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Matching family tree profiles for Herscher / Harris Jacobson
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About Herscher / Harris Jacobson
Naturalised South Africa 1902
Girsh/Hirsh left Vieskniai, a 'Shiva Bocher' from a poor family who spent his time studying Torah. He was often sent to eat at the Rolnik's house where he met Ruti (Rebecca Ruth) whom he married. He sent all his religious books and artifacts by donkey cart to meet him at the docks, to embark on the ship sailing for South Africa. However, almost time for sailing and the cart with his precious books did not arrive. So Harris refused to board the ship - which sailed without him.
The ship subsequently sank en route to South Africa. Eventually he, Ruti and the first born Ecky (Isaac) aged 2 years old, left Lithuania. They went to live in Durban as the Boer war was in the Transvaal. In SA, Hersher sold fruit and vegetables at the Johannesburg market, was a bone and bottle man to initially make money. He was successful at this trade and started Harrowes, a retail furniture store in Johannesburg. When Ruti died in 1947 Harris went to live at the Ambassador Hotel in Hillbrow where he met Zena Myerson.
They arrived in SA in 1897, the Boer was was then in the Transvaal so went to Durban where the next son Solomon (Jack) was born. They came to Johannesburg first living in Yeoville, the children going to Commercial High School, except for Solomon (Jaco) who went to Jeppe Boys High. When Herscher was making a better living they moved to Houghton.
I knew my paternal grandfather but only a very little and he died when I was about 11. I know he had a sense of humour as I remember his he-he-of-a-laugh when he teased my father. He had a broad forehead and a moustache, a little longer than mine, and it got a bit wet from soup when he came to our place for dinner which was very infrequent, as I recall. He remarried after grandmother died to a loud voiced red lipped woman who smelled of cheap perfume and cigarette smoke and wore large rings and I dreaded and refused her kisses, even when he died and she claimed to be in mourning, which I doubted. Hardly knew my grandmother other than through her cupboard of candies - a rare event, and a treat. She claimed that she had married below her station!! She hardly spoke any english, both she, grandfather and eldest son came to SA in the late 1800s from Lithuania/Russia. Her family, the Rolnicks, emigrated to the US, I believe, and lost contact after a time. My mother's father was I am told a very nice man who was in a clerical job with the railways. My mother loved him. He died young, 46, before I was born, not sure what killed him, some bad chronic malady for sure. My maternal grandmother was very nice as was her second husband, a tubby australian. At one time she was a milliner and I remember the stylish hats that she wore long after. She and he died when I was about 33. She made a finely ground almond tart/pie about 1.5 inch thick and soft and damp with almond essence, my favourite. Boo, hoo, her recipe died with her...She was hard of hearing and in those days hearing aids were clunky and visible, and she was vain so she wouldn't wear one until I convinced her - for some reason, perhaps because I was interested in science, she accepted my advice.
- Reflections from David Jacobson, in Toronto.
Harris was a bone merchant and sold them to soap factories and butchers. Had a feel for retailing and started a furniture business which ultimately became the family business known as Harrowes, named after Harris. The company was listed on the JSE in about 1950 but never rose to great heights and was sold in 1983.
- Information by cousin Bryan Mendelsohn
Girsh is found in JewishGen database - also known as Tzvi Hirsh Jacobson - donated money to Hamelizt fund Hirsh = Girsh= Tzvi in Hebrew (meaning is deer)
- Information provided by Wilfred Stein - Author of "The Rolnick Chromosomes".
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Herscher / Harris Jacobson's Timeline
| 1870 |
1870
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Grinkiškis, Radviliškis District Municipality, Šiauliai County, Lithuania
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| 1895 |
September 10, 1895
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Veksna, Lithuania
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| 1900 |
June 9, 1900
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Durban, South Africa
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| 1904 |
July 18, 1904
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Durban, South Africa
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July 18, 1904
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Durban, South Africa
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| 1908 |
December 1, 1908
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Johannesburg, South Africa
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| 1910 |
November 20, 1910
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Johannesburg, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa
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| 1954 |
1954
Age 84
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Johannesburg, South Africa
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