Ruth Sheinaus Asimov. Polakoff, or Pollakoff, began as Poliankovsky. This was a very common name near Odessa, according to Alexander Beider's "Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from the Russian Empire." It says that the name really began as Polyanker, meaning from the village of Apolyanka or Polyanka or Polyanki.
Moishe Hersh did not immigrate to the U.S., though his wife, Esther ("Big Bubbe") and children did come to the US.
His granddaughter, Marcelle Pollakoff London, said that he wanted to come but he was barred from receiving a visa because of cataracts. So, apparently, Esther came only after he died.
His grandson, Harold Maurice Sheinaus, was named for Moishe Hersh.
