Mollie Laber
- born on Dec. 12, 1901, in New York, USA and
- died on May 19, 1918, in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, USA.
- Isidor Laber
- born on Jul. 15, 1905, in Suffolk County, New York, USA and
- died on Oct. 17, 1965, in Takoma Park, Montgomery, Maryland, USA.
- Henry Laber
- born on Oct. 11, 1906, in New York, USA and
- died on Sep. 17, 1986, in Rockville Centre, Nassau County, Long Island, New York, USA.
Abe and Fanny at their grandson’s Bar Mitzvah.
Front row: Fannie Laber, William Laber – the Bar MItzvah boy, and Abe Laber
Back row: Richard Michaelson, Dave Michaelson, Marcella Michaelson, Bertie Michaelson, Jean Laber, Henry Laber, Irwin Laber, Alice Laber
Blema / Bertha
Blema Krantz [Leber] was born in Apr. 1880, in Galicia, Austria and died in New York, USA.
She married Max Krantz, her first cousin, on Mar. 20, 1900, in Manhattan Borough, New York City, New York, USA.
- Max, son of Osias Kranz and Annie Kranz [Leber], (Annie was Yechiel Mechel/ Max’s sister)
- born on Dec. 24, 1878, in Tarnov, Galicia, Austria
- died in Mar. 1966.
Blema, went by Bertha in later years. Her husband, Max, was a finisher of men’s clothing and later a painting salesman.
Blema and Max with some siblings and family
The children of Blema Krantz [Leber] and Max Krantz were:
- Bertha Krantz
- born on Feb. 15, 1901, in New York, New York, USA
- died on Sep. 26, 1917, in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, USA
- Charles Krantz
- born About 1904, in New Jersey, USA.
- Evelyn Krantz
- born on Mar. 1, 1906 ,in New Jersey, USA
- died in Oct. 1975.
Evelyn Krantz’ High School Graduation Photo
- Ruth Krantz
- born on May 28, 1916, in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, USA
- died on Jan. 29, 1998.
Samuel
Samuel Leber was born in May 1881, in Galicia, Austria and died on Aug. 23, 1942, in Miami, Dade County, Florida, USA.
He married Annie Leber [Hartman] on Jan. 23, 1894, in Manhattan, New York City, Kings County, New York, USA.
- Annie, daughter of Chiel Hartman and Rose Hartman [Kalem],
- born in Jan. 1873, in Austria
- died on May 1, 1935, in Manhattan Borough, New York City, New York, USA.
Sam was a painting contractor and worked with Abraham. his brother. Sam lived in the building that were next to his brother Abraham.
The children of Samuel Leber and Annie Leber [Hartman] were
- Henry Laber
- born in Oct. 1895, in Austria
- died in Oct. 1964, in New York City, New York, USA
- Bertha D Kalfus [Laber]
- born on Dec. 28, 1896, in Mastic, Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, USA
- died on Apr. 28, 1993, in Long Beach, Nassau County, New York, USA.
- Leo Harry Laber
- born on Aug. 12, 1898, in New York City, New York, USA
- died on Jun. 3, 1947, in in mid-air between Miami and Newark.
William
Jenny and William Leber
William Leber was born on Jul. 3, 1881 in Tarnov, Galicia, Austria and died on Oct. 16, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York, USA.
He married Jennie Leber [Jacobs] on Jan. 24, 1909 in Manhattan Borough, New York City, New York, USA. J
- Jennie was born About 1888 in Austria and
- died on Aug. 22, 1947 in Brooklyn, New York, USA.
Willie moved to Yorktown Heights and opened Laber’s Dept. Store around 1915. He became very well-off. His store occupied the entire first floor of a large house and he lived above the store with his family. Being the only Jews in town, they were never part of the social scene in Yorktown Heights.
The children of William Leber and Jennie Leber [Jacobs] were
- Sidney Laber
- born on Dec. 24, 1909 in Manhattan Borough, New York City, New York, USA
- died on Jun. 1, 1983 in Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA. ii. 45.
- Henry William Laber
- born on Sep. 4, 1914 in New York City, New York County, New York, USA
- died on Aug. 15, 1986 in St Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, USA.
Family Memories
Roz Kalfus was the daughter of Arthur / Abraham and Bert / Bertha Steuer Kalfus. A Kalfus cousin ehad stories about Roz’s grandfather, Isaac, to share.
Isaac originally had a bakery on the Lower East Side. He became known for stocking a copious supply of spare bakery machine parts, and soon became established as a purveyor of these parts. The bakery was eventually given up, and the “I. Kalfus” bakery supply company was born and prospered, eventually becoming an international concern.
Isaac died on 2/3/1923 and is buried in Mount Judah Cemetery in Queens. His two sons Arthur and Ben continued to run the business, Arthur running the business as such and Ben acting as a salesman. After Arthur’s death in the 1950’s Ben sold out to an employee named David. The business then disappeared, probably being either renamed, dismembered, or absorbed into some other concern. Isaac’s son Arthur (4/1895 – 8/18/52) was originally named Abraham, but changed his name to Arthur around the time of his marriage to Bert . . .
Roz wrote to MIchal Esterson the following about her family.
The Steuers were very important in our lives. Though your Aunt Ina and I are not first cousins, Ina is my closest cousin in age – we are only one year apart – and had a special relationship. I have wonderful memories of the times I visited as a guest in that lovely house on Long Island. I remember it was surrounded by magnificent tulips that your grandfather planted. They were his special pride. In the genealogy I received some time ago, your mother wrote so well about growing up in that family. Your grandfather Max was a favorite of my mother and our families saw much of each other. My oldest son, Jack, had an occasion to be in Boston recently and met Ina and Suzie just before Ina moved to Florida. There was a span of about 30 odd years between then and the last time Ina’s family was at our house in New Jersey. Ina and I keep in contact by phone now. I do miss her.
My sister and I were close to our maternal grandparents, Samuel and Annie Laber. We saw them frequently. In fact my sister and I always stopped off at their apartment after school for milk and cookies. They always lived only a block away. Grandma Annie was a no-nonsense woman, and a strong disciplinarian. Grandpa Samuel was much softer. He was a handsome, dignified and gentle man, very much in the shadow of his wife, who made the decisions in the family. Early recollection: When I was about 5, this talented man built a two-story doll house for my sister and me, which was kept in our playroom. It had four rooms, was electrified, and held tiny furniture, which was purchased, of course. He painted it green and white. We were very popular among our friends who came to play with it. Grandpa loved birds. He was able to identify birds by their songs, and if that wasn’t enough, he could whistle their songs in return. At least he told me so! Grandpa developed Parkinson’s Disease and I remember sitting with him and rubbing his hands, trying to make them less stiff. Naturally it didn’t help, but I wanted so much to help him get better.
All my mother’s family had a place in my father’s business, which sold bakery equipment, and later food items. Grandpa had been trained as a chemist and soon headed the food production department. In fact, both my uncles became members of I. Kalfus Co. Uncle Henry headed the Cleveland branch; Uncle Leo headed the Miami branch. There was quite a commotion when Uncle Henry decided to leave the company and set up business on his own in competition with I. Kalfus. I was too young to know much of the details but for the longest while my sister and I were not permitted to talk to that side of the family. Too bad.
Uncle Leo and Aunt Dot had two children, Lenore and Jerry, quite a bit younger than we. They became our Florida relatives when Leo became manager of the Miami branch, and unfortunately distance prevented a closer relationship. We did learn that that marriage was shaky. Although my grandmother forbade a divorce – “A disgrace for the family!” – Uncle Leo did marry the woman named Kitty. I think they both were happy. Uncle Leo died of a heart attack on a flight to New York to attend my sister’s wedding. Lenore died of a neurological disease shortly after her marriage. My mother kept in touch with Aunt Dot and their son Jerry, and visited them when she was in Florida.
Evidently my great grandfather Yechiel Mechel and his wife Bertha were much loved by their 6 children. The five eldest named a daughter Bertha. The name Henry was favored also. In order to distinguish the various Henry Labers from one another they were referred to as Sam’s Henry, Celia’s Henry, Abe’s Henry and Bill’s Henry.
Uncle Henry and Aunt Selma eventually returned to New York. As you know, they had one son, Austin. He was a bright and creative person, an attorney, involved in the rehabilitation of depressed buildings in New York’s West Side, married a lovely woman, Jeri, who became one of the forces in Helsinki Watch, an organization concerned with protection of human rights world wide. That marriage lasted twenty-odd years. There were two others..Austin moved to a small Conn. community with his last wife. They opened a wholesale bakery, which supplied outstanding bread and rolls thruout the State. He proudly showed us a machine that his father had patented to make Kaiser rolls, which he used in his own bakery. Father and son had gone full cycle. Austin died 5 years ago. My sister, Marilyn and I were closer with Austin than any other first cousins.
Leo was the son of Samuel. Here are some stories his grandson shared:
Bert Kalfus lived in Tucson in the winters for many years in the same apartment complex as my grandmother Dorothy (Leo’s widow) so I knew her very well. She was quite a character. I don’t know if you actually ever met her. She was a diminutive woman with a very superior attitude because she had some money and living in Manhattan for the rest of the year she felt much more sophisticated than the people in Tucson (not hard to do). My father was always nice to her because he had such little family, but she didn’t really fit in with the pinochle playing crew made up of my grandmother and her sister and a few other ladies in the neighborhood.
Leo and Henry were in the bakery supply business in Brooklyn (I think). They had a falling out at some point about money and never spoke to each other again. Henry ended up with the business and there are some Labers still in the business in NY. Henry’s son, Austin, was a very prominent real estate attorney in New York and I think he kept the bakery business going as well.
Leo was only 46 when he died. He went a little crazy and divorced my grandmother (Dorothy) and married someone named Kitty. He died of a heart attack on a flight from New York to Miami. My father didn’t speak about him much, being angry at him for leaving my grandmother.
Bert had two daughters, Marilyn and Rosilyn. My parents (Jerome and Doris Laber) kept in regular contact with them, however, I never met them. I am not sure if either of them had children.
My father, Jerry, was also a lawyer in Tucson and he spoke with Austin on occasion. Leo, Dorothy (Dot), my father and his sister (Lenore) moved to Miami in the late thirties because Lenore had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Tragically, she died at age 28 after bleeding to death from the side affects of the then new drug, Cortisone, which was used to treat her arthritis.
My mother’s parents moved to Tucson in 1951 and my parents and Dot followed them the next year. As far as religious observance, we always had a seder and dinner for Rosh Hashanah and went to bar mitzvah’s but that was social stuff. While we surely identified ourselves as being Jewish, we were not religious and none of the men in my family, starting with my father, ever had a bar mitzvah.
Other surnames that the married into the family in later generations include: Unger, Funt, Elgart, Berson, Michaelson, Silverstein, Berkowitz, Bawer, Esterson, Weissman, Hoffman, Lipshultz, Hain, Goldberg, Greenhalgh, and Rochester
Sources:
- Steuer/Esterson Family Members
Outstanding Questions:
- Which cousins stayed in contact with the children of Taube and Max Leber?
- Why did Max decide to immigrate to the US with his entire family?
- What town in Galicia was the family originally from?
- What occupations did they have in Galicia?