The Smuckler family immigrated to America from Odessa, Russia in 1910. When they arrived by ship in Boston, Massachusetts, Dora was already expecting Beatrice who was born June 26, 1910. Their other three children Anne, Sarah, and Michael according to both the 1920 and 1930 Federal Census’ were also born in Massachusetts. Anne being born; November 9, 1911, Sarah being born; about 1914, and Michael, the youngest being born; December 25, 1915. Sometime between 1916 and 1920 the family relocated to the lower eastside in New York City. They worked in the flourishing lower east side garment industry. The father, Samuel, appears with the family in the 1920 Federal Census, but not in the 1930 Federal Census. Family oral history leads us to believe that he died in a train accident, but no record of that has been found to date.
It appears that Dora and Samuel were part of a mass migration of Eastern European Jews to America. This migration took place between 1880 and 1920. It was a result of the murder of thousands of Jews and the destruction of hundreds of their villages and neighborhoods. These state sponsored massacres were known as pogroms. The attached PDF entitled 'Needle Trades' further describes this tragedy.
These Eastern European families, including Dora and Samuel, came to this country seeking a better life for themselves and their families. In Russia they endured religious persecution, famine, and poverty. In America they pursued the American dream of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness .
