KRAMER FAMILY PAGE 2 - Kramer Family Comes to America
Meyer and Tillie Kramer 1943
Meyer Kramer
My branch of the Kramer family is descended from Yosef Kramer's son, Gabriel, and his wife Hannah. Our branch includes the descendants of his children: Meyer Kramer, Barnet (Barney) Kramer and Esther Kramer Kravitz. These three siblings settled in Waterbury, Connecticut.
My grandfather, Meyer Kramer, (Meyer Kramer's Ellis Island Record), was born on February 15, 1893, in Dalhinev, Russia (now modern day Belarus) where he witnessed a tragedy during his childhood. His father, Gabriel, had, most likely, committed suicide. I was told that Meyer discovered his father who had, possibly, hung himself. That is probably why the children left Europe -- to get away from his death and from the poor quality of life in the Shtetll.
Meyer Kramer arrived at Ellis Island on December 02, 1913. He was 21 years old. He arrived on the ship, The Nieuw Amsterdam, that had departed from Rotterdam. His marital status was listed as single and his place of residence was listed as "Dolhynew, Russia." He was accompanied by his brother, Barnet (Barney) and his sister, Esther. Meyer was the youngest child in his family. He had two other sisters who remained in Dalhinev. They were reported as killed during World War II. I believe that these are the two young women in the picture on the previous page.
My branch of the Kramer family is descended from Yosef Kramer's son, Gabriel, and his wife Hannah. Our branch includes the descendants of his children: Meyer Kramer, Barnet (Barney) Kramer and Esther Kramer Kravitz. These three siblings settled in Waterbury, Connecticut.
My grandfather, Meyer Kramer, (Meyer Kramer's Ellis Island Record), was born on February 15, 1893, in Dalhinev, Russia (now modern day Belarus) where he witnessed a tragedy during his childhood. His father, Gabriel, had, most likely, committed suicide. I was told that Meyer discovered his father who had, possibly, hung himself. That is probably why the children left Europe -- to get away from his death and from the poor quality of life in the Shtetll.
Meyer Kramer arrived at Ellis Island on December 02, 1913. He was 21 years old. He arrived on the ship, The Nieuw Amsterdam, that had departed from Rotterdam. His marital status was listed as single and his place of residence was listed as "Dolhynew, Russia." He was accompanied by his brother, Barnet (Barney) and his sister, Esther. Meyer was the youngest child in his family. He had two other sisters who remained in Dalhinev. They were reported as killed during World War II. I believe that these are the two young women in the picture on the previous page.
Aunt Gruni Kramer Rubin
Aunt (Muna) Gruna Kramer Rubin
When Meyer and his siblings landed at Ellis Island, he was most likely met by his Aunt Gruna. Aunt "Muna" Gruna Kramer Rubin was probably the only one of my great-great Grandfather Yosef's children that came to America. (There is some confusion as to whether her first name was translated as "Gruna or Gruni")
Aunt Gruna came to the United States ten years earlier than Meyer and his siblings. The Kramer family already had some Lurier relatives who were already living in the US. Lazar Ruben Kramer's wife was a Lurier so that was probably the family connection. Aunt Gruna arrived this country at Ellis Island in 1910. Her Ellis Island record indicates that she was 50 years old and from Dalhinev. At that time, her children would have been adults.
She had at least five children. In order of birth they were: Joseph (Joe), Ida, Nathan, Abraham, and Harry. I knew her grandson, my cousin, Joe Rubin who owned the record store in downtown Waterbury. Joe's father was Gruna's son, Nathan. According to Joe, his grandmother was born in 1850 is Dalhinev.
Gruna and her family lived in Brooklyn all their lives. Joe Rubin said that his grandmother used to drive up from New York and always visit their Shapiro Aunts, Tzeva and Dora, in Waterbury, Connecticut. Muna Gruna Rubin is still remembered by many family members from Waterbury. Aunt Gruna must have made an impression on my father since he named my brother, Jeffrey, after her. My Aunt Marilyn Kramer Savitt and Aunt Rose Kramer Madnick said that she was “a lovely, beautiful woman who was one of the mainstays of the Kramer family.” She died in 1938 when she was 88 years old, and she is buried in Washington Cemetery in Brooklyn.
Kramer Family Page 3
When Meyer and his siblings landed at Ellis Island, he was most likely met by his Aunt Gruna. Aunt "Muna" Gruna Kramer Rubin was probably the only one of my great-great Grandfather Yosef's children that came to America. (There is some confusion as to whether her first name was translated as "Gruna or Gruni")
Aunt Gruna came to the United States ten years earlier than Meyer and his siblings. The Kramer family already had some Lurier relatives who were already living in the US. Lazar Ruben Kramer's wife was a Lurier so that was probably the family connection. Aunt Gruna arrived this country at Ellis Island in 1910. Her Ellis Island record indicates that she was 50 years old and from Dalhinev. At that time, her children would have been adults.
She had at least five children. In order of birth they were: Joseph (Joe), Ida, Nathan, Abraham, and Harry. I knew her grandson, my cousin, Joe Rubin who owned the record store in downtown Waterbury. Joe's father was Gruna's son, Nathan. According to Joe, his grandmother was born in 1850 is Dalhinev.
Gruna and her family lived in Brooklyn all their lives. Joe Rubin said that his grandmother used to drive up from New York and always visit their Shapiro Aunts, Tzeva and Dora, in Waterbury, Connecticut. Muna Gruna Rubin is still remembered by many family members from Waterbury. Aunt Gruna must have made an impression on my father since he named my brother, Jeffrey, after her. My Aunt Marilyn Kramer Savitt and Aunt Rose Kramer Madnick said that she was “a lovely, beautiful woman who was one of the mainstays of the Kramer family.” She died in 1938 when she was 88 years old, and she is buried in Washington Cemetery in Brooklyn.
Kramer Family Page 3