Person Page - 23

     Betti Landes was born on 8 January 1884 Austria. According to Rubin's birth certificate she was born in 1881.^1,2 She was the daughter of Chaim Aharon Landes and Chaya Eisner.
     Betti Landes immigrated to New York on 5 October 1902. She was listed as a 21 year old female going to her cousin, Chaim Weiner, 148 Rivington St. Picked up by cousin, Marie Weiner, 148 Rivington St. As a side note, in March of 2005, I received an e-mail from Chaim Rosenberg. His grandmother, Miriam used the name Marie and his grandfather, Chaim Weiner lived at 155 Rivington although he was not sure of the address. They also came from Buchach and he thinks that Betty and his grandmother (nee Eisner) were first cousins once removed. Miriam was the daughter of Emanuel (mendel) Eisner (b. c 1828) and Helen? Jacobs. She was born c 1860. I have since lost track of Chaim and cannot find his current e-mail.^3,4
     Circa 1903, Betti lived at 157 Rivington Street, New York, New York.⁵

     Betti Landes married Jacob Wasser between 1 September 1903 and 10 June 1906.

     As of July 1904, Betti and Jacob lived at 386 Est 10th Street, New York, New York.¹
     Betti Landes and Jacob Wasser appeared on the 1905 NYS Census ofNew York, enumerated 1905 Jacob Wasser, age 28 as head of household with wife Betti, age 25, son Ruby 11 mos, and sister Helen Landes age 19.All born Austria except ruby born US. Jacob listed as cutter, Betti as housewife, and Helen as Milliner.
     Circa 1906, Betti lived at 416-418 East 10th Street, New York, New York.⁶ In 1912, Betti and Jacob moved to the family farm, Lysiec, Galicia.²
     According to Luke Rothman's notes, in 1914 the area was conquered by the Russian army and by the next summer, the Austro Hungarian army was pushing them back. The Wasser family wanted to return to NY but two passport application attempts by Jacob were rejected.⁷
     Jacob's third passport application in September 1916 was finally approved but was only good for him, not Betti or his children. Luke has found out that it was signed by Allen Welsh Douglas, age 23, the future director of the CIA (the airport was named for his more famous brother). "Jacob arrived back in NY in the fall of 1916. He hoped to buy steamship tickets for his family to join him," according to Luke Rothman. Luke has found copies of a dozen letters, back and forth, dealing with this beauracratic nightmare. "Jacob was asked to find copies of the children's birth certificates to give to the State Department to send to the Royal Spanish Embassy in Berne (the U.S. had entered the war in early 1917 so presumably the US embassy in Vienna was closed and Spain, a neutral party, was representing Americn interests in Austria-Hungary) In other letters, Betti asks for fund for steamship tickets and was informed that she hadn't proven her intention to leave, and therefore the funds could not be sent to an enemy country. The war ended in Novemeber 1918 and Jacob died six months later in New York. His family was still in Europe, although their hometown was now in Poland (technically the West Ukranian People's Republic for a few months, then there was the Polish-Ukranian War and by the summer of 1919, it was Poland."⁸
     Betty continued to try and return to New York. In 1923, Luke has found another passport application. He says,"...she was required to fill out this form 'to overcome presumption of expatriation' since she had been outside the US for many years. She mentions having stayed in Europe during WWI because her youngest son Willie was being operated on (he was born with a clubfoot); it was somewhat fortunate that they were stuck in Vienna during the war and could have Willie treated by the famous Dr. Adolph Lorenz, who pioneered bloodless surgery for several congenital birth defects including clubfoot." Luke has contacted the Adolph Lorenz society several times to ask about Willie Wasser's surgery but has never received a response.

Luke also contacted the State Department to request copies of Betti's records and was sent the original photos (luckily not destroyed bercause of the rejected passport) and they may be the only photos of Willie and Anna Wasser.

The application was rejected because her citizenship, derived from her deceased husband's could not be verified. Luke has found out that Betti informed the American Consul General in Washinton that her husband was naturalized in 1906, but that was actually the year of his Declaration of Intension, they should have been looking in 1911, the actual year of his Naturalization.This occured despite his naturalization having been verified for his 1916 passport..

For Reference, Luke mentions that in the early 1920's there was much anti-immigration sentiment in the US and the Emergency Immigration Act of 1921 was designed to limit the number of immigrants coming in from places like Eastern Europe.... Betti's difficulties were the norm, not the excerption.⁸
     Betti Landes petitioned for a passport in 1939 and included proof of her husband's naturalization, which she was unable to find for the previous ones. She was provisioually rejected but the State Department said that if she "made definite arrangements to return to the US as a permanent residence a limited passporrt might be issued".

Luke Rothman also writes, "in the fall of 1939 Poland was invaded, divided and annexed by Germany and the USSR. In November Betti was still trying to make arrangements to travel to New Yotk. She wrote to her son Reuben, c/o Noschkes, at 611 West 177th Street, New York. But her sister, Helen Landes Noschkes had died two years prior, and the family had moved. The telegram was marked, "undelieverable" in December.⁸
     By January 1940, Betti had reached Reuben but he felt that she would be better off remaining in Poland. In an internal State Department correspondence, Luke has found the following, " Reuben has heard from her right along and states that she never mentioned about returning to America... he believes Mrs. Wasser is much better off in Poland than she would be here, living alone, and does not care to advance any money for transportation." Reuben soon realizes the gravity of the situation and sends funds but it was too late. The money was "in the list of trust funds held by the American Embassy at Kyibyshev for payments of passport and travel expenses for Mrs. Betti Wasser, a person beleived to be residing in enemy held territories. Modern day Samara was the backup capital for several years during WWII in case Moscow were to fall.²
     Betti's last known address, according to a letter to the international Tracing Service from her daughter Clara (Klara Fokshaner) was given as Panienska 43, Lemberg, ul. According to Clara, Ana, Jacob and Krystena were at the same addres.... which was probably in the Lemberg Getto.²

     Betti Landes died in 1942 or 1943 Lemberg, Austria, In a letter to the International Tracing Service, Klara Fokshaner writes,
"During the German occupation of Lemberg, my mother, a US citizen, was asked to report to the police twice a day. One day, she didnt return home.".

     Dora Grabstein Landes was born in 1864 Starye Petilikotsky, Ternipol, Ukraine. Luke has Dora's maiden name as GRABSTEIN and her mother as Clara Landes. This would assume that her mother was married previously and that Chaim Landes was Dora's stepfather. This would then agree with Luke's notes that Dora had a half sister (Helen). Luke also mentions in his first e-mail of November 14, 2008, that Dora had a half sibling but she was not of the Landes family and that her mother, Clara died young. Also, Luke in the family tree, records the birth as 1866.^3,2 She was the daughter of Chaya Eisner.² Dora Grabstein Landes was also known as Deborah/ Dwoira.¹
She was also possibly born 1866 Based on Dora's certificate of death, which showed her age as 65 at that time, her birth date would have been 1866.²
     Luke mentions that the JRI Ukraine records of Deboprah/Dora/Dwoira Grabstein also list her surname as Landes in one instance and her hometown as Pelkow or Petlikow which he thinks is the modern-day Starye Petlikovtsy.³

     Dora Grabstein Landes married Juda Roller, son of Moshe "Moses" Roller, circa 1879.^1,2
     Claire Roller wrote this about her grandparents: My grandmother and grandfather came here from a small town in Austria (Mosilikfke). I know nothing about their ancestors. Her father must have been a widower and remarried because although she had no brothers and sisters (and I consulted Ernest on this) she did have a half sister (whose daughter by the way was a dear childhood friend of mine and who died in her early twenties from Peritonitis, leaving her young husband behind). Note: the half sister has to be Helen and the childhood friend, Carol.¹
     Dora Grabstein Landes immigrated on 11 August 1903. According to Sadie, Dora emigrated from Mosilifke, a small town in Austria. Her point of emmigration was Rotterdam, according to Luke.^4,5
     In 1910, Dora lived at 170 Allen Street, Manhattan, New York.^6,7
     On 1 December 1920, Dora lived at 336 East 166th Street, Bronx, New York.^6,7
     On 28 April 1930, Dora lived at 1190 Grant Ave, Bronx, New York.⁶
     In 1931, Dora and Juda lived at 1117 Gerard Avenue, New York, New York.⁶

     Dora Grabstein Landes died on 26 April 1931 due to a fractured hip. According to a story from Luke, Dora went to the hospital to visit her friend's daughter (Carol) and missed a small step and fractured her hip, from which she never recovered..⁸
     Claire also wrote about her grandmother: "Her death was accidental although if one is religious one might believe that this is the way it was meant to be. she went to the hopsital with me and a friend to visit my cousin (her half-sister's daughter who was my friend) and slipped on a step that was so small, it was almost invisible. Her hip was broken which was a very bad thing since she became diabetic when about 60. While she seemed to be mending nicely, she developed pneumonia while lying in bed so long, and died at age 65. Truly one would never have thought her more than 55 since her hair was still dark and being plump she had few if any wrinkles."⁹
     There is an alternate burial date and site that needs to be checked out. She was buried on 27 April 1931 Baron Hisch Cemetery, Queens, New York.² She was buried on 31 March 1931 Mt. Hebron (Rohatyner Yound Men's Society), Queens, New York. Section 57, Row 2, Grave 6. Date of Death is listed as March 2, 1931.¹⁰

     Jacob Wasser was born on 8 March 1874 Lemberg, Galicia, Austria.¹
     Jacob Wasser immigrated to New York, New York, on 15 March 1902. Aboard the Lake Onterio from Liverpool. On his 1916 passport application, he said he arrived on the Beaver Line.¹

     Jacob Wasser married Betti Landes, daughter of Chaim Aharon Landes and Chaya Eisner, between 1 September 1903 and 10 June 1906.

     As of July 1904, Jacob and Betti lived at 386 Est 10th Street, New York, New York.²
     Jacob Wasser and Betti Landes appeared on the 1905 NYS Census ofNew York, enumerated 1905 Jacob Wasser, age 28 as head of household with wife Betti, age 25, son Ruby 11 mos, and sister Helen Landes age 19.All born Austria except ruby born US. Jacob listed as cutter, Betti as housewife, and Helen as Milliner. Jacob Wasser was naturalized on 10 March 1911 Supreme Court, New York, New York.¹
     He was a cutter in the garment industry in November 1911.¹ Jacob Applied for a passport to the United States Government on November 8, 1911.¹
     He ,according to his passport application in 1916, the owner of a delicatessen in the United States before he returned to Europe. in 1912.³

     As of 1912, Jacob lived at 20 East 21st Street, New York, New York.³ In 1912, Jacob and Betti moved to the family farm, Lysiec, Galicia.⁴
     According to Luke Rothman's notes, in 1914 the area was conquered by the Russian army and by the next summer, the Austro Hungarian army was pushing them back. The Wasser family wanted to return to NY but two passport application attempts by Jacob were rejected.⁵
     Jacob applied for a passport to the American Embassy in Vienna Austria on January 26, 1916. He applied in the names of his wife, Bertie and his children Ruby, Carrie, Anna, and Willie. The application was stamped # 18335, February 21, 1916. In the notice to Overcome the Presumption of Expatriation, Jacob explains that he returned to Austria for his wife's health. His son Willie was born there crippled, possibly with a club foot, and he remained to have the famous surgeon, Dr. Lorenz operate on him. He was told to wait until the child was older and desired to get a temporary passport to allow him to return to the U.S. He stayed on his brother's farm in Lyscic, Galicia. Luke Rothman reports , "In 1914 the surrounding region was conquered by the Russian Army, and by the summer of 1915 Austro-Hungarian forces were pushing them back. He also mentions that his first passport from 1912 was lost in the mails due to the war and that he had received an emergency passport at that time. His passport application was rejected, as was a second one.^6,3,7
     Luke Rothman has found out that the third passport application of September 1916 was finally approved but it was only good for him. His wife and children were to remain in Europe. The application was signed by Allen Welsh Dulles, age 23, future director of the CIA and namesake ofn the Dc airport.
This applicaation was found by Luke in The National Archives II in College Park, Maryland.⁷
     Jacob's third passport application in September 1916 was finally approved but was only good for him, not Betti or his children. Luke has found out that it was signed by Allen Welsh Douglas, age 23, the future director of the CIA (the airport was named for his more famous brother). "Jacob arrived back in NY in the fall of 1916. He hoped to buy steamship tickets for his family to join him," according to Luke Rothman. Luke has found copies of a dozen letters, back and forth, dealing with this beauracratic nightmare. "Jacob was asked to find copies of the children's birth certificates to give to the State Department to send to the Royal Spanish Embassy in Berne (the U.S. had entered the war in early 1917 so presumably the US embassy in Vienna was closed and Spain, a neutral party, was representing Americn interests in Austria-Hungary) In other letters, Betti asks for fund for steamship tickets and was informed that she hadn't proven her intention to leave, and therefore the funds could not be sent to an enemy country. The war ended in Novemeber 1918 and Jacob died six months later in New York. His family was still in Europe, although their hometown was now in Poland (technically the West Ukranian People's Republic for a few months, then there was the Polish-Ukranian War and by the summer of 1919, it was Poland."⁷

     Jacob Wasser died on 24 April 1919 New York, New York, at age 45.⁷

     Reuben Wasser was born on 13 July 1904 New York, New York.^1,2,3 He was the son of Jacob Wasser and Betti Landes.
     Reuben Wasser appeared on the 1905 Census New York in the household of his parents Jacob Wasser and Betti Landes. Reuben Wasser was also known as Ruby.
As of 1912, Reuben Wasser moved with Betti and Jacob to the family farm, Lysiec, Galicia.⁴ Reuben was educated in the early 1920's, at the technical school in Bielsk and then intended to go to Vienna or Charlottenburg to practice in a mechanical laboratory.⁴
     In 1923 Ruby applied for his own passport to return to the US since he was an adult. It was approved but he remained in Europe.

In 1925 he applied for a renewal stating that after six more years of study he planned on returning to the US. The "Opinion of Officer taking Affidavit" was that he was not entitled to a passport unless he wanted to return immediately to US. In 1927 he was issued a passport and used as a reference, "Sigmund Barna, 208 Daizell St, Shreveport, LA. Mr. Barna was a chemical engineer from Austria-Hungary emplyed by Standard Oil of Louisiana.⁴
     He was an engineer. He worked in both Lousiiana and Texas. By 1945 he was living in New Jersey..³
     Records seem to show that after living in Louisiana, Ruby moved to New York and married a nurse.⁴
     By January 1940, Betti had reached Reuben but he felt that she would be better off remaining in Poland. In an internal State Department correspondence, Luke has found the following, " Reuben has heard from her right along and states that she never mentioned about returning to America... he believes Mrs. Wasser is much better off in Poland than she would be here, living alone, and does not care to advance any money for transportation." Reuben soon realizes the gravity of the situation and sends funds but it was too late. The money was "in the list of trust funds held by the American Embassy at Kyibyshev for payments of passport and travel expenses for Mrs. Betti Wasser, a person beleived to be residing in enemy held territories. Modern day Samara was the backup capital for several years during WWII in case Moscow were to fall.⁴

     Reuben Wasser married Alice (?).⁴
     Reuben and Alice had no children.³

     Reuben Wasser died in 1982 Florida.⁴

     Juda Roller was born on 3 August 1861 Mozolevka, Ternipol, Ukraine.² He was the son of Moshe "Moses" Roller.² Juda Roller was also known as Julius.¹

     Luke mentions that the Roller part of his family came from Mozolevka, which is a small village a few miles from Buchach.³

     Juda Roller married Dora Grabstein Landes, daughter of Chaya Eisner, circa 1879.^1,4
     Juda Roller immigrated on 11 February 1902. The address he was going to was his brother-in-law, Chaim B. Holzer. Alsao need to check, town of Monasterzyska which was near Buchach. The Holtzer family (and other surnames Reibel and Herr) were all found by Luke Rothman. Relationship unknown.^3,1,4
     In 1931, Juda and Dora lived at 1117 Gerard Avenue, New York, New York.⁵

     Juda Roller died on 3 August 1939 Bronx, New York, at age 78.²

     Moses Roller was born in 1883 Mozolevka, Ternopil, Ukraine. Morris was probably named for Dora's father Moses Grabstein. We can probably agree that this is the case, since we are assuming that Dora's mother, Clara (Chaya) Eisner, married Chaim Landes prior to Helen's birth in 1887.^3,4 He was the son of Juda Roller and Dora Grabstein Landes.² Moses Roller was also known as Morris Roller.⁴

     Moses Roller immigrated to New York on 18 November 1902.⁵
     In 1910, Moses lived at 170 Allen St, New York, New York.⁵
     On 14 January 1920, Moses lived at 304 East 165th Street, New York, New York.⁵

     Moses Roller married Clara Bacol on 6 April 1924.³
     In 1925, Moses lived at 336 East 166th St, New York.⁵

     Moses Roller died on 9 December 1926 21 W Moshulu Parkway, Bronx, New York.^6,4

     Sara Roller was born in 1885 Mozolevka, Ternipol, Ukraine.^1,2 She was the daughter of Juda Roller and Dora Grabstein Landes. Sara Roller was also known as Sadie Roller.²

     Sara Roller immigrated to New York, New York, on 16 June 1902.³

     Sara Roller married Benjamin Schecter, son of Simon "Sam" Schecter and Maita "Minnie" Thau, circa 1905.⁴
     On 19 April 1910, Sara and Benjamin lived at 170 Allen Street, New York, New York.³
     In 1915, Sara and Benjamin lived at 1492 Washington Ave, Bronx, New York.³
     In 1915, Sara and Benjamin lived at 1492 Washington Ave, Bronx, New York.³
     In 1918, Sara and Benjamin lived at 236 East 165th Street, Bronx, New York.³
     On 4 April 1930, Sara lived at Central Islip State Hospital, Islip, New York.³

     Sara Roller died on 13 September 1961 New York.²

     Jacob Roller was born on 18 December 1894 Mozolevka, Ternopil, Ukraine.³ He was the son of Juda Roller and Dora Grabstein Landes.²
     Jacob Roller and Mendel Roller immigrated to New York, New York, on 11 August 1903.⁴
     In 1910, Jacob lived at 170 Allen Street, New York, New York.⁴
     On 12 January 1920, Jacob lived at 336 East 166th Street, New York, New York.⁴

     Jacob Roller married Anna Verna Karpas on 30 June 1922.⁴
     In 1930, Jacob lived at Bronx, New York.⁴
     In 1942, Jacob lived at 495 West 186th Street, New York, New York.⁴
     He dentist.⁵

     Jacob Roller died on 29 June 1971 Hallandale (Hollywood?), Broward, Florida, at age 76.^5,3

     Ernest Schecter was born on 19 January 1907 New York.² He was the son of Benjamin Schecter and Sara Roller.¹
     Ernest Schecter lived with his parents, Benjamin Schecter and Sara Roller on 19 April 1910 170 Allen Street, New York, New York.²
     Ernest Schecter lived with his parents, Benjamin Schecter and Sara Roller in 1915 1492 Washington Ave, Bronx, New York.²
     On 28 April 1930, Ernest lived at 1190 Grant Avenue, Bronx, New York, with Clara "Claire" Schecter and Isador Schecter.²

     Ernest Schecter died on 13 March 1993 Bronx, New York, at age 86.²

     Morris Barnett Schwartzfarb was born on 24 November 1899.²

     Morris Barnett Schwartzfarb died on 3 July 1985 Lake Worth, Florida, at age 85.²

     Mona Ruth Brickman was born on 5 September 1949.¹ She was the daughter of Norman Brickman.²

     Mona Ruth Brickman died on 6 August 2010 at age 60.³

     Sarah Hartenstein was born circa 1895 Romania.²
     Sarah Hartenstein immigrated to United States. in 1907. From the Carpathian Mountains in the Ukraine.²

     Sarah Hartenstein married Arke Pertzelai, son of Kalman Pertzelai and Edis Rosenzweig, in 1918.^3,4
     Sarah Persily and Morris Persily appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Brooklyn, Kings County,New York, at 3171 Coney Island Avenue, enumerated 17 April 1930 He was listed as Persily, Morris 42, age at marriage: 26, born: Russia, parents born: Russia, immigrated 1907, naturalized, proprietor tailor shop, Also listed were: Sarah, 35, age at marriage 19, born Romania, parents born Romania, immigrated 1907, naturalized; David, 15; Charles, 14; Esther, 8; and Bernard, 6. Rent listed as $40.³

     Sarah Hartenstein died circa 1980 According to Fred, she died a few years before Esther did (in 1985)..⁵

     Claire Ann Hayden was born on 28 June 1924 Chicago, Illinois.^2,3

     Claire Ann Hayden married Bernard Persily, son of Arke Pertzelai and Sarah Hartenstein, on 19 December 1947.²
     Circa 2002, Claire and Bernard lived at 20 Oakland Blvd, Evanston, Illinois.

     Claire Ann Hayden died on 4 February 2021 at age 96.

     Laibish Rosen married an unknown person .

     Moishe Rosen was born. He was the son of Laibish Rosen.

     Harry Rosen was born. He was the son of Laibish Rosen.