SAMUEL GASS AND LENA KESSEL

Raising an American Family with Old World Values

 

 

Samuel Gass’s business partner, Isaac Razin, served as shadchen (matchmaker) and introduced Sam to his niece, Lena Kessel.[1] Lena had been born in 1887 in the town of Kamen Kashirskiy, on the Russian/Polish border. She came to America in 1907 with her father Samuel Kessel, her sister Mary, and brother Harry. Her mother and sister Sarah followed a few years later. Sam and Lena were married on March 23, 1908, in Chelsea, Massachusetts.[2] Compared to Sam who had immigrated in 1903, Lena was a relative greenhorn.

 

Lena Kessel Gass

Sam Gass, circa 1910

 

 
During the early years of their marriage, both Samuel and Lena worked hard to bring in money. Samuel was becoming a giant in the shmattes (rag) industry in Massachusetts, while Lena took in borders, with a maximum of three at a time. One boarder, Motel, would become their friend for life.

 

Samuel and Lena became the parents of one son and four daughters:

                        1. Max Harry Gass (1909-1986)

                        2. Ida Marilyn Gass Ullian (1912-1988)

                        3. Anna Gass Shapiro (1915-1958)

                        4. Minnie Gass Alter (1917-1985)

                        5. Beatrice Pauline (Patty) Gass Swartz (1922-1996)

 

 As the family grew the Gasses moved several times, probably seeking larger quarters for their brood. Samuel’s naturalization papers, filed on February 6, 1911, list his address as 178 Second Street in Chelsea.[3]  By January 1914, the family had moved to 169 Second Street, where they made their home until at least January 1918.[4] Sometime between the beginning of 1918 and 1920, they moved to 88 Orange Street and occupied the second floor of a three-family house.[5]  In 1921 or later, Lena’s parents moved into the ground floor apartment.

 

     
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
 

[1] Lena’s mother was Isaac’s sister, Rachel Razin Kessel.


[2] 1906-1910 Massachusetts Marriage Index: 1908, vol. 581, p. 310; Massachusetts Vital Registry, Tremont St., Boston, MA. According to their marriage record, Sam [sic] Gass and Lena Kasel [sic] were married March 23, 1908, in Chelsea. At the time of their marriage Samuel was 25 years old and lived at 27 Walnut Street. Lena was 22, lived at 182 Second Street and worked in a shoe shop.
 

[3]1906-1926 U.S. District Court Naturalizations Index, admitted 6 Feb 1911; Petition #3436 C.C.; National Archives, New England Region, Trapelo Rd, Waltham, MA. Witnesses: Alexander G. Gould and Hyman Kaplan.
 

[4] Massachusetts State Library, Statehouse, Boston, MA.; City Directories of Chelsea, MA, Jan. 1914, Jan.1916 & Jan. 1918 (Boston, MA: Union Publishing Co., 1914, 1916  and 1918); Massachusetts State Library, Statehouse, Boston, MA.

[5]1920 Massachusetts Federal Census Index, 88 Orange St., Chelsea, MA, Suffolk Cty, Microfilm Series T625, Soundex G200, reel 743, ED 640, sheet 1, line 19; vol 2, p.143; National Archives, New England Region, Trapelo Rd, Waltham, MA.