Family of Simon Abraham ASCHER and Bertha LEWYN

Simon A. Ascher was born in Prussia and married Bertha Lewyn, also

born in Prussia. In 1866 they immigrated from Weimer (east of

Frankfurt, west of Dresden) to the United States via New York, and

they settled in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, in 1867. At the time

of immigration they had four children. Bertha and three of the

children, Ludwig, age 5, Minnie, age 4, and Adolf, age 7 months, are

listed on the British ship Palmyra, which left from Liverpool and

Queenstown and arrived in New York on November 12, 1866. Simon and

the fourth child, Ernest, age 1, were not found on that ship, but they

do appear in U.S. Census listings, so it is known that they immigrated

at about the same time.

It is not known why the Aschers left their homeland, but United States

President Abraham Lincoln, after the Civil War, encouraged immigration

into the United States. Perhaps the Aschers came to seek new

opportunities, or to escape the political unrest that had plagued

Prussia, or to seek more freedom to practice their Jewish religion.

Detroit was not known as a big German settlement, but certainly other

German Jewish families had come before them. In 1850, there were 60

Jews in Detroit out of a total population of 21,000; twelve of these

Jewish families had banded together to form Temple Beth El, the

congregation in which Simon and his family would become actively

involved.

Upon their arrival in Detroit, Simon was involved with manufacturing

overcoats. Later he was employed by the clothing firm of Heineman,

Butzel and Company, and he worked there for 25 years. After that he

worked for the City of Detroit. Simon was Secretary of the Montefiore

Lodge of the Order of Free Sons of Israel for 25 years, president of

Pisgah Lodge Bnai Brith in 1890, and a member of Temple Beth El. He

was known for his charitable work and was active in the Poor

Commission. According to the U.S. Censuses in 1870 and 1880, Simon was

a tailor, and the entire family had learned to speak English. On

April 29, 1872, Simon became a U.S. citizen. By 1900, the census

reports, he had become a druggist (though this conflicts with other

information and may be a mistake), and by 1910 he was retired. During

these years, Bertha took care of the house. In 1880, they lived at

179 Clinton. By 1900 and continuing through 1910, they have moved to

171 Montcalm and had a servant living with them. According to the

1910 census, Simon lost his hearing as he aged. When Simon died from

nephritis (kidney failure) in 1914, he lived at 347 E. High Street.

Together, Simon and Bertha had ten children, all of whom lived past

childhood. One can imagine that they must have been very busy. One

also must wonder how noisy their house must have been with all those

children playing.

From the internet: PALMYRA 1865 2,044 gross tons, length 290.8ft x

beam 38ft, clipper bows, one funnel, two masts (rigged for sail), iron

hull, single screw, speed 11 knots. Accommodation for 46-1st and

650-3rd class passengers. Built by Caird & Co, Greenock, she was

launched for the Cunard Steamship Co on 23rd Dec.1865. Her maiden

voyage from Liverpool to Queenstown (Cobh) and New York started on

25th Apr.1866 and on 6th Sep.1870 she commenced her first Liverpool -

Queenstown - Boston sailing. Her last regular voyage on this service

started 22nd Jul.1873 and she was then used on the Liverpool -

Mediterranean route except for 17 North Atlantic voyages between 1880

and 1891, her final sailing to Boston starting on 31st Dec.1891. She

was scrapped in 1897. [North Atlantic Seaway by N.R.P.Bonsor, vol.1,

p.149] (A funnel is a smokestack and a screw is a propeller.)a

Arrived 12 Nov 1866 in New York on the Palmyra, which departed from

Liverpool and Queenstown. Had 3 children with her. Year of death is

approximate. Not listed on 1920 census (may have moved to another

state). Father and mother were also born in Prussia.