This selection of family documents and pictures shows the Scher family's journey from the Polish towns of Strykow and Glowno to Lodz, Poland and then to New York City and Paterson, NJ and beyond. Click on any picture to enlarge it and then right-click on it again to view it at original size.
This blog is made in memory of the Scher family historian, Charles Feitlowitz (1912-2007). Uncle Charlie's fascination with genealogy was sparked in 1930 when he met his distant relation, Dr. Jacques Faitlovitch, who was raising money for the Beta Israel Jews of Ethiopia. Echoing the spirit of Dr. Faitlovitch, who got Jews around the world to remember their long-lost Ethiopian kin, Uncle Charlie spent 70 years tracking down kin on four continents and traced their Fajtlowicz ancestors back to Poland in the 1700s.
Uncle Charlie did not research his mother's side, the Scher family, as extensively. He regretted not knowing the maiden name of his grandmother, Annie Scher. Now, with the amazing resources of JewishGen.org, I have found out that Annie Scher was born Chana Brumer, and realized that Charlie had the same Hebrew name as her father, Shai Brumer. I wish Uncle Charlie could see what I have found, but at least now his future family can remember their Polish Jewish past.
~ Edward A. Rueda, 2012-2013
Charlie Feitlowitz's simplified family tree. Click to enlarge. His aunt, Fannie Scher Davis, was my great-great-grandmother.
The last known photograph of my great-great-great-grandmother Anna Scher (born Hana Brumer), who died in 1923 in Paterson, NJ in her 79th year.
Back in 1914, Morris Scher, Anna's oldest son, served on the board of directors of the Barnert Memorial Hospital in Paterson, NJ. Morris is in the photo's top row, fourth from the right. (from books.google.com)
Father Samuel Scher, Morris's oldest son, in 1949, wearing his priestly robes at the Notre Dame de Mistassini monastery in Quebec province, Canada.
The 1867 birth record for Mosiek Lajb Szer, born in Strykow to Szmul Szer, age 20, and Hana Szer, age 20.
The 1866 marriage record for my great-great-great-grandparents, Michal Szmul Szer, the 18-year-old son of Abram and Laia (Rejman) Szer, and Hana Brumer, the 18-year-old daughter of Szaia Brumer and Dyna Gundalia. Szmul and Hana were married in Glowno, which is 7 miles northeast of Strykow and Hana's hometown.
The 1846 birth record of my great-great-great-grandfather Michal Szmul Szer, born in Strykow to Abram Szer and Laia Szer, age 30.
The 1844 birth record of my great-great-great-grandmother Hana Brumer, born in Glowno to Szaia Brumer and Dyna Gundalia.
The 1843 marriage record of my 4th-great-grandparents, Abram Szer, a 48-year-old widower, and Laia Rayman, a 30-year-old widow and the daughter of the tailor Moszka Rayman. Abram and Laia were married in Strykow and both signed the record.
The 1814 marriage record (on two pages) of my 5th-great-grandfather Aron Jakob Szer and Toba Aidel Lisinski, who married in Strykow. This was the second marriage of both Aron and Toba, who survived their spouses, and they both signed the document.
The 1836 death record of my 5th-great-grandfather, Aron Abram Szer. He died in Strykow and was survived by his widow Tobe, his sons Abram and Symsia, and his daughters Laia and Fayga.
The 1814 death record of my 5th-great-grandmother Raca Uszerowna, who died in Strykow and was the first wife of Aron Jakob Szer and mother of Abram Szer.
The 1855 death record of my 5th-great-grandfather Mosiek Rayman, age 72, who died in Strykow and was survived by his daughters Laia (the mother of Szmul Szer) and Gela and his sons Szmul and Mordka.
The 1847 death record of my 5th-great-grandmother Hana Rayman, who died in Strykow and was the mother of Laia Rayman and the grandmother of Szmul Szer.
The 1847 death record of my 5th-great-grandfather, Abram Brumer, who died in Glowno at age 77. He was the hubsand of Fayga Szaiow, the father of Szaia Brumer, and the grandfather of Hane Brumer Szer.
The 1831 death record of my 5th-great-grandmother Fayga Szaiow Brumer, who died in Glowno at age 47. She was the mother of Szaia Brumer and the grandmother of Hane Brumer Szer.
The oldest Brumer family record I've found: the 1812 birth record (on two pages) of Falek Brumer, who was born in Glowno to my 5th-great-grandparents Abram and Fayga Brumer.
The oldest Szer family record I've found: the 1809 death record (on two pages) of Szymia Szer, who died in Strykow and was the son of my 5th-great-grandparents Aron Jakob Szer and Raca Uszerowna.
Questions? Comments? Email me at ruedafingerhut [at] gmail.com.
