Rosa would be my first cousin – twice removed. Our common ancestor is Joseph Spiegel, Rosa’s grandfather and my second great-grandfather.
<!–[if supportFields]>xe “MARCOVICI:Rosa (b. 1900) ” \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]>xe “Jassy-Moldova- Romania ” \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>Rosa Marcovici was born on January 1, 1900* in Iasi, Romania to Chuna Marcovici and Gitel “Gisella” Spiegel. In Iasi the first baby born in the New Year was given lots of gifts, etc. and written up in the newspapers. However, since Rosa was Jewish, the city didn’t want a Jew to be their first New Year (and turn of the century) baby. So they made her birth certificate read that she was born at the end of 1899. Gisella said that as she was giving birth to Rosa, she heard the bells chiming in the New Year.
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1903 – Iasi, Romania Rosa looks older than 3 to me in this picture. |
I am stating that the birth year of 1900 is accurate for Rosa but I have no true confirmation. Other than the entry on her daughter-in-law’s Geni tree, the only other place that indicates the 1900 birth year is the 1940 US Census. Rosa’s 1912 immigration age is listed as 16, which makes 1896 her birth year. The 1915 NY Census and the 1920 US Census also list ages that confirm a birth year of 1896. The 1925 NY Census states 1898. I have been unable to find Rosa and her family in any 1930 Census which is strange. It would be interesting to find what she put on her marriage certificate as I would bet that might be the accurate date. Looking at pictures of her at various ages, I would be more inclined to go with the birth year of 1896.
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This picture was dated 1911 making Rosa 11 years old if we use the birth year 1900.. She appears older than that, so I am truly questioning her birth-date. |
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The Nieuw Amsterdam. Ship image courtesy of Ancestry.com |
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1912 Passenger list |
In 1928, the couple had their only child, a son they named Harold.
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1928 L-to-R: Gisella “Gussie” Markowitz, Harold, Sam, Rose |
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Rose with son, Harold and mother, Gussie |
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Rose – date unknown |
According to the 1940 US Census, the Klappers returned to Manhattan, living at 295 Wadsworth Avenue.
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1940 US Census |
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1941 – Harold’s Bar Mitzvah |
Rosa suffered from Diabetes which affected her vision and in her 50’s she started going blind. By the time she was in her 70’s, she was totally blind. When her husband, Sam, died in 1971, she moved to Baltimore and lived alone in an apartment. With the help of a teacher for the blind, she was able to cook for herself, get around her apartment, give herself the insulin needle, etc.
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Rose Klapper 1972 |
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You have a wonderful collection of photographs of Rosa. Have you had any luck finding records for Iasi, Romania? That is where my husband's maternal grandfather was born. The story is that he changed his name from Yancu to Goldstein before immigrating to America in 1914.
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There are some good records on jewishgen.org. On January 19, I am attending a program held by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Connecticut (http://www.jgsct.org/) One of the members recently traveled through Romania and will be discussing what she learned. i'm hoping to learn some good things there.
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