Manning/Mendel Lessman
Grammanette’s (Annette nee Lessman Locketz) biological father died young. She had no memory of him. She considered Sam Rubinger, Granny Sarah’s second husband to be her father. I once referred to one of the Rubingers as a “step-brother” and she reprimanded me not to use the word “step.” Sam’s first wife Bessie, the mother of Moe, Eddie and Al, died in 1930. By 1935, Sarah and Annette were living in Minneapolis. Sometime during those five years, Sarah was set up with Sam by her sister-in-law Rose (Teddy Bolnick’s wife) who was still living in Minneapolis. Teddy may have worked for Liberty Garment in those days…the family comes full circle. I believe Teddy may have been the one to introduce Annette to Sid in 1940.
But back to Mendel, Annette’s biological father. His headstone says he was 40 years old. But as I wrote earlier, I’ve learned that death records are notoriously inaccurate. In this case, the information on the death record was reported by Sarah’s brother Morris so he may have not known exactly. Manning’s mother’s name is incorrect on the death record. His birth record says he was born in 1880…which would mean he was 46 when he died. Too young regardless.
On his draft card, he listed his birthdate as March 12, 1884. We can also see that he was a “cutter” at Hart Schaffner and Marx. I am told that many people did not know their actual birthdates, or they were lost in translation. Or they chose different ones for various reasons. My Great-Great Grandfather Ruben Rubenstein reported on at least one document that his birthday was July 4…which it was not.
Birth records tend to be more accurate and we are lucky to be able to find them when we can. Here is a copy of the original birth record for Mendel. There is no question it is him because it all adds up. Right town, correct father’s names, it connects him to known brothers etc. You can see his father’s signature, Chaim Wolf (H W Leisman), signature at the bottom.
These birth records are narratives which is why they are so long. Most translators will only give you the vitals and that is what I have from this one.
Father: Khaim Vulf LEJSMAN trader, 24 years old, residing in Ratsion, Mother - his legal wife Ryfka LIFBARSKA, 21, their son born in the settlement Ratsion on 17/29 February 1880 at 9 am, circumcised and named Mindel Binem.
The settlement of Ratsion is Raciaz in Poland. It is 31.4 miles from Mlava where Granny Sarah was born and lived.
Mendel had at least 5 siblings. Chaim Wolf Lessman (whose death record I have and needs to be translated which will have his parents’ names…one more generation back) and Rifka Liezbarski birthed Mendel who was likely the eldest child, and Israel Leib Lessman, Isabelle Lessman, Sol (Slam Ajzik) Lessman, Chaim Lessman, and Chava (Eva) Lessman.
It is tough to complete the family tree for the Lessmans because the documents and the family story diverge, or at least only tell parts of the story. Abe Lessman who was Manning’s nephew remained connected to our family and was the source of a lot of family information, but what he shared doesn’t match up with the documentation exactly. In fact I can’t find his father’s birth record with all of the siblings…his name was Zacharia. For now this too, remains a mystery that a number of people connected to the Lessmans are exploring. Abe was interviewed by the Shoah foundation and they sent me a digitized recording of his testimony I am happy to share. I only met Abe one or twice. He was at my Bar Mitzvah, or maybe it was Jessica’s Bat Mitzvah, and I remember seeing his numbers on his arm from Aushwitz.
I have spent a lot of time focussed on people no longer living and I wish I could ask them questions because the clues often end in brick walls or dead-ends. There is a bit of sadness too. My life is a result of their lives. And they lived long before me, so naturally, I would not have met them, or at least most of them. But in the case of Mendel, you have a guy who died a few years younger than I am now, and even though I carry some tiny bit of his DNA, there is not much known about him. Even the people who were alive when he was alive don’t seem to have left much of his story for us. What was he like? They left a few photos though. Of course, most of them were not labeled. So it is hard to know exactly their context.
Back row, L-R, Alexander Bolnick, Teddy Bolnick, Sol, front L-R, Manning Lessman (Granny Sarah's first husband) and Morris Bolnick. This photo had to have been taken in Poland before they immigrated.
Manning and Sarah (nee Bolnick) Lessman wedding photo, November 6, 1921
As I mapped out where our ancestors lived, it was notable that the Bolnicks, the Franks and the Lessmans all lived in towns within 30 miles of each other (Mlava, Raciaz and Ciechenow) and it seemed they could have known each other. The answer is that they did know each other. In 1970, Dick Locketz wrote an essay on the family history and commented
Excerpt on Manning Lessman from Dick Locketz’ 1970 essay
As noted here, Manning was married to Sylvia Marks first, before Sarah Bolnick. Sylvia was Julius Lessman’s mother…making him Annette’s half brother, but again, as Annette reminded me, she never saw half or step in family. Family is family.
Here is a Bolnick family portrait, perhaps as part of the wedding celebration for Sarah and Manning. It is definitely before Annette’s birth in 1923. Back L-R, Alex, Sol, Manning, Sarah, Morris, Teddy. Front L-R Leslie (daughter of Alex and Dora), Dora, Hyman, Arnie (son of Rose and Teddy), Ryfka, Rose, Helen (daughter of Rose and Teddy). Note the how all the young men have aged…Manning seems to have aged more than just 8 years he had been in the US by 1921.
Annette labeled this one, “Uncle Sol, Dad, David Cohn’s Brother.”
I found this in Annette’s photos and also believe it is Manning
Granny Sarah, Annette…and? Could this be the only family photo of Sarah, Annette and Manning that remains? Manning/Mendel died on April 13, 1926. Annette was born on May 6, 1923. Could she be only three or younger in this photo? This is definitely Granny Sarah and I am pretty certain the child is Annette. The demeanor between them feels like mother and daughter. Is the man Manning?
I cannot identify the women with the glasses.
This portrait is one that both Annette and Aunt Ida (nee Oinring) Lessman told me was Manning. But I am not sure.
Could this all be the same person? Comment below.
I’d like to say may Manning Lessman’s memory be a blessing. There is not much memory. Yet he is part of those who us who are his descendants, so that is indeed a blessing.
