Immigration to America

1903-1906 Jacob, Sarah and Hyman Kaplan

The Dumes family traveled to America over a span of about nine years. The first member of the family to come to America was Jacob Kaplan, husband of Chaim and Sadie's eldest child Sarah Dumes. Jacob arrived to American in 1903. Apparently, Jacob and Sarah were supposed to both travel to America together, but en route, Sarah realized she was pregnant and understandibly decided to return home to have the baby.

Jacob was born in Lozdzei, Lithuania in 1881. It is not understood how Jacob came to be in Viski or meet Sarah, but he was clearly respected and loved by the family. He must have been considered a fatherly figure by my grandfather, William Dumes, who was still a baby when Jacob and Sarah were married, after his father Chaim died the following year.

In the late 1930's, Jacob and Sarah stayed for an extended vist at the home of Wiliam and Freda Dumes in Vincennes, and tutored William's son Stan, my father, for his Bar Mitzvah. Jacob gave Stan a bible for his Bar Mitzvah with an inscription in Yiddish. My mother carried this bible when she and my father were married and I have it now.

George Kaplan (Son of Hy, grandson of Jacob) told me:

The story I was told is that my grandparents left to come to this country because my grandfather was to be conscripted into the Czar's army. They got as far as Liverpool when my grandmother discovered she was pregnant. She went back to Russia to deliver my father while my grandfather proceeded to the USA. He arrived in 1903. My grandmother (Sarah) and father (Hy) arrived via Ellis Island in March, 1906. I was also told that the Chaim was added when my father was an infant and was ill.

1906 Louis Dumes

It's unclear if Louis (called 'Leib' before coming to the US) or Sarah Kaplan and baby Hy were next. In the 1920 census, Louis said he immigrated 1906. However, Lillian Dumes Zoll wrote: "My father Louis came to America in 1905, passing through Ellis Island. He was able to work in a foundry in Suffern, New York, but he didn't stay there very long."

I have been unable to find his ship manifest or his Naturalization certificate, though we have his Declaration of Intent from 1915, which is interesting. He gives his date of birth as Aug 15, 1887 and his age as 27, 5'5", 138 lbs., hair black, eyes brown.

He notes (though this is self-reported and not necessarily accurate) that he arrived in America in November 1906. Prior to that, he said he had lived in Dvinsk (Daugavpils) and emigrated from Libau (the German name for Liepāja, Latvia).

1908 Rebecca Dumes

Rebecca, called "Taube" (Dove in Yiddish) in Viski, is listed as such on her ship manifest. She sailed on The Saratow and arrived at Ellis Island on March 20, 1908.

Taube was traveling with Jacob Kaplan's sister, Stive Kopeleuskaja. We can verify Stive's status as Jacob's sister because she lists herself that way.

If you look at the manifest for Taube, you'll note that in the area where they ask for "name and complete address of nearest relative or friend in country whence alien came", you'll see written: "Sch Dumes, Wiski", which is Sheina Dumes, of course, and Wiski is Viski.

Note that the "Final destination for Taube is listed as "Suffern, NY", which is where Louis Dumes and Jacob and Sarah Kaplan were already living. Additionally, on page 2 of the manifest for Taube, you note in the column called "whether going to join a relative or friend; if so, what relative or friend, his name and complete address" you'll see "broth-in-law J. Kaplan 178 ??? Main St. Suffern NY".

1910 Fannie Dumes

Fannie (Feige) arrived at Ellis Island on Sept 11, 1910 on "The Russia".

If you look at the manifest for Feige, you'll note that the "name and complete address of nearest relative or friend in country whence alien came", you'll see written: "Scheine Dumesch Wiskis, Witebsk Gub". "Scheine" is Sadie, Wiskis is Viskis and Witebsk is Vitebsk. The "Gub" stands for Gubernia. A Gubernia was a very large district named for the largest city in the district.

On Fannie's manifest she noted she was going to meet "brother: L. Dumesch c/o J. Lewitt 314 Amboy Street Brooklyn, NY", which referred, of course, to Louis Dumes.

1912 Arthur, Anna, Sadie and William

Arthur ('Artzik'), Anna ('Neima', Hebrew for 'a melody'), Sadie ('Sheina', Yiddish for beautiful), William ('Wulf') arrived in Philadelphia (not Ellis Island) on Aug. 19, 1912 on the ship "Prinz Adalbert".

There are some good stories about my grandfather (William) and his trip to America in the oral history given by Freda Dumes, wife of William. The history was taken by Ruth Fishman Zimbler and Phyllis Zimbler Miller, and we owe them thanks for that on the Oral Histories page.

Chaim's brothers Jossel-Leib and Schender never left Viski. Jossel-Leib is the great-grandfather of our cousin Julia Dumesh Aleskevica in Latvia. Schender is the ancestor of our cousin in Israel. Sadie also still had family in Viski, including her brother "Selig Moishe", whom she listed on her ship manifests.