Family Stories

Link: great grandfather
Birth: Sep 10 1865 Bar, Russia
Death: Jan 16 1946 (80 years) Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Charlie did not arrive in America with his wife and five children in 1905. He came alone, as was the custom, in order to establish himself, and then usually the immigrant would send for his family. Charlie brought the family to the U.S.A. in 1908. Charlie and Joseph had been in business together in the Ukraine. One day, in 1905, on a train ride, Charlie defended a Jewish girl from a Ukrainian man, pushing the man, causing the man to fall, killing the man. Since Charlie had been decorated by the Czarina for his successful business, and wore the medal around his neck, after he was arrested, he was released. Charlie explained the incident to his wife and to Joseph, and left the country in a forthwith manner.

Charlie has been described as an aggressive individual and someone who didn't mind carrying on a feud over a long period of time.

Paul Gornbein continues to recall that his Grandfather Charlie owned a large wheat farm in Wheatfield bordering North Tonawanda, from the Niagara River north to Niagara Falls Blvd. It was the largest farm in the area, over 900 acres! It had been built by Jacob Dold, a Buffalo, N.Y. meat packer, as a hobby. Most of the wheat they grew was sold to the Shredded Wheat Company. They also grew sweet peas, which Paul remembers as being delicious! Paul said he would eat his fair share when he worked onthe pea plucking machine. Charlie had cattle in the autumn and winter in order to fatten them up and sell them in the spring , when meat prices were up.

Charlie was the first scientific farmer in the area in that he understood the importance of rotating crops. HIs picture was featured on the bag of Agricoal, as advertisement to other farmers. Charlie was also the first farmer in the area to use a combine to harvest the wheat.