A Peddler’s Journey: A Simple Man’s Extraordinary Life - the Memoirs of Harry Jacobs

By Jeffrey Slater

In 1952, 77-year-old Harry Jacobs sat down to document his life story. He felt the desire to share his history with future generations before it was lost. The grandson of a tailor and son of a peddler, Harry’s tales take us to a time long forgotten. The Peddlers Journey begins with Harry’s escape from Czarist Russia at 15 years of age, finding himself in New York City with eight-cents in his pocket and settling in the Wild West. He shares his joys, struggles, love, adventures, and the personal conflict of “Old World” religious values in a New World. During his lifetime, he was fortunate to dine with Presidents and Governors and came to call many people, rich and poor, his good friends. His wealth would rise and fall, each time bringing him back to peddling. This is the story of a simple American immigrant who led a fortunate life during an adventurous time in America, where anything was possible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Mar 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781796094220

Jeffrey Slater

Jeffrey Slater is the Great-Grandson of Harry Jacobs. In 1985, he was sent Harry’s manuscript and with little interest, placed it on a bookshelf where it remained for over 30 years. Urged by his family to read it, he picked up the manuscript and read the tales of a Lithuanian immigrant who had arrived in America at the turn of the century. He read the stories of immigration, assimilation, determination and love and devotion to family. For three years, Jeffrey used all the modern tools of discovery to uncover more details in each of Harry’s tales. Interviews with surviving family who knew Harry gave him a sense of the man he had never met. The result brought Harry, his story and the characters that crossed his path to life, to be shared with future generations. Jeffrey lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and two sons.

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Copyright © 2020 by Jeffrey Slater.

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The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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Rev. date: 03/24/2020

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Table of Contents

Author’s Note

Introduction

Chapter 1 Rachmael and the Baron

Chapter 2 Avigdor

Chapter 3 Life in Darbėnai

Chapter 4 Shouldering Responsibilities

Chapter 5 I Witness a Murder

Chapter 6 Rachel’s Wedding

Chapter 7 Darbėnai in Flames

Chapter 8 I Become a Fugitive

Chapter 9 Our Troubles Begin

Chapter 10 America Welcomes Us

Chapter 11 Our Initiation into American Business

Chapter 12 On My Own

Chapter 13 American Appreciation

Chapter 14 A Life Change

Chapter 15 My New Home

Chapter 16 I Become a Shopkeeper

Chapter 17 I Make Progress

Chapter 18 I Make My Choice

Chapter 19 I Fall in Love

Chapter 20 Our Wedding

Chapter 21 Family Troubles

Chapter 22 My Parents Arrival

Chapter 23 I Go Pioneering

Chapter 24 My Idaho Life

Chapter 25 I Become a Mine Owner

Chapter 26 A Return to the Store

Chapter 27 Developing Idahome

Chapter 28 Our Indian Neighbors

Chapter 29 A Debt of Gratitude

Chapter 30 History in the Making

Chapter 31 Faith, Friends and Societies

Chapter 32 Dinner with the President

Chapter 33 Idaho Blues

Chapter 34 One Chapter Closes Another Opens

Chapter 35 Nellie and Barney

Chapter 36 On the Road Again

Chapter 37 Ida

Chapter 38 My Final Chapter

Jacobs Family

Gesas Family

For Harry and Ida

Author’s Note

In 1952, seventy-year-old Aaron Harry Jacobs, my Great-Grandfather, sat down to write his Autobiography. Harry’s wife, Ida had passed away seven years earlier, prompting him to reflect on his life and put his memories in writing to share with future generations.

Thirty-three years after he put down his pen, I received a manuscript in the mail from a distant relative in Canada, Raymond Whitzman. The note said, When researching our family tree, I came to have in my possession the autobiography of your Great Grandfather and thought you would like a copy.

For years my family urged me to read Harry’s manuscript until I finally had the time I relented. I began to read and couldn’t put it down. I was intrigued by Harry’s story and decided to transform his memories into a Biographical Novel. I sought out the few living relatives who knew him, including my father to share their memories. To bring more depth to Harry’s story, I needed to understand the man.

By searching historical records, our family tree, family history and DNA matching, I was able to find Harry and Ida’s relatives. Combing through thousands of newspapers and library archives, I was also able to corroborate Harry’s tales and bring his stories to life.

As this project progressed, the book began to take on a life of its own. Harry’s tales had much more backstory than his original manuscript depicted. Newspapers of the day were rich in detail, dates, names and places that perhaps Harry had forgotten in his later years.

He takes us on a journey from the mid-1800’s, under the Czarist-ruled Russian Empire, through to his emigration to America, exploring the Wild West and beyond. He chronicled his meetings with Presidents, Governors, famous (and infamous) people. His story is one of passion, struggle, joy, and love for a woman that drove this young immigrant from rags to riches and back many times over.

I would like to thank everyone who supported this project and contributed to Harry’s story. My father, Byron Slater, Janet Hornick, Merwyn Koeppel, Roz Carson, Laurie Albert, Alan and Esther Denniston, Alan Raphael and the Glen Cove Library. Your many stories, photos and anecdotes have helped bring Harry to life.

Finally, my greatest appreciation goes to my wife, Victoria. It was always my intention to transform Harry’s rough manuscript into a story that would envelop the reader into Harry’s world. Victoria’s editing and attention to details has made this book come alive by layering more complexity to the various characters that crossed Harry’s path.

I’m so thankful Harry decided to write his memoirs for our family to share, and I hope you find his story as inspiring as I have.

Jeffrey Slater

March 2020

PLATE%201%20From%20Harrys%20Manuscript%20on%20his%20principles%20of%20life.%20.jpg

From Harry’s Manuscript on his principles of life.

Introduction

My name is Harry Jacobs and I am a simple man who has lived an extraordinary life. I’m a man you would pass on the sidewalk without a second glance, but as I discovered early in life, everyone has a story to tell, and I want to share mine. I am not a man to boast, but I want future generations to know my journey from a hostile and difficult life in Lithuania, to a welcoming in America. I know that an immigrant can prosper in America with determination and I am eternally grateful for every opportunity that came my way.

It may be difficult to imagine the challenges we faced then, often living life on a razor’s edge and struggling to survive. We had no government assistance, and relied on the charity of others when times were tough. When I reached a fork in the road I sometimes made the wrong decision, occasionally resulting in financial demise. During those times I would return to peddling, and before long we would be prosperous again.

I am of the last generation see covered wagons crossing the Western Prairies, Native Americans fighting Settlers, the railway being forged to the new West and candles as the only source of light. I hope those who read my story understand what we endured and enjoy their American way of life as much as I have. I am a fortunate example of the American Dream, not always rich in money, but always wealthy in love, friendship and family. I am a proud American.

1

Rachmael and the Baron

My story begins in the small Russian village of Loikzhem, not far from the Baltic Sea. This small hamlet functioned as a stop for those travelling between Lithuania and Kurland. It attracted Jewish traders like Rachmael Tulin, the village tailor, his wife Sarah, their shy twelve-year-old daughter Malka and their son, Moishke who had joined the Russian Army.

Rachmael was an honest man, small in stature with a flowing white beard and deep blue eyes that burned with zealous righteousness. He was pious and very learned in the Talmud and the ways of Jewish Orthodox life. He eked out a meagre living working in his small shop six days a week from sunrise to late in the evening, resting only on the Sabbath.

His reputation as the finest tailor in the village meant he was charged with the responsibility of making clothes for the local Baron of Loikzhem. One frosty winter morning, the son of the Baron came charging through his door, nearly taking it from its hinges. Woman, I’m here for the Baron’s Uniform! Tell the Jew to bring it now! he demanded.

Ignoring his loutish behavior, Sarah approached Rachmael’s workshop, shouting, Rachmael! The Baron’s son has come for the uniform.

Rachmael, in deep concentration replied in a rebellious, but hushed tone, Tell the young drunkard that I am working on it now. It will be ready tonight.

But the restless and angry young man did not wait for Sarah to bring his reply. Obviously drunk, he staggered, towards the workroom yelling, Why don’t you come out, you damned Jew? Don’t you hear your Lord and Master calling? Have you forgotten you make your pitiful living from us?

A concerned Sarah followed closely on his heels, trying unsuccessfully to placate him and meekly replied, Yes, yes, my Lord. My husband is working on it now.

Pushing Sarah aside, he demanded When are you going to pay the fifty rubles you owe for your rent, which is long past due?

When I deliver your father’s uniform tonight, my Lord, answered Rachmael quietly, I will settle the debt.

Rachmael begged the loathsome youth to be patient and leave peacefully. He glared at the tailor for a long moment, assessing his next move, and shouted an avalanche of insults before slamming the little wooden door as he departed.

The Baron’s son was a chip off the old block. The burly, old, arrogant Baron von Loikzhem was always angry and difficult. He lived well beyond his means and exacted heavy taxes from all who came under his rule. The Baron’s son, now in his early thirties, was always causing trouble in the village but, as the law was controlled by his father, he did not care what capers he cut. Under their caprices, the hundreds of peasants who worked under the Baron’s rule did not have an easy life. Rachmael was only one of the residents at the mercy of their Royal whims.

He had promised to deliver the garment that evening, but in all the confusion of the afternoon, he’d forgotten that it was Friday night. As the sun set at 4.30pm, the Sabbath was rapidly approaching and as an Orthodox Jew, he would rather risk his life than break the Holy Sabbath. Therefore, he could not fulfill the delivery.

At dawn on Sunday, with the Sabbath over, Rachmael arrived at the Baron’s gate with the completed uniform in hand, demanding the gatekeeper permit him to enter. Upon hearing the tailor had finally arrived two days late, the Baron flew into a rage. He took the tailor’s lateness as a personal insult to his regal position How dare this Jew tailor disrespect my son’s orders? he yelled.

As Rachmael entered the elegantly appointed parlor, the enraged Baron delivered his rage directly to the tailor and a barrage of threats and insults ensued. Rachmael was paying little attention to his ranting and the frustrated Baron grabbed the uniform from his grasp and dismissed him with not one Ruble in payment.

Over time, the Baron’s anger at the tailor’s disrespect grew and festered. He pondered for days and decided that, as a show of power the entire Jewish population of Loikzhem would be exiled. And the first would be the disrespectful tailor and his family.

Shortly after, Rachmael, Sarah, and Malka, were exiled to the nearby village of Darbėnai, situated near the Lithuanian-Latvian border. The exile of all Jews to Darbėnai soon grew the population to over 2,000; fifty-five percent being the exiled Jews.

In the outlying rural district of Loikzhem, lived many poor Roman Catholic Lithuanian farmers. At that time, the newly exiled Jews and the Catholic town’s people were respectful of one another, mainly due to the efforts of a Priest’s Mother, who had earlier converted from Judaism to Catholicism.

The Jews of Darbėnai were mainly merchants who made their living from trade with the nearby Latvian villages, buying and selling fish, flax and rags. Life was reasonably comfortable for these new arrivals and many of the families in the village had a barn, a chicken coop and a small vegetable garden. Some worked in crafts looking forward to their Market Day every Wednesday, when surrounding villagers gathered to trade and gossip. Darbėnai seemed an improvement from Loikzhem with several knitting and wool processing factories and even a soft drinks factory.

In contrast to Loikzhem, Darbėnai was a peaceful, comfortable town boasting two Jewish Schools with 150 pupils enrolled, as well as a Synagogue where the Scriptures were studied daily. A Hebrew and Yiddish Library, a Maccabee Sports Association, Drama Club, branches of Mizrahi, Socialist Democrats and even a Zionist Youth Group were also a part of town.

Despite all the opportunities available in Darbėnai, a depressed Rachmael found it very difficult to make a living. Perhaps he felt responsible for the exile from Loikzhem but, for whatever reason he suffered greatly. Soon the grief overcame him and his health began to fail.

It was the 9th August 1856, Tisha B’Av, a significant holy day in the history of the Jewish people. This is the day that both the first and second Temples of Jerusalem were destroyed, first by the Babylonians in 423 BC and then by the Romans 500 years later. Many other tragedies befell our people on this date; the expulsion of Jews from England in 1290, from Spain in 1492. Most sorrowful to Sarah and her two children, was the death of thirty-six-year-old Rachmael the tailor. Rachmael’s early death gave Sarah another date to add to this day of mourning.

Immediate word of Rachmael’s death was sent to Moishke, who was still in the army and within days he joined Sarah and Malka. The small funeral procession took Rachmael’s body back to Loikzhem to be buried beside his father and mother in the old Jewish Cemetery. He was the last person to be interned in the Loikzhem Cemetery, which dated back to the late 1600’s.

Every year after, on this most Holy time of mourning, Malka would make her journey to Loikzhem to visit Rachmael’s grave. She would place a river stone upon his headstone, believing that his soul would be kept in this world. It was also a sign that her love and memories of Rachmael would never die.

Not long after Rachmael’s death, with the town’s benevolent help, Sarah met and married Gavriel Levey, the local Dairy Keeper who supplied milk to the people of Darbėnai. Levey was a miserable, miserly man and soon after their marriage began mistreating Sarah’s daughter Malka by providing her very little food and making her wear old, ragged clothing. Soon she was forced to leave Levey’s home and survive as best she could in Darbėnai. The charitable people of the town, always looking to perform a good deed, housed and fed Malka and even hired a Matchmaker to find her a worthy husband.

2

Avigdor

Avigdor Jacobs was a merchant in Darbėnai and the youngest son of Ber and Sarah Yacobi (now Jacobs). Ber had been murdered by Russian outlaws and Sarah, broken hearted and too poor to keep her family together, watched as one by one her children departed to make a life in other lands. Only their youngest son, Avigdor was at home with his Mother.

Many years before Avigdor’s birth, the Russian Czar issued a Statute on Conscription Duty, making it mandatory for Lithuanian males aged twelve to twenty-five to serve in the Army. This especially applied to the Jews. Many of the wealthier Jews went to great lengths to avoid their sons’ military service, including claiming their children were unfit for duty and a host of other tactics. This eventually caused a shortage of able-bodied men to serve in The Czar’s Army.

With the demand increasing for Jewish soldiers, together with increasing ‘black-market’ negotiations, the local Councils were forced to appoint special officers called Khappers, or Bounty Hunters. The Khappers kidnapped boys and young men and incarcerated them in government buildings before turning them over to the Army for a tidy profit. Unfortunately, it became known that the Khappers were not adhering to the law, which stated a child must be a minimum age of twelve and they were frequently taking children as young as eight. During this time, to avoid their sons’ Conscription, many wealthy Jewish families began to emigrate.

The son of one local wealthy landowner, Mr. Landau was one such evader. Mr. Landau offered a desperate Sarah 500 rubles if she would enlist her son in the army as a substitute for his son, which was highly illegal. Reluctantly, the desperately poor Sarah agreed to the transaction. Mr. Landau promised Avigdor would be released in sixty days, but she would later learn that the army conscripted males to serve up to twenty-five years.

As a result of Sarah’s agreement, Avigdor was sent into the Russian Army at Kovna and for the next two years, no one heard from him. After an extremely difficult two years, Avigdor could no longer endure the hardship of the army and in desperation, deserted his post and walked all the way back to his hometown.

It wasn’t long before the Khappers tracked him down to the home of Mr. Landau. Upon arriving at Landau’s house, a struggle broke out and he was killed by the Khappers. Avigdor was arrested and returned to Kovna under strict supervision. However, six months later he successfully escaped once again and returned to Darbėnai to live many years under an assumed name. It was during this time the Matchmakers of Darbėnai introduced Avigdor Jacobs to Malka Tulin, the daughter of Sarah and Rachmael the Tailor and with little celebration, they married in 1865.

For two years, Malka and the fugitive Avigdor lived happily together in an old log cabin with a thatched roof on three acres of land. Avigdor peddled his wares and Malka looked after their newborn daughter, Rachel. However, they were betrayed by a bitter Jacob Landau who, in an effort to save his own skin, led soldiers to their cabin. Once again, Avigdor was arrested and forced to leave his family and re-enlist in the army. This time the destination was far off Siberia.

With her infant daughter in her arms, a desperate Malka made her way to the Governor of the Province, with a petition for her husband to be released from the army. She pleaded her case, exposing the transaction and agreement made with Avigdor’s Mother to substitute him for Jacob Landau’s army service. Fortunately, the Governor was satisfied with her story and signed Avigdor’s release papers. Shortly after, much to his surprise Jacob Landau was