| Index | Previous Individual | Next Individual |

Individual Record for: Sam Baker (male)

Notes:

<P><P>Druggist, owned Baker Pharmacy. <P>Immigrated to U.S. ca. 1908 but before 1910. <P> Certificate of Naturalization, Samuel Leib Baker, March 2, 1922, Chicago, IL. No. 1478502, Vol. 144A, Number 40973. http://www.bakerbluminfamilytree.com/Records/ships/sambaker_natz1922.jpg
<P> ELLIS ISLAND SHIP MANIFESTS: 1910-1923<P> ________________________________________________________________ <P>June 12-13, 1910 (departed May 24, 1910, port of departure Libau, "The Russia") <P>0005. Pekurowsky, Nissel M 27 y S Russian, Pokurawky, Russia (Sam Baker) <P>Notations: Shows occupation as teacher, father is Jankel Pekurowsky, Choinyky, Minsk; final destination Chicago, Illinois. The manifest listed age is not accurate. <P>Sam was about 20 years old at the time of entry. Using Sam's original Certificate of Naturalization of 3/2/1922, I personally examined his Petition for Naturalization, Certificate of Arrival, Declaration of Intention, which contained a certificate from Ellis Island attesting that he entered the U.S. on June 13, 1910 as well as his own attestations to that date. These original documents are located at the Clerk of the Circuit Court, Cook County Archives Holdings, Daley Center, Chicago, room 1113. <P>At the time of his Declaration of Intention of 1919 to become a citizen of the United States, Sam Baker was 29 and worked as a Pharmacist, residing at 1300 S. Lawndale, Chicago. He listed his date of birth as October 27, 1889. In a life insurance document from 1945 he listed his date of birth as October 29, 1890. He listed his physical appearance in the the Declaration as dark complexion, 5 feet 6 inches, 145 pounds, black hair, dark brown eyes. Sam's Petition for Naturalization, filed July 21, 1921 and Certificate of Naturalization granted on March 2, 1922, showed his request and the court order changing his name from "Schevel Leib Pekurowsky" to Samuel Leib Baker, then residing at 3636 Douglas Blvd. Chicago, Illinois. Max Meyerovitz, an attorney who was Goldie Baker Meyerovitz's (Sam's new wife; her date of birth listed at June 24, 1898) older brother, and Joseph Osman were witnesses to the July filing. Joseph Osman was the husband of Lillie Meyerovitz, Goldie's older sister. Sam resided in Illinois continuosly from September 15, 1913 to the time of filing for naturalization in 1921. <P>On March 2, 1922 Sam Baker became a USC and legally changed his name from "Pekurowsky" to Baker. He had a 6-month old boy named Lester and we know that his pharmacy business was beginning to prosper. 3 months later on June 23, 1922 he visited to Ellis Island NY to greet his father, Jacob or "Jankel" and his younger brothers Sydney and Harry. From an oral history tape recording Joel Baker supplied we know that Sam departed NYC on the same day that he saw them for the first time in 14 years! Why? To return to his wife, child and drug store. A loving son, brother, husband and father, dedicated entrepreneur- all revealed on the same day. <P>Sam Baker left his 4 brothers a little money in his will. I read his 1953 will and saw the estate check disbursements and signatures. $100 to Nathan, Sidney, and Max, and $250 to Harry-August 1955. <P>* Ship Manifest | Steerage Passenger Sheet, p.2 <P>* Text version of Ship Manifest: Nissel Pekurowski arrived June 13, 1910, port of departure: Libau, Russia <P>* Steerage Passenger Record for Nissel Pekurovsky <P>* Affidavit of Commanding Officer: "no one of said aliens is an idiot, or imbecile, or a feeble minded person, or insane person, or pauper, or is likely to become a public charge." <P>* Certificate of Arrival-For naturalization purposes: Nissel Pekurowsky arrived New York, N.Y. June 13, 1910 on the S.S. Russia. <P>* Declaration of Intention, U.S. Department of Labor, Naturalization Service, May 17, 1919. <P>* Petition for Naturalization, July 21, 1921 (filed one month before the birth of his first son Lester, born on August 27, 1921) <P>* Certificate of Naturalization, Samuel Leib Baker, March 2, 1922, Chicago, IL. (No. 1478502, Vol. 144A, Number 40973.) <P>* Legal Name Change (Legal surname change from Pekurowsky to Baker, back side of Natz. certificate. May 14, 1945 letter from Insurance company on date of birth question). <P>_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ <P>September 25, 1910 (departed September 13, 1910, port of Libau to NY, "The Lituania") <P>0023. Pekurowsky, Morduch M 17y S Russia, Hebrew Choniki, Russia (Max Baker) <P>Notations: The manifest listed Max as a shoemaker; for name and address of nearest relative in country "whence he came," the manifest listed "Jankel Pekurowsky" (Jacob Moshe, his father who emigrated later in 1922), town of Choniki. The manifest showed that Morduch was "Going to visit his "Uncle L. Cohen, 550-552 Maxwell Street, Chicago, Ill." Louis Cohen was the husband of Gertrude Baker, Jacob's younger sister. Gertrude was the first Pekurowsky immigrant and settled in Chicago. Supplemental information listed Max at 5' 5", light complexion, black hair, gray eyes." We know that Max s Yiddish name was Mordecai, and his nickname was Mottel. From Chicago, Max and Rebecca (his wife from Chicago) went first to Rochester and then to Bronx in 1924. Then in 34 back to Chicago and the whole family followed in 35 for a job change with the shoe company Florsheim. * Ship Manifest | Steerage Passenger Sheet, p.1 * Page 2 | Page 2 * Text version of Ship Manifest: Morduch Pekurowsky, Arrived Sep 25, 1910. Port of Departure: Libau * Steerage Passenger Record for Morduch Pekurwosky ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ April 14, 1913 (departed April 1, 1913, port of Libau to NY, "The Czar") 0004. Racinow, Reise F 42 M Russia Reshitza, Russia (Raisel Robinov) 0005. Rabinow, Frsim 16 S Russia Reshitza, Russia (Frank Robinov) 0006. Rabinow, Wulf 13 S Russia Reshitza, Russia (William Robinov) 0007. Rabinow, Boruch 8 S Russia Reshitza, Russia (Ben Robinov) 0008. Rabinow, Fanie 11 S Russia Reshitza, Russia (Fay Robinov) 0020. Pekurowsky, Itzko 17 S Russia Chmiky, Russia (Alex Baker ) * Ship Manifest | Steerage Passenger Sheet, p.2 * Text version of Ship Manifest: Itzko Pekurowsky, Arrived April 14, 1913. Port of Departure: Libau Alex Baker (a/k/a Itzko Pekurowsky) sailed on the same ship as his Aunt Raisel Robinov and his 4 cousins; "The Czar" departed port Libau and arrived in NY on April 14, 1913. Notation on manifest listed "Gadelia Rabinow" as Raisel's husband-spelling her name on the manifest as "Reise Racinow." 702 Bay Street, New York, New York. "Gdalis Rabinow" (Gadelia Robinov) departed on the The Lituania from the port of Libau and arrived in New York on April 17, 1911, listed at 40 years old. Samuel Robinov, a/k/a "Simcha" on his passport, arrived in the U.S. in 1910. Alex, who suffered from epilepsy, was a tailor. Sasha was his Russian name. He listed his father "Sam Pekurowsky" as a relative living in "Minsk gub." and that his declared final destination was to visit his "brother Sam Bacer" (Chicago Sam Baker) who apparently lived at "2105 Broadway, Gary, Indiana" at that time in April 1913. By 1922 Sam resided at 3636 Douglass Blvd. Chicago, about 35.4 miles northwest from his Indiana residence. Alex had $25 at the time of arrival. Supplemental information listed Alex at 5' 5", dark complexion, dark hair, brown eyes, Honiki Russia. " ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ August 26, 1913 (departed August 9, 1913, port of Departure, Triest, to NY, "The Alice") 0019. Pekurowski, Tznig M 27y M Russian, Hebrew Chojiniki, Russia (Nathan Baker) * Ship Manifest | Steerage Passenger Sheet, p.2 * Text version of Ship Manifest: Tznig Pekurowski, Arrived August 9, 1913. Port of Departure: Triest. Notations are somewhat confusing but confirm that this represents the manifest for Nathan Baker. It lists him by name on line 19 but the notation on line 18 lists "Jackob Becker" as "cousin" and that "Tznig" was 5 ' 10". We know that Nathan was the tallest offspring of Jacob and Leah Esther and was certainly taller than 5' 5"; most of the Baker brothers were about 5' 5". He had $50 at time of arrival. Listed as "farm labor." Nathan was separated from his wife and children from 8/9/1913 to ca. 1/27/1923- approximately 9 years 6 months. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ September 19, 1913 (departed Liverpool port on the "The Lusitania", September 13, 1913; Built for Cunard Line, British flag, in 1907 and named Lusitania. Liverpool-New York service. Torpedoed and sunk off the Irish coast; 1,198 lost in 1915.) 0007. Blumin, Simon M 39y M Russia, Hebrew Reczitza, Russia * Ship Manifest | Steerage Passenger Sheet, p.2 * Text Version, Steerage Passenger Record for Simon Blumin Notation: Simon was separated from his children from 9/13/1913 to 9/2/1922, nearly 9 years. Going to join "G. Robinov, 702 Bay Street." ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ June 23, 1922 (departed June 17, 1922, sailing from Southampton to NY, "S.S. "The Mauretania") 0008. Pekurovsky, Jankel M 69y W Russia, Hebrew Minsk, Russia (Jacob Moshe Baker) 0009. Pekurovsky, Simcha M 22y S Russia, Hebrew Minsk, Russia (Sydney a/k/a Sam Baker) 0010. Pekurovsky, Herstel M 17y S Russia, Hebrew Minsk, Russia (Harry Baker) * Ship Manifest | Steerage Passenger Sheet, p.2 * Text Version, Steerage Passenger Record for Harry Baker Note: ship manifest corroborates Joel Baker's written recollection from his father, Harry Baker. Joining relatives: Max Baker, Samuel Baker (sons of Jankel, brothers of Sam and Harry), 128 E. 113th Street, New York. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ September 2, 1922 (departed August 26, 1922, Southampton to NY, S.S. "The Mauretania") 0017. Blumin, Aron M 18y S Russia, Hebrew Retchiza, Russia (Harry Blumin) 0018. Blumin, Rosa F 22y S Russia, Hebrew Retchiza, Russia (Rose Blumin) 0019. Blumin, Evsei M 16y S Russia, Hebrew Retchiza, Russia (Isador "Irving" Blumin) 0020. Blumin, Borris M 16y S Russia, Hebrew Retchiza, Russia (Benjamin David Blumin) 0021. Blumin, Moische M 11y S Russia, Hebrew Retchiza, Russia (Morris Blumin) * Ship Manifest | Steerage Passenger Sheet, p.2 * Text version of Ship Manifest: Rosa Blumin, Arrived Sep 2, 1922. Port of Departure: Southampton * Steerage Passenger Record for Rosa Blumin Notation: Simon Blumin is listed as Father, residing in Tompkinsville, NY. Simon was separated from his children from 9/13/1913 to 9/2/1922, nearly 9 years. Isador and Ben listed as same age; Irving was a year older. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ January 27, 1923 (departed January 16, 1923 Antwerp port to NY, "The Kroonland") 0020. Pekarowska, Dina F 32y M Polish, Hebrew Jurewicze, Russia (Dina Baker) 0021. Pekarowska, Doba F 14y S Polish, Hebrew Jurewicze, Russia (Dorothy Baker) 0022. Pekarowska, Samuel M 12y S Russian, Hebrew Jurewicze, Russia (Sam Baker) 0023. Pekarowska, Heura Miza F 10y S Polish, Hebrew Jurewicze, Russia (Henrietta Baker) 0024. Pekarowska, Abram M 8y S Polish, Hebrew Jurewicze, Russia (Abraham Baker) * Ship Manifest | Steerage Passenger Sheet, p.2 * Text version of Ship Manifest: Abram Pekurowsky, Arrived January 27, 1923. Port of Departure: Antwerp Notation: Nathan Baker was separated from his wife and children from 8/9/1913 to ca. 1/27/1923- approximately 9 years 6 months. For Nathan's first son Sam Baker, records show "Samuel Pekarowska" appeared on the first manifest to be traveling with his Mom, Dina, and 4 siblings on January 27, 1923 using the name Samuel Pekarowska, the ship was the Kroonland. He was quarantined and crossed off this list. We know from Dorothy's tape that her younger brother Sam was quarantined and the ship manifest revealed that he was reunited with his family in about 6 days. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ February 2, 1923 (departed January 23, 1923 Antwerp port to NY, "Manchuria") Sam, Nathan's child, again appears on Feb. 2, 1923 manifest arrival listing, as "Szmul- 11 years old" (ship Manchuria departing Antwerp on January 23, 1923) using name Schmul Pekurowski. Thus, there are 2 records for the child Sam Baker. His father is listed as "Natan Beeker, Tompkinsville, NY." 0021. Pekurowski, Schmul M 13y S Russia, Hebrew Jurowicz, Russia * Ship Manifest | Steerage Passenger Sheet, p.2 * Text Version, Steerage Passenger Record for Sam Baker Pekurovski/Pekurowski/Pekurovskij, Khoyniki, Rechitsa District, Minsk Gubernia.

Chvonicker Independent Aid Association: On a map of Minsk in volumes of Minsk Yizkor books, Yeshiah Metal, YIVO librarian found Chvonick in the deep southeast corner of Minsk gubernia, spelled with one vov where the landsmanshaft spelled it with two vovs. In the shtetl finder it is listed as Khoyniki, Khoiniki and Khojniki. The Yiddish spellings of Slavic place names is a wonderful opportunity for playing guessing games. The shtetl Khoyniki, Khoinikskaya Volost, Rechitsa uyezd, Minsk gubernia; Latitude: 51o54' Longitude: 29o58'; also known as Khoiniki. The Shtetl Khoyniki has several spellings: Choiniki, Choniki, Chojnicki, Khoyniki, Khojniki, Khoiniki, Khvoyniki. 1897-1898 population: Khoiniki, 1668 Jewish, (2685 All population) and is located about 170.5 miles in the deep SE of Minsk. Khoyniki was located in the Uyezd/District of Rechitsa and in the Gubernia/Province of Minsk. Khoyniki - Poles'ye Oblast-today the town is in the Gomel Oblast/ Province, Belarus. The Khoiniki region was founded on December 18, 1926. The administration center of the region is the town of Khoiniki which was first mentioned in 1512 as a village of the Bragin county of the Great Principality of Lithuania.
The Khoyniki region is one of the most contaminated regions by the Chernobyl catastrophe and 40% of its population was resettled. Latitude: 51 54', Longitude: 29 58'.
Actual references to Nokhim-Mordukh Pekurovskij:

Rechitsa District, 1838-1917
http://www.jewishgen.org/Belarus/albell/minsk/records.html

Conscription list, Oct.1888
http://www.jewishgen.org/belarus/albell/1888octdraft.html

In 1869, Russian was declared to be the official language in all provinces of the Russian Empire. Polish language terminology that was used prior to that date was replaced by Russian. Record-keeping reverted back to the Polish language after Poland once again became an independent country after World War I.

Polish provinces of the Russian Empire (before 1869)

Wojewodztwo or Departament = province
Powiat = district
Gmina = smaller district including several villages
Wies = village
Kolonia = colony (a small settlement outside the main village)

Russian Empire

Gubernia = province
Uezd = district
Volost = smaller district including several villages
Gorod = town/city
Selo/Derevnaya = village

Lithuania Today

Apskritis = province
Rajon/Rajonas = district
Miestas = city
Miestelis = town
Kaimas = village

Poland Today

Wojewodztwo = province
Powiat = district
Gmina = smaller district including several villages
Miasto = city/town
Wies = village

Belarus Today

Oblast = province
Raion = district
Gorod = city/town
Selo/derevnaya = village

Ukraine Today

Oblast = province
Raion = district
Misto = city/town
Selo = village

For information about accessing landsmanshaften records:
http://www.jewishgen.org/belarus/accessing_yivo_records.htm
Also, visit: http://www.jewishgen.org/belarus/chvonicker_independent_aid_association.htm

| Index | Previous Individual | Next Individual |

Web site created from GEDCOM file by GEDitCOM