Language:
English
Pages:
17 pages :
,
typescript +
Additional Material:
clippings
Year of publication:
1972
Keywords:
Schuster family.
;
Schuster, Adolf,
;
B'nai B'rith.
;
Freemasons.
;
Freight and freightage.
;
Indians of North America.
;
Jewish way of life.
;
Manners and customs.
;
Holbrook (Ariz.)
;
Los Angeles (Ca.)
;
United States Emigration and immigration 19th century.
;
Autobiographies
;
Biographical sources
;
Memoirs
Abstract:
Interview with Helen Schuster conducted by Norton B. Stern as part of the Oral History Program of the Archives of the Jewish Community Library of the Jewish Federation-Council of Greater Los Angeles.
Abstract:
From 1901 on the Schuster family resided in Los Angeles, while their business was located at Holbrook, Arizona (involved in stock raising). They were heavily involved with the Jewish community in Los Angeles. They became members of B'nai B'rith (and maintained membership at least until 1917). Very active social life in LA, many Jewish families around. The family home was established in the nine hundred block south of Beacon Street. The members of the family participated in social activities of the principal Jewish Club of pioneer settlers, the Concordia, and later joined the Hillcrest Country Club. Helen Schuster's father Adolf Schuster was born in Westphalia (Germany) in February 1863 (?). His twin brother was Ben Schuster. Adolf immigrated to the USA in 1878 to avoid conscription. The family is related to the Schuster family of San Francisco. Ben came to the USA in 1883 and in 1884 Adolf decided to establish his own business. May 1884, the A.&B. Schuster Company was established, a general merchandise business, at Bernalillo, New Mexico. Their main store was located in Holbrook, Arizona, from 1900 on. They opened branch stores in St. Johns and Whiteriver. Another brother (?) came to Arizona in 1900 to work for the family business. Adolf Schuster became the confidante of the Indians who conducted business in Holbrook because he gave them credit. His Indian name was "The Man who looks like the Other Man" (because of his twin brother Ben). He learned Spanish in order to be able to communicate with the Indians. In 1888 the Holbrook store was destroyed by fire. In the late 1880s the Schusters conducted a freighting business. The Schusters owned wagons and contracted with the Federal Government to haul supplies from Holbrook to Fort Apache (army post). Large number of men and drivers hired.
Abstract:
A.&B. Schuster Company was incorporated in the fall of 1911. (Ben died December 1911) Helen Schuster's brother Richard and later his wife took over the business when Adolf had died in 1934. After she died Helen's cousin operated it for a time, then it was passed on to her. She sold it to the company's manager, who liquidated the business in the late 1960s.
Note:
English
URL:
http://digital.cjh.org/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=472339&custom_att_2=simple_viewer
Permalink
