-
The KOLTUN FAMILY --- The story, as has been shared with me and further researched, begins in Lyubar, now Ukraine, with the birth of Leib 'Lewi' Koltun as no records prior to his birth are available.
Understandably, during those times and until recently, families were large with many children and siblings. To be sure, only some documents and/or photos have been found, many left, lost or discarded. But hopefully, the information shared here will help us understand a little bit more about this family. The family I researched consisted of 29+ close members, starting with great-grandparents, grandparents, the families of 5 sons and one daughter, and some family members yet to learn more about. -
Some Ukraine History - Just as we are witnessing again now, many documents and files were destroyed then as well making Research nearly impossible with exception of witness accounts, manifests and naturalization records.
With ever-changing borders in and around this region, it has been quite a task to research this family. Not only did the borders change frequently, but as different family members went into hiding while at the same time moving to safety along their routes of escape, research has been complicated.as Information given on official documents even indicates different dates and places of birth.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/History
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_culture -
Sera Rosa "Bubba" Meister born 1861
Sera Rosa is the mother of Zlatta "Lottie" Koltun. Sera was the first to make the journey with her other children, leaving in 1895 from Hamburg on the S/S Cedric. Her husband, Moische Meister had immigrated in Sept 1887 arriving in Philadelphia via the SS British King.
Her family: Ida Chaie Riva Ostacher b. Meister, Brucha Meister, Dora Sadagursky b. Meister, Hannah 'Chana' Katz b. Meister, Pesia Gladston b. Meister - all came to the US and lived in New York. -
Rose Koltun marries Hersch Sandler in Lyubar
-
Avrum Koltun 1875
Voyage 1905
This Avrum Koltun was born in Lyubar in 1875 and he was somehow related to the family. He made the voyage with other families to Newark, NJ when he was 30 years old -
Abraham Koltun, born 1899
Abram was 18 years old and single. Born in Lyubar, July 28, 1899. He departed from Antwerp on the SS Finland on August 29th, 1905. Destination is his brother-in-law, D. Weis, Newark, NJ at 191 Princen St,
The documentation differs in the petition for Naturalization, he immigrated to the U.S leaving Bremen, Germany on the 5th of January 1914 and arrived at the Port of Philadelphia on Jan 14th, 1914 on the SS Wittekind. Here it states that he was born in Biale, Tzerkov, Russia. -
Hersch Sandler born 1876
I was told by his great-granddaughter that when he set foot on US soil, he discarded all photos and memorabilia from the old country as he wanted no memories of all he experienced and witnessed. He sailed on the S/S Rotterdam - from Rotterdam on Oct 3 1908 to New York arriving October 12 at Ellis Island - Hersch Sandler was 32 years old, a Tailor by trade, and scheduled to go to his Brother Luis Sandler living at 140 Spruce Street in New York. Once his family arrived, he settled in New Jersey. -
David Koltun 1889
Voyage to NY in 1909 on the S/S Rotterdam Nov 6,1909 to New York arriving Nov 16,1909.
David, age 22, still unmarried & the youngest of 5 sons leaving Lubar to join his sister's husband, Hersch Sandler, in Newark, NJ. He then settled in NY and arranged documentations and permissions for the other immediate family members to also make the journey. He helped pave the way for the rest of the family. The last of 5 brothers and 1 sister's families arrived in the United States in 1927. -
Rose Sandler born Koltun in 1881
Rose sailed on the S/S Noordam from Rotterdam on Dec 3rd,1910, arriving New York Dec 13 1910. with her children Rochel, Sare, Libe, Jeschi, Feige. They settled in New Jersey. -
Libe Sandler born 1902
SS Noordam from Rotterdam sailing Dec 3rd, 1910 arriving New York Dec 13 1910. Passengers: Rochel Sandler, Sare, Libe, Jeschi, Feige -
Jeshie, Sandler born 1904
SS Noordam from Rotterdam sailing Dec 3rd, 1910 arriving New York Dec 13 1910. Passengers: Rochel Sandler, Sare, Libe, Jeschi, Feige -
Sare Sandler born 1900
SS Noordam from Rotterdam sailing Dec 3rd, 1910 arriving New York Dec 13 1910. Passengers: Rochel Sandler, Sare, Libe, Jeschi, Feige -
Frances Sandler born 1907
SS Noordam from Rotterdam sailing Dec 3rd, 1910 arriving New York Dec 13 1910. Passengers: Rochel Sandler, Sare, Libe, Jeschi, Feige -
Moszko was born in 1906
Moszko decided to stay behind as his parents and siblings began their exodus. He was engaged and decided not to leave without his fiance'. He did visit via Cuba many years later, but he decided that he was going back to Moscow where he now resided.. -
Samuel Koltun 1875
SAMUEL KOLTUN BORN born1875 sailed ahead with his son Josef on the S/S Saxonia on Aug 30, 1921 - Inland Routing CNR (State Name of Railway) to Montreal, Passenger: Szmul Koltun, age 44, a Shoemaker and his Son Joseph, going to work as farmhands. In Montreal they joined a friend,,Benni Kaplan, at 1111 St. Dominique, Montreal, Canada. I still have not been able to find what port the S/S Saxonia sailed from, only that she arrived in Halifax. -
Josef Koltun born 1902
The final part of father and son;s voyage took them on the SS Saxonia sailing Aug 30 1921 - Inland Routing CNR (State Name of Railway) to Montreal, Passenger: Canadian documents show Szmul Koltun, Shoemaker, age 44 and Son Joseph, went to work as farmhands. Going to friend Benni Kaplan, 1111 St. Dominique, Montreal, Canada. I still have not been able to find what port the SS Saxonia sailed from, only that she arrived in Halifax. -
Lewi "Leib" Koltun born 1856
Lewi ‘Leib’ Koltun is believed to have been born in an area that is now known as the Ukraine. He was married to Pesia Cherak and together they had 6 children, 5 sons and 1 daughter. The daughter was discovered while researching the family.
Lewi Koltun had one brother, named Avrum (Abraham) born in 186! -
Pesia Koltun born 1859
Pesia and Lewi had 6 children, all adults and mostly with families of their own. They were known for working in leathers. Lewi was known as the Bootmaker to the Czar. In early 1900 the political climate and persecution of Jews was on the rise, the family hoped to make their way to the United States. Their daughter Rose's husband, Hersch Sandler, was the first to pave the way for his own family to follow. He left alone and his manifest stated that he was to go to his brother Luis in New York. -
Zlata "Lottie" Koltun born 1883
One of the last family photos was taken in 1909 before David, Samuel's brother left to reach the US. Samuel and Joseph were not able to leave until 1921. Also, in 1921 Zlatta, wife of Samuel, traveled together with daughter' s Claire and Leah, son Abraham, and parents of Samuel, Lewi & Pesia and sailed on the S/S Carmania. Only their son, Moszko, stayed behind and went to Moscow to live there with his fiance'. -
Claira Chaja Koltun born 1907
Voyage in 1921. Clara Koltun 'Colton' grew up to be the mother of Sheldon (my husband) and brother of Bernard Slifstein. She married Harry Slifstein originally from Berdychev, Ukraine. I was unable to discover when and where they met. To this day, I have not learned how she traveled to New York from Montreal. Although not permitted, she helped out working in the Ice Cream Cone Factory of their friend Benny Kaplan. At inspection time she would hide in one of the corrugated boxes. -
Lillie Koltun 1909
Lillie was born May 1, 1909 and was the youngest child in this family to make the journey in 1921. Most of her family were denied entry into the US because the Quota was full. Instead, with her mother and other siblings they had to continue to Canada where they settled in Montreal for a year before being permitted to join the rest of the family in New York -
Albert Koltun born 1911
Albert was just 10 years old when he made the long voyage with his mother, siblings and grandparents first to England and then on to the United States... and finally to Montreal, Canada. -
Ralph Koltun born 1885
Ralph (Rachmil) Koltun, together with his wife Fryma and son Gersz entered the United States in New York having arrived on the SS Zeeland in 1922.
The Manifest shows that he was coming from his Uncle Avrum Koltun, Brother of Lewi Koltun. The SS Zeeland left Antwerp on Jul 27 1922 and would be going to his brother David Coltun in Brooklyn, NY at 145 Rosway Ave.
Once settled in, the family relocated to Chicago. -
Berko Koltun 1885
1922
SS Zeeland - from Antwerp on Jul 27 1922 arr New York Aug 6 1922 traveling are:
Berko Koltun, his wife Sosia, children Chaja, Ita Juda coming leaving from Cousin Manes Likoch, Lubar, going to Brother David Coltun, Brooklyn, NY 1566 Eastern Parkway -
Celia Sosia Koltun 1888
1922
SS Zeeland - from Antwerp on Jul 27 1922 arr New York Aug 6 1922 traveling are:
Berko Koltun, Sosia, Chaja, Ita Juda coming from Cousin Manes Likoch, Lubar, going to Brother David Coltun, Brooklyn, NY 1566 Eastern Parkway -
Baby Claire born 1909
Baby girl of Berko Koltun and Mima -
Possible Route of Travel for Meyer Koltun & Family
So far, I was not able to establish how this family traveled from the Ukraine to Buenos Aires, Argentina. The map below is only a suggestion and needs confirmation and a manifest.
Meyer Koltun, his wife Haia and children did not arrive in the US until 1927 after spending years in Argentina. The question is, when did they leave Lyubar, how did they travel to Argentina and when did Meyer marry Haya, and when and where were the children born? -
Meyer (Meer) Koltun born 1895
Arrival in NY 1927
SS Pan America from Buenos Aires on Sept 6th,1927 arriving in New York Oct 25,1927.
Traveling were: Meer Koltun, now 31 years old, his wife Haia, Nehemia and Gertz, coming from Brother-in-Law Marcos Schiller, in Buenos Aires, going to Brother David Koltun, 1952 63rd St, Brooklyn, NY. They were the last of the family to arrive. Mayer married Haia on Jan 3 1918 in Volin, Russia.