Updated perspective on the Mesharer branch

Harry Mesharer Immigration

Two brothers Harry and Abraham Meshirer both headed to Wilkes Barre, PA when they came to the United States. Abraham's intended wife, Sarah Goldman, had moved there with her family and there was work to be had in the area. A sister of Harry and Abraham, Rose (wife of Nathan Rubenstein), indicated to her grandson Richrd L. Rubenstein that she immigrated in the mid 1880s.My great grandfather, most frequently known as Harry Mesharer, most likely immigrated from Lithuania (possibly Vilna). so this would place Harry in what was known as Russia until his third child, a son Max, was conceived. There is confusion about Max's birthdate and immigration date.

Children of Harry's First Wife

Harry's daughter, Eva, born about 1874, married David Tager in the United States about 1896. David Tager immigrated from Stettin, Germany on the ship Polynesia arriving on 14 August 1891. Eva indicated on the 1920 census that she immigrated in 1890 (age 16). David, Eva and their children were naturalized on 5 September 1918 in New York City.

Harry's second child, a daughter, Bessie was also born in Russia. Bessie was born in 1883 and indicates on the 1920 census that she was born in Russia. She immigrated in 1890, the same year as her sister Eva. Bessie's husband Sol Dushoff immigrated in 1891. Sol and Bessie and children applied for Naturalization in Philadelphia on 7 December 1914. Bessie lists her birthplace as something like Counner, Russia (the handwriting is difficult to interpret on the Naturalization papers). Bessie and her husband Sol lived in Philadelphia. Sol is listed in the 1950 Philadelphia telephone directory. Bessie may have immigrated in 1890 with her brother Max (see information below for Max).

Harry had a son, Max H Mesharer (he spelled his name consistently this way). Harry's brother, Abraham (who spelled his name Meshirer most frequently) also had a son William Max Meshirer who used the name Max Meshirer (with variations on spelling also occurring). It is easy to confuse information on the two, each known as Max by the family, since they both lived in Wilkes Barre, PA in 1900.

Harry's son Max was most likely born in Russia. Max ran State Cartage Company and lived in Wilkes Barre, PA until shortly before his death. He married Keturah Moore and they adopted a son Howard M Mesharer. who is thought to have been a nephew of Keturah, and whose biological father is Keturah's brother, likely John W Moore.

In the 1910 census Max Mesharer gave his birth year as 1884 and indicates he immigrated in 1888, and was a naturalized citizen. On his WWI draft registration in 1918, Max gave a birthdate of 1881 and indicated he was a naturalized citizen, born in Russia. Max consistently used the name Max Mesharer, and sometimes Max M. Mesharer.

There is an immigration record that may refer to Max. It is dated for departure from Hamburg, Germany on 6 December 1890, and lists his age as 7 (consistent with an 1884 birth year). He sailed from Hamburg to Liverpool on the ship Warrington and a residence is listed as Slobotky, Russia. He was destined to Wilkes Barre, PA and was accompanied by two females, who are listed as: Benia Maserer, born about 1881 and Bushulek Maserer, born about 1863. They arrived on 25 December 1890 on the ship Lord Gough from Liverpool, arriving in Philadelphia.

Harry presumably immigrated after fathering Max and before fathering Lewis, who was born in Pennsylvania.

Children of Harry's Second Wife

Harry's next child was Lewis. Lewis used the surname Mesherry in his Army enlistment papers and in his later life in California. When he enlisted in the Army in 1908 he gave his birth year as 18 September 1889. This birth year raises some questions. Lewis may have wanted to enlist and created an earlier than true birth year so meet the minimum age requirement when he enlisted in 1908. Alternatively, Lewis had a mother different than that of Eva, Bessie and Max, who immigrated in 1890.

By 1917 Lewis had obtained the rank of Captain having served in Honolulu and San Diego. In 1920 he was transferred to the Quartermaster Corps and he retired from duty on 6 May 1927. He is listed in the 1920 census as single and living at Camp Hearn in San Diego, California. He is said to have served as an assistant to General MacArthur. A 1918 news article after his obtaining the rank of Captain in the Wyoming Valley’s War Album lists his name as Captain Lewis Mesharer, so this is apparently the name he chose to use in his home town. A Christmas card that he and his wife sent is sign Captains And Mrs. Lewis Mesherry, and features a photograph of a corner of the living room in “Lew’s home” per a handwritten note. The note also refers to a photo in the portrait of being on “Marge”. Lewis did continue to use the surname Mesharer for news stories regarding his service that were published in the Wilkes Barre, PA area.

Lewis’s ID number is 05722 in the Official Army Register. Lewis is said to have moved to San Francisco after leaving the service, and worked as an assistant manager at the Fairmont Hotel. He is listed in the 1928 Register for the City and County of San Francisco. In 1930 he is listed in the Los Angeles Register of Voters as retired, with Margaret J. at 349 N. Orange Dr, Los Angeles. In 1936 they are listed as voters in San Francisco County. They had a home on Pacific Ave. Lewis died 6 June 1942 and is buried at San Francisco National Cemetery.

Fannie Mesharer was born 16 Dec 1894, reputedly in Wilkes Barre, PA, and died at age 34 in Philadelphia on 17 August 1929 of tuberculosis. Fannie told her daughter, Lillian (my mother) that she and Lewis had the same mother, and that she, Fannie, had named her daughter Lillian after Lillian's grandmother. She married Alexander Klass on 10 May 1916 and they lived in the city of Philadelphia. My mother believed Fannie had been working as a maid in Narberth, PA and her father Alexander Klass had been employed as a wall paper hanger in the same home, where they met and were subsequently married. Alexander enjoyed playing the violin. Fannie converted from Judaism to Catholicism (her husband's faith), when she knew she was dying because she wanted to be buried in a Catholic cemetery with her husband. Her father, Harry, disowned her for this action, and my mother lost contact with her mother's family.
Lewis gave his niece, Lillian, Fannie's daughter, a treasured string of pearls as a wedding present for her marriage in 1941.

Harry is listed in the 1900 census (as Harry Mishader) with a wife, Lena, children Lewis and Fannie, and infant son Morriss living in New York City.. Morriss later spelled his name Maurice Meshirer, worked for Beacon Chemical Company (owned by descendants of Abraham, Harry's brother) as a clerk, and served in the army during World War II. He was divorced, and is buried in Long Island National Cemetery.

Harry's Adopted Child

My mother referred to her grandfather Harry as having two wives each with 3 biological children. This would be consistent with Eva, Bessie and Max having a mother who lived in Russia. They appear to have immigrated in 1890. Lewis, Fannie, and Morriss may have been children of the second wife of Harry. Harry also is said to have adopted a seventh child according to Gail Thomas, a descendant of this child. Harry is said to have adopted Rose Ricklyn who later married William Max Meshirer (son of Harry's brother Abraham). She took pride in the fact that her married name was Rose Mesharer Meshirer, according to Rose's granddaughter, Gail Thomas.

Harry's Later Life

Harry can be found in Philadelphia City directories between 1925 and 1928. His son Maurice is listed as a next door neighbor one of the years.

Gail Thomas has naturalization papers found in an attic for what reads like Henry Mesharer (Harry Mesharer?) in Luzerne County on 14 Jan 1895. Gail also found a photo of a tombstone for Harry buried in 1928, at age 69, with his wife Lena, who died in 1926 at age 55. The location of the tombstone is not known. My best guess is that the grave is in a Philadelphia area cemetery.