Abraham Solomon

Notes:

Abraham Solomon was shown as born June 5, 1891 and died October 29, 1973 on both the Social Security Death Index and Find A Grave. The image of his actual application for a Social Security account shows a slightly later year of birth, instead showing he was born on June 5, 1894 in Kovno, Litha (sic). The application was completed on March 15, 1952, showing him as 57 on his last birthday, which would seem to confirm the year of birth as 1894 versus 1891. He listed his parents as Morris Solomon and Sara Jacobs. His occupation was listed as "Self Employed." He was a resident of 2940 Ellicot Drive in Baltimore, where the family was living on the 1930 census.

Kovno was a governorate of Russia, and is known as Kaunas, the second largest city in present day Lithuania. Prior to the Second World War, Kaunas, like many cities in eastern Europe, had a significant Jewish population. According to the Russian census of 1897, Jews numbered 25,500, 35.3% of the total of 73,500. The population was recorded as 25.8% Russian, 22.7% Polish, 6.6% Lithuanian. They established numerous schuls and synagogues, and were important for centuries to the culture and business of the city. His birth place on FindAGrave was also shown as Kaunas City Municipality, Kaunas, Lithuania,

Abraham enlisted in the US Military during World War I, and the U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File also has his date of birth shown as June 5, 1891. Abraham's date of enlistment was September 20, 1917, and he was released on May 29, 1919.

In the April, 2017 issues of the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Bulletin, Number 8, Cantor Robbie Solomon wrote that "Nothing is strong in my memory of children here in Baltimore than the large family Seders at my grandmother Tillie's house. I can still see my grandfather, Abraham Solomon, sitting at one end of the table reading the Haggadah aloud in Hebrew in his quiet voice, as the rest of us took turns reading it in English and singing the songs intermittently. I was convinced as a young boy that "Zaide", as we called him, was translating our words to God so they would carry more weight...It occurred to me recently that 2017 marks the 110-year anniversary of my grandfather's arrival at Ellis Island, escaping the oppressive regime of Czarist Russia."

Robbie further recalled that as the oldest grandchild of Abraham and Tillie, and his job was to entertain his younger cousins, mainly doing simple magic tricks and playing other silly games, or belting out some of the fancier solos from the service. He further noted his own father was called "Double Zadie"....and that he and his wire Helen were proud to fly down from Boston to Baltimore with their new granddaughter, Luciana Rose, to spend time with their Baltimore family.

Geni shows Abraham as the son of Fiva and Deenah Solomon, and brother of Monash Menasha Solomon, Gitel Feldman, Chope Horowitz, Rose Blass, Riva Moshenzick, Morris Solomon, Esther Burke and Bela Solomon. Note this does not match the names on Abraham's application for a Social Security account, although those names may have been anglicized, so this should be researched further.Or perhaps the Abraham listed on Geni, father of a Morris Solomon, is the grandfather of the Abraham Solomon who married Tillie Levine and resided in Baltimore.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1920 Census
New Jersey, Warren County, Hackettstown
Enumerated 10 Jan 1920
SD 6 ED 155 Sheet 8A
High Street
114-180-202
Solomon, Abrham Head M W 29 M 1907 Na 1920 Russia/Russian Russia/Russian Russia/Russian Retail Merchant Fruit
Solomon, Tillie Wf F W 23 M 1900 Na 1920 Russia/Russian Russia/Russian Russia/Russian


1930 Census
Maryland, Baltimore City, Ward 16 Block 41
Enumerated 4 Apr 1930
ED 4508 SD 4 Sheet 4B
Ellicot Drive
2940-76-90
Solomon, Abrham Head O 9000 M W 35 M 24 Russia Russia Russia Russian Owner Grocery Store
Solomon, Tillie Wf F W 33 M 22 Russia Russia Russia Russian
Solomon, Marvin Son M W 9 S NJ Russia Russia
Solomon, Jack Son M W 6 S Maryland Russia Russia
Solomon, Garrison Son M W 3 8/12 S Maryland Russia Russia
Solomon, Leonard Son M W 3 8/12 S Maryland Russia Russia
Here ends Enumeration Block 41

1940 Census
Maryland, Baltimore City, Ward 16, Block 57
Enumerated April 18, 1940
SD 7 ED 4-518 Sheet 15B
Ellicot Drive
2940-345-Owned Home Value 8,000
Solomon, Abraham Head M W 46 M Highest level of school 4 Russia Na Owner Grocery Store
Solomon, Tillie Wife F W 43 M Highest level of school 6 Russia Na Asst Mngr Grocery Store
Solomon, Marvin B Son M W 19 S Attended School College-1 New Jersey Bottle Cutter Master, Grocery Store
Solomon, Jack Son M W 16 S Attended School High School-3 Maryland Salesman Grocery Store
Solomon, Garrison Son M W 13 S Attended School Grade 6 Maryland
Solomon, Leonard Son M W 13 S Attended School Grade 7 Maryland

Family/Spouse: Tillie Levine. Tillie (daughter of Reuven "Reuben" Levine and Rachel Mina "Minnie" Smith) was born on 29 Dec 1896 in Ponevezh, Kovno Gubernia, Russian Empire; died on 27 Mar 1970; was buried in Bnai Israel Congregation Cemetery, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
An Abraham Solomon was shown as marrying a Tillie LEVIN on 30 July 1917 in Manhattan, New York City, New York. License Number 25637.

This may be a record of their marriage, or based on the both the location and the slight variation in Tillie's last name, it may be for another couple with similar names.

The National Jewish Welfare Board, Bureau of War Records, had an index card for the Solomon Family of 2940 Ellicot Drive, Baltimore. All four sons were serving in the Military, Marvin B, age 25, Navy; Jack, age 21, Army; and Leonard and Garrison, both 18, were both in the Navy as well.

1. Marvin Bernard Solomon was born on 15 Aug 1920 in Hackettstown, Warren County, New Jersey; died on 19 Mar 2021 in Baltimore County, Maryland.
2. Jack N. Solomon was born on 5 Feb 1924 in Maryland; died on 12 May 2012 in Florida; was buried on 15 May 2012 in Anshe Emunah Aitz Chaim Cemetery, Baltimore County, Maryland.
3. Leonard Solomon was born on 1 Mar 1927 in Maryland; died on 20 Jul 2013.
4. Garrison "Garry" Solomon was born on 1 Mar 1927 in Maryland; died on 27 Apr 2004 in Randallstown, Baltimore County, Maryland; was buried in Anshe Emunah Aitz Chaim Cemetery, Baltimore County, Maryland.

Morris married Sara Jacobs before 1891. Sara was born before 1871 in Kovno Gubernia, Russian Empire; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]