Tillie Shulman, born Toba Shulman on August 20, 1864, in Joniškėlis, Lithuania, immigrated to the United States on March 26, 1887, with her husband,1 David M. Lebowitz. Settling in Philadelphia, they raised several children, with Tillie dedicating her life to her family and home. Over the years, she saw her family grow and endure various challenges, including the loss of her husband in 1920. Tillie passed away on December 9, 1947, at her home in Philadelphia. She was laid to rest in Mt. Lebanon Cemetery in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
Life in Lithuania
In the year Tillie was born, the January Uprising against the Russian Empire’s rule had just ended, leading to increased Russification policies in Lithuania. Rising tensions and anti-Semitic policies prompted many Jewish families to emigrate.
Immigration March 26, 1887
Tillie arrived in the United States on March 26, 1887, at the age of 24, accompanied by her 25-year-old husband, David M. Lebowitz. They traveled aboard the S.S. Lessing, which departed from Bremen, Germany, and made a stop in Le Havre, France, before arriving in New York. David, a workman, and Tillie were Russian citizens, though the name of their hometown is difficult to decipher. Name listed: Taube Lebowitz2
1900 United States Census
In 1900, 35-year-old Tillie (born June 1864) lived with her husband, David Labowitz, 37 (born January 1863, spelled Laboitz), at 817 Barnett St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their children included Rubie, 13 (born June 1886), Morriss, 11 (born December 1888), Diana, 8 (born September 1891), and Rebbeca, 5 (born December 1894). Also residing with them were two boarders: Hyman Shulmann, 24 (born May 1876), and Samuel Brest, 18 (born June 1881).
David worked as a cloakmaker but had been unemployed for six months the previous year. Hyman was a coat maker, Samuel worked as an errand boy, and the children Rubie, Morriss, and Diana attended school. Tillie had given birth to four children, all of whom were living. The children were born in Pennsylvania, while David, Tillie, Hyman, Samuel, and their parents were born in Russia.
David and Tillie immigrated to the United States in 1886 and lived there for 14 years. Hyman and Samuel immigrated in 1891 and had been in the US for 9 years. Everyone in the household could speak English, although Tillie was unable to read or write. Name listed: Tillie Laboitz4
Formerly 817 Barnett Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The entire 800 block of Barnett Street has been replaced by a parking lot for the Navy Support Activity in the area.
1910 United States Census
In 1910, Tillie, 40, lived with her husband, David M., 48, and their children: Ruben, 22, Diana, 18, Rebecca, 16, and Nettie, 9. They also had a boarder, Joseph Newmeyer, 23, who would marry Diana a few months after the census was taken. The family mortgaged a house at 2416 South 10th Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. David worked as a lady’s tailor at a clothing factory, Ruben was a shipping clerk at a cloak factory, Diana was a saleslady at a department store, Rebecca was a milliner at a millinery store, and Joseph was a commercial traveler for a shirt factory.
David and Tillie had been married for 23 years, and Tillie had given birth to five children, four of whom were still living, as Morris had passed away before 1906. David and Tillie were born in “Russia Yiddish,” while Joseph was born in “France Yiddish.” All the children were born in Pennsylvania, but their parents’ birthplace was listed as “Russia Yiddish.” David and Tillie immigrated in 1895, and David was listed as naturalized. The entire family spoke English, although Tillie could not read or write it. In 1910, only Nettie attended school. Name listed: Tillie Labowitz5
2416 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The house currently at 2416 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was built after the Labowitzes lived there.
1920 United States Census
In 1920, Tillie, 54, lived with her husband, David, 56; her widowed daughter, Diana Newmeyer, 28; her daughter Netta Labowitz, 19; her grandchildren, Berenice, 8, and Alvin (listed as Albin), 4; and a boarder, Morris Vansent, 22. They mortgaged a home at 5644 Pine Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. David worked as a tailor, while Diana and Netta were clerks, and Morris was a salesman.
David and Tillie were born in Russia, with “Jewish” as their first language. Everyone else in the household was born in Pennsylvania. David, Tillie, Diana, and Netta had parents who were also born in Russia and spoke “Jewish” as their mother tongue. Berenice and Alvin’s mother was born in Pennsylvania, and their father was born in France, with French as his first language. Morris’s parents were born in the United States. David and Tillie immigrated in 1887 and were naturalized in 1900. Only Berenice attended school in 1920, and everyone in the household could read, write, and speak English. The census was enumerated on January 2, 1920, and David passed away just two months later. Name listed: Tillie Labowitz6 Tillie appeared in the city directory in 1925 as the widow of David under the name Matilda.7
1930 United States Census
In 1930, Tillie, 68 and widowed, lived with her daughters and their families: Beatrice, 36, Robert, 38, and Maurice Petrosky, 13; and Netta, 29, Harry, 30, Doris, 5, and Marlyn Goldberg, 16 months. They owned a house at 5644 Pine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, valued at $8,500. Robert and Harry were salesmen for a dress manufacturing company, and Maurice was in school.
Tillie was born in Kyiv, as were the parents of Beatrice and Netta. Beatrice, Robert, Maurice, Netta, Doris, and Marlyn were born in Pennsylvania, while Harry was born in New York. Robert’s parents were born in Riga, Latvia. Tillie immigrated in 1888 and was naturalized. Tillie, Doris, and Marlyn could not read, write, or speak English. The family also owned a radio. Name listed: Tillie Labowitz8
5644 Pine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2014
2019
Although the house at 5644 Pine Street is no longer standing, it was captured on Google Maps as recently as 2014.
1940 United States Census
In 1940, Tillie, 70, lived with her daughter Netta, 39; son-in-law Harry, 50; and granddaughters Doris, 15, and Marlyn Goldman, 11. They still owned their house at 5644 Pine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but the value had dropped to $5,000 after the Depression. Harry worked as a wholesale dress salesman, working 50 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, and earning $2,000 annually.
Tillie was born in Russia, Harry was born in New York, and everyone else was born in Pennsylvania. Tillie had no formal education, Harry and Doris had completed two years of high school, Netta had completed three years of high school, and Marlyn had completed sixth grade. Name listed: Tillie Labowitz9
Death of Tillie Shulman Labowitz, December 9, 1947
Tillie passed away at her home at 5644 Pine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 9, 1947, at 7:45 PM, at the age of 78. Born on August 20, 1869, in Russia, she had resided in Philadelphia for 60 years and was a housewife. She succumbed to uremia after five weeks of suffering and had been battling arteriosclerosis for two years. Her parents, Benjamin Schulman and Rebecca, were also born in Russia. Tillie was buried in Mt. Lebanon Cemetery in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The informant on her death certificate was her son, Rubin Labowitz.10 Her obituary appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer two days later.11
Transcript: "LABOWITZ-Dec. 9, 1947, TILLIE, beloved wife of the late David Labowitz, of 5644 Pine st., and devoted mother of Diana Jaret, Beatrice Petrosky, Netta Goldman, Rubin Labowitz. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral services, Thurs., 1 P.M., at the Benj. Berschler & Sons, 730 Pine st. Int. Mt. Lebanon Cem."
Tillie Shulman’s life was marked by resilience, dedication, and family. Immigrating from Lithuania to the United States in 1887, she spent 60 years in Philadelphia, nurturing her family and home. Despite personal hardships, including the loss of her husband, Tillie remained a steadfast presence in her family’s life. Her story is a testament to the enduring spirit of immigrants who helped shape the fabric of American society. She passed away in 1947, leaving a legacy of strength and devotion.
Sources
- “Joniskelis Jewish Cemetery,” image, European Jewish Cemetery Initiative (https://www.esjf-cemeteries.org/survey/joniskelis-jewish-cemetery/ : accessed 17 June 2024). ↩︎
- “Passenger lists of vessels arriving at New York, 1820-1897 [microform],” S.S. Lessing arriving 26 March 1887, sailing from Bremen, Germany to New York, NY, entries for David M. and Taube Lebowitz, unpaginated, 841st page, 8-9th lines, image, Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/passengerlistsof0504unit/page/n841/mode/2up : accessed 15 June 2024), citing NARA microfilm publication, reel 0504, February 28-March 31, 1887, published 1957. ↩︎
- Stuart Smith, “Lessing,” 8 February 2013, image, Ships Nostalgia (https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/media/lessing.447861/ : accessed 15 June 2024). ↩︎
- 1900 U.S. Census, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Philadelphia City, enumeration district (ED) 49, p. 50 (stamped), 6B (penned), dwelling 91, family 128, Tillie Laboitz, image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 January 2021), citing NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 1452. ↩︎
- 1910 U.S. Census, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Philadelphia City, enumeration district (ED) 1004, p. 270 (stamped), 11A (penned), dwelling 54, family 56, Tillie Labowitz, image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 January 2021), citing NARA microfilm publication T624, microfilm 1150, roll 1409. ↩︎
- 1920 U.S. Census, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Philadelphia City, enumeration district (ED) 1750, p. 93 (stamped), 2A (penned), dwelling 23, family 27, Tillie Labowitz, image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 January 2021), citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 1647. ↩︎
- Polk’s Boyd’s Philadelphia Directory 1925, (Philadelphia, PA: R.L. Polk & Company of Philadelphia, 1925), p. 754, image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 August 2021). ↩︎
- 1930 U.S. census, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Philadelphia City, enumeration district (ED) 51-524, p. 109 (stamped), p. 1A (penned), dwelling 4, family 4, Tillie Labowitz, image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 August 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication T626, microfilm 219.0, roll 2141. ↩︎
- 1940 U.S. Census, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Philadelphia City, enumeration district (ED) 51-1984, p. 1A, household 4, Tillie Labowitz, image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 August 2021), citing NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 3748. ↩︎
- “Pennsylvania Death Certificates, 1906-1963,” image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 August 2021), record for Tillie Labowitz, 10 December 1947. ↩︎
- “Died: Labowitz,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, 11 December 1947, p. 39, col. 8, image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer/15271841/ : accessed 21 November 2017), clip page by user genistory. ↩︎
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