Isaac Sandelman

(1861 – 1930)

           The year 1885 was a momentous year for Isaac and his Father Meyer.  Isaac emigrated from Berdichev, Russia, leaving behind his Mother and several brothers.  Meyer and Isaac joined those that were leaving due to the increasing restrictions being imposed on the Jewish Community.

Isaac appears on the passenger list for the ship “Canada” arriving in New York on June 17, 1885. He settled in Grand Traverse County and on 28 Dec 1886 Father and son appeared in Circuit Court to declare their intent to become citizens. Isaac's signature was his mark.

The next known momentous occassion was his marriage to “Geetel Sleagie” on July 6, 1889. On the license (Grand Traverse Co, Vol. B Moore, Liber 3, pg 015) Isaac lists his occupation as a peddler and does not list his mother's name. Geetel lists her father's name as Reuben Sleagie, states that she is 20 and was born in Russia. She also does not list her mother's name. The witnesses are Mr. Yalomstein and Mr. Steinberg, both well known members of Jewish society in Traverse City. Isaac's sister, Minnie, was married to Jacob Greenberg one month earlier.  On her application (Liber 3, p. 16, #61, Grand Traverse Co, MI) she lists her Mother as Hannah Steingold.  Her husband lists his parents as Jacob Greenberg and Fanny Steingold.

Ten years later the 1899 Petoskey City Directory finds him residing at 717 Lake and working as a clerk for A Dosie.  In the 1900 census he is living in Petoskey, MI with his wife Gertrude and 4 children – Samuel (8), Abraham (6), Sylvia (5) and Sophia (1).  He listed his occupation as clothing salesman. His wife’s census entry states that 4 of the 6 children she had are still alive.   These other 2 children could have been born either before Sam, or in the 4 year gap between Sylvia & Sophia.

As many of the Russian Jewish families did, the Sandelman’s moved several times, presumably to improve their financial condition. J. Louis, one of Isaac's younger brothers, moved to Sault Ste. Marie about 1898 and is then listed in the 1900-01 Polk City Directory as the Propieter of "The Racket Store" (513 Ashmun St.).  Isaac is listed the following year, working as clerk at The Racket Dept. Store. The 1903-04 City directory indicates that the store is now at 526-528 Ashmun and Isaac is residing at 802 Helen St. It appears that J.Louis continues to own the store, which becomes known as "The Fair" by 1905-06, until sometime around 1915.

American citizenship became a reality on Saturday, Sept. 8, 1906 when Isaac signed his own name to the naturalization papers in the courthouse of Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa Co., MI. He formally renounced any allegience of fidelity to the Emporer of Russia.

The 1910 census lists the "Isaac Sandleman" family in Sault Ste. Marie. Their oldest son (Sam) was working in Detroit, all of the other children were living at home.  In addition to Abraham (16), Sylvia (15), Sophie (11), there were now 5 more children – Herman (9), Moses (aka Maurice – 6), Harry (aka Robert – 5), Israel (aka Irving, Jimmy – 5) and Charles (4/12 of a year old).  He was still working in sales – now in a dry goods store.  Additionally, several of his family members also moved to the Soo.  His parents, Meyer & Anna lived on the same street along with their youngest son, Isear, and Meyer’s brother Nathan.  Issac’s brother J. Louis and his family lived about 7 blocks away.  This is the only time "Charles" appears in any records found to date.  He is an infant, probably born in early Jan 1910 (or late Dec. 1909) as he is listed as being four-twelfths of a month old.  He is no longer listed in the census of 1920.

Isaac and his family stayed in the area for several years, although they moved 20 miles south to Pickford where J. Louis had opened another store "Sandelman & Co."  Sam appears to have moved back home as he is pictured in several baseball teams with his Uncle Isur during 1913 and 1914. An examination of Sault Ste. Marie City Directories shows various family members boarding or residing at 802 and 811 Helen St. while they work as clerks at "The Fair" Dept. store. The Pickford Clarion has numerous brief mentions of Isaac and Isear Sandelman and their family members in the "Local News of the Week" column.

The 1920 census finds Isaac and his family living in Detroit.  Only one daughter, Sophia, is not listed as living at home.  They owned the house on Oakland St. and Isaac is a retail shoe dealer.  His son Samuel, having recently been discharged from service, is listed in Detroit, but also found as a boarder living in Brooklyn, NY with the family of his future wife, Frieda Schreiber.  Other Sandelman family members, including Isaac’s parents and sister Miriam (Greenberg), have moved to Detroit by this time.

The majority of Isaac’s children migrated to California during the 20’s.  Abraham, the 2^nd child, was working in shoe sales when he was shot to death in an attempted robbery.  All of the other children, with the exception of Sam, continued to live in the Los Angeles area as adults.  Isaac and Gertrude also moved to the Los Angeles area and purchased a house in Belvedere, Los Angeles. 

Isaac passed away at the age of 67 on May 25, 1930 (Death Certificate) .  Gertrude lived until June 22, 1937.  They were both buried in Mt. Zion Cemetery, in the same row as their son Abraham.

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