Searching German Records

Good genealogy practice starts with what you know (yourself) and works backwards. To present my research, however, I want to do the opposite. I want to start in the old country with information on the oldest known ancestor.

Birthplaces in Family Records

I am grateful to Herbert C. Cayton for filling in detailed information on the death certificate of his mother-in-law, Eda Rubinstein Spitzer. He reported Eda's birthplace as Koerlin, Germany, and the full names and birthplaces for her parents as father Meyer Rubinstein, born in Koerlin Germany, and mother Rosalie Bush (should be Busch), born in Kornick, Germany. This is gold to a genealogist. Not even the birth records of Eda's children have this specific birth information for Eda.

Death record for Eda Spitzer, nee Rubinstein.

Finding German Records

Armed with birthplaces, I searched for information on the Jewish Genealogy website. No online Koerlin records could be found, but links were posted for online vital records for the town of Kornik. Maybe there would be a birth record for Eda's mother, Rosalie Busch, or at least some Busches in the records.

After tediously searching the records and resolving old German handwriting issues, I found twin daughters, Dwore and Rahel, born on 31 October 1821 to Abram Hersch Busch and his wife Dine. An older sister, Yette, was found born to these parents on 14 May 1819.

To find these records, go to this link for the Kornik birth ledgers for the years 1817-1827: http://szukajwarchiwach.pl/53/3579/0/1.1/1/str/1/3/50#tabSkany. Request 30 scans per page. Then click on the 23rd box. Look along the left side to item number 246. This is the birth record for twins Dwore and Rahel. For the birth of sister Yette, click on the 12th box and find item number 119. Unfortunately, there is now copy protection on these ledgers. When I did this research over a year ago, however, I was able to enlarge and copy the entries. They appear below.  [Note: these records are also available at the LDS Library, microfilm #742,003.]

This is page 1 of the birth record for the twins. See the red arrow on the left where the parents' names appear.
The date of 31 October 1821 written at the top is the birthdate in that column next to the parents' names.

This is part 2 of the birth record. See the red mark on the right where the names of the twins appear.
Ignore the Yette name below as that is for another family.

This is part of the birth record for older sister, Yette. Unfortunately, I didn't get the second part copied with her name
shown, but you can see it clearly if you go the links given above. What you can see here are the parents' names.

Meaning of Names

So how do I know this is the correct family? It would be nice to have another confirmation in a second record, but it looks very good to me. There are clues in the names.

Rahel is Hebrew for Rachel and its origin is Genesis 29:6. The Yiddish versions are Rokhil, Rokhl, Rukhl and Rahel. The Yiddish nicknames are Rokhe and Rukhele. The local secular is Rachel, Rachil, Ruchel, and Rozalia. The comparable name in the U.S. is Rose. It's not uncommon for people to modernize their first names, especially if they are immigrating to the U.S.

Dwore is a girl's name. I couldn't find a meaning.

Yette is Yiddish and Hebrew for Henriette. It's Yiddish nickname is Yetkhen.

Abram means Abraham.

Hirsch means Harry in the U.S.

Dine is Yiddish for Hebrew Dina.

Taubechen is a nickname of Yette's. Taube means dove in Yiddish. Chen means grace in Hebrew.


Note: Information on the towns will be in an upcoming blog post.

Family Tree for Busch, Hyman, Rubinstein, and Spitzer Families

The Jewish merchants with the last names of Hyman, Rubinstein, and Spitzer are a part of the early history of Honolulu, Hawaii. They were related, and a descendant chart is provided below that begins with the closest ancestor they had in common, Abram Hersch Busch.

In this chart below, each generation is numbered 1-5 and indented. The "+" sign indicates a spouse. Children are in the next generation below their parents. For example, Abram Hersch Busch is in the first generation. All his children are in the second generation below. His grandchildren are in the third generation and so on. References for some of the data collected will be posted in future blogs.

I will attempt to edit this list as needed, so please feel free to post a comment or email me if you can correct any mistakes or fill in any holes. My email address is dawncerf [at] gmail.com. I would enjoy hearing from you and would love to receive jpgs of any old family photos in your possession.

A note about privacy. I will never include names or information about living relatives.

By the way, my connection to this family tree is that my husband is descended from Clifford Spitzer (b. 1891). That's why this blog is named "Spitzer Ancestry." I enjoy researching my husband's and children's family history. This blog is my way of sharing my research for those who may be interested.

1-Abram Hersch Busch
    +Dine
        2-Yette "Taubechen" Busch, b. 14 May 1819, Kornik, Poznan, Prussia (now Poland)
            +Wolf Hyman, b. 1816, Schwersenz, Poznan, Prussia (now Poland)
                3-Hyman Wolf Hyman, b. Abt 1834, Schwersenz, Poznan, Prussia (now Poland), d. 18 Jul 1891, San Francisco, California
                    +Rose Friedlander, b. 20 Jun 1850, St. Louis, Missouri, m. 11 Mar 1873, San Francisco, California, d. 29 Nov 1889, San Francisco, California
                        4-Tessie Hyman, b. 12 Feb 1874, San Francisco, California, d. 1 Dec 1874, San Francisco, California
                        4-Solomon Hyman, b. 1 Apr 1875, Nevada City, California, d. 13 Mar 1940, Los Altos, California
                            +Caroline Penna, b. 13 Jan 1878, St. Louis, Missouri, m. Nov 1907, San Jose, California, d. Jul 1953, Los Altos, California
                                5-Arthur Solomon Hyman, b. 19 Feb 1909, London, England, d. 9 Jun 1988, Menlo Park, San Mateo, California
                                    +Ann Miller
                                5-Edward Charles Hyman, b. Abt 1910, California
                                5-Evelyn Kate Hyman, b. 15 Jan 1912, San Francisco, California, d. 11 Sep 1988, Santa Barbara, California
                                    +Newton B. Chase, b. Maine, d. California
                                    +Lionel Bayley King, d. Phoenix, Arizona
                        4-Ruth Viola Hyman, b. 5 Oct 1878, San Francisco, California, d. 4 Nov 1958, San Francisco, California
                            +Julius Wolf, b. May 1866, California, m. 1908, San Francisco, California, d. 22 Nov 1923, San Francisco, California
                                5-Annabel R. Wolf, b. 24 May 1909, San Francisco, California, d. 1 Nov 1996
                                    +___ Kaye
                                5-Joseph Julius Wolf, b. 23 Apr 1912, San Francisco, California, d. 2000, Washington, D.C.
                3-Henry Wolf Hyman, b. 3 Sep 1839, Schwersenz, Poznan, Prussia (now Poland), d. 29 Mar 1905, San Francisco, California
                    +Julia Stodole, b. 23 Sep 1850, New York, New York, m. 3 Mar 1868, d. 19 Feb 1915 San Francisco, California
                        4-Theresa "Tessie" Hyman, b. 1869, San Francisco, California
                            +Louis J. Frank, b. 1857, m. 3 Mar 1891, San Francisco, California, d. 1902
                        4-Hattie Hyman, b. 7 May 1870, San Francisco, California, d. 13 Nov 1897, San Francisco, California
                            +Frederick Baruch, b. 13 May 1860, Coulterville, Mariposa, California, m. 17 Nov 1891, San Francisco, California
                                5-Frederick H. Baruch, Jr., b. 20 Feb 1893, New York, d. 8 Dec 1964, Santa Clara, California
                        4-Viola Hyman, b. 12 Mar 1873, San Francisco, California
                            +Alfred J. Rich, m. 21 Nov 1893, San Francisco, California
                        4-Walter Gerald Hyman, b. 15 Apr 1877, San Francisco, California, d. 20 Jul 1953, San Mateo, California
                            +May/Mary C. Schreibe, b. 1885, California
                                5-Viola B. Hyman, b. 22 Nov 1907, San Francisco, California, d. 4 Jan 1997, Gilroy, Santa Clara, California
                                5-Margaret Lee Hyman, b. 19 Feb 1910, San Francisco, California, d. 4 Mar 1974, San Francisco, California
                                5-Julia B. "Billie B." Hyman, b. 1913
                        4-Emilie Hyman, b. 23 Jun 1879, San Francisco, California, d. 25 Oct 1954, San Francisco, California
                            +Frederick Baruch, b. 13 May 1860, Coulterville, Mariposa, California, m. abt 1901
                        4-Samuel Lane Hyman, b. 8 Feb 1882, San Francisco, California, d. 11 Jun 1962, Los Angeles, California
                            +Marcelle Levy, b. 1887
                        4-Robert Henry Hyman, b. 24 Dec 1886, San Francisco, California, d. 4 Mar 1966, Monterey, California
                3-Michael S. Hyman, b. 22 Sep 1842, Schwersenz, Poznan, Prussia (now Poland), d. 5 Feb 1923, Manhattan, New York, New York
                    +Rosa Stodole, b. 21 Mar 1856, Petaluma, Sonoma, California, d. 6 Feb 1941, Manhattan, New York, New York
                        4-Wallace Monroe Hyman, b. 19 Jan 1881, Manhattan, New York, New York, d. 30 Aug 1942, Manhattan, New York, New York
                        4-Sydney M. Hyman, b. Abt 1884, New York City, New York, d. 24 May 1920, Manhattan, New York, New York
                        4-Alfred Herbert Hyman, b. 23 Apr 1889, Manhattan, New York, New York, d. Jun 1983, Rochester, New York
                            +Esther D. Olson, b. 1896, m. 6 May 1920, New York, New York
                                5-Emily Hyman, b. 1922, New York
                                5-Sydney Hyman Hyman, b. 15 May 1924, New York, d. 5 Jul 2007, Boca Raton, Palm Beach, Florida
                3-Mauritz "Morris" Hyman, b. 24 Sep 1846, Schwersenz, Poznan, Prussia (now Poland), d. 10 Jul 1923, Del Monte, Monterey County, California
                    +Augusta L. Lightner, b. 8 Sep 1859, m. Abt. 1882, d. 6 Jan 1941, San Francisco, California
                        4-William L. Hyman, b. 1884, Honolulu, Hawaii
                            +Edith S., b. Abt 1888, California, m. 1912
                        4-Samuel Lichtner Hyman, b. 15 Sep 1885, Honolulu, Hawaii, d. 13 Jul 1948, San Francisco, California
                            +Helen b. 1893, Oregon, m. 1920
                        4-Harold Mark Hyman, b. 22 Aug 1889, Honolulu, Hawaii, d. 17 Jan 1933
                        4-Helen Theresa Hyman, b. 25 Jul 1892, California, d. 12 Mar 1980, San Francisco, California
                            +Maurice Greenberg
                        4-Joseph Leo Hyman, b. 24 Jan 1897, San Francisco, California, d. 11 Dec 1944, Santa Clara, California
                            +Vera Shuman Ratshesky, m. May 1924
                3-Joseph Hyman, b. 5 Nov 1848, Schwersenz, Poznan, Prussia (now Poland), d. 28 Mar 1928, San Francisco, California
                    +Belle Frankel, b. 26 Apr 1859, San Francisco, California, m. 1879, California, d. 30 Sep 1942, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, California
        2-Dwore Busch, b. 31 Oct 1821, Kornik, Poznan, Prussia (now Poland)
        2-Rahel "Rosalie" Busch, b. 31 Oct 1821, Kornik, Poznan, Prussia (now Poland), d. 26 Apr 1904, Chicago, Cook, Illinois
            +Meyer Rubinstein, b. Oct 1822, Koerlin, Pomerania, Germany, m. Abt 1854, d. 14 Apr 1909, Chicago, Cook, Illinois
                3-Edith "Eda" Rubinstein, b. 6 Jan 1855, Koerlin, Pomerania, Germany, d. 11 May 1930, Honolulu, Hawaii
                    +Joseph S. Spitzer, b. 12 Nov. 1843, Hungary, m. 2 Jan 1876, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, d. 16 Aug 1913, Honolulu, Hawaii
                        4-Arthur Joseph Spitzer, b. Oct 1876, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, d. 1956, Honolulu, Hawaii
                            +Selma Hoermann, b. 23 Feb 1884, Watertown, Jefferson, Wisconsin, m. 1 Jun 1915, Honolulu, Hawaii, d. Apr 1966, Honolulu, Hawaii
                                5-Arthur Hoermann Spitzer, b. 28 Jan 1917, Honolulu, Hawaii, d. 21 Jul 1976, Honolulu, Hawaii
                                    +Blanche Helen Van Oort, b. 28 Sep 1924, California, d. 27 Feb 2006, Honolulu, Hawaii
                        4-Sidney Soloman Spitzer, b. 5 Jun 1878, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, d. 20 May 1941, Honolulu, Hawaii
                            +Hazel Minnie Durenberger, b. 21 May 1888, Santa Rosa, California, m. 28 Sep 1917, Honolulu, Hawaii, d. 23 Aug 1973 Berkeley, Alameda, California
                                5-Norman Sidney Spitzer, b. 5 Jan 1919, Honolulu, Hawaii, d. 14 Jan 2007, Berkeley, Alameda, California
                        4-Josephine Valentine Spitzer, b. 14 Feb 1880, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, d. 29 Sep 1970, Honolulu, Hawaii
                            +Charles Tobias Lewis, b. 5 Jan 1877, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, m. 17 Jun 1902, Chicago, Cook, Illinois
                                5-Helen M. Lewis, b. 2 Jul 1903, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, d. 15 Apr 1992, Honolulu, Hawaii
                                    +Myron L. Hyman, b. 1899, Buffalo, Erie, New York, d. Mar 1964, New York
                                5-Rhoda V. Lewis, b. 31 Aug 1906, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, d. 12 Sep 1991, Honolulu, Hawaii
                        4-Irma E. Spitzer, b. 27 Sep 1883, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, d. 26 Oct 1977, Los Angeles, California
                            +Herbert Cohen Cayton, b. 11 Sep 1882, Pottsville, Schulykill, Pennsylvania, m. 19 Aug 1908, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, d. 26 Sep 1947, Los Angeles, California
                                5-Margery Joy Cayton, b. 2 Apr 1910, Pittsburg, Crawford, Kansas, d. 7 Aug 1997, Los Angeles, California
                                    +Norman R. Tyre, b. 28 Aug 1910, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, d. 3 Jan 2002, Beverly Hills, California
                                5-Robert James Cayton, b. 15 Apr 1915, Honolulu, Hawaii, d. 24 May 2003, Los Angeles, California
                        4-Clifford Spitzer, b. 10 Jan 1891, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, d. 4 Jun 1981, Santa Barbara, California
                            +Violet Ann Prager, b. 26 Dec 1890, New York, New York, m. 16 Jun 1917, Honolulu, Hawaii, d. 8 Jul 1975, Palo Alto, San Mateo, California
                3-Isidore Rubinstein, b. 24 Oct 1856, Pomerania, Germany, d. After 1930
                    +Anna Louise Desser, b. 18 Apr 1868, New York, m. 5 Dec 1906, Manhattan, New York, New York
                3-Zerline "Selina/Selma" Rubinstein, b. 22 Apr 1861, Berlin, Germany, d. 15 Feb 1948, Glencoe, Cook, Illinois
                    +Isaac M. Solomon, b. Jun 1860, Germany, m. Sep 1895, d. Abt 1932, Chicago, Cook, Illinois
                        4-Raymond James Selwyn, b. 11 Jun 1905, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, d. 21 Jan 1963, Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California
                            +Rosalind Jule Jackson, b. 29 Sep 1906, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, m. 4 Mar 1928, Chicago, Cook, Illinois, d. 13 Jan 1985, Los Angeles, California
                3-Joseph M. Rubinstein, b. 18 Aug 1866, Germany, d. 8 Mar 1921, Detroit, Michigan
                    +Mary Petersen, b. 1877, m. 22 Dec 1910, Ontario, Canada