Person:Abraham Sheinaus (1)

When he arrived in the United States -- through Castle Garden, not Ellis Island, he told his grandson, Pete Scheiner -- he recalled walking across a bridge into Manhattan "and didn't know what the hell he was doing."

In the 1940s, Abraham wrote his memories of meeting his wife, Fannie Orel (Little Bubbe). He also published a series of paperback pamphlets called "Hodge Podge," filled with useful advice, like Poor Richard's Almanac.

He was an inventor, an artist, and electrical engineer. He worked with Thomas Edison, who is said to have given Abraham a gold watch when he retired (although Edison, born in 1847, was older).

Abraham invented a car battery.

In addition to painting, Abraham carved beautiful walking sticks, the best of which were stolen from the nursing home where is son, Louis, lived in the late 1970s.

His granddaughter, Ruth Sheinaus Asimov, said that when Abraham arrived in the US, "he opened a little art store doing portraits...eventually he sent for his family. I don't know the chronology, but eventually, I know he gave up the art store and worked on electic automobiles in Hartford, where my father went to elementary school. (Either the "Brown School" on Darling street, or the "Darling School" on Brown St.) Abraham's collaborator was Mr. Landau," after whom a style of car was named.

Also from Ruth: "They also lived in Elizabeth, NJ, where Lizzie was born, and Washington Heights where Rosie was born. (Liz was the youngest.) Abraham worked for the Edison company, had met Thomas Edison on a number of occasions, and became foreman of the battery department. He invented some kind of storage battery that they used there. When he retired, he got either a gold medal or a gold watch, neither of which are around."

"After he retired, he and his wife, Fannie took a trip back to Kishinev. (1936) They traveled to Europe on the Ile de France, via Rome. I still have the bracelet they brought me from Rome."

Where did the name Sheinaus come from? Ruth says that Abraham made it up. He was originally "Schinder," and changed his name apparently to avoid being conscripted into the Russian Army. By taking the name Sheinaus, he could pretend to be a family's only son, and the Russian Army was thought not to take only sons.

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census. (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2002).

   As Grandpa Abraham wrote his birthplace in the 1930 federal census, "Roumania."

2. ↑ Abraham Sheinaus' grave, Washington Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY.

   Abraham Sheinaus' grave, Washington Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY. The grave states: "Age 97 years," which means his date of birth was 1860. His passport and US census records suggest he was born later that decade.

3. ↑ Ruth Sheinaus Asimov.
4. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census. (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006).

   Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2006. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: <a href="http://www.archives.gov/publications/microfilm-catalogs/census/1910/">NARA</a>.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1910.T624, 1,178 rolls. Manhattan Ward 12, New York, New York, ED , roll T624_1026, part , page .

5. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census. (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004).

   Ancestry.com. 1900 U.S. Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004. Original data: United States. 1900 United States Federal Census. T623, 1854 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C. Hartford, Connecticut, ED 146, roll T623 136, page 11B.

6. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census. (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005).

   Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2005. Indexed by Ancestry.com from microfilmed schedules of the 1920 U.S. Federal Decennial Census. Data imaged from National Archives and Records Administration.1920 Federal Population Census. T625, 2,076 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
   For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: <a href="http://www.archives.gov/publications/microfilm-catalogs/census/1920/part-07.html">NARA</a>.
   Note: Enumeration Districts 819-839 on roll 323 (Chicago City, Cook County, Illinois) are missing, even though the NARA catalog lists them as being there. The Family History Library catalog also lists them as missing.
   Brooklyn Assembly District 6, Kings, New York, ED , roll , page , image 277.

7. ↑ .

   1930 US Census says Grandpa Abraham immigrated in 1896. The census was for the 18th Assembly, Block H, in Brooklyn, and was cond

8. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census. (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004).

   Ancestry.com. 1900 U.S. Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004. Original data: United States. 1900 United States Federal Census. T623, 1854 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C. Hartford, Connecticut, ED 146, roll T623 136, page 11B.

9. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census. (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006).

   Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004. Indexed by ProQuest from microfilmed schedules of the 1910 U.S. Federal Decennial Census. Data imaged from National Archives and Records Administration. 1910 Federal Population Census. T624, 1,784 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. 12-Wd Manhattan, New York, New York, ED 681, roll 1026, part 1, page 160A.

10. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census. (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2002).

    Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2001-. Indexed by Ancestry.com from microfilmed schedules of the 1930 U.S. Federal Decennial Census. Data imaged from National Archives and Records Administration. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C. Brooklyn, Kings, New York, ED 728, roll 1529, page 18B, image 318.0.

11. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census. (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006).

    Online publication - Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2006. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: <a href="http://www.archives.gov/publications/microfilm-catalogs/census/1910/">NARA</a>.Original data - United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1910.T624, 1,178 rolls. Manhattan Ward 12, New York, New York, ED , roll T624_1026, part , page .

12. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census. (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005).

    Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2005. Indexed by Ancestry.com from microfilmed schedules of the 1920 U.S. Federal Decennial Census. Data imaged from National Archives and Records Administration.1920 Federal Population Census. T625, 2,076 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.
    For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: <a href="http://www.archives.gov/publications/microfilm-catalogs/census/1920/part-07.html">NARA</a>.
    Note: Enumeration Districts 819-839 on roll 323 (Chicago City, Cook County, Illinois) are missing, even though the NARA catalog lists them as being there. The Family History Library catalog also lists them as missing.
    Brooklyn Assembly District 6, Kings, New York, ED , roll , page , image 277.

13. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census. (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2002).

    Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2001-. Indexed by Ancestry.com from microfilmed schedules of the 1930 U.S. Federal Decennial Census. Data imaged from National Archives and Records Administration. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C. Brooklyn, Kings, New York, ED 728, roll 1529, page 18B, image 318.0.

14. ↑ Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists. (Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005).
    Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists [database online]. Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005. Original data:
    
    
15. New York. Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897. Micropublication M237. Rolls # 95-580. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
    
    
16. New York. Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957. Micropublication T715. Rolls # 5592-6267. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
17.   .

    Grandpa Abraham's passport says his birthday May 10, 1869.

18.   Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census. (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006).

    Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2004. Indexed by ProQuest from microfilmed schedules of the 1910 U.S. Federal Decennial Census. Data imaged from National Archives and Records Administration. 1910 Federal Population Census. T624, 1,784 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. 12-Wd Manhattan, New York, New York, ED 681, roll 1026, part 1, page 160A.

19.   Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census. (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2002).

    Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2001-. Indexed by Ancestry.com from microfilmed schedules of the 1930 U.S. Federal Decennial Census. Data imaged from National Archives and Records Administration. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C. Brooklyn, Kings, New York, ED 728, roll 1529, page 18B, image 318.0.

20.   Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census. (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2002).

    Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2001-. Indexed by Ancestry.com from microfilmed schedules of the 1930 U.S. Federal Decennial Census. Data imaged from National Archives and Records Administration. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C. Brooklyn, Kings, New York, ED 728, roll 1529, page 18B, image 318.0.

21.   Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists. (Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005).
    Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists [database online]. Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005. Original data:
    
    
22. New York. Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897. Micropublication M237. Rolls # 95-580. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
    
    
23. New York. Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957. Micropublication T715. Rolls # 5592-6267. National Archives, Washington, D.C.