Szymek (Szymon, Shimon, Samuel) Szymkowicz was a shoemaker in Bazar, a village by Maków Mazowiecki. He married Tauba Ryfka Rakower. Their first two daughters, Dwojra and Chana, both died in 1898, as the Maków registers record.
Eva was born in 1903 and Freda a few years later. Tauba came to America in 1911; in 1920 she was “Tillie Simkowitch” in Manhattan with Freda, while Szymek was in Worms. Eva came that year.
Tauba died on 13 December 1937; her death record names her parents Nachmon Loeb Rakower and Malka Kirshenbaum. She lies in the Makowa plot at Mount Lebanon, where Eva and Freda were later buried in the same row. Szymek died in Manhattan on 30 April 1927. His death certificate, now read, calls him Shimon Simkowitz of 171 Broome Street, born on 1 April 1862, son of Abraham Simkowitz and Ida Livy; his wife Tauba gave the details. He was buried at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery on 1 May 1927, probably in the Makowa plot near Tauba and Eva, but his grave has not yet been located.
Szymek’s father was likely Abram Szymkowicz of Bazar, who died in 1910 aged about 84, son of Szymon and Chana. Abram’s widow was Genendla Grinberg, but Szymek’s 1927 record names his mother “Ida Livy” and his father “Abraham”. Ida was possibly Abram’s first wife and Genendla a second; this is unresolved.
At a glance
Szymek (Szymon, Shimon, Samuel) Szymkowicz
b. 1 Apr 1862 · d. 30 Apr 1927, Manhattan · Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Glendale (1 May 1927; the grave is not yet located) Confirmed
b. c.1865–70 · d. 13 Dec 1937, Manhattan · Mount Lebanon Cemetery: Makowa society, R-22-4-10 Confirmed
Dwojra Szymkowicz
b. 1895, Bazar · d. 1898 Confirmed
Chana Szymkowicz
b. 1897 · d. 1898 Confirmed
Eva (Chava) Schron, née Szymkowicz (Simkowitz)
b. 15 Jan 1903, Maków district (Bazar) · d. 27 Oct 1976 (3 Cheshvan 5737) · Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Glendale: Makowa society, R-22-13-10 Confirmed
Freda (Frieda) Galin, née Szymkowicz
b. 15 Aug 1907 (Social Security; earlier papers suggest c.1904–08) · interred 30 Aug 1996 · Mount Lebanon Cemetery: Makowa society, R-22-13-16, in the same row as Eva Confirmed
Albert Isidore (Isidor) Galin
interred 4 Mar 1998 · Mount Lebanon Cemetery: Makowa society, R-22-13-17 Confirmed
Seymour Galin
interred 26 May 1946 · Mount Lebanon Cemetery: Makowa society, R-22-2-15 Possible
likely a 3× great-grandfather of the three sisters (mother’s side) Likely
Chana Szymkowicz
likely a 3× great-grandmother of the three sisters (mother’s side) Likely
Records and stones
Confirmed 1920 census, Manhattan ED 115, sheet 6B: “Tillie Simkowitch” and her daughter Freeda.FamilySearch / NARAConfirmed Death record of Shimon Simkowitz, Manhattan, 1927, certificate 11218: born 1 Apr 1862; burial at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery.NYC Municipal ArchivesLikely Marriage certificate of Freda Simkowitz and Isidor Galin, Manhattan, 7 Jan 1926, certificate 5008: Freda, 22, of 183 Clinton Street; parents Samuel and Lillie (Rakower).NYC Municipal Archives, historical vital recordsConfirmed Death certificate of Toba R. (Tauba) Simkowitch, Manhattan, 13 Dec 1937, certificate 26532: of 26 Suffolk Street, a widow; father Nachmon Loeb Rakower, mother Malka Kirshenbaum; details given by her brother Hyman Rakower. The medical section is blanked out.NYC Municipal Archives, historical vital records
Living relatives appear by name and relation only.
Labels — Confirmed, Likely, Possible — as the records support them. Tap any picture to enlarge it.
The people
Every person in this part, with each fact, its label and its source.
His death certificate: Shimon Simkowitz of 171 Broome Street, born 1 Apr 1862, died 30 Apr 1927; father Abraham Simkowitz, mother Ida Livy; the informant was his wife Tauba. He was buried at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery on 1 May 1927, probably in the Makowa plot near Tauba and Eva, but his grave has not been located.ConfirmedDeath certificate of Shimon (Samuel) Simkowitz, 30 Apr 1927
Her death certificate, now saved (the medical section blanked): Toba R. Simkowitch, 72, of 26 Suffolk Street, a widow; her brother Hyman Rakower gave the details; buried at Mount Lebanon.ConfirmedDeath record of Tauba (Tillie) Simkowitz, 13 Dec 1937
Confirmed 1920 census, Manhattan ED 115, sheet 6B: “Tillie Simkowitch” and her daughter Freeda.FamilySearch / NARAConfirmed Death certificate of Toba R. (Tauba) Simkowitch, Manhattan, 13 Dec 1937, certificate 26532: of 26 Suffolk Street, a widow; father Nachmon Loeb Rakower, mother Malka Kirshenbaum; details given by her brother Hyman Rakower. The medical section is blanked out.NYC Municipal Archives, historical vital records
Her naturalization petition (SDNY 279571, 21 Aug 1936), now saved: born 15 Jan 1903 in Maków, Poland; arrived at New York from Rotterdam on 20 Dec 1920 on the Nieuw Amsterdam as Chawa Szymkowicz; married Benjamin on 4 Mar 1923. Her witness was Joseph Schron of Brooklyn, her brother-in-law. She took the oath on 2 Feb 1937 (certificate 4138752) and signed it.ConfirmedNaturalization of Eva Schron, 1936–37
Confirmed Gravestone of Eva Schron, Chava daughter of R’ Shimon, Mount Lebanon Cemetery: died 3 Cheshvan 5737.Photo: David Wieder, Find a Grave memorial 99401474Confirmed Eva Schron’s petition for naturalization, SDNY no. 279571, 21 Aug 1936: born 15 Jan 1903 in Maków; arrived 20 Dec 1920 on the Nieuw Amsterdam as Chawa Szymkowicz; witness Joseph Schron, her brother-in-law. The children’s lines are blanked.FamilySearch / NARAConfirmed Eva Schron’s oath of allegiance, 2 Feb 1937, certificate 4138752, with her signature.FamilySearch / NARA
Freda (Frieda) Galin, née SzymkowiczConfirmed
Sister of Eva; great-great-aunt of the three sisters
Born 15 Aug 1907 (Social Security; earlier papers suggest c.1904–08) · Interred 30 Aug 1996
Burial: Mount Lebanon Cemetery: Makowa society, R-22-13-16, in the same row as Eva
The certificate image, now saved: Freda Simkowitz, 22, of 183 Clinton Street (Eva’s address at her own wedding in 1923), married Isidor Galin of Brooklyn; her parents are given as Samuel and Lillie (Rakower). It points to Eva’s sister (Likely, from this image alone).LikelyThe 1926 Simkowitz–Galin certificate image
Likely Marriage certificate of Freda Simkowitz and Isidor Galin, Manhattan, 7 Jan 1926, certificate 5008: Freda, 22, of 183 Clinton Street; parents Samuel and Lillie (Rakower).NYC Municipal Archives, historical vital records
Albert Isidore (Isidor) GalinConfirmed
Husband of Freda Szymkowicz
Interred 4 Mar 1998
Burial: Mount Lebanon Cemetery: Makowa society, R-22-13-17
Possibly the Albert I. Galin of the Social Security index, born 1 Aug 1904, died 4 Mar 1998, the day of his interment.PossibleSocial Security records: Galin