Zalman Minkus

Zalman ("John") Minkus
Born	June 15, 1888(1888-06-15) Poland
Resting place	Oakridge Jewish Cemetery, Hillside, IL
Residence	Poland or Russia (1890–1893) «Did not recognize date. Try slightly modifying the date in the first parameter.–Did not recognize date. Try slightly modifying the date in the first parameter.»"Marriage: Poland or Russia to Zalman Minkus" Location: (linkback:http://jimlindstrom.com/mediawiki/index.php/Zalman_Minkus) Chicago, IL (1893) «Did not recognize date. Try slightly modifying the date in the first parameter.»"Marriage: Chicago, IL to Zalman Minkus" Location: (linkback:http://jimlindstrom.com/mediawiki/index.php/Zalman_Minkus)
Occupation	Letter carrier
Spouse	Lena Kaplowitz
Children	Albert Minkus Rochelle Minkus Marilyn Minkus
Parents	Samuel Minkus Chaya-Tova Kac

Zalman (John) Minkus was five years old when he came to America.

John had two mothers. His biological mother was Chaya-Tova Kac, listed as Ida in the 1900 census. His step-mother was listed as Mary and Anna (same person?) in the 1910 and 1920 censuses. He two half-sisters: Sarah and Libby. (Presumably this means these were Anna's/Mary's children, not Chaya-Tova's?)

A letter carrier for the Post Office for 43 years, he and his wife Lena (Kaplowitz) had 3 children: Albert, Rochelle, and Marilyn.

In 1917 (when John registered fro the WWI draft), he lived at 1004 N. Mozart St. in Chicago.

In 1944 (when John registered for the WWII draft), he lived at 623 S. Kildare Ave. in Chicago. According to Karen Robins, "John worked out of the post office in Wicker Park. His delivery route was [...] around Thomas St, Chicago Ave [...]. While my dad was in the Army during WWII, mom and I lived with John, Lena, and mom's sister, Marilyn. at 323 S. Kildare. (That block of 2-flats was later torn down to create the Eisenhower Expwy.)"

Photos

John's WWI draft card (1917)	John's WWII draft card (1942)

Historical Records

• John (age 12) lives with his parents Samuel (age 45) and Ida (age 39) and younger sister Sarah (age 5) in the 1900 Federal Census. Notes:
  • "Ida" is a nickname for Chaya-Tova?
  • Ida is listed as having had 7 children, but only 2 are still living
  • Samuel's birthdate is given as Mar 1854; Ida's is Dec 1860; John's is May 1888 (born in Russia); Sarah's is Nov 1894 (born in IL)
  • Samuel's immigration year is 1890 (he's still an alien); Ida's and John are 1893.
  • Their marriage year is 1884
  • Samuel is listed as a "Junk Dealer"
  • John is in school; Sarah is not.
• John (age 21) lives with parents Sam (age 55) and Mary (age 50) and younger siblings Sahra (age 16) and Libby (age 8) in the 1910 Federal Census. They are mistakenly listed as "Minkens" (vs Minkus).
  • Sam is listed as "Junk Dealer" and John works in a "junk shop" (presumably the same one).
  • Sahra is in school.
  • Their census district (Ward 17, Tract Q 1) is bounded by: Tell Place and Milwaukee Ave., Noble, Augusta, N. Ashland Ave.
• By 1917, John's WWI Draft Card lists him as being married and having two kids
• John (age 30) and Lena (age 30) live in Chicago in the 1920 Federal Census, along with Albert (age 8), Rochelle (age 2), and mother Anna (age 57)
• John (age 42) and Lena (age 41) live in Chicago in the 1930 Federal Census, along with Albert (age 18), Rochelle (age 13) and Marilyn (age 1 and 11/12)
• Possible match for John's death on 10 Feb 1953 in Cook County, IL.