The Landes cousin who may or may not have existed

One of the first mysteries I encountered when first starting my research into my family history has still not been solved. Maybe you can help by looking at the facts and sharing your thoughts, interpreting the incomplete documentation, or seeing if you find something I’ve missed.
Landes immigration map

This map shows the important locations — residences and ports — for my Landes ancestors through my second great grandfather.
National Library Week: Free access to ProQuest’s obituary database

All this week, ProQuest is offering free access to its extensive obituary and death notice database. Here’s what I found.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle archives are available for free

The Brooklyn Public Library and Newspapers.com are working together to provide the Brooklyn Daily Eagle archives online.
Obituary for Moses Landes, 1926

The Canadian Jewish Review, with a “society” section that was the social media of its day, published a death notice for my second great grandfather.
Reverse research: A technique for finding missing pieces

Using a “research tree” helps organize records pertaining to potential relatives when looking for missing pieces.
More immigration and education details about Joseph Landes

The latest discovery involves departure and arrival information for my great grandfather, who traveled from Hamburg to New York on the ship Palatia in 1899.
Landes family in the Canadian Census of 1921

Martin Landes and his family appears in the Canadian Census of 1921, but the listing doesn’t solve a mystery.
With new Iași records on JewishGen, I found my ancestors

It looks like volunteers in Romania and over the world have helped me uncover information about my ancestors’ marriage — and information for thousands of others as well.
The Landes Pharmacy and Joseph Landes in Bacău

For more than fifty years, at least two generations of Landeses were involved with the pharmacy trade.
Landes family history

Moses Landes married Bertha “Brauna” Yaruslavitz in Iași, Romania in 1875, and by the turn of the century the entire Landes family had immigrated to North America by way of England.
The Landes immigration to Canada

Immigration records newly available online point to more information about my second great grandparents’ arrival in North America.
Kerstman family photographs

These photographs of the Kerstman family are courtesy of Joel Landes and Shari Berman Landes.
Landes family photographs, page 2

These photographs of the Landes family are courtesy of Joel Landes and Shari Berman Landes.
Landes family photographs

These photographs are courtesy of Joel Landes, Paul Landes and Shari Berman Landes.
Can you identify these photographs?

These photographs came to be from Naomi Paltiel Lowi via Bob Paltiel. Can you help identify these women?
Naturalization documents received for Paulina (Pearl) Landes

The naturalization documents for Pearl Landes answer a question about her children.
Meeting my second great grandparents, Moses and Bertha

I visited the grave sites of my relatives throughout New York, from Queens to Long Island, asking questions and documenting with photographs.
Looking closer at handwriting solves a mystery

The birth record I attributed to a mystery “Track” Landes is probably attributable to Irwin Landes. Bad indexing led to a bad assumption.
The two marriages of Fannie Landes

Fannie Landes first married Albert Paltiel, then married Adolph Goldenberg after Albert died. The two marriage certificates expand the family tree but don’t definitively answer questions about Fannie’s mother, Bertha.
Bertha Jereslawitz Landes’s death certificate

The latest of three death certificates I’ve received in the mail is the least conclusive, yet I am inclined to consider some of the facts accurate enough to include this death certificate for Bertha Landes.
Death records: Joseph and Moses Landes

The death certificates for my great grandfather and second great grandfather fill in holes in my tree.
Naturalization: Moses Landes

On Fold3, I discovered naturalization papers for my second great grandfather which otherwise would need to have been ordered from the National Archives.
Marriage certificate: Joseph Landes and Sadie Lustig

The story of my family history research continues with three records I received from the New York City Department or Records.