#btwk-1a: Russian wedding photographs of Faga and Nathan Botwinik.

I. Botwinik Family 
 
A document-dated 1895, the oldest in my possession, is evidence of an odyssey begun by my father, Nathan Botwinik. His goal of attaining American citizenship took sixteen years of careful planning and required him to cross three continents. He had no way of predicting that the journey would ultimately, preserve our family lineage. The saga started in Minsk, Russia in 1895 when Papa applied for a Russian passport for which he paid seven rubles and fifty-kopek. The passport later, on June 25, 1897, served as a legal identification when he applied for a license to open a tailor shop in Minsk. 
My father was born in 1873. His mother was Tziril Minna. Tragically, his father after whom he was named, died in a horse-and-wagon accident before his birth. His grandfather, Yoshua Botwinik was married to Miriam. When his motehr married Aaron Leib Haneles, a widower with a son Jacob, he was sent to live with his aunt Libby and Uncle Hemmie. At the age of twenty-three in 1897, in the Hebrew year 5658 on the 23rd day of Adar, Papa married my mother, Faga Maisel. She was born in 1879 and was six years younger than he. Their marriage contract or ketuba, now hangs in the home of their great-granddaughter Deborah Jacobsen and great-great-granddaughters, Sarah Faith and Hilary. Chaya Sonkin was my grandmother’s maiden name and my grandfather was Avrum Maisel. Mama’s maternal grandparents were Shlomo and Gita Baila Sonkin and her paternal grandfather was David Maisel. 
Although an important world event occurred in South Africa before my father’s birth, it had a profound influence on him when he made the decision to travel to Africa and eventually, to America. In 1867, diamonds were found along the Orange and Vaal Rivers, which set the stage for the Boer War. These rivers were located north of Cape Town in independent republics known as the Transvaal and Orange Free State. They were administered by the Boers, former Dutchmen who settled there as farmers. 
In 1886, when Papa was thirteen years old, another event of international significance took place in Africa. The gold rush! The mad pace continued until immigration increases the white population from about 328,000 in 1875 to 1,117,000 by 1904. Railway construction was even more notable. In 1870 there were only sixty-nine miles of railway track in all of Africa but by 1895, there were 3,600 miles. The industrial growth rose to a feverish pitch and these financial statistics were reported over the entire world. Papa no doubt, sensed that Africa was the place to be to accumulate money, quickly. In addition to the diamond and gold industries a third element, the Boer War of 1899, had a powerful influence on the soaring south African economy. 
When diamond fields were discovered in the Boer Republic, Africa at last, entered the world economy and acquired a special place as the source of one-third of the worlds’ annual supply of gold and more than one-half the annual supply of diamonds. Control of these great industries was consolidated into a few hands by the Boers. Manual labor was done mainly by immigrants, many of whom were British, and they were subjected to great hardships by the Boers. The British who governed the Cape colony objected to the living conditions and attempted to restrain the Boers’ movements and commerce. The Boers resented the liberal tendencies of the British who were demanding freedom for the workers they claimed were treated as slaves. The war originated in claims over the Boers’ refusal to grant civic inclusion to these Outlanders. To augment the British forces of 500,000 already in South Africa in 1899, 10,000 British troops were sent to the Transvaal. The forces were unequal as the Boers never had more than 65,000 men. By 1902, the war was over. 
As these tumultuous events were occurring in Africa, Papa was eager to increase his earnings as evidenced by his application for a license to open and operate a tailor shop. Printed here, is a copy of the occupational license. It is a 20”x27” large, official appearing Russian permit, granted by a Minsk agency for a five year period. 
DECLARATION 

By the order of His Imperial Majesty given in Minsk,
Pakonskai County, to Nathan, Nathanovich Botwinik.
In granting the request of Nathan, Nathanovich
Botvinik on the basis of the evidence and also based
on 285, 464, 465, 466, 467, 469, from the 11th to the
2nd paragraph of regulations published in 1893, under
the authority from 10th of April, 1898, #99, he may
practice the profession of Mens’ Tailoring and is
registered in his profession in the City of Minsk.
By means of his passport registred in Pakanskai County,
from 29th of March 1898, #62 for 5 years until March 29,
1903, he may within a month after receipt of permission,
practice his profession and open a shop. He may hire
employees and students, as well as display a business
sign.
Botvinik, being of Jewish origin, has these statistics:
Age 24; Height, 2 Arshin and 5 5/8 vershok; Hair and
eyebrows, red-brown; Eyes, gray; Nose and Mouth,
normal; Chin, ordinary; Face, clean; Unusual marks,
none.
Signed, and Government Stamp applied in 1898 year,
April 10th day. (City of Minsk line is crossed out) and
Government order of 25th of June 1897, #7878 allows him
to practice in any part of the county.
Signed by:
Professional Hierarchy: Shalkofsky
Colleagues: Tabalenich
Shapir Ownership of the shop did not alter Papa’s plan to immigrate to America. It was merely, a step in his effort to accumulate enough money to sail to Africa, as indicated by his departure from Russia two years before his occupational license expired. He was convinced that on reaching Africa he could ply his trade to a population with considerable, discretionary income. In addition, he could work towards British citizenship, which would simplify his entry into America. 
Once in London, Papa obtained information indicating that he could travel to Cape Town at no cost, by enlisting as a deckhand on the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co. Ltd. This German vessel was engaged in Royal Mail Service betweenEngland and South Africa and made calls regularly at Madeira, Grand Canary, Teneriffe, St. Helena, Delacoa Bay, Beira, Ascension, Madagascar, and Mauritius. It was an arduous three-month journey covering over 5,735 miles but my father was determined to get to Africa and eventually, reach America. 
In 1901, when my oldest brother was two years old, the necessary funds to reach London had been accumulated. In addition to Papa’s earnings, Mama was employed as a skilled dressmaker and contributed her wages, as well. 
The official Russian travel passport issued to Papa is dated May 8, 1901. On July 4, 1901, he set sail from Southampton, England to Africa. By this time, my mother was pregnant, again. Their second child Ofse, would be born in Minsk in 1902, while Papa was living in Cape Town. Since my mother arrived in America with both brothers, we children assumed Ofse was born before Papa left for Africa. However, I later, discovered that Papa’s American citizenship papers issued in Kansas City on October 11, 1911, listed Ofse as nine years old. This verified he was born in 1902 during the period my father lived in Africa. Since my father departed Minsk in July of 1901, Mama may have been unaware of her pregnancy when he left. On Papa’s arrival in London he registered with the steamship company. His contract-ticket lists him as having open berth accommodations in steerage class. Also, listed along with my father were four men who shared accommodations. They were Mr. A. Katz, 26 years old, Mr. B. Zirkelman, 32, Mr. Bass, 37, and, Mr. S. Katzke, 16. My father is listed as 28 years old. The “fee paid” space on the contract is scratched out, indicating no fee was paid. There is a “victualling scale” for the journey, which was printed in the body of the ticket as required by the Merchant Shipping Act of 1894. This included the weekly food, water and provisions issued daily by the “Master of the ship to each statute adult.” It provided three quarts of water daily, exclusive of what was necessary for cooking, as well as the following list of articles for a week, in a cooked state: 3 1ž2 lbs. Bread or Biscuit, not inferior to quality of Navy Biscuit
2 lbs. Potatoes    1 lb. Sugar
2 lbs. Wheaten Flour   2 oz. Salt
1 lb. Oatmeal    1ž2 oz. Mustard
1 lb. Peas    1 gill Vinegar
1 1ž2 lb. Beef    6 oz. Lime Juice
1 1ž2 lb. Pork    1 lb. Preserved meat
8 oz. Rice    6 oz. Suet
1ž2 oz. Black or white pepper ground  8 oz. Raisins
22 oz. Tea    1 oz. Butter 
Lime juice was added to prevent scurvy among the sailors, which led to British sailors being called “limeys”. The steamship arrived in Cape Town on October 28, 1901, almost four months after leaving London, according to Papa’s recorded visit to the Russian consulate. 
My father lived on 7 Pontac Street in Cape Town during the time he lived in Africa. On December 22, 1902, he purchased a Singer sewing Machine with a stand and table from Bourne & Co. Ltd., for [11 pound notes]. He was now self-employed and could make and sell suits, a profitable venture. After four years residence in Africa, Papa obtained his British citizenship papers. They were signed and issued on the 16th day of February 1905, stating he was a British Colonial Subject by Naturalization. During that four year period he learned to speak, read and write English which would assist him in earning a living in America. He accumulated enough money to finance his trip from Africa to America and cover expenses for the family from Russia to Kansas City. All these accomplishments are examples of extraordinary determination and endurance. Missing from Papa’s files are the departure date from Africa, name of the vessel he boarded to America and his British naturalization papers. However, he left an empty passport folder with the name, F. Missler, Bremen Germany on the outside cover. On the inside of the worn, 5”x7” folder are the German words: F. Missler Bahnhofstrasse 30 Passagier-Annahme fur die Schnelldampfer nach Amerika Bank und Geldwechsel. If indeed, Papa left Germany as a deckhand on this vessel, repeating his experience from London to Cape Town, it has yet to be determined. In an attempt to track down ship information, I contacted Lineages, Inc., in Salt Lake City who have Passenger List Ship Indices from 1902 to 1946. There was no record of a Nathan Botwinik arriving in New York. My theory is that Papa was not registered as a passenger on the F. Missler but served as a deckhand. On boarding, he may have been required to turn over his British citizenship papers and after jumping ship, left the document on board. This was common practice during that period. Recently, an article appeared in the San Francisco Examiner stating that “Governor Pataki Forbears were Illegals”. The New York governor told reporters his Irish grandmother had immigrated illegally and his uncle, a German sailor, jumped ship in New York City. If Papa did indeed, jump ship it would explain the absence of his British citizenship papers. As a matter of fact, when applying for American citizenship he declared himself a Russian citizen, probably using the only citizenship papers he possessed. Although, Mama’s contribution to our family history was important, it was not as dramatic as Papa’s. The impending birth of their second child may, or may not, have been known by Mama. She went through the pregnancy, childbirth and rearing of two children for four years without the emotional, moral, or financial support of her husband. She continued working as a dressmaker, sustained her family and accumulated whatever funds she could for the trip to America. Her journey from Liverpool to New York with two small children must have been a difficult, month-long passage but she had a pragmatic outlook on life and the endurance to overcome difficulties. She received her Russian passport in Minsk on September 29, 1905. It was issued to Feiga Botwinik mit Kindern, Solomon und Ovsei, immigrants and steerage class. On landing at New York, pin the inspection card to the coat or dress of the passenger in a prominent position. They boarded the S.S. Umbria, out of Liverpool, England. I remember the large, braided, wicker hamper my mother brought from Russia. She called it a cajeenie. In it, she and her mother placed a down-filled comforter or paraneh which they had laboriously, filled with chicken feathers; goose down-filled pillows; a pair of silver candlesticks, a wedding gift from her parents; a tea samovar; an old, discarded copper candlestick which her father had found and given to her for use in reciting the Sabbath blessing; a brass staysel, a mortar and pestle for pounding poppy seeds in the making of Homantashan and a large copper vat or lok used for storing boiled water during the Sabbath when it was forbidden to light a fire. It was kept in a large, wall-oven in the kitchen that always remained heated, thus obviating the need to light a fire. These items are in my home, with the exception of the samovar, which was left with Papa’s step-relatives in New York when they assured Mama there was no need for it in America.  Mama’s brother Shlomo, remained in Minsk with his parents on Eurovagas Street in Tritsky Barg. Also, cousins Avrum Labe and Israel Sonkin remained on farms in Misvegeny about a mile away. As far as we know, no family members survived the Holocaust. An Associated Press release from Jerusalem on May 5, 1997 stated that 100,000 Jews had died in Minsk during the Holocaust in World War II. The holocaust tragedy gives rise to conjecture about the existence of our present family had my parents remained in Russia. Fortnately, Mama’s siblings Dave, Reuben, Anna and Lakie were spared when they later, joined her in America. Dave married Rose, a relative of their landsleit, the Levines; Reuben married Becky Kleinstein and Anna married Louis Ribacoff. All had families of four children except Lakie, who married William Sperling and they had one child. From the records in my possession, we know Papa had to arrive in America sometime between February of 1905 when he received his British passport in Cape Town and nine months later, on December 25th, 1905 when my mother landed in New York City with the children. 
The decision to come to Kansas City was made at the urging of their friends Abraham and Yehudid Levine, who lived there. Minnie, my sister, was born in Kansas City in January of 1907 at 5th and Holmes. My brother Dave and I were born at 2117 Mercier. I was born April 6, 1909 and Dave in January 1911. Sister Becky was born in 1913 at the Research Hospital, then known as the German Hospital. Dr. George Ringel, our family doctor decided that Mama’s sixth delivery would be complicated and called in Dr. Sulzberger, an obstetric specialist, who performed a Cesarean section. When Mama was in the hospital, Minnie, Dave and I stayed with the Levines while Sol and Ofse remained at home with Papa.  
My father’s quest for citizenship was realized on October 11, 1911, when he was granted American citizenship. He was 37 years old. Now, in my 90th year, after reviewing the documents he preserved so carefully, I realize the extent of his travels and the contribution he made to the continuation of our family line. There is no question that Papa’s papers were important to him and our family can be grateful he preserved them. They were discovered in the family bookcase after his death and the attached, attractive mirror was refinished and now hangs in the home of his granddaughter, Barbara Spack. 
Papa died April 9, 1945, at the age of seventy-two. I regret that while he was alive, I had no knowledge of his sixteen year journey or the sacrifices he made in his quest for American citizenship. Unfortunately, he never told the children his story. It was a missed opportunity for a special filial bond that could have been formed between us. My mother died on April 1, 1976 at the age of ninety-seven. I am grateful I had expressed my thanks to her while she was alive.  
This review of my parents’ journeys illustrated how our destinies are influenced and molded by choices we make. From the bottom of my heart, I thank them both for their strength and determination in making those choices.

#btwk-1a:

#btwk-6:

From: Crow, John W <J....Crow@tufts.edu>
Date: Thu, Oct 30, 2014 at 11:41 AM
Subject: Dave Botwinik

My dad was John Johnson Crow from Carthage, MO.  He was born in 1902. I was googling the names of his Wrestling Mates and saw a photo of Dave Botwinik on your Web Pages. From your Web Pages they look very similar. Fourth man from the right second row – very square chin, dark hair.  I’d love to know more about where this picture was taken? I believe my Dad attended College later than most due to a bout with scarlet fever.
 
John