Pappy’s maternal grandparents

Posted on November 23, 2011 by gsghert01

See Samuel & Rosa Marx Surname page based on information from the 1880 US Census.

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Charles A Bloom and Grace Rhine, my great grandparents

Posted on September 4, 2011 by gsghert01

Beginning with the 1920 US Census for Pine Bluff, Grace M. Bloom, enumerated as ‘widowed mother’ or the ‘head-of household’ with my grandparents, John R. Bloom and Emma Marie (Block) Bloom. Later, I found my grandfather, John Ryan Rhine Bloom, listed in the 1900 US Census for Pine Bluff, Continue reading →

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Some of my famous mishpocha

Posted on June 29, 2011 by gsghert01

These individuals are related by marriage to descendants of  Theresa Bloch (Rabbi Wise’s first wife) and also his first cousin,  Solomon Block.

Dr. Isaac Mayer Wise    Rabbi, the Architect of American Reform Judaism in America)
Adolph Simon Ochs  (New York Times owner and publisher)
Arthur Hays Sulzberger  (New York Times publisher 1935-1961)
Arthur Ochs Sulzberger (New York Times publisher 1963-1992)
Louis B. Mayer  (Movie producer, MGM Studios)
David O. Selznick  (Movie producer, Academy Award Winner *)
Jennifer Jones  (Actress,  Academy Award Winner *)
Robert Hudson Walker  (Actor, star of Alfred Hitchcock thriller,  Strangers on a Train)

* David O. Selznick won Oscars for Gone With the Wind (1939) and Rebecca (1940)
* Jennifer Jones won an Oscar in 1944 for Best Actress in Song of Bernadette

(click here to see my relationship to each of these famous people) Continue reading →

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‘Cupid’s Dart’ announces Block-Levy nuptials

Posted on June 5, 2011 by gsghert01

J.F. Block and Fay Levy Betrothed

This press clipping (that their daughter, Em, had saved) states the reception was on Sunday Sep 20. and notes in the margin of the clipping indicate the wedding was 1884 or 1885. The Mormon Church genealogy website indicates Joseph F. Block and Fay Levy were married 24 Sep 1891. September 20 was a Sunday in 1885 and 1891. Fay Levy (b. 28 Sep 1873) was only 11 years old on 24 Sep 1885 so the 1891 date is more likely correct.  The reception from 3 to 9PM on Sunday 20 Sep 1891 preceded the 7AM (see below) wedding on Thursday 24 Sep 1891. Rabbi Charles Rubenstein served the B’Nai Israel Congregation from 1891 to 1897 ( see LeMaster page 61).

Continue reading →

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Joseph F. Block letter of 10 Mar 1942

Posted on May 12, 2011 by gsghert01

Read Joseph (“Bumpa”) F. Block’s letter to Mae (PDF)

In the letter to Mae (now identified below) Uncle Joe says the Block family moved from Camden to old Mexico for a year or two during the Civil War and that his father (who was Solomon Block) owned ‘many Negro slaves’. According to the 1860 Slave Census (PDF) , Solomon Block owned 3 adult slaves and 5 children. Continue reading →

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My grandfather John R Bloom 1884 to 1935 and his ancestors

Posted on April 17, 2011 by gsghert01


When I became interested in my family’s genealogy a decade ago, there was no  living relative who remembered anything about my maternal grandfather except his, name … John Bloom.  With the resources of Ancestry.com and Familysearch.org (the Mormon Church genealogy site) and a clue from my ‘aunt’, I have discovered much more. Continue reading →

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Solomon Block big shot

Posted on February 16, 2011 by gsghert01
Solomon Block, photo that appeared in Arkansas Gazette 1930s

Solomon Block, photo that appeared in Arkansas Gazette 1930s

“….Solomon Block, one of the earliest Jewish settlers in Camden and the first president of the local congregation. As head of the local school board, Block fought off attempts to require bible reading in the public schools. Continue reading →

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Dora Ghertner’s parents discovered

Posted on February 9, 2011 by gsghert01

In 1920, the US Census in Nashville, Tennessee includes Lewis (age 62) and Dena (age 65) Cooper, as in-laws living in the home Continue reading →

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