The Six Children of Moshe Ephraim
- Debbie Cohn Terman
- Feb 16, 2019
- 2 min read
Moshe Ephraim Strzyza married Sura Ryfka Tis, who was born approximately 1841. I haven't found any other information about her yet, so that will have to wait for another time.
According to surviving records from Pultusk, they had six children over a 20-year span. Pultusk was apparently the closest town where births were officially registered. The family actually lived in a small village nearby for at least some of the births (see below).
1. Malka Necha, 1863-1927
Married Noech Wiatrak of Przasnysz.
Children: ? (I am still searching)
2. Jankiel, 1872-?
Married Sura Leja Sokol of the village of Kleszewo near Pultusk.
Children: possibly Isaak (I am still searching)
3. Rojza, 1875-1939. Born in the small village of Shiski.
Married Gersz Lejb Wiatrak (brother of Noech) of Przasnysz in 1896 in Nasielsk.
Gersz came to the US in 1911, and Rojza followed with their children in 1914. In the US, they took the names Louis and Rose Silverman.
Children: Sarah, Eva, Samuel
4. Berek, 1877-1979. Born in the small village of Shiski.
Married Pesia Dubner.
Berek came to the US in 1912, and Pesia followed with the three oldest children in 1921. In the US, they took the names Benjamin and Bessie Strauss, my great-grandparents.
Children: Samuel (my grandfather), Isadore ("Izzy"), Sarah, and Jacob ("Jack"). Jack was born in the US.
5. Fradjla, 1881-1919.
Married Eliasz Szeftel.
Children: Shirley, Abram (died at age 13), Israel, Yankiel (died in infancy), Elka (died at age 3). Shirley and Israel traveled to the US in 1923 and used the surname Shefter.
6. Abraham, 1883-1959.
Came to the US in 1923, as did his eventual wife Eva Finegold.
Children: Sarah, Israel, Harry, Rose, Morris
The number of Moshe Ephraim's grandchildren currently identified is therefore 18 of the 31 noted on the back of his photo. It seems unlikely that I will find 13 more biological grandchildren. I wonder whether the spouses of the biological grandchildren were included in that count. The number of known spouses is currently 12, so added to the 18, the total becomes 30. More research is needed.
Next: more detailed information about each of the six children in turn.