Anna Breiner Caulfield
182 Hibiscus Rd, Edgewater, FL 32141
The name was changed at Ellis Island (or was it Philadelphia?):
What was the “Old World” maiden name of Mary Dubinsky?
Mary Dubinsky (1886-1951) was the great-grandmother of my daughter’s
husband. According to his mother, Mary’s given name was Monya
Stephenskaya, (the feminine form of Stephensky, which would be her father’s
surname.) She brought her daughter Dina (1918-1979) to this country as a small
child. She was Jewish and came from Samarkand, Russia. That was all my
daughter’s mother-in-law knew about her family.
“Marie Dubinsky”, 35 and her daughter Dina, 4 arrived in New York on
29 November 1922, on the ship “Lituania”. They were detained until 9
December as “Likely Public Charges,” probably because they were a woman
and child traveling alone.1 The passenger manifest shows that Mary is married,
her ethnicity is Russian-Hebrew, and her last place of residence is Samarkand.
Her closest relative in Russia is her aunt, Rebecca Galperin of Odessa. The
second-class passage was paid for by Mary’s father, Louis Stevens, 2344
Webster Ave. Los Angeles, Cal. Hand-written above this address is another:
2657 E. 51, Cleveland, Ohio.2 Having been born in Russia, it is unlikely that
Stevens was his “old country” surname. But was it Stephensky?
Immigrants in the early 20th century frequently “Americanized” both their
given and their family names. They wanted to blend in, and it seems they often
succeeded, at least in the paper trail they left. Often they just started using the
new names with no official change. This can make it difficult to trace them
back to their country of origin, as well to establish familial relationships.
IMMIGRATION RECORDS
Ruchel (a Yiddish nickname for Rachel) Stepansky, age 41 (born about
1872) arrived 31 January 1913 in Baltimore on the S.S. Brandenburg with three
sons. They were: Eli, 11 (born 1902), Hersch, 10 (1903) and Awrum, 8 (1905).
Their nearest relative at home is a daughter, M. Stepansky in Odessa. Their
“Record of Aliens Held for Special Inquiry,” S.S. Lituania, December 1922, page 204, line 13, Marie
Dubinsky, age 35, digital image, Ancestry.com. (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 January 2011) citing
NARAmicrofilm publication T715 roll 3224.
1
Manifest, S.S. Lituania, December 1922, stamped p. 65, line 24, Marie Dubinsky, age 35; “Passenger Record,”
digital images, Statue of Liberty—Ellis Island Foundation (http://www.ellisisland.org : accessed 13 January
2011).
2
Caulfield, “The Name Was Changed at Ellis Island—or Was it Philadelphia?”
2
ultimate destination is to join their husband and father, F. Leib Stepansky, of
660 Dodson, Akron, Ohio.3
“Ludko” (or possibly “Fudko”) Stepansky, age 41(born about 1870)
arrived in Philadelphia 3 November 1911 on the S. S. Chemnitz. His occupation
is listed as smith. His nearest relative is his wife Ruchel Stepansky of Odessa,
and his American connection is his uncle, David Gelfond of Johnstown,
Pennsylvania4 (David Gelfond, also spelled Gelfand or Galfond, born about
1856 in Odessa, arrived about 1890, before American contacts were listed in
passenger manifests.5 I have been unable to determine his exact relationship
with Leib Stepansky; “uncle” in this context may denote a wide range of
relationships.)
NATURALIZATION RECORDS
Mary’s Petition for Naturalization, dated 30 December 1927 in New York
City, names her birth place: Odessa, Russia. It also identifies her husband,
whom she had left behind: Solomon Dubinsky.6 Her supporting documents
include a deposition from Edward Stevens, “battery man” of Cleveland. He
states. “The applicant is my sister and she came to me on her arrival in
Cleveland about Dec. 5, 1922, and she lived with my mother during her stay in
Cleveland, Ohio.”7 A second deposition from Benjamin Klein, salesman, of
Cleveland, states that he met the applicant at the home of the other witness and
visited there many times.8
Manifest, S.S. Brandenburg, January 1913, un-numbered page, line 6, Ruchel Stepansky, age 41; “Baltimore
Passenger Lists, 1820-1948,” digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed December 13,
2010,) citing NARA microfilm publication T844, roll G085.
3
Manifest, S.S. Chemnitz, November 1911, un-numbered page, line 10, Ludko Stepansky; age 41, “Philadelphia
Passenger Lists, 1800-1945,” digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed December 13,
2010,) citing NARA microfilm publication T840, roll G085.
4
5
1900 U.S. census, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Johnstown Ward 10, p. 226 (stamped),
dwelling 26, family 26, David Galfand, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6
January 2010); citing NARA microfilm publication T623 roll 1389. The birth and immigration dates in the 1910
and 1920 censuses are consistent.
6
Mary Dubinsky petition for naturalization, (1927), naturalization file no. 189520, Southern District of New
York, digital images, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com : accessed 22 December 2010,) citing NARA
publication no. M1972.
7
Mary Dubinsky interrogatories in depositions of witnesses, Edward Stevens (1927), naturalization file no.
189520.
8
Mary Dubinsky interrogatories in depositions of witnesses, Benjamin Klein (1927), naturalization file no.
189520.
Caulfield, “The Name Was Changed at Ellis Island—or Was it Philadelphia?”
The petition for citizenship of Edward Stevens (1927), “battery man,”
born 31 December 1898 in Odessa, includes an affidavit of arrival in Baltimore
31 January 1913 under the name “Eli Stepansky.” The petition is witnessed by
Benjamin Klein, salesman, of Cleveland (same address as the Benjamin Klein
who was deposed for Mary’s petition.)9 Likewise those of his brothers Harold
(1927) and Abraham (1932) provide the same information with the names
“Hersch”10 and “Awrum,”11 respectively.
No naturalization papers have been found for Louis or Rachel. They are
not listed in the Cleveland Division naturalization index.12
UNITED STATES CENSUS RECORDS
A search for Louis Stevens, born in Russia in the 1920 census in Los
Angeles turns up no good candidates. However, in Cleveland, there is a Louis
Stevens, born in Cherson [Kherson], Russia about 1865, with his wife Rachel,
same birth place about 1870, and three sons: Edward, 22; Harold, 18 and Abe,
16, all born in Russia. (At that time the city of Odessa was in the Kherson
gubernia, or administrative district.) His occupation is “tinner.” All family
members are aliens. Louis arrived in 1911, his wife and sons in 1912. Their
address is 2681 E. 47th Street.13 This address is a two-minute drive from the
Cleveland address listed on the passenger manifest as belonging to Mary’s
father, according to Google Maps.
Edward Stevens certificate of arrival (1927), naturalization file no. 29734, “Naturalization Records—Ohio
Northern,” digital images, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com : accessed January 3 2011) citing NARA
publication no. M1972, Naturalization Petition and Record Books for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern
Division, Cleveland, 1907 -1946.
9
Harold Eugene Stevens certificate of arrival (1927), naturalization file no. 27485, “Naturalization Records—
Ohio Northern,” digital images, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com : accessed January 3 2011) citing
NARA publication no. M1972, Naturalization Petition and Record Books for the Northern District of Ohio,
Eastern Division, Cleveland, 1907 -1946.
10
Abram Stevens certificate of arrival (1932), naturalization file no. 274999, “Naturalization Records—Ohio
Northern,” digital images, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com : accessed January 3 2011) citing NARA
publication no. M1972, Naturalization Petition and Record Books for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern
Division, Cleveland, 1907 -1946.
11
United States. District Court (Ohio: Northern District: Eastern Division: Cleveland), “Index of naturalization
petitions (Ohio), 1855-1967,” NARA microfilm publication M1893, FHL film 2240138, Stark - Szloszka (box
81-83).
12
13
1920 U.S. census, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, population schedule, Cleveland, p.196 (stamped), dwelling 93,
family 174, Louis Stevens, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 January 2010);
citing NARA microfilm publication T625 roll 1364.
3
Caulfield, “The Name Was Changed at Ellis Island—or Was it Philadelphia?”
4
Louis and Rachel Stevens are again found in Cleveland in 1930, this time
without their sons. Louis is a laborer in a bed factory. They both arrived in
1905, and have filed their “first papers”, or declarations of intent to become
citizens. Louis’ year of birth is still 1865; Rachel has become younger by two
years. Louis married first at age 20, Rachel at 18. They now own their home, at
4101 Broadway.14 Google Maps shows that this address is only a four-minute
drive from their 1920 address.
The three Stevens brothers are also living in Cleveland in 1930. Harold is
the proprietor of a battery manufacturer.15 Edward and Abram are both “battery
men,” working for a battery manufacturer (presumably their brother).16,17
Mary and Dina’s only appearance in the US census is in 1930 in Los
Angeles. Her occupation is dressmaker. The address is 2605½ Brooklyn.
Number 2605 is occupied by Leon Rosen (probably a landlord), born in Russia
about 1866, and his family.18 According to Google Maps, 2605 Brooklyn Place
is only 9.3 miles from 2344 Webster, the Los Angeles address she had for her
father.
Another Stevens brother, Hyman (also called Herman) lived in Los
Angeles in 1930, at 2700 Malabar.19 Google Maps estimates this address is only
a four-minute drive from Mary’s apartment. (Proving that he is her brother is
beyond the scope of this paper.)
14
1930 U.S. census, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, population schedule, Cleveland, p.22, dwelling 17, family 17,
Louis Stevens, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 January 2010); citing NARA
microfilm publication T626 , roll 1769.
15
1930 U.S. census, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, population schedule, Cleveland, p.44, dwelling 50, family 93,
Harold Stevens, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 January 2010); citing NARA
microfilm publication T626 , roll 1780.
16
1930 U.S. census, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, population schedule, Cleveland, p.261, dwelling 31, family 116,
Edward Stevens, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 January 2010); citing
NARA microfilm publication T626 , roll 1774.
17
1930 U.S. census, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, population schedule, Cleveland, p.236, dwelling 23, family 24,
Harry Stevens, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 January 2010); citing NARA
microfilm publication T626 , roll 1762.
18
1930 U.S. census, Los Angeles County, California, population schedule, Los Angeles, sheet 20B, dwelling
382, family 409, Mary Dubinsky, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 January
2010); citing NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 166.
19
1930 U.S. census, Los Angeles County, California, population schedule, Los Angeles, p. 270, dwelling 773,
family 774, Herman Stevens, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 6 January 2010);
citing NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 165.
Caulfield, “The Name Was Changed at Ellis Island—or Was it Philadelphia?”
5
Although census records are notoriously inaccurate, they are often the
best way we have to establish relationships if no vital records can be found.
CITY DIRECTORIES
The Cleveland City Directory for 1923 has a Louis Stevens at 2657 E.
51 , the same address as on Marie’s passenger manifest. His occupation is
“tinsmith”.20 No likely Louis Stevens are found in the directories for 1919, 1920
and 1921. In 1922, Louis Stevens, no occupation given, is listed at 2692 E. 51 st
Street, very close to the above address.21
st
Five Louis Stevens are listed in the Los Angeles city directory for the year
1922. None are on Webster Avenue, nor do any have an occupation similar to
smith.22
OHIO STATE REFORMATORY RECORDS
In 1918 both Edward and Harold Stevens were admitted to the Ohio State
Reformatory, a minimum-security facility for youthful offenders. Both records
give their parents’ names as Louis and Rachel, at 462 Wabash Avenue, Akron.
Edward’s prison record lists among his family members a sister, Mary, age 35
(born about 1883.)23 Harold’s identifies a sister, Minnie, age 30 (born in 1888).24
At that point they had not seen their sister in over 5 years.
20
The Cleveland Directory Company, compiler, Cleveland City Directory, 1923 (Cleveland, Ohio: The
Cleveland Directory Company, 1923, page 2499 for Louis Steven, digital image, Footnote.com
(http://www.footnote.com : accessed January 4, 2011.)
21
Cleveland City Directory, 1922, page 2449 for Louis Stevens; digital image, Footnote.com
(http://www.footnote.com : accessed January 4, 2011.)
22
The Los Angeles Directory Co., Los Angeles City Directory, 1922 (Los Angeles, California: Los Angeles
Directory Co., 1922), page 2552 for Louis Stevens digital image, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com :
accessed January 6, 2011.)
23
Edward Stephens [Stevens] admission record, no. 10534 (1918), Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield, Ohio,
FHL microfilm 928477.
24
Harold Stevens admission record, no. 10341 (1918), Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield, Ohio, FHL microfilm
928477.
Caulfield, “The Name Was Changed at Ellis Island—or Was it Philadelphia?”
6
UNITED STATES MILITARY RECORDS
World War I draft registration cards have been found for Edward25 (born
1898) and Harold26 (born 1899) Stevens, and both in Akron, Ohio. They were
both born in Russia, and both list their father, Louis Stevens, of 462 Wabash
Ave, Akron, as next of kin., This address is only a 6-minute drive from 660
Dodge Ave., the only address close to “660 Dodson” in Akron.
DEATH RECORDS
Louis Stevens died 29 January 1937 in Cleveland. His occupation is
listed on his death certificate as “battery man – for son” (presumably Harold).
His father’s name is given as Joseph Stevens.27 His obituary in The Jewish
Independent states that he was born in Odessa and mentions a daughter
“Mamie”.28 Rachel Stevens died 2 December 1947.29 Her obituary in the
Cleveland Plain Dealer calls her the “mother of Joseph, Harold, Abe, Eddie and
Hymie of Los Angeles, Cal., and Mary Bubinsky [Dubinsky] of New York
City.”30 (Joseph has been left out of this report for the sake of simplicity.)
Mary Dubinsky died in May, 1951 in New York City. The only family
mentioned in her New York Times death notice is her daughter.31 A request for
“United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.” Images, Ancestry.com
(http://www..ancestry.com : accessed 8 February 2011), card for Edward Stevens, order no. 10534, local draft
board 0, Miscellaneous County (Ohio State Reformatory), citing NARA microfilm publication M1509, imaged
from Family History Library microfilm no. 2022516. Both sons give Akron addresses, but the cards are stamped
“Ohio State Reformatory.”
25
“United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.” Images, Ancestry.com
(http://www..ancestry.com : accessed 8 February 2011), card for Harold Eugene Stevens, order no. 10341, local
draft board 0, Miscellaneous County (Ohio State Reformatory), citing NARA microfilm publication M1509,
imaged from Family History Library microfilm no. 2022516.
26
“Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch
(http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 20 December 2010), death certificate image, Louis Stevens, 29 Jan
1937, no. 1025, Ohio Department of Health.
27
28
Louis Stevens obituary, The (Cleveland) Jewish Independent, 5 Feb 1937, p.6, col. 3.
“Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, FamilySearch
(http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 20 December 2010), death certificate image, Rachael Stevens, 2
December 1947, no. 9988, Ohio Department of Health.
29
Rachael Stevens obituary, transcript by Cleveland Public Library, “Cleveland Necrology File,” Cleveland
Public Library (http://dxsrv4.cpl.org/WebZ/html/obit_refine.html?sessionid=01-2643-696049173 : accessed 11
January 2011) citing original publication in The Cleveland Plain Dealer, 4 December 1947.
30
31
Mary Dubinsky death notice, The New York Times, 27 May 1951, online archives,
(http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/nytarchive.html : accessed 19 Jan 2011).
Caulfield, “The Name Was Changed at Ellis Island—or Was it Philadelphia?”
7
her Social Security application was returned with the notation that none was
found.
ANALYSIS
Evidence that Leib/Ludko Stepansky and Louis Stevens are one and the
same person (and the father of Mary Dubinsky) is strong:
1. Ludko’s wife is Ruchel; Louis’ wife is Rachel.
2. They share the occupation of “smith,” “tinner” or “tinsmith.”
3. Both Louis Stevens of Ohio and F. Leib Stepansky were born in Odessa,
as was Mary Dubinsky.
4. The father of Mary Dubinsky is identified as Louis Stevens of Cleveland,
with the same address as the Cleveland Directory of 1923.
5. Ruchel Stepansky’s husband (and her sons’ father) is identified on her
passenger manifest in 1913 as F. Leib Stepansky of Akron. This
information is highly reliable, as presumably she would want to be
reunited with her husband as soon as possible.
6. The draft cards (and prison records) of Edward and Harold Stevens of
Akron in 1918 both identify their father as Louis Stevens of Akron.
7. The petitions for naturalization of Edward, Harold and Abram Stevens,
listed as sons of Louis Stevens in the 1920 census, indicate that they all
arrived on the Brandenburg in 1913 under the surname Stepansky.
8. Edward Stevens, “battery man” of Cleveland, states in his deposition that
Mary Dubinsky is his sister. His petition for naturalization is witnessed by
Benjamin Klein, who also was deposed for Mary Dubinsky’s application.
These naturalization records are considered highly reliable, since they
were made under oath.
Contradictory evidence is easily dismissed:
1. No evidence has been found that Louis Stevens was ever in Los Angeles,
as indicated on his daughter’s passenger manifest. However, his son
Hyman lived there both in 1930 and in 1947.
2. Ludko Stepansky’s year of birth is estimated as 1870. All indications of
Louis Steven’s year of birth point to 1865. This discrepancy can be due to
rounding or estimation.
3. The Akron addresses given for F. Leib Stepansky and Louis Stevens do
not match; however, they are geographically close. Also, there is almost 5
years’ difference between the creations of the documents giving Akron
addresses.
Caulfield, “The Name Was Changed at Ellis Island—or Was it Philadelphia?”
8
4. Louis’ death certificate gives Stevens as his father’s last name. This was
probably not done intentionally to mislead, but for simplicity and
consistency.
5. Mary Dubinsky’s obituary does not mention any Stevens (or Stepansky)
relatives, but her mother’s obituary of only four years earlier mentions her
daughter “Mary Bubinsky.”
6. Harold’s prison record identifies a sister “Minnie,” while his father’s
obituary mentions a daughter “Mamie.” According to the JewishGen
Given Names Database, Mary and Marie were frequently chosen as U.S.
names for women with the Hebrew name Miriam, which had among its
many Yiddish nicknames “Manye” and “Menya.”32 These could easily be
the “Monya” remembered by her granddaughter and “Minnie” in Harold’s
prison record. In addition, “Mamie” is a well-known nickname for
“Mary.”
7. The ages of the three Stevens sons (and therefore their birth years) in the
ship manifest is several years off from those found in other sources (for
example, 1902 for Eli/Edward versus 31 Dec 1898 on several records).
For the manifest they may have been estimated by a clerk who did not
speak Yiddish.
CONCLUSION
Mary Dubinsky’s father was F. Leib Stepansky, later known as Louis
Stevens. This surname is very close to the “Stephensky” remembered by
Mary’s granddaughter. It is still not known what the “F” stood for. It is apparent
that he and his family settled first in Akron, and then moved to Cleveland before
1920. Around this time they contemplated moving to Los Angeles, but for
unknown reasons stayed in Cleveland. (Possibly it was because one of their
sons, Harold, had become a business owner there, and his brothers, and
eventually his father, worked for him.) Mary was more than likely the M.
Stepansky who was listed as a daughter on her mother’s passenger manifest.
Even though no actual record showing a name change may exist, it is still
often possible to determine the “old world” name of an immigrant through
careful correlation of circumstantial evidence.
G. L. Esterson, “The Given Names Databases”, database, Jewish Given Names Database, updated 2003,
(http://www.jewishgen.org/databases/GivenNames/search.htm/ : accessed 15 Feb 201, entry for foreign name
“Mary”.
32