(Testimony of Hyman Rubenstein)
Mr. Griffin.
Do you recall how big her family was?
Mr. Rubenstein.
No.
Mr. Griffin.
Did she have any brothers or sisters who came to this country?
Mr. Rubenstein.
One brother, Harry Rutland. He was, he worked for the Union Pacific for many, many years as a boilermaker.
Mr. Griffin.
Was Rutland his name?
Mr. Rubenstein.
I think it used to be Rutkowsky and he changed it to Rutland, naturally.
Mr. Griffin.
Where did he live?
Mr. Rubenstein.
Denver.
Mr. Griffin.
Is he still living?
Mr. Rubenstean.
No.
Mr. Griffin.
Do you have some knowledge he is dead?
Mr. Rubenstein.
Oh, no; we know he is dead.
Mr. Griffin.
Did he have any family?
Mr. Rubenstein.
Four children, two boys and two girls.
Mr. Griffin.
I see. Had your family maintained any contact with the Rutland family?
Mr. Rubenstein.
About as much as we maintained with Europe. We would see them occasionally when they would come through or during the war, the boys would pass through Chicago they would stop off and say hello, and if I were working west with the Plymouth Rubber Co. and I went to Denver I stayed there for a week. And then Rita left a trunk at our house one time in Chicago for a couple of years and it blocked up our closet and we asked her to remove it. That is the only connection.
Mr. Griffin.
Rita is one of his daughters?
Mr. Rubenstein.
Out on the west coast.
Mr. Griffin.
So far as you know the only aunts or uncles that you have, whoever came to this country, were your father's brother Hyman?
Mr. Rubenstein.
No; my father's brother Abraham.
Mr. Griffin.
Abraham, who has a son Hyman.
Mr. Rubenstein.
A doctor.
Mr. Griffin.
And your mother's brother Harry?
Mr. Rubenstein.
That is it.
Mr. Griffin.
Did you ever hear your mother talk about having any sisters?
Mr. Rubenstein.
Here in this country or in Europe?
Mr. Griffin.
Either place.
Mr. Rubenstein.
I don't remember. There might have been one I don't think she is a sister. She was very close to my mother. I don't remember her name.
Mr. Griffin.
Where was she??
Mr. Rubenstein.
I don't know. It has been so many years ago.
Mr. Griffin.
Did your mother--do you remember any contact being maintained by your mother with her family in Europe?
Mr. Rubenstein.
None. Not even one letter.
Mr. Griffin.
How did your mother---did your mother ever express any feelings about that?
Mr. Rubenstein.
I imagine she got lonely. She used to sort of daydream and tell us a few stories about Warsaw, and her family but she never mentioned any names. I don't remember her ever mentioning one name.
Mr. Griffin.
As you were growing up, as a child, did your mother speak English?
Mr. Rubenstein.
No.
Mr. Griffin.
What did she speak?
Mr. Rubenstein.
Jewish.
Mr. Griffin.
Yiddish?
Mr. Rubenstein.
Yiddish.
Mr. Griffin.
How about your father?
Mr. Rubenstein.
Yiddish mostly.
|
