A. M. Goldish

In 1873, Avrom Manis (AM) was born in Lithuania. Around 1888, AM arrives in America. In 1895, AM, Louis, and their mother Esther are living in Duluth, Minnesota. AM and Louis are operating a fruit store. AM marries Sadie D. Tobias 12 June 1897 La Crosse, Wisconsin. 1905 finds AM definitely living in La Crosse. All their children are born in Wisconsin (presumably in La Crosse):

1. Samuel S. 1899-1988 2. Minnie 1900-1986 3. Benjamin 1902-1992 4. Rose 1902- 1993 5. Zelda 1903-1989 6. Lottie 1905-1917 7. Jacob J. 1906-1986 8. Max 1909-1987

The Minneapolis Journal reports in 1904 that AM has a net worth of $50,000, which is about 1.25 million in 2017 dollars.

By 1917 (the year of Louis' wedding in Marietta) we find the AM clan in Marietta, if only from the death report of Lottie/Zlatte Elka which lists her birth in Wisconsin, but death in Marietta, Ohio. Curiously, the report states that Lottie is to be buried in Chicago, Illinois, although in fact she is buried in Marietta. In any case, by 1920 it's definitive that the AM clan has moved from La Crosse to Marietta. After a stay of ten days in the Cleveland Clinic, AM dies at the age of 76 from coronary artery infraction on 21 Sep 1948. He had lived in America for 60 years, and was buried in Mount Sinai Cemetery, Mayfield, Ohio. His occupation was listed as merchant/ scrap business. His residence in Marietta was 729 4th St. His wife Sadie Tobias died in 1954. It is unclear why AM and his brother Louis chose upon Marietta as their new residence. Some of the extended Tobias and Kuller families likewise migrated from Minnesota/Wisconsin to Marietta in about the same time period.

Samuel I. Goldish reminisces (1993):

As a youngster, back in the early '20's, growing up in the small shtet'l of Marietta, Ohio, I remember my uncle, Avrohom Mones Goldish, o"h, a businessman who also was very frum, shaving daily with a depilatory compound. It was a yellow powder that foamed when mixed with water, and which softened the beard so that a NON-METALLIC blade (probably made of hard vulcanized rubber) would remove the hair. The powder must have had a high sulphur content, because it permeated the house with the acrid odor of hydrogen sulfide (the smell of rotten eggs). My aunt, o"h, would have to air out the house each morning after Uncle Mones finished shaving!

Since I have invoked the memory of my beloved uncle, I would like to add a brief historical note which I feel may be of interest to some of our "m-j net" members, because it relates to the early history of YU.

Marietta, Ohio, shortly after the turn of the century, had a tiny Jewish community consisting of perhaps a dozen families--all of them frum. Although the population of Marietta was only 12,000, it was often described in the Yiddish newspapers of that era as being a "Little Yerushalayim," back in the days when "frumkeit" in America was at its nadir. Because of its geographic isolation from the mainstreams of Yiddishkeit, my uncle used to carry on a voluminous correspondence with a number of rabbeim, particularly to resolve halachic questions affecting his family or other members of the community (e.g., the construction of a mikva in the basement of their home).

Two of the rabbis with whom Uncle Mones corresponded were Rabbi Bernard Levinthal, the chief Orthodox rabbi of Philadelphia, and Rabbi Moshe Sivitz, of Pittsburgh, Pa. At that time, Rabbi Levinthal was host to a young ilui who had just emigrated to the U.S., by the name of Rabbi Bernard Dov Revel. Living in Marietta at that time was a large family by the name of Travis--formerly Rabinovitch--the patriarch of whom was Reb Yitzhak Zvi Rabinovitch (Travis). He had a teenage daughter, Sarah, for whom "Reb Itze Hertza" was seeking a shidduch. Uncle Mones, who was a close friend of the Travis family, assumed the role of "shadchan," corresponded with R. Levinthal and R. Sivitz, and, after visits to Marietta by all the parties concerned, successfully culminated in the chasuna of Rabbi Dov Revel and Sarah Travis, which took place in Marietta, with--if I recall early family lore correctly--Rabbi Bernard Levinthal serving as the "mesader kiddushin." I believe Rabbi Sivitz also participated.

Shortly thereafter, following the disastrous 1913 flood along the Ohio River valley that virtually wiped out the Travis' oilfield supply business, the entire family, along with Rabbi Revel and his wife, moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the Travises eventually became immensely wealthy in the oil producing and refining business. After several years of working for his in-laws, Rabbi Revel and his wife moved to New York. The rest is history.

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Marietta, Ohio 15 February 1948 Translation by Ari Mandel

The nice stories from the well-known and respected Mr. and Mrs. Reb Avrohom Manis Goldish in Marietta, deserve to be immortalized. They are among the lucky few in America who are happy to see Torah scholars and regular guests in their home and help them with all their strength. They are warriors against federations of various types, which want to close the doors to Torah and for all unfortunate ones who want to bring their families and make their home with us. The Goldish family are with their whole soul with the land of Israel. Several of their children are ready to travel to the land of Israel- as soon as the current law allows- and help build the land of Israel. The nicest deed they have now done. They have under the guidance of Hagaon Harav Hertzog sponsored the writing of a Sefer Torah in honor of the holy souls that were killed in the name of God, and God willing 7 Adar Moshe Rabbeinu's yartzeit the Sefer Torah will be brought with full honor and pride to Rabbi Hertzog's shul, and God willing when the Bais Hamikdosh is rebuilt it will be brought into the Bais Hamikdosh.

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Obituary, translation by Ari Mandel

November 18, 1948 Jewish Life Across America

Happenings in Jewish community life in various towns, written from our readers.

Marietta, Ohio

Not just our town, but all of American Jewry has lost one of the first pioneers from Orthodox Judaism. Reb (Mr.) Avraham Manis Goldish, who years ago founded the Jewish community in La Crosse, Wisconsin, later settled in Marietta, where he helped build Judaism. He has gone to his grave in Cleveland where after an operation his soul left him. He leaves behind a widow, Shaina Debra, versed in every matter of mitzvos, a son Binyomin, prominent lawyer in Cleveland, involved in Young Israel and Yeshivas Adas Bnei Yisroel, a son Yosef, also involved in the same organizations. A third son Mordechai, an [ardent Mizrachi/Religious Zionist?] in Boston [who is the] son-in-law of Dovber Hakohen Boruchoff of blessed memory. Another son Shmuel Shalom, who will carry on the traditions of his father in Marietta. The deceased also leaves behind three daughters Minnie, Rose, and Rachel Zelda. The funeral was one of the biggest; the eulogizers were Rabbi Louis Engelberg from Yeshivas Rabeinu Yitzchok Elchonon [and] Rabbi Bloch from Telzer Yeshiva, and the 'zaken harabonim' (senior/chief rabbi?) Oshinsky from Pittsburgh sent a letter of condolences.

Z. B. Kameika

(The journalist erroneously refers to several of his sons as 'brothers'. I corrected it.

Is the journalist the mysterious S.B. Komaiko who appeared in the Tobias group photo 47 years prior in 1901?

-E. R.)