------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Letter from Rabbi Bernhard Felsenthal Chicago, October, 1891 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To my dear nephew, Adolph ben Marcus ben Simon ben Isaac ben Jacob ben Isaac Felsenthal: In compliance wiht your request, repeatedly made, I shall give you, on the following pages, some notes on the history of our family. "Some notes", I say, for a complete history, I am sorry to say, I am not able to furnish you. Documents would have to be examined to which I have no access, for the reason that they are in Germany, and a correspondence with collateral kindred would have to be entered into, and this is also difficult for me to do. I say, therefore, I give you soem notes, merely, some contributions towards a family history, but not a ful and comprehensive history. 1. The first of our ancestors of whom I have knowledge was a certain Isaac. He lived in the beginning of the eighteenth century in the town of Idar, near Oberstein, on the Nahe river. 2. His son Jacob Isaac, born in 1732. He settled down in the village of Rathskirchen, in the northern part of the present Bavarian Rheinpfalz, and died there in 1806 or 1807. He left four sons and three daughters, viz., Isaac, Hirz, Israel, Davele, Sarah, Miriam and Jettele. 3. Isaac Jacob, his oldest won, was born in Rathskirchen, in January, 1762. About the year 1784, he removed to the village of Munchweiler, on the Alsenz,-- near Kaiserlautern, in the Rheinpfalz. He died there on the 5th of November, 1833. He had three sons and two daughters. viz., Isaaac, Simon, Baruch, Perle, and Hannah. In 1807, the family had adopted the surname FELSENTHAL. This had to be done, in accordance with a decree of the emperor Napoleon I, which required all the Jews in France to adopt regular family names. The Rheinpfalz, where the family then resided, was at that time a part of the French Empire. 4. I proceed now to the second son of Isaac (Jacob) Felsenthal, Simon Felsenthal, my own father, and your grandfather. (Concerning collateral kindred I shall add some notes later on.) Simon Felsenthal was born in Munchweiler, September 12, 1793. In 1817, he married Eva Gall, daughter of Abraham Gall, of Hoshspeier, Rheinpfalz. Eva Gall Felsenthal died in Munchweiler on April 1, 1852. In the summer of 1854 Simon Felsenthal, together with his son Bernhard and his daughter Eva, left Germany and emigrated to the United States. His two other sons, viz., Marcus and David, had previously gone to America, the former in 1848, the latter in 1851. Simon Felsenthal settled down in Louisville, Ky., where his son Marcus resided, as well as his sister Hannah, widow of Gabriel Lyons, and some other relatives. He died in that city on the 24th of September, 1879, aged 86 years and 12 days. 5. As indicated above, Simon Felsenthal left three sons and one daughter, viz., Š a. Bernhard (the writer of these notes), born Janauary 2, 1822, in Munch- weiler, living in the City of Chicago sincd 1858; married March 2, 1862, to Caroline Levi, who died December 16, 1863. Their child, Ida, born December 13, 1862, died February 13, 1866, aged three years and two months. Entered into a second matrimonial union, July 2, 1865. with Henrietta, nee Blumenfeld. Their children: Julia, born Oct. 4, 1866 Edwin I., born June 11, 1869 Bertha, born July 26, 1871 Flora, born May 31, 1873; and Emma, born April 8, 1875 b. Marcus Felsenthal, born August, 1824, in Munchweiler, emigrated to America in the fall on 1848, settled in Louisville, Ky., in 1853, and was married therein April, 1853, to his cousin Bina Lyons. Children: Isaac, Gabe, Adolph, Lee, Jacob, Eva, Belle. c. Eva, born March 1830, in Munchweiler, came to America (Louisville), in July, 1854; was married in Louisville, 1858, to Isaac Kiefer. Children: Sam, Jake, Henry B., Sarah, Bertha, Mattie. d. David Felsenthal, born January 8, 1833, in Munchweiler, emigrated to America in the fall of 1851; in January, 1862, he was impressed into the Con- federate Army, while residing in the State of Arkansas; was made prisoner of war, together with several thousands other Southern soldiers, by General Grant, in February, 1862, near Fort Donelson, brough as a prisoner of war to Camp Butler, near Springfield, Ill., but released after a few weeks, upon parole of honor. In Louisville, Ky., 1863, he married Bina Simmon, of Lambsheim (the daughter of a cousin). Afterwards he removed to Camdem, Ark. There Bina Simon Felsenthal died on the ___ day of 187_. On the ____ day of 187_, David Felsenthal con- cluded a second marriage, with, Eva Simon, the sister of his deceased first wife. Children: Adolph C., born December 8, 1863 Eva C., born November 8, 1867 Isaac, Jacob, Nora, born March 28, 1874 Alexander, Š (These six are the children of first marriage.) Blanche, Sidney, Lee, Part II I add a few notes on collateral kindred which I deem of special interest to you. 1. My father's (Simon's) older brother was Isaac Felsenthal, who died in Munchwieler, on the _____ day of _____. One of his grandsons, August Blum, lives in Chicago, and is assistant cashier in the Union National Bank. Another grandson of Isaac Felsenthal is Dr. Simon Felsenthal, who studied medicine, and is, according to the latest information at hand, assistant physician in a hospi- tal in Berlin. 2. The younger brother of my father, Baruch Felsenthal, who lived in Gull- heim, Rheinpfalz, has no descendants in America. One of his daughters, married to Mr. Felix Straus, once resided in Philadelphia, Pa., but the family returned to Germany many years ago, and they now live in Frankfurt on the Main. 3. My father's sister Perle was married to Mayer Kahn, of Germersheim. Moses Kahn, who died in October, 1890, in Chicago, Valentin Kahn, of Memphis, Tenn., Mrs. Ricke Mendel, of Hopkinsville, Ky., Mrs. Hannah Moyers, of Hopkins- ville, Ky., are children of Meyer and Perle Kahn. 4. My father's other sister was Hannah. Her first husband was Alexander Weill, now, and since 187_, living in Louisville Ky., and one daughter, Hannah, who was married to Isaac Simon, ofLambsheim. Hannah and Isaac Simon were the parents of bina, wife of David Felsenthal, who died in Camden, Ark. (see above) and of other children. My aunt Hannah was married a second time, to Gabriel Loeb (or Lyons), with whom and a number of children she came to America in 1852. Their children: Simon Loeb (who remained in Germany, and died in Frankenthal, Rheinpfalz. Many of his children came to America, ---Julchen, Josephine, Max.) Jettchen, married to Moses Straus, died in Louisville. Babette, married to Isidor Lorch. She died in Dallas, Tex Bina, married to Marcus Felsenthal (see above). Sam Lyons, lives in Little Rock, Ark. Part III I. My mother Eva, nee Gall, had four sister,s viz.: 1. Jettelche. She was married to a cousin of my father, Herz Greenebaum. She came as a widow, to Philadelphia, Pa., in 1849, and died there in. One of her daughters, Eva, was married to a Mr. Levy, who now lives in Louis- Šville, Ky. ONe of her sons was Herman Greenebaum, who died many years ago in Philadelphia. Her oldest son was Abraham Greenebaum, who died about a year ago in Philadelphia. Among Abraham Greenebaum's children I mention, Harry Greenebaum, living in Chicago, and Mrs. S. Straus, of Louisville, Ky. 2. Leah. She was married to Jacob Rubel in Hochspeier, and died therein. 3. Hannah. She was married to Jacob Hirsch, in Lambsheim, and died therein. One of their sons, Henry Hirsch, lives in Chicago; another Sam Hirsh, in Denver, Col. 4. Michele. She was married to Jacob Meyer, in Friedelsheim, near Durkheim, Rfalz. She died therein. Part IV 1. The oldest brother of my grandfather Isaac Felsenthal was Hirz Felsen- thal. Many of his grandchildren are in America, e.g., Jacob and Joseph Felsen- thal, of Brownsville, Tenn., and their brothers and sisters and cousins. One son of Hirz Felsenthal was Dr. Adolph Felsenthal, a physician in Gullheim, Rheinpfalz, who died a few years ago. It may interest you when I mention the fact that your granduncle Hirz---Hirz Jacob was then his name; his name appears as Hirz Felsenthal since 1807---was a member of the great "Sanhedrin" called together by Napoleon I in 1806, which assembled in Paris in that and the following year. 2. Of Israel Felsenthal--another borther of my grandfather Isaac--grand children are also living in America, among whom are: Elias Benjamin and Mrs. Julius Rosenthal of Chicago, and others. 3. Davele Felsenthal's descendants are numerous in America, e.g., by his son Benjamin Wolf Felsenthal: Herman and Michael Felsenthal, of Chicago, Mrs. Alpiner of Kankakee, Ill., Mrs. Straus, Mrs. Baum, of Chicago; and others; by his son Jacob Felsenthal: Albert, Isaac, Benjamin, Sam and David Felsenthal and their several sisters, in Chicago. 4. Of the three sissters of my grandfather Isaac, I mention, first Sarah, who married Abraham Greenebaum, of Munchweiler. One of their sons was Hirz Greenebaum, who married my mother's sister Jettelsche (see above), and whose descendants now live in America (see above). Another son was Israel Greene- baum, who, as a widower, came to America in 1850, and whose descendants also live in America (most of them in San Francisco, Cal.) A grandson of Abraham and Sarah Grunebaum (by their son Benjamin) is the present aged Rabbi, Dr. Elias Grunebaum, of Landau, in the Rheinpfalz. 5. Another sister was Miriam, married to Elias Greenebaum, a brother of Abraham Greenebaum, above mentioned. They lived in Reipoltskirchen, in the Rheinpfalz. One of their children was Jacob Greenebaum (married to his cousin Ester, nee Herz (Hart), came to America (Chicago) in 1852, and died there. Jacob Greenebaum's children (Elias, Michael, Henry, David, Mrs. Wise, and Mrs. Foreman (who died a few years ago) live (or lived) in Chicago, and so do most of their children. Š------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Editor's note: Number 5 is my direct line. (Susan E. King) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. The youngest sister of my grandfather was Jettele, married to Hirz* Herz, of Eppelsheim, near Alzei, in Rhenish Hessia. They had two sons, (whose children, who, however, have anglcized their names into "Hart", now live in America, most of them in Chicago), and a large number of daughters (9 or 10, I believe). Most of their descendants are also in America, e.g. Henry Levy, of Jackson, Tenn., N. Schaffner, M. Joseph, Mrs. Becker, Moses Joseph, H.F. Hahn, etc., all of chicago, Mrs. Simon Wolf, of Washington, D.C. (lately deceased) etc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Editor's notes: * Hirz Herz also known as Michael Herz and the father of Ester (Sara) Herz of Number 5 above. (Susan E. King) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Editor's notes: * Hirz Herz above also the father of Regina Herz married to Moses Spiegel. (Susan E. King) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Isaac | Jacob (Born 1732) | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Isaac II. Hirz III. Israel IV. Davele V. Sarah VI. Miriam and VII. Jetelle. ---------- I. Isaac Jacob Felsenthal | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Isaac 2. Simon 3. Baruch 4. Perle 5. Hannah Abraham & Eva Gall | I.2. Simon Felsenthal -------------------------Eva Gall (------------------------------------------------) | a. Bernhard: b. Marcus: c. Eva. d. David. -------------- Lazarus Blumenfeld | I.2.a. Bernhard Felsenthal-------------------Jette Blumenfeld | 1. Julia: 2. Edwin: 3. Bertha: 4. Flora: 5. Emma -------------- II.2.b. Marcus Felsenthal--------------------------------------Bine, nee Lyons | Š 1. Isaac, married to Emma Straus. April 27, 1881 2. Gabe, married to Carrie Felsenthal. 3. Adolph, married to Tessie Maas. 4. Jake. 5. Lee, married to Tillie Hershman 6. Eva. 7. Belle. -------------- II.2.c. Eva Felsenthal---------------------------------------Isaac Kiefer | Sam married to Ida Felsenthal: Jake; Henry B.; Sarah; Bertha; Mattie; --------------- II.2.d. David Felsenthal------------------------------------Bine Simon | Adolph: Eva: Isaac: Jacob: Nora: Alexander> David Felsenthal (second marriage)-------------------Eva Simon | Blanche: Sidney: Lee. --------------- I.5. Hannah F. (first marriage)---------------------------------Alexander Weill | Jacob Weill Hannah------------Isaac Simon | | Joseph: Julia Kramer: Lotta Bina---------David Felsenthal | Adolph et al. (see above) --------------- Hannah F. Weill (second marriage)-------------------------------Gabe Lyons | Simon: Jettchen Straus: Sam Lyons: Babette Lorch: Bina Felsenthal ---------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the author of this letter: Bernhard FELSENTHAL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jewish Encyclopedia, Page 361 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FELSENTHAL, Bernhard; German-American rabbi and author; born Jan. 2, 1822, at Munchweiler, near Kaiserlautern, Germany. He was educated at the Kreisgewerb- schule in Kaiserlautern, the Polytechnic High School, Munich, and the Teacher's Seminary of Kaiserlautern. After teaching for a decade in a small Jewish con- gregational school, he emigrated to America (1854), and settled at Madison, ŠInd., wehre he remained for three years as rabbi and teahcer. In 1858 he moved to Chicago, Ill., and accepted employment in the banking house of Greenebaum Brothers. In the same year the Judische Reformverein was founded (June 20), with Felsenthal as its secretary and guiding spirit, in which capacity he published, in March, 1859, a pamphlet entitled "Kol Kore Bamidbar: Ueber Judische Reform." which attracted attention both in America and abroad. Felsenthal maintained that the Bible was the product and not the source of Judaism, and he emphasized the right of the individual and of the congregation to autonomy in religious affairs. The Reformverein developed into Sinai Congregation, and in June, 1861, Felsen- thal became its first rabbi. After officiating for three years, he declined reelection and in September 1864, took charge of Zion Congregation, West Chi- cago, which had then been recently founded upon the same platform as Sinai Congregation. Felsenthal served this congregation until 1887, when he was relieved from active duty and pensioned as rabbi emeritus. In 1866 Chicago University conferred upon Felsenthal the degree of Ph.D., "honoris causa," and on his eightieth birthday the Hebrew Union College bestowed on him the degree of D.D. In later years he identified himself prominently with the Zionist movement. Felsenthal died Jan. 12, 1908. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------