Zanvil "Myer" Smith

Notes:

According to Geni, Son of Shlomo Savilevics and Etta Devorah Romm
Husband of Anna Savilevics
Father of Mary Smith; Rebecca Smith; Sol Smith; Jack J Smith and Bertha Smith
Brother of Celia Shapiro; Hyman Smith; Simon Smith and Ruchel Minna Levine

One of Rella's children with Yehuda Laib Romm was Etta Devayra Romm, who married Shlomo Zavilevitz (Savilevics) and lived in Kupisik (Kupi?kis '96 "koo-PISH-kis"). Their son Zanvil Zavilevitz (Savilevics) was born in Kupisik and was sent at a young age, probably around 12, to Riga (today, the capital of Latvia) to learn be a capmaker. When Zanvil's apprenticeship ended, he went to live with his grandmother Rella and her second husband in Rakisik. Zanvil's sister, Zlata Zavilevitz (Savilevics), who was also born in Kupisik, also went to live with Rella and Abraham Abramovitz.

Zanvil moved to Baltimore, probably around 1899, and changed his name to Myer Smith. Shortly afterward, he founded the BAYL family society.

http://bayl.org/family-story/where-did-our-ancestors-live/

In 1910, Myer, his wife Annie, and children Mary, Rebecca, Saul and Bertha were residing on Rogers Ave in Baltimore, wehre Meyer was a grocery store keeper on his own account. Both parents were shown as born in Russia, to Russian parents. They had been married once, for nine years.

When he registered for the draft during World War I, he and his wife Anna were residing at 133 Jackson Place in Baltimore, and he was secretary and treasurer of the Batto Candy & Tobacco Co of Baltimore. He was of medium height and build, with dark brown eyes and partly bald.

In 1920, they still lived on Jackson Streeet, and both were shown as born in Russia, with Yiddish as their native toungue. He was listed as secretary of a candy company. His date of immigration was shown as 1900, and hers as 1889. Both were naturalized citizens.

In 1930, the family was on Brookfield Avenue in Baltimore, and Myer was a Candy Wholesaler.

In 1940, the family was still living on Brookfield Avenue, and 80 year old Rose Rubin, a widow and Myer's mother-in-law was living with them. She was shown as born in Russia. Myer, now widowed, was shown as a salesman. His highest grade completed was Elementary, third grade. All his children still in the home had graduated from High School, with so Sol a college graduate and physician.

He was said to be the founder of the B'nai Abraham and Yehuda Laib Family Society in Baltirmore.

In those days, everybody was a "koptson" but each did what he could to help those still in Europe. Soon, Myer Smith's affinity for leadership began to assert itself. Deeply concerned in the welfare of all his kin, he arranged passage and visas for those who had no means of their own and met the costs with Bank Loans underwritten by himself and a few other interested persons. He was married to Anna RUBIN, and their flat at 117 Front Street, became the Sunday evening rendezvous of the family while he collected five cents a week from as many relatives as could contribute and, in that way, he paid off the loans. His confidante and great friend was Uncle Max Romm, whom he consulted on every matter and whose sound opinion and liberal viewpoint he valued very highly.

By 1904, it was decided that these impromptu, weekly meetings ought to have formal status, and in May of that year, our family held its first called meeting in the home of Yankel and Rocha Nessa Abramson Rubin at 1013? Low Street in Baltimore. From that day on, Baltimore has been the focal point of this Society. There is some variance of opinion as to date, for there are a few who say that the Sunday of Chol-hamoed Pesach, April 1905, was when the Farein was formally organized. Be that as it may, the minutes of January 14, 1934 include the following sentence: "es is dightlich bashtimdt givoren dos unzer Farein is organizert givoren in May 1904." We are told that those who gathered together on that memorable evening were Rocha Nessa and Yankel Rubin, Becky and Max Romm, Celia Smith, Anna and Myer Smith, Albert Schwartzberg, Zacharia Rosen and Rubin Levine. Since no records have been found of those early days, we can only relate what we have learned from those who "remember" and appreciate how satisfying for them was the process of organizing.

Zanvil married Anna Rubin about 1901. Anna was born about 1878 in Russian Empire; died on 10 Sep 1938; was buried in Anshe Emunah Aitz Chaim Cemetery, Baltimore County, Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In 1930, Mary was working as a Public School teacher.

Notes:

She was listed as Rebecca G. PERLMAN on the Social Security Applications and Claims Index, a daughter of Meyer Smith and Anna Rubin.

Notes:

In 1930, Sol Smith was a Stenographer for a Candy Wholesaler. In 1940 he was still single, and living with his widowed father and younger sisters. He was shown as completing 5 years of college, and working as a Physician.

Notes:

She was single and living with her widowed father and two siblings in 1940. Her occupation was that of a bookkeeper.

Notes:

He was stil living at home in 1940, and working as a shipping clerk.