Individual Details

Birth

The 1900 census states that Harris Isaacson was born in Poland/Russia in April 1865. The 1910 census states that he was born in Russia in 1865. The 1920 census states that he was born in Russia.

Harris Isaacson's death certificate has more contradictory information. This data was given by his son Leonard who indicated that he did not know his father's birthday; however, he stated that: Harris Isaacson was born in Lithuania. Harris Isaacson's father's name was Louis Isaacson who was born in Lithuania; and that Harris Isaacson's mother, whose name is unknown, was also born in Lithuania.

Immigration

Harris Isaacson's origin was a big mystery. No one in the family could ever remember where he was born. The family story is that he came over from Europe as a stowaway when he was in his teens. There is an immigration record of a Harris Isaacson who landed in Philadelphia on March 4, 1886 on board the SS British Princess from Liverpool, England. He was a 19 year old male whose place of birth was Germany and whose last legal settlement was listed as Germany. His occupation was a laborer. Most likely this is our Harris Isaacson.

Miscnote

It is most likely that Harris Isaacson was born in April 1865 in Silale, Lithuania. He came over in 1886. He came to Chicago and became a peddler in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. There were good railroad connections at that time, so he probably bought his goods in Chicago and sold them in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which at the time was a boom area. The first growth white pine forest was being devastated and there was extensive iron and copper mining. He met Bessie Smith in 1893 at the World's Fair in Chicago. I have no idea what she was doing in Menominee. However, they were married there in 1894.

A search of the Dept. of Treasury Peddlers & Hawkers Licenses in the State Archives of Michigan produced 34 monthly peddler licenses:

from Nov. 10, 1888 to Aug. 9, 1889, his home base was Florence, Wisconsin
from Sep. 11, 1889 to Jun 18, 1890, his home base was Florence, Wisconsin
from Jun. 27, 1890 to Jul. 26, 1890, his home base was Stambaugh, Michigan
from Aug. 6, 1890 to Dec. 19, 1890, his home base was Florence, Wisconsin
from Feb. 2, 1891 to Apr. 8, 1891, his home base was Florence, Wisconsin
from Apr. 14, 1891 to Jul. 14, 1891, his home base was Watersmeet, Mich..
from Jul. 22, 1891 to Jan. 31, 1892, his home base was Florence, Wisconsin
from Mar. 12, 1921 to May 11, 1892, his home base was Watersmeet, Mich.
from May 14, 1891 to Jun. 13, 1892, his home base was Florence, Wisconsin
from Jun. 14, 1892 to Jul. 13, 1892, his home base was Crystal Falls, Mich.
from Jan. 26, 1894 to Feb. 25, 1894, his home base was Interior, Michigan

Marriage

According to the marriage certificate issued by the state of Michigan on April 15, 1894, in Menominee, Michigan, 27 year old Harris Isaacson, a merchant in Interior, Michigan, married 21 year old Bessie Smith of Menominee, Michigan. The marriage certificate shows that Harris Isaacson's father was Louis Isaacson and his mother's maiden name was unknown. The family story is that Harris Isaacson met Bessie Smith at the 1893 World Fair Columbian Exposition in 1893 in Chicago.

The following article appeared in The Menominee Journal, April 15, 1894, page 15:

A Hebrew Celebration
"Last afternoon an interesting ceremony of the Jewish faith took place at the residence of R. E. Perelstein in Finntown. It was the wedding of Mr. Harris Isaacson of Interior, to Miss Bessie Smith of this county. The Misses Goldie Simansky and Leah Goldsmith acted as bridesmaids and Joseph Cohen and Joseph Simansky as best men. The nuptial knot was tied by Rabbi Horowitz of Detroit, Mich. assisted by Rabbi Corman of this city. Nearly one hundred guests were invited to the marriage feast and a splendid time was had until midnight when the company departed for their homes."

The following item appeared on the front page of the April 17, 1894, Menominee Daily Herald:

A Jewish Wedding.
"Mr. Harris Isaacson and Miss Bessie Smith were married at the residence of E. Perlstein in Finntown by Rabbi Corman of Marionette, on Sunday evening. The Misses Leah Goldsmith and Goldie Simansky acted as the bridesmaids, while Simon Cohn & David Simansky attended the groom. There were 85 guests and after the ceremony a reception was held, and a wedding feast was indulged in. [Da??] Orchestra furnished the music and dancing was kept up until midnight. The newly married couple were the recipients of some fine presents. The groom is a young dry goods merchant who lately started in business at Interior, while the bride formerly lived on the Birch Creek road."

The following item appeared in the Menominee Daily Herald on Tues. April 17, 1894, Page 3:

"Miss Fannie Robewich of Norway [Michigan] attended the Isaacson - Smith marriage on Sunday."

Business (fam)

When I was in Amasa in 1985, I found the following records at the county treasurer's office:

Year    Owner      Assessed Value True value       Assessment       Paid
1895
1896
1897
1898 $500.00 $500.00 $19.50     1/05/1899
1899 $500.00 $500.00 $5.71     2/21/1900
1900 $500.00 $500.00 $14.77     1/18/1901
1901 $400.00 $400.00 $10.57     1/11/1902
1902 $400.00 $400.00 $14.01     1/01/1903
1903 B. Isaacson       $400.00 $12.54
1904 B. Isaacson      $100.00 $2.23
1905 B. Isaacson   $300.00 $600.00 $16.57
1906 $400.00 $400.00 $12.19
1907 $400.00 $400.00 $12.78     1/10/1908
1908 H.F. Christianson $400.00 $400.00 $13.12
1909 No Record
1910 No Record

There are also records for Lot 74 in Amasa, Michigan

Year Owner          Assessed           True value            Paid
1895 Mary Davenport  $100.00                                        $1.57 (not paid)
1899 E. Lawrence
1900 B. Isaacson $400.00 $350.00 $22.15
1901 No Record $100.00 $19.04
1902 $200.00 $600.00         $21.00 (paid 1/10/03 by Barnett}
1903 (B. Isaacson crossed out Barnett inserted)

So, that is the extent of the Harris Isaacson records in Amasa, Michigan. More questions again. Why is he referred to as B. Isaacson rather than H. Isaacson? Remember, B. is Bessie Isaacson's initial. Aunt Bobby always said that he said that the reason he went broke in Amasa was that every time Bessie was pregnant, she went to Chicago and took shoes for her sister's kids. [Her twin sister Dora also had nine kids.]

Census (family)

In June of 1900 Harris Isaacson was living alone in Amasa, Michigan, (Iron County) and was a merchant of dry goods; he could read and write and speak English. His wife Bessie was at that time at 5954 Wentworth Ave. in Chicago living with her sister Dora Smith Rosenberg. The reason for this was that she was pregnant with my father Albert Isaacson, who was born July 10, 1900. According to Aunt Bobby this was the pattern since Lennie's birth. Bessie would go to Chicago and stay with her twin sister Dora Rosenberg for the birth that occurred at the Lying In Hospital in Chicago (which has subsequently moved to the University of Chicago).

Miscnote (family)

An ad from Amasa for the store is in E-0585

Miscnote (family)

Between 1900 and 1910 there is no record of Harris Isaacson in Chicago. He had settled down in Amasa, Michigan.

The following news items are from the Diamond Drill, which is the local newspaper in Crystal Falls, Michigan which had a column that reported events in Amasa, Michigan.

May 19, 1900
Mrs. B. Isaacson went to Chicago early last week for a few weeks. Her children accompanied her, and Ike is taking a turn at batching it. [This was at the time of the birth of my father; this is when the census taker showed up]

Aug 17, 1901
Mrs. Nate Warshawsky and [his] mother, of Crystal Falls, Mrs. Guensburg [Greensburg?] of Chicago and Miss Lavine of Iron Mountain have been visiting at B. Isaacsons this week.

Sept 14, 1901
The Bloomquist building is for rent.

Sept. 21, 1901
Mrs. B. Isaacson was at the Falls yesterday.

Nov. 2, 1901
B. Isaacson went down from Amasa to be present at the funeral of Emil Berg last Tuesday.

Nov 30, 1901
B. Isaacson was a passenger on the morning train Monday. He went to Iron Mountain.

Dec. 7, 1901
The storekeepers of the village evidently expect a good holiday trade judging from the large stock of toys and the Christmas goods they have added to their shelves within the last week. Harden & Olson are arranging their goods and they have a good selection. Also H.F. Christenson & Co. And there is no necessity for Amasa people to go outside of the town for their Christmas goods. B. Isaacson seems so far to be in the lead. He has a very large stock of exceedingly fine goods.

May 24, 1902
The Macabees purchased an outfit of dishes from B. Isaacson, the proprietor of the Paris Store, and placed them in their hall for the use of the lodge.

B. Isaacson is at Iron Mountain on business this week.

Feb 28, 1903
Abe Sackin, the merchant who made Iron Mountain famous, was in Amasa last Thursday visiting with B. Isaacson

May 30, 1903
B. Isaacson had the distinction of being the first person to talk over the telephone in Amasa.

Aug 1, 1903
A BAD FIRE

Amasa passed through her second fire ordeal this week and the loss is a severe one and comes at a time when the effect on the community will be very far-reaching and depressing. At about three o'clock the alarm was given, fire having been discovered in the rear of the upper floor of Burr & Clarks store. The flat above the store was occupied by Mr. Clark and family. The story of the fire as told is that the flames were discovered by Mr. Clark who was awakened by an explosion. He had barely time to get himself and his family out of the building since the flames had gained such headway. The fire department was out in quick order, but the flames were too far along to be controlled by the apparatus at hand and the best that the people could do was to turn their attention to saving all of the surrounding property that they could. The flames raged furiously and shortly after the Clark building was enveloped, the home of Mr. Brusseau adjoining was fired and that too was burning furiously. Heroic efforts were made to save the Christenson building across the street to the east but later on the fire caught there also and the work of saving the building was abandoned.
The Christenson building was a large affair and was tenanted by the big general store of H.F. Christenson & Co., Frank Thompson's restaurant, the post office, and the telephone company besides several families who lived in the rooms upstairs. The store building occupied by B. Isaacson was saved but Mr. Isaacson had moved out all of his goods in anticipation of its burning. The stocks of merchandise of the Burr & Clark people and H.F. Christenson were in the main destroyed. The first mentioned lost all but some of the other stock was saved. The merchandise was brought out into the street and piled up when one of the most shameful thieving affairs that ever disgraced Iron County occurred. Goods of all descriptions were carried off and concealed. It is estimated that $500 of the stock of B. Isaacson was carried off. The plans of Burr and Clark are not known yet. Mr. Burr was here last Thursday and had a conference with Mr. Clark. The latter is burned so badly that he is unable to do any business yet. Frank Thompson will resume the restaurant business as soon as the Christenson people get out of his place. The goods are stored in the temperance hall.

NOTES OF THE FIRE

The exact origin of the fire is shrouded in mystery. It is attributed by Mr. Clark to an explosion of gasoline in his kitchen. He brought a five gallon can of oil upstairs the day before the fire. There was an explosion in the room that awakened him and this apparently was the gasoline that exploded. This of course was due to the presence of fire communicated from other sources. The chemical engines did as well as could be expected by them. They saved the Amasa House. Most of the buildings and stocks were covered by insurance. Christenson & Co. had $7000; $3500 on stock and $500 on fixtures. There was $4000 on the building they occupied. Burr and Clark had $1000 on their stock and there was $2500 on the building they occupied. Mrs. Brusseau had $1000 on her house.

Sept 13, 1903
Mrs. B. Isaacson is at Crystal Falls this week visiting friends.

Nov 31, 1903
B. Isaacson was a visitor at Iron Mountain the forepart of this week.

Feb 13, 1904
The Paris store at this place was closed last Thursday evening. We have not learned the particulars.

Feb. 20, 1904
The report that B. Isaacson's store was closed is untrue. Mr. Isaacson closed his doors a couple of days to prepare for a big sale that he is carrying on that caused the rumor.

May 7, 1904
B. Isaacson was at Iron Mountain for several days undergoing treatment for a sore foot.

June 25, 1904
B. Isaacson went to Iron Mountain last Thursday on a business mission.

Sep. 3, 1904
Mrs. B. Isaacson went to look for her cow one day the fore part of the week and got lost in the woods. Searching parties were sent out and she was found in a swamp south of town about midnight.

Dec. 24, 1904
B. Isaacson became 1st Master Guard of the Maccabees.

Mar. 11, 1905
Mrs. B. Isaacson is entertaining a sister from Chicago.

Oct 7, 1905
The Isaacson store was closed last Friday, Saturday, and Sunday owing to these days being holidays with the Jewish people.

Jan 27, 1906
B. Isaacson is rejoicing over the arrival of a baby boy at his home.

April 21, 1906
B. Isaacson has rented the Bloomquist Building and will move his stock there shortly.

Sept 8, 1906
B. Isaacson returned from his trip to the city last Wed. and says that he has a fine new stock coming.

Sept. 22, 1906
Messrs. Marks and Isaacson were at Crystal Falls last Thursday attending the services held there by the Jews.

City Directory (Fam)

Harris Isaacson was listed in the Chicago City directories:

1901 no record
1906 no record
1907 no record
1908 no record
1910 1056 Maxwell (1910 census)
1911 1037 Frank
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916 10848 Wentworth Ave. Confectnr
Miss Goldie Isaacson 1458 S. Racine
1917 no record
1923 10543 Perry Ave. (Harris Isaacson not listed)

Albert Isaacson Clrk
Simon Isaacson Clrk Mandel Brths
Goldie Isaacson Factory Worker
Leonard Isaacson Sandblaster
1928 10634 State St. (h)
Albert Isaacson Clrk
Israel Isaacson Student
Leonard Isaacson Cleaner Post Office
Sarah Isaacson Clerk
Simon Isaacson

House (fam)

Sanborn maps of the above three addresses are available. [E-1196][E-1197][E-1198]

Census (family)

They and their nine children were renting 1056 Maxwell St. He was a peddler of dry goods and had been naturalized.

Census (family)

They were living with their nine children and son in law at 10543 S. Perry Ave. He was a dry goods salesman on his own account.

House (fam)

10634 SOUTH STATE STREET

The following is based on the legal records of the Cook County Register of Deeds Book 300 Page 5. A pertinent spreadsheet is in the appendix. [E-0289] In May of 1923 Harris and Bessie Isaacson bought 10634 State St. from William and Anna Wightmen for $6000. $600 cash was a down payment. They agreed to assume a $2500 mortgage (details unknown) and a second 6% mortgage of $2900 payable in 60 monthly payments of $55. The Roseland State Savings Bank issued the Deed in Trust. [E-0290]

On March 10, 1925, the N W Randy Roofing Co. filed a mechanics lien on the property. On May 8, 1926, The Mid City S?? Co. filed another mechanics lien.

In April 1928 they remortgaged 10634 State Street with the Roseland Home Building Association for $4200 at 6% payable at $ 25.20 monthly. [E-0291]

On February 13, 1934 10634 State St was sold to the city of Chicago for non-payment of taxes.

In Feb of 1935 the Home Owners Loan Corporation gave Harris and Bessie Isaacson a new mortgage for $2868 at 5% payable at $22.68 monthly. [E-0292] The Roseland Standard Building and Loan Association also released the deed from 1928. [E-0293]

My analysis of the situation is that Harris Isaacson bought 10634 State in 1923 $6000. It was the height of the roaring 20's and he probably paid too much. He was not that successful in the candy store, was a slow payer to the repairmen and by 1928 was in financial trouble. He remortgaged and by 1934 with the depression in full "swing" defaulted on the taxes and probably the mortgage. In 1934/35 the city of Chicago took over the property and it was refinanced for $2868 with the H.O.L.C. (A Roosevelt depression era organization). In 1936 and 1937 Harris and Bessie Isaacson passed away. The property passed onto the children.

In January of 1940, Albert, Goldie, Dena, Milton, and Sarah along with their respective spouses each signed quit claim deeds to Simon for 10634 State Street.

In April of 1945 the 1935 H.O.L.C. deed was satisfied. And in July 1946, 10634 was sold by Simon Isaacson to John Mukalauck.

This chain of events leads to more mysteries. Why did Ethel and Lennie not sign quit claim deeds. The breakup of the house led to the infamous sibling quarrels over the furniture. This may also be why my father Albert never talked about or even acknowledged Simon's existence. [E-0287]

Another historical footnote. In all of the legal documents Bessie Isaacson could not sign her name in English. She put her mark and Harris Isaacson signed for her.

Census (family)

They were living with their children at 10634 State St. which they owned and was valued at $6000. Neither were employed. They owned a radio.

House (fam)

These are modern views of the house.

Burial

Gomel Chesed Shel Emes is the Hebrew name of the Cemetery section.