Photo of Emigrants from Phalsbourg

Les Phalsbourgeois de la Californie was a social group in San Francisco composed of French Jewish emigrants from the Alsatian town of Phalsbourg.  On August 3, 1880, the group hosted a farewell dinner for its most prominent member, Alexander Weill, who was returning to France to head the banking company of Lazard Freres, a company still in business today.

Attending the event were enterprising merchants with businesses in San Francisco and in coastal communities throughout California.

Back row from left:  Henry Kahn (jeweler), Louis Salomon (salesman), Jules Kahn (dry goods importer), Isaac Loeb (dry goods, San Jose), Leon Weill (salesman), Benoit S. Hirsch (millinery store), M. Kahn (importer of watches), Nathan Cahn (merchant), Leon Kauffman (grain broker), H. Cahen (dried fruit).

Middle row from left:  Henri Weill (The White House store), Achille Kahn (meat market), Aaron Cerf (crockery and china), Raphael Weill (The White House store), Moise Cerf (commission merchant), Alexander Weill (Lazard Freres), H. Hoffman (baker), Emanuel Meyer (butcher), E. Messager (salesman), M. Mortiz (commission merchant), I. Lippman (capitalist).

Front row from left:  Theodore Weill (salesman), Raphael Levy (junk dealer), David Weill (son of Alexander Weill), Paul Kahn, M. Lipman (cigar store).  

Aaron Cerf and Moise Cerf were cousins, and Moise's brother, Ernest Cerf, lived in San Luis Obispo.  Many of the merchants were connected not only by their birthplace but also by kinship and marriage.

Visitors of Phalsbourg today can obtain a guidebook to the sites and history of the town.  The above photo is included in the guidebook with further information about David Weill, the boy in the photo, who founded the Museum of Phalsbourg in 1938 and was a generous patron for the town.  The local stadium bears his name.

References:  

French Jews in the Early West: An Aristocratic Cousinhood; Stern, Norton B. & Kramer, William M.; Western States Jewish Historical Quarterly, Volume 13, Issue 4, p. 349.

Phalsbourg, Circuit de Decouverte.

Cerf Family Tree - Updated

Blogging is the new way to share.  Instead of printing and distributing family genealogy research and copying photos/heirlooms, I am able to put the information online for those who may be interested.  A note about privacy:  I will never include names or information about living relatives.

In future blogs, I will post copies of old family photos, the pages from a Cerf Prayer Book with its handwritten birth, marriage and death entries, and other genealogy research.  I hope you enjoy these treasures as much as I do.

Let's start with a family chart as something to be referred to in the future.  Each generation is numbered 1-4 and indented.  At this point in time, I am not including older generations before 1755 as they will be the focus of future blogs.  I will attempt to edit this list as needed, so please feel free to post a comment or email me if you can correct any mistakes or fill in any holes.  My email address is dawncerf [at] gmail.com.

By the way, my connection to this family tree is that my husband is descended from Arthur Cerf (b. 1886).  I enjoy researching my children's family history.  [Last updated 4 Dec 2011]

1-Moise Salomon Cerf, b. Abt 1755, d. 6 Jun 1822, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
    + Pierrette Taib Heymann Levy, b. Abt 1757, m. 28 Jan 1849, d. 7 Feb 1814, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
     2-Bernard Cerf, b. Abt 1787, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France, d. 12 Jun 1849, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
         +Clarice Bloch, b. 1792, Roxheim, Haut Rhin, France, d. 19 Jan 1856, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
          3-Delphine Cerf, b. 18 Dec 1818, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
          3-Felicite Cerf, b. 11 Aug 1821, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
              +Arnold Aron, m. 30 Aug 1843, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
               4-Alexandre Aron, b 25 June 1845, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France, d. 1846
               4-Adolphe Aron, b. 24 Jun 1847, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France, d. 1858
               4-Zelie Aron, b. 23 Nov 1848, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
               4-Albert Aron, b. 14 Jun 1850, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
               4-Jonas Aron, b. 16 Mar 1852, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France, d. 1852
               4-Louis Aron, b. 1 Aug 1855, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
          3-Moise Cerf, b. 30 May 1923, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
          3-Aaron Cerf, b. 16 Sep 1824, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France, d. 20 May 1908, San Francisco, California
              +Phoebe Barbe Levy, b. 16 Jun 1840, Metzervisse, Moselle, France, m. 16 Feb 1864, San Francisco, California, d. 5 Aug 1916, San Francisco, California
                4-Clarisse Cerf, b. 3 Mar 1867, San Pablo, Alameda, California, d. 6 Dec 1932, San Francisco, California
                   +Samuel Louis Rosenberg, b. Sep 1851, Poland, m. 1 Jan 1888, Ukiah, Mendocino, California, d. 17 Oct 1912, California
                    5-Camille Rosenberg, b. 16 Oct 1889, Ukiah, Mendocino, California, d. 4 Jul 1932, San Francisco, California
                        +Alvin Abraham Goldstein, b. 15 Feb 1892, San Francisco, California, m. May 1913, Juneau, Alaska, d. 30 Mar 1920, Juneau, Alaska
                           6-Aline Ann Goldstein, b. 26 May 1916, Juneau, Alaska, d. 17 Sep 1986 Palo Alto, California

                              + Leonard Trainer Pockman, b. 26 Jul 1911, San Francisco, California, m. 16 Jun 1937, d. 23 Feb 1967, San Mateo, California

                                7-Jack Webster Pockman, b. 6 Aug 1942, San Francisco, California, d. 7 May 2010, San Jose, Santa Clara, California
                        +Jacob "Jack" Jagorda, b. 1891 New York, m. 1923
                    5-Aline Rosenberg, b. 13 Jul 1892, Ukiah, Mendocino, California, d. 19 Jan 1955, Juneau, Alaska
                        +Charles Gregory Warner, b. 1879, Ohio, d. 2 Apr 1937, Juneau, Alaska

                           6- Peter Warner, b. 15 Aug 1922, Los Angeles, California, d, 7 Jul 2007, Delray Beach, Palm Beach, Florida
                    5-Leon Morris Rosenberg Alexander, b. 2 May 1897, Ukiah, Mendocino, California, d. 20 Oct 1994, Watsonville, Santa Cruz, California

                        + Cecilia Rose Alexander, b. 3 June 1905, Watsonville, Santa Cruz, California, m. 1933, d. 2 Jun 1991, Watsonville, Santa Cruz, California
                    5-Harold A. Rosenberg, b. 21 Oct 1900, d. 6 Sep 1901
               4-Bernard Cerf, b. 15 Dec 1868, San Pablo, Alameda, California, d. 1942, San Francisco, California
                   +Regina Jacob, b. 1871, France, m. 1905, d. 1959, San Francisco, California
                      5-Edgar Marcel Cerf, 6 Mar 1905, San Francisco, California, d. 20 Mar 1996, Potomac, Montgomery, Maryland
                        +Clara Ruelas, b. 13 Sep 1904, Mexico, d. 19 Jan 2003, Gold River, Sacramento, California
               4-Boy Cerf, b. 18 Aug 1870, San Pablo, Alameda, California, d. 18 Aug 1870, Oakland, Alameda, California
               4-Clotilde Cerf, b. 18 Apr 1872, Oakland, Alameda, California, d. 2 Dec 1955, San Francisco, California
                   +Benjamin M. Rosenberg, b. 15 Mar 1864, Poland/Germany, m. 20 Nov 1892, Ukiah, Mendocino, California, d. 20 Nov 1948, Oxnard, California
                    5-Cerf Solomon Rosenberg, b. 31 Aug 1896, Ukiah, Mendocino, California, d. 7 Oct 1968, Los Angeles, California
                        +Jean Ida Ross, b. Abt 1902, New York
                           6-Cerf Stanford Rosenberg Ross, b. 4 Sep 1921, San Francisco, California, d. 8 Feb 1998, Austin, Texas

                               +Jenice Anna Davidson, b. 6 Jul 1925, Harris County, Texas, d. 20 Feb 2004, Austin, Texas
                        +Muriel Louise Rudin, b. 21 May 1908, d. 7 May 1996
                    5-Alphonse Samson Rosenberg, b. 2 Jul 1898, Ukiah, Mendocino, California, d. Jul 1981, Palo Alto, San Mateo, California
                         +Adele Gross, b. 7 Feb 1907, New York, m. 1925, d. 19 Mar 2006, Palo Alto, San Mateo, California

                            6-Helene Rosenberg, b. 25 Nov 1926, Manhattan, New York, d. 30 Aug 2013, Palmdale, Los Angeles, California
               4-Lucien Cerf, b. 11 May 1874, Oakland, Alameda, California, d. 10 Dec 1957, San Francisco, California
                    +Marie Bine, b. 14 Sep 1884, California, m. 1914, d. 18 Mar 1957, San Francisco, California
               4-Emile Cerf, b. 16 Jan 1877, Oakland, Alameda, California, d. 31 Dec 1944, California
                   +Carrie Sheuerman, b. 4 Dec 1889, Oregon, m. 1910, d. 17 Mar 1965, California
                    5- Emile Aaron Cerf, Jr., b. 28 Jun 1910, California, d. 6 Mar 1937, Sonoma, California
                    5-Russell Cerf, b. 25 Sep 1916, San Francisco, California, d. 21 Jan 1988, Tucson, Pima, Arizona

                        + Mary J. Hayes, b. Abt 1915
               4-Felice Cerf, b. 23 Dec 1880, Oakland, Alameda, California, d. 2 Dec 1919, California
                   +Louis Hofman, b. 8 Dec 1879, California, m. 9 Jun 1907, d. 23 Aug 1934, Ukiah, Mendocino, California
                    5-Felice Louise Hofman, b. 12 Dec 1911, California, d. Jul 1986, San Francisco, California
                        +Herbert Leo Dryfoos, b. 26 Mar 1910, New York City, New York, m. California, d. 27 May 2000, Walnut Creek, Contra Costa, California
                        6-Robert Dryfoos, b. 7 Jul 1939, d. Jan 1974

                             +Carol Jean Norris, b. 29 Aug 1940, d. 9 Sep 1993
                        6-Linda Dryfoos (Adopted), d., California
               4-Arthur "Archie" Cerf, b. 17 Jan 1886, Oakland, Alameda, California, d. 13 Oct 1979, San Francisco, California
                   +Addie Zander, b. 22 Jul 1889, San Francisco, California, m. 8 Oct 1917, d. 23 Feb 1963, San Francisco, California
                    5-Arthur Zander Cerf, b. 16 Oct 1918, San Francisco, California, d. 10 Jun 2012, San Francisco, California
                        +Shirley Steinau, b. 6 Jul 1922, San Francisco, California, d. 3 Mar 1994, San Francisco, California

                4-Alan Robert Cerf, b. 26 Mar 1924, San Francisco, California, d. 24 Aug 2017, Piedmont, Alameda, California

                    +Lila Joan Spitzer, b. 4 Oct 1927, Honolulu, Hawaii, m. 3 Sep 1952, Carmel, Monterey, California, d. 10 Sep 2020, Piedmont, Alameda, California
          3-Rose Cerf, 16 Mar 1829, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
          3-Solomon Cerf, b 23 Jan 1831, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
              +Felice
          3-Pauline Cerf, b. Jan 1836, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France, d. 10 Oct 1905, Black Diamond, California
              +Aaron Senderman, b. 1816, Bavaria, Germany, d. 8 Jan 1899
               4-Dorothy Senderman, b. Mar 1863, California, d. 22 May 1939, Alameda County, California
                   +Simon Bachrach, b. Dec 1945, Richmond City, Virginia, m. 6 May 1882, Alameda County, California, d. 19 Oct 1916, California
                    5-Beatrice Bachrach, b. 2 Jun 1884, Oakland, Alameda, California, d. 23 Apr 1969, Oakland, Alameda, California
                    5-Henry Isaac Bachrach, b. 4 Jul 1886, Oakland, Alameda, California, d. 1 Dec 1944, Alameda County, California
                    5-Marguerite Bachrach, b. 26 Jun 1889, Oakland, Alameda, California, d. 16 May 1977, Alameda County, California
               4-Clarisse Senderman, b. 1 May 1865, California, d. 30 Sep 1955, San Francisco, California
                   +Solomon Deutsch, b. 2 Nov 1862, New York, m. 27 Aug 1873, Alameda County, California, d. 23 Jul 1942
                    5-Miriam Deutsch, b. 23 Feb 1895, California, d. 11 Oct 1989, San Francisco, California
                        +Meyer S. Chaban, b. 20 Dec 1895, San Francisco, California, d. 3 Nov 1968, San Francisco, California
               4-Sarah Senderman, b. 3 May 1867, California, d. 14 Jul 1948, San Francisco, California
                   +Emmanuel Mentz Bernstein, b. Mar 1859, Kansas, m. 27 Aug 1893, Alameda County, California, d. 20 Nov 1922, Oakland, Alameda, California
                    5-Ernest Mortimer Bernstein, b. 17 Dec 1895, Oakland, Alameda, California, d. 24 Jul 1971, San Francisco, California

                        +Myra J. Rapheld, b. 29 Jun 1908, California, d. 2 Dec 1993, San Francisco, California

                           6-Margot Bernstein, b. 25 Jan 1933, San Francisco, California, d. 20 Nov 2004, Alamo, Contra Costa, California
               4-Bernard Jacob Senderman, b. 30 Mar 1869, Clayton, Contra Costa, California, d. 14 Jan 1953, Santa Clara, California
                    +Nettie Israel, b. 13 Dec 1878, San Francisco, California, m. 26 Apr 1902m San Rafael, Marin, California, d. 14 Nov 1969, Marin County, California
                    5-Aaron Senderman, b. 2 Apr 1903, California, d. 31 Oct 1965, San Francisco, California
               4-Amelia D. Senderman, b. 26 Dec 1876, Nortonville, California, d. 18 Jul 1962, Marin County, California

                    +David Israel, b. 29 Nov 1874, New York, d. 1 May 1961, Marin County, California

                        5-Robert S. Israel, b. 30 May 1909, Black Diamond, Contra Costa, California, d. 16 Aug 1991, Marin County, California

                             + Grace

                        5-Royce Wexford Israel, b. Jul 1911, California, d. 2 Feb 1999, Marin County, California

                             +Dorothy O. Lang, 17 Mar 1921, Glasgow, Scotland, m. 14 Feb 1952 San Francisco, California, d. 17 Feb 2013, San Rafael, Marin, California
               4-Mirtile Joseph Senderman, b. 14 Nov 1878, Black Diamond Landing, California, d. 13 Jan 1946, San Francisco, California
                    +Eunice B. Josselyn, b. 18 Sep 1891, California, m. 1910, Clifornia, d. 16 Dec 1981, San Francisco, California
     2-Henri Heymann Cerf, b. 1 Jan 1790, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France, d. Abt. 1865, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
     2-Salomon Cerf, b. 16 Mar 1792, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
     2-Sophie Sibe Cerf, b. 8 Feb 1793, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
     2-Baruch Cerf, b. 19 Mar 1795, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
         +Charlotte Mayer
          3-Moise Cerf, b. 21 Apr 1832, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France, d. 16 May 1913, San Francisco, California
              +Frances Landeker, b. 22 Nov 1849, Helena, Arkansas, m. 26 May 1867, California, d. 14 Jan 1898, San Francisco, California
               4-Charlotte Cerf, b. 4 Apr 1868, San Francisco, California, d. 10 Mar 1956, San Francisco, California
                   +Meyer Elsasser, b. 13 Mar 1867, Mobile, Alabama, m. 9 Dec 1900, San Francisco, California, d. 15 Jan 1935, Los Angeles, California
               4-Evelyn Cerf, b. 1869, San Francisco, California, d. 1870, San Francisco, California
               4-Baruch Cerf, b. 9 Oct 1871, San Francisco, California, d. 19 Oct 1953, Los Angeles, California
                   +Madeline Ella Hazeltine, b. 19 Oct 1878, Sumpter, Sauk, Wisconsin, m. 1918, d. 26 Jul 1956, Los Angeles, California
               4-Delphine Cerf, b. 27 Jun 1873, San Francisco, California, d. 1 Feb 1949, San Francisco, California
                   +Solomon Morris Stock, b. 8 Feb 1866, Patterson, New Jersey, m. 1909, San Francisco, California, d. 28 Jul 1944, San Francisco, California
                   5-Morton C. Stock, b. 8 Sep 1910, San Francisco, California, d. 28 Nov 2000, Richmond, Contra Costa, California
                        +Rita Beatrice Breslauer, b. 29 Jun 1914, San Francisco, California, m. 4 Jan 1940, San Francisco, California, d. 5 Jul 2009, San Mateo, California
                    5-Frances Maud Stock, b. 12 Oct 1911, San Francisco, California, d. 10 May 1994, Monterey, California
                        +John Richard Golden, b. 21 Sep 1907, Kobe, Japan, m. 1933, San Francisco, California, d. 4 Jul 1986, San Francisco, California
               4-Myrtile Cerf, b. 19 Dec 1874, San Francisco, California, d. 12 Sep 1949, San Francisco, California
                   +May Wollner, b. 2 Nov 1879, Modesto, California, m. 27 Dec 1913, San Francisco, California, d. 18 Jun 1957, San Francisco, California
               4-Eugene Emil Cerf, b. 9 Sep 1876, San Francisco, California, d. 23 Dec 1938, Glenwood Springs, Colorado
                   +Katherine McCaffrey, b. 25 Dec 1882, Virginia City, Nevada, m. 19 Dec 1909, d. 16 Feb 1954, New York
                    5-Ernest Cerf, b. 21 Oct 1910, New York City, New York, d. 27 Aug 1973, Flushing, Queens, New York
                        +Margaret M. Campbell, b. 5 Apr 1910, Brooklyn, Queens, New York, d. 30 Mar 2002, New Jersey
                        6-Katherine M. Cerf, b. 18 May 1938, New York City, New York, d. Abt. 1960
                    5-Frances Katharine Cerf, b. 6 Oct 1912, Yonkers, Westchester, New York, d. Dec. 1984, Rockledge, Brevard, Florida
                        +Rodger Power O'Neill, b. 17 Oct 1908, New York City, New York, m. 11 Dec 1937, Flushing, Queens, New York, d. 21 Oct 1981, New York, New York
                        +William O. Cramer
                    5-Charles Joseph Cerf, b. 6 Aug 1914, Yonkers, Westchester, New York, d. 13 Sep 1982, Midland, Texas
                        +Margaret Mary Devine, b. 8 Dec 1913, Denver, Colorado, m. 1942, d. 15 Jan 2006, Midland, Texas
               4-Emilie Cerf, b. 9 Mar 1878, San Francisco, California, d. 23 May 1948, Portland, Oregon
                   +Isadore Nathan Koshland, b. 6 May 1872, San Francisco, California, m. 1906, San Francisco, California, d. 12 Feb 1928, Portland, Oregon
                    5-Delphine Koshland, b. 28 Feb 1907, Portland, Oregon, d. 4 Jun 1995, San Francisco, California
                        +Emanuel Rosenthal
                    5-Theodore Cerf Koshland, b. 7 May 1911, Portland, Oregon, d. 6 Dec 1985, Los Angeles, California

                        +Anna Marie Mullen, b. 1920, Colorado, m. 26 Jun 1939, Clear Creek, Colorado
               4-Adrienne Cerf, b. 2 Jul 1879, Santa Cruz, California, d. 28 Oct 1933, San Francisco, California
               4-Camille Cerf, b. 3 Sep 1880, San Francisco, California, d. 10 Jul 1955, San Francisco, California
               4-Laurence Cerf, b. 16 Mar 1882, San Francisco, California, d. 7 Mar 1941, San Francisco, California
                   +Edna Seidenberg, b. 1887, m. 1913, San Francisco, California, d. 1 Jun 1919, San Joaquin, California
                    +Pearl Welk, b. 19 Feb 1892, San Francisco, California, m. 1922, d. 15 Jun 1985, San Mateo County, California

                        5-Barbara Frances Cerf, b. 16 Mar 1929, San Francisco, California, d. 26 Dec 2011, San Francisco, California

                            +Monroe "Monty" Baer, Jr., b. 19 Sep 1922, San Francisco, California, d. 23 Mar 2014, San Francisco, California
               4-Raymond Solomon Cerf, b. 12 Oct 1883, San Francisco, California, d. 16 Apr 1956, San Francisco, California
               4-Yvon J. Cerf, b. 10 Nov 1887, San Francisco, California, d. 9 Sep 1938, San Francisco, California

          3-Emile Cerf, b. 1842, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France, d. 25 Apr 1866, San Francisco, California
          3-Ernest Cerf, b. 15 Jul 1846, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France, d. 25 Aug 1908, Tesla, Alameda, California
              +Babette Hirsch, b. Mar 1853, France, m. 6 Sep 1874, San Francisco, California, d. 25 Aug 1931, San Joaquin, California
               4-Charlotte Cerf, b. 12 Sep 1875, San Luis Obispo, California, 30 Aug 1920, San Francisco, California
               4-Marcel Ernest Cerf, b. 2 Apr 1877, San Luis Obispo, California, d. 20 Jan 1935, San Francisco, California
                   +Katherine Agnew Martin, b. 25 Mar 1886, San Francisco, California, m. 1909, d. Jun 1936, New York, New York
                    5-Charlotte Crosby Cerf, b. 15 Oct 1910, San Francisco, California, d. 15 Nov 1997, Oakland, Alameda, California
                        +Charles Cook Cushing, b. 8 Dec 1905, Oakland, Alameda, California,m. 11 Aug 1935, San Francisco, California, d. 14 Apr. 1982, Berkeley, Alameda, California
                    5-Elizabeth Agnew Cerf, b. 11 Aug 1912, California, d. 26 Oct 1988, Essex, Middlesex, Connecticut
                        +Ernest Fetske, b. 6 Sep 1917, New Jersey, m. 9 Sep 1988, Essex, Middlesex, Connecticut, d. 14 Jan 1994, Connecticut

                         + Douglas Rowland, b. 29 Aug 1908, Detroit, Michigan, m. 28 May 1941, New York City, New York
               4-Jeannette Cerf, b. 14 Nov 1878, San Luis Obispo, California, d. 20 Jan 1952, San Francisco, California
                   +James A. Forester, b. 23 Jun 1878, Ireland, m. 1908
               4-Rebecca Cerf, b. May 1880, California, d. 23 Jun 1959, Vossestrand, Hordaland, Norway
               4-Barry H. Cerf, b. 4 Sep 1881, San Luis Obispo, California, d. 22 Apr 1948, Portland, Oregon
                    +Emily Owen, b. 30 May 1986, Madison, Dane, Wisconsin, m. 13 Sep 1912, Madison, Dane, Wisconsin, d. 7 Feb 1976
                    5-Barbara Cerf, b. 23 Jul 1913, Chicago, Illinois, d. 15 Apr 2001, Clackamas County, Oregon
                        +Joseph Emmanuel Louis Treyve, b. 15 Apr 1910, Villefranche, France, d. 1973, Oregon
                    5-Edward Owen Cerf, b. 27 Mar 1918, Chicago, Illinois, d. 6 May 1959, Manhattan, New York
                        +Jane Lauren
               4-Lorraine Cerf, b. 9 Nov 1882, San Luis Obispo, California, d. 3 Jan 1944, San Francisco, California
               4-Emile William Cerf, b. 26 Apr 1885, San Luis Obispo, California
                    +Maude Frances Wildes, b. 10 Oct 1879, California, m. 7 Oct 1922, Alameda County, California, d. 14 Sep 1952, San Joaquin, California
               4-Cedric Salma Cerf, b.14 Dec 1886, San Luis Obispo, California, d. 7 Dec 1954, San Francisco, California
     2-Jeanne Chenel Cerf, b. 4 Jul 1798, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France
     2-Catherine Dina Cerf, b. 8 Sep 1800, Phalsbourg, Moselle, France