Bush Street, San Francisco

Updated photos of the former Aaron Cerf residence at 2102 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA. The family lived there at least from 1903-1908, the year Aaron Cerf died.  The cross street is Webster.

Here is the link to the house photo I posted on an earlier blog, though I was never happy with it because of the scaffolding. Earlier photo.

Happy Photo

Many photos of older generations were formal and people didn't often smile.

Here is a happy photo of Phoebe Levy Cerf (wife of Aaron Cerf) and her half-sister, Victoire Levy Levy (she married Leon Levy). Victoire is the last child of the shared father, Leopold Libmann Levy.

Victoire and her husband didn't have any children, but she became a favorite of all her nieces and nephews who affectionately called her Auntie Vic.

There's a lot of tenderness in this photo. We can see the affection between the half-sisters.

Half-sisters Victoire Levy Levy and Phoebe Levy Cerf

Another photo is of the half-sisters with one of Phoebe's daughters, Clotilde, all wearing fancy hats.

Clotilde Cerf Rosenberg, Phoebe Levy Cerf, and Victoire Levy Levy

Thank you to Clotilde's granddaughter for the photos.

Louis Rosenberg - Clarisse Cerf Wedding

Two sisters married two brothers. In my last post was the wedding announcement for the younger sister. Here is the second one for Louis Rosenberg and Clarisse Cerf, who were married on December 31, 1887, in Ukiah, California. The sisters are daughters of Aaron and Phoebe Levy Cerf. The wedding was performed by Myer S. Levy of the First Hebrew Congregation of Oakland. The witnesses on the marriage license were Adolph Marks and Marcus Newfield, both residents of Ukiah.

ROSENBERG-CERF

The nuptials of Mr. Louis Rosenberg and Miss Clarisse Cerf were celebrated at the residence of the bride's parents, last evening, the Rev. M. S. Levy, of Oakland, officiating, the ceremony being that of the Sons of Israel. There were but a chosen few of the friends of the family present but the occasion was one of joy and gladness to all. The ceremony and charge to the couple was the most impressive we have ever witnessed, and could not help making better men and women of those who witnessed it. Music was provided by Miss Eva and Master Maurice Hirsch, and was a most commendable feature of the evening's pleasure.

The bride was beautifully dressed in a cream brocaded satin, cut princess style, of walking length. The front of the skirt was formed of wide plaits, separated by wide fans; the right side formed a narrow plaited panel, ornamented with orange blossoms and beautiful cream silk lace; a sash extended from the right side to the left and was caught up in loops forming a graceful sash panel; the back was finished with a full sash drapery of brocade and cream satin; the waist was cut high-necked, the front was trimmed with a plaited plastron [a trimming on the front of the bodice like a cloth breastplate], finished on each side with revers of brocaded satin, sleeves tight fitting, finished with silk lace; straight collar of brocade, closed on left side by a bouquet of orange blossoms; her hair done al a pompadour; the veil was of French faille, caught gracefully from right side of pompadour with orange blossoms.

The following are a list of the presents and their donors:

Plush clock, Mrs. A. J. Weiner.
Silk perfume bag, Mrs. Eager.
Point lace handkerchief, D. Samuels.
Silver fish knife and fork, Mrs. Newfield.
Silver pickle castor, Mrs. S. Wurtenberg.
Set ice cream spoons, E. Cerf and wife.
Set pearl handle knives, Mdme. L. Peres.
Porcelain vases, Miss Ella Scharlach.
French vases, Mrs. E. Messager.
Silver spoons, Levi Strauss.
Silver carvers, Mrs. S. Bachrach.
Silver soup ladle, Moise Cerf and wife.
Silver table spoons, Mrs. Rosenberg.
Silver teaspoons, B. S. Hirsch and wife.
Silver water pitcher, Mr. Lewis and wife.
Silver berry dish, J. S. Hart and wife.
Plush toilet set, Ben Sanderman.
Silver teaspoons, Miss Lizzie English.
Silver cake dish, Mr. Bleue and wife.
Silver cake dish, J. Lando.
Carved marble orn't, B. & M. Schwitzer.
Silver carvers, engraved with monogram S. W. Levy and wife.
Set of silver spoons and cutlery, complete, Mrs. B. Marks.
Silver soup ladle, Hartwick Lammers.
Parlor lamp, J. A. Cooper and wife.
Silver card receiver, T. L. Carothers and wife.
Elegant bronze clock, H. Marks and wife.
Silver spoons, Sachs Brothers.
Plush necktie case, Laz. Rosenberg and wife.
Another equally as pretty, from Miss Tillie Rosenberg.
Satin em. apron, Miss Flora Bernstein.
Plush table scarf, Miss Senderman.
Satin 'kerchief case, Miss Celia Getz.
Crochetted bedspread, Mrs. A. Senderman.
Orange blossoms, Mrs. Fouts.
Hanging lamp, Mrs. Abraham.
Handmade lace skirt, Mrs. Cahn.
Lace curtains, H. Rosenberg.
Elegant water-color family scene, framed, anonymous.
Tea and dinner China set, Mrs. R. Beel.
Parlor lamp, S. M. Beel and wife.
Silver water pitcher, R. McGarvey and wife.
Carved marble ornament, T. Hoffman.
China tea set, J. Greenhood and wife.
Hanging lamp, B. and M. Schweitzer.
Hanging lamp, C. Hofman and wife.
Diamond ring, W. Rosenberg.
Diamond earrings, Ben Rosenberg.
Handsome bed set, Mr. and Mrs. A. Cerf.
Sideboard, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Levy.
Furniture, Mr. Joe Levy and wife.

End of transcription.

References:

Ukiah City Press, 6 Jan 1888, furnished by the Mendocino County Historical Society.

Ben Rosenberg - Clotilde Cerf Wedding

The wedding announcement for Ben Rosenberg and Clotilde Cerf, daughter of Aaron and Phoebe Levy Cerf, appeared in the Mendocino Dispatch-Democrat on November 25, 1892. Below is a transcription.

Rosenberg-Cerf Nuptials

Mr. Ben Rosenberg, of Suisun, formerly a leading merchant of Ukiah, and Miss Clotilde Cerf, a daughter of the well-known proprietor of the Mechanics' Store of this city, were united in marriage on Sunday evening, November 20, 1892, at the residence of the bride's parents, by Rev. M. S. Levy, of San Francisco.

Elaborate preparations had been made for this interesting event, and the supper to which the guests were seated after the ceremony afforded ample evidence that nothing had been forgotten.

The happy couple were the recipients of a large number of elegant presents.

Among the guests were:  Mr. and Mrs. F. Levy and Miss Brunswick, of Half Moon Bay; Mrs. Beet [or Beel], Miss C. Beet [or Beel], Miss May Newfield, Mrs. Schweitzer, Mrs. M. Cerf, Mrs. Messenger and daughter, of San Francisco; Mr. and Mrs. L. Rosenberg, of Suisun; Mr. and Mrs. D. Lobree, of Middletown; W. Rosenberg and Miss M. Rosenberg, of Healdsburg; Mr. and Mrs. L. Abraham, Mr. and Mrs. B. S. Hirsch, Mr. and Mrs. C. Hofman and Miss C. Hofman, Mr. and Mrs. S. Wurtenberg and Miss Helen Wurtenberg, Mr. and Mrs. S. Marks, Dr. and Mrs. W. N. Moore, Dr. and Mrs. W. J. Hudson, Mrs. A. Marks, Misses H. and M. Stanfield, Miss Gussie Hargis, Hon. R. McGarvey, and Messrs. Maurice and Mannie Hirsch, of Ukiah.

The bride and groom left on Monday's train for Suisun, where Mr. Rosenberg is engaged in business.

The Dispatch-Democrat extends most hearty congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Rosenberg.

End of newspaper article.

Marriage License

The marriage license listed the groom's full name as Benjamin Meloitle Rosenberg, age 28, of Suisun, Mendocino County. Rabbi Myer S. Levy performed the marriage, and the witnesses were Fermand Levy of Half Moon Bay and Charles Hoffman of Ukiah.

Lobree-Hofman Wedding

Read about a festive wedding that took place in Ukiah (from a newspaper article in the Mendocino Dispatch Democrat on 16 July 1897, Page 2, Col. 3, sent to me by a Lobree descendant). The groom is the son of Phoebe Levy Cerf’s sister, Fanny Levy Lobree. The bride’s brother, Louis Hofman, would later marry Felice Cerf, the daughter of Aaron and Phoebe Levy Cerf.

THEY RING ONCE MORE

Wedding Bells Foretell the Happiness of a popular Ukiah couple.

“Hear the mellow wedding bells, golden bells,

What a world of happiness their harmony foretells;

Through the balmy air of night,

How they ring out their delight.

From the molten, golden notes,

All in tune,

What a liquid ditty floats

To the turtle dove that listens while she gloats

On the moon.”

The pleasant home of our honored townspeople, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Hofman, was converted into a brilliant scene last Sunday evening, the occasion being the marriage of their charming daughter, Miss Celia, to Mr. Elias Lobree, son of D. Lobree, an extensive land owner of Lake county.

The handsome parlors were filled with invited guests, and at 8 o’clock, to the strains of a wedding march played by Miss Lillie Barnett, the bridal party marched through the spacious parlors. Little Miss Aline Rosenberg resembling a fairy in her dainty pink dress, preceded, bearing a cushion of white satin on which was placed the wedding ring. Next came the little Misses Sarah Hofman, Judith Lobree and Camille Rosenberg, quaintly dressed in white Kate Greenaway costumes, who gracefully separated the long streamers of pink satin ribbon suspended from the arch under which the bridal couple were to stand. They were followed by Miss Felice Cerf and Mr. Louis Hofman, Mrs. C. Hofman and Mr. Henry Hofman, mother and uncle of the bride; then came the bride on the arm of her father. She was met at the bow window by the groom attended by his aunt, Mrs. A. Cerf, of Ukiah, and his father, Mr. D. Lobree, of Middletown.

In the most impressive manner the Rev. M. S. Levy, of San Francisco, performed the ceremony which made them man and wife. Those who had never before witnessed the Hebrew wedding ceremony were much impressed by its beauty and solemnity. The knot being firmly tied, the many friends pressed forward and showered upon them their congratulations and best wishes for their future welfare.

The guests then repaired to the supper room where were spread tables of edibles worthy of hospitality of the bride’s parents. Mr. Hofman’s spacious warehouse had been cleared and decorated with a profusion of palms, ferns and ivy; pink bunting prettily draped, formed the background, and long streamers of the bunting, drawn through loops of ivy and interspersed with pink Japanese lanterns made a very pretty and picturesque appearance.

Toasts were responded to by a number of the guests. Those most worthy of mention being the beautiful and fitting remarks by Rev. Levy, followed by Mr. W. W. Cunningham, Mr. Henry Hofman, Mr. Newfield, Mr. Lobree, father of the groom, and Mrs. Haskett, the first teacher of the bride.

A pretty reminder, bearing the best wishes of the relatives and friends from a distance, were the fifty telegrams read by the Rev. Levy during the supper.

After long lingering over the tables the guests returned to the parlors, which had been beautifully decorated with palms, ferns and flowers. The bow window in which the bridal couple stood was hung with garlands of pink and white sweet peas, maiden hair ferns and streamers of pink ribbon. A large placque of these flowers suspended by a lovers knot of the ribbon hung from the ceiling in front of the window forming a very pretty canopy.

The pretty bride looked extremely charming and girlish in a handsome white silk embroidered in lovers knots and trimmed in white chiffon which formed the high, square neck and shirred sleeves. She wore no gloves but rushes of the chiffon fell over the hand. A long tulle veil and bridal wreath, worn by her mother twenty-three years before, completed this dainty toilette. She carried a large bouquet of bride’s roses on her arm which, later in the evening she threw among the young ladies present, the one fortunate enough to catch it being Miss Mabel Hirsch.

The bride’s maids were attired in white and carried bouquets of pink sweet peas and carnations.

The happy couple departed on the early train Monday morning to spend a few weeks in San Francisco and neighboring towns.

They are very popular in the social circles of Ukiah and their many friends will be pleased to welcome them home.

Following is a list of the numerous and elegant presents received:

From the uncle of the bride, Mr. H. Hofman, of San Francisco, a magnificent oaken vase of solid silver, complete for table use, consisting of fifty seven pieces. Handsome tea table and parlor chair, Mr. and Mrs. A. Cerf and family of Ukiah. Case solid silver creamer, sugar caddy and one-half dozen individual butters, Mr. and Mrs. I. Haas, Grass Valley.

Case of one dozen spoons, butter knife and sugar spoon, Mr. L. Buff, of San Francisco. Case containing silver olive fork, sugar spoon and butter knife, Mr. and Mrs. Meyerstein, San Francisco. Elegant silver oyster dish, Mr. and Mrs. M. Hofman, Winnemucca, Nevada. Steel engraving, “Charming,” Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Steindler, San Francisco. Case of one dozen gold lined teaspoons, H. Steindler, San Francisco. Silver service of tea pot, cream jug and sugar bowl, M. Aronson, New Whatcom, Wash. Gold and silver olive spoon, N. and E. Nathan, Chehalis, Wash. Solid silver hair brush and comb, H. and Ed Nathan, Grass Valley. Silver and gold cold meat fok, Mr. and Mrs. S. Hartman, Chehalis, Wash. Case of one dozen pearl handled fruit knives, Mrs. Eva Dattlezwaig, Chicago, Ill.  Hand painted chamois cushion top, Misses B. and S. Schmermacher, St. Louis, Mo. White ostrich feather fan, Mr. and Mrs. Rosenthal, San Francisco. Delft sofa cushion, Miss Levy, San Francisco. Case black coffee spoons and sugar tongs gold enameled in blue for-get-me-nots, Mr. and Mrs. L. Lasky, Woodland, Cal. Elegant set table linen, Mrs. S. Goodman and son, San Francisco. Handsome point d esprit bed set, Mrs. B. Nathan and daughter, San Francisco. Combination sugar jar and spoon, Mr. and Mrs. N. Sneider, Marysville, Cal. Set silver teaspoons, Mr. and Mrs. L. Abrams. Pearl handled serving set, Mr. and Mrs. Dattlezwaig, Chicago, Ill. Onyx and gold table, Mr. and Mrs. J. Brown, Alameda. Hand painted china bon bon dish, Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Block, S. F. Elegant mahogany pedestal and urn, Mr. and Mrs. Steinfels, S. F. Irish point lace bed spread and shams, Mr. and Mrs. M. S. Kohlberg, S. F. Embroidered satin sofa cushion, Mr. and Mrs. Steindler, San Francisco. From Mr. and Mrs. M. Lasky, of Woodland, uncle and aunt of the bride, a check. Onyx and wrought iron stand, Mr. and Mrs. L. Levy, S. F. Handsome fur rug, Mr. and Mrs. L. Lobree, Covelo, Cal. Lace bed and pillow shams, Mr. and Mrs. Abe Liebman, Chicago, Ill. Elegant parlor rocker, Mr. and Mrs. L. and B. Rosenberg, Ukiah. Silver sugar spoon, Mr. and Mrs. Newfield, S. F. Gold lined sauce ladle, Mr. and Mrs. S. Marks, Ukiah. Book of Wordsworth’s poems, Mr. and Mrs. Haskell. Set of silver berry forks, the Misses Handy. Gold lined pie spoon, Mr. and Mrs. B. S. Hirsch, Ukiah. Set silver nut picks and nut crackers, Mrs. Rena Shattuck and Miss Harris. Silver spoon holder and creamer, Mr. and Mrs. J. Jamison. Gold lined berry spoon, Misses Eva and Mabel Hirsch. Silver pickle castor, Mrs. J. R. Barnett and daughters. Silver salad fork and spoon, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Cooper. Silver berry dish, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Jamison. Parlor chair and fancy work basket, Mrs. Schapp. Vase of paper flowers, Mr. and Mrs. Gunsky. Jar of waterlillies, Mr. and Mrs. T. Charlton.

A Guest.

Alaska Connection

A branch of the Cerf family settled in Alaska. Two daughters of Clarisse Cerf and her husband, Samuel Louis Rosenberg, who were also granddaughters of Aaron Cerf and his wife, Phoebe Levy Cerf, raised their families in Juneau, Alaska. Older sister, Camille Fannie Rosenberg, who was married to Alvin Goldstein, welcomed younger sister, Aline Rosenberg, and her husband, Charles Warner, to Alaska. I'm not sure of the years of their arrival, but Camille and Alvin's daughter was born in Juneau in 1916.

We are lucky to have a published article written by the son of Charles and Aline Rosenberg Warner about his memories of growing up and living in Juneau. The son, Peter Charles Warner, was adopted by the Warners. His name at birth was Samuel Moloff.  After graduating from Juneau-Douglas High School in 1939, Peter Charles Warner attended Oregon State College, earning a business degree. Following his parents' death, he turned his family's South Franklin Street machine shop into what was later known as Warner's Marine located at Warner's Wharf. 

Peter Charles Warner, born Samuel Moloff

Here is the article that appeared in the published book, Gastineau Channel Memories, 1880-1959. It is also posted on the Juneau Parks and Recreation website [http://www.juneau.org/parkrec/museum/forms/GCM/readarticle.php?UID=789&newxtkey=].

"I was born in Los Angeles, California, on August 15, 1921, to Russian Jewish immigrants. I was their only child. Four years later I was orphaned and was adopted by Aline and Charles Warner and was taken to live in far off Juneau, Alaska. The Warners had lost a baby boy at birth sometime before, and were then unable to have any more children of their own. They were wonderful people. As I understand it, he was in charge of the construction of the Salmon Creek dam and I know he was an outstanding machinist and engineer. They met when she was visiting her sister, Camille, who had married Alvin Goldstein, older son of the pioneer Juneau family of Charles and Laura Goldstein.

By the time of my arrival in Juneau, my father was owner of the Charles Warner Machine Shop located at 406 S. Franklin Street. They catered to the fishing fleets located in Juneau, Hoonah, Angoon and to some extent, Kake. 

My earliest recollection of my life in Juneau was an automobile ride given to my mother and me by U.S. Marshall McCloskey. The rifle he kept in his car really impressed me! I remember going on a picnic with my mother and Ina Lucas and her son, Lee. We were at Mendenhall Glacier and there seemed to be ice everywhere.

In those days, South Franklin Street was dominated by the A.J. Mine, the Juneau Sawmill, the Juneau Cold Storage, whore houses and bars. As a small boy, I would go to the machine shop to walk home with my mother, who was office manager for the business. I often wondered what the ladies were doing sitting in the windows with their nightie gowns on.

The people of South Franklin were a varied bunch. Roy and Juanita Rutherford owned the Juneau Lumber Company and lived in a nice house on the premises with their daughters, Florence and Dorothy. They were very good friends of ours. Jack Dalton, machinist at the sawmill was a very likable person. For me, there was only one horse in the whole world, and that was “Old Dick” at the sawmill. Then there was Wallis George of the Juneau Cold Storage. He was very instrumental in creating the Baranof Hotel. Also connected to the Cold Storage was Elton Engstrom, fishbuyer, a very flamboyant personality and politician. There was also Tom Morgan of the Columbia Lumber Company, who promoted a plywood mill on South Franklin that burned down about the day after it opened. Marshall Erwin was one of Juneau’s leading grocers, and one of the first to relocate out by the airport.

Which reminds me of the day at the Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon when the dairymen showed up as a group to protest the importation of milk from the lower 48 by local grocers. None of us could foresee the results of this, but I am sure it wasn’t very long before most of them realized that there was better money to be made in real estate than getting up at the crack of dawn to milk cows.

Changing with the times has always been part of things in life and in business. Through the years, Warner’s went from doing repair work on commercial boats to selling boats and motors to weekend sport fisherman. One day Dick Garrison came into my office and said, “Pete, why don’t you retire from this rat race?” And to make a long story short, I did.

A year or so later I left Juneau with my then wife, Lorene. We went to Seattle on my 28 foot Tollycraft. By then I was 52. Since then Lorene has passed away and I am remarried and today, at age 79, I live in Florida. About every year I go to Anchorage where my first wife, the former Audrey Feero, lives with her present husband. My daughter and two sons live there and I have six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

I have been in Juneau several times and think the town looks great. South Franklin Street is outstanding and people should appreciate their terrific tourist business."  [end of article]

Peter Charles Warner died in 2007 in Delray Beach, FL. In his obituary, he is remembered fondly by his family:

"He treasured his family and friends and was loved by many. As a young man, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and writing. One of his more memorable hunting trips published in Alaska magazine's Selected Alaska Hunting and Fishing Tales (reprinted from Alaska Sportsman May 1952) was called Bucks and Ducks at Gambier Bay. He exclaimed, 'How lucky we are, we who live in Southeastern Alaska! Few of us would trade our heritage of wilderness mountains and sheltered waters.'

As an avid outdoorsman and traveler, he loved life and lived it to the fullest. His love to entertain and have a good time led him to play Chief Klake in the beginning days of Hoochinoo and Hotcake and clear many a dance floor as he tangoed with his partner. Whether it is hunting, fishing, boating or an occasional hug, he created many a fond memory for his children, grandchildren and friends. He will be missed." [end of excerpt from obituary]

Peter Warner's son said he and his siblings feel very fortunate that their father was adopted by the Warners as they cared well for Peter and gave him the means to prosper in life.

Cerf DNA Test

DNA testing has been done on a limited basis to reveal information about the male line of the Cerf family. The results show some close genetic matches with others who have been tested and indicate a likely migration route from Africa to Europe for the ancient male branch of the Cerf genetic tree.

What is Genetic Genealogy?

Y-DNA passes from father to son almost unaltered for long periods of time. It determines whether a child will be male or female. Humans have 23 paired chromosomes (bundles of tightly coiled DNA), 22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes. A single chromosome of each pair is passed from each parent to child.

A test of the Y-DNA measures a short sequence on the Y chromosome. The cell sample is collected using a swab in the mouth rubbed on the inside of the cheek. The Y chromosome is the only chromosome unaffected by the mother's genes. It has definable segments of DNA with known genetic characteristics. These segments are known as markers. These markers occur at identifiable physical locations on a chromosome known as loci. Each marker is designated by an internationally used number known as a DYS number.

Although there are several types of markers used in DNA studies, the Y-Chromosome test uses only one type. The marker used is called a STR test (short tandem repeat test). STR's are short sequences of DNA (ususally 2, 3, 4, or 5 base pairs long), that are repeated numerous times in a head-tail manner. These repeats are referred to as alleles. The variation of the number of repeats of each marker enables discrimination between individuals. Because mutations in the allele value occur very slowly over time, one should see the same allele value for a male and his great-grandfather, for example.

Although more in-depth DNA tests can be run, we requested a basic 12-marker STR test (short tandem repeat test).

The test results above represent the actual allele values for 12 locations on the Cerf Y chromosome.

Predicted Haplogroup

If all alleles for the 12 locations match another person exactly, then they share the same haplotype. If the numbers are off by one position from another person in one location, then they are considered in the same haplogroup. Haplogroups are branches in the human genetic tree. They are tied to deep ancestry as far away as tens of thousands of years. Haplogroups are predicted based on the 12-marker results and using databases of individuals who have had their haplogroup confirmed through more extensive (and more expensive) DNA testing.

The predicted haplogroup for the Cerf family is E1b1b1, also known as E-M35.1.

Migration Map

The ancestors of present day non-African people left their ancestral homeland roughly 60,000 to 70,000 years ago. Haplogroup E1b1b, which is a larger group that Haplogroup E1b1b1 falls into, represents the last direct major migration from Africa into Europe. Using DNA samples from a quarter of a million volunteers (as of 2008) in different continents, scientists have completed a massive study that created a migration map for mankind. The migration of the E1b1b haplogroup indicates migration from central Africa to East Africa and across Africa's northern coast. A smaller portion of people in this haplogroup migrated from East Africa to the Middle East and then into Europe from the Mediterranean (not shown on the map).

The final common ancestor in the E1b1b1 haplogroup, the man who's genetic mutation gave rise to this marker, was born around 20,000 years ago in the Middle East. On the European continent, this haplogroup has the highest present-day concentration in northwest Greece, Albania and Kosovo, and then fading around the Balkans, the west of Greece and western Turkey. Outside Europe, it is found in most of the Middle East, northern and eastern Africa, especially in Morocco, Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, and South Africa. This E1b1b1 haplogroup was the group that migrated from East Africa to Europe via the Middle East.

Genetic Matches

Only two persons who have undergone genetic testing match all 12 allele markers perfectly. They both indicate their oldest known ancestor in the male lineage came from Switzerland. The last names of those oldest known ancestors were Blatter and Shuler. What does this mean? Statistically, it means that there is a 50 percent probability that the Most Recent Common Ancestor lived no longer ago than seven generations. This is only an estimate, and the actual generation of the shared ancestor could be nearer or further than predicted. There is a 90 percent probability that the Most Recent Common Ancestor lived no longer ago than 23 generations. And there is a 95 percent probability that the Most Recent Ancestor lived no longer ago than 29 generations. Scientists use 25 years as the length of a typical generation prior to the Dark Ages and 25 to 30 years per generation for the period thereafter.

There are currently 29 persons who have undergone genetic testing showing a genetic distance of one (one allele out of 12 is different by only one number of repeats).  And there are 148 matches with a genetic distance of two, still within the range of most well-established surname lineages in Western Europe. Even with a genetic distance of four between two people, they are still "probably related."

The countries of the oldest known ancestor in the male lineage with a genetic distance of one include Hungary, England, Scotland, USA (South Carolina and Virginia), Turkey, Canada (Ontario), Austria, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, and Egypt. The countries of the oldest known ancestor in the male lineage with a genetic distance of two include Germany, Czechoslovakia, Wales, Canada, England, Russia, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Poland, USA (Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, and Indiana), South Sandwich Islands, Ukraine, Belarus, Austria, Chile, Latvia, Spain, India, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland, Portugal, France, Romania, Netherlands, Lebanon, Hungary, and Egypt. Remember, our sample is only composed of those people who have had genetic testing done.

What's Ahead in the Future

Family Tree DNA plans to post genetic information of famous persons in history so that researchers will be able to compare themselves. Some famous persons supposedly in the E1b1b1 or E1b1b haplogroups, but with varying genetic distance, are Henry Rothschild, Pope Paul V, the artist Caravaggio, Napoleon Bonaparte, Albert Einstein, the Wright Brothers, President Lyndon B. Johnson, and even Adolph Hitler.

The Genographic Project at National Geographic hopes to answer some questions about mankind. "How many migrations out of Africa were there? What role did the Silk Road, with its caravans and bazaars, play in dispersing genetic lineages across Eurasia? What can our genes tell us about the origins of languages? How did the great empires of history leave their genetic marks on our DNA? And if we all share such a recent common ancestry, why do we all look so different?"

References:

Family Tree DNA, familytreedna.com.

Genographic Project at National Geographic, genographic.nationalgeographic.com.

McKie, Robin, "The Incredible Journey Taken by Our Genes," The Observer, August 30, 2008, http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/aug/31/genetics?INTCMP=SRCH.

Ysearch.org.

Extending the Cerf Family Tree

I discovered a European Jewish genealogy website called GeneaNet.org with an extensive family tree that includes our Cerf branch. It has some very exciting information about where the Cerfs came from before arriving in Phalsbourg, France.

GeneaNet requires registration, but it is free to look. Special search features require payment. I'm hoping the link I provide below will work for everyone. If not, you might need to register first.

Here's the link:  Cerf Family Tree from Europe.  Scroll down to the bottom of the very long Descendants Chart and you will see Moyse Salomon Cerf, his wife Pierrette (Gail) Levy Lehmann, and their seven children, including Bernard Cerf (father of immigrant Aaron Cerf) and Barach Cerf (father of immigrants Moise/Moses and Ernest Cerf).

Follow the chart upwards, looking for Moyse Salomon Cerf's parents, Salomon Zalman Cerf and Rose Reisele Levy (third generation from the left). Now scroll to the top of the chart to find the first and second generations from the left. Nephtali Mosche dit (aka) Moyse Cerf and his father, Jacob Moyse Cerf.

Click on any name you see on the chart, including spouses, to find birth, death and marriage information, if available. For instance, Salomon Zalman Cerf was born in Mittelbronn (near Phalsbourg), Moselle, Lorraine, France, and died in Phalsbourg, Moselle, Lorraine, France. His father, Nephtali Mosche dit Moyse Cerf, was born in Mittelbronn.  And the birthplace of his father, Jacob Moyse Cerf, was Worms, Rhenanie-Palatinat, Germany. This is extremely interesting information, and information I would like to verify.

I wrote to the family tree owner/researcher a while ago, but he never wrote back. Possibly there is a language barrier. He did, however, put my name as a reference for the names of the wives of Bernard and Barach Cerf that I gave him when I wrote. Unfortunately, he didn't have the names of the siblings of Moses and Ernest Cerf.

Will I be adding these names and vital record information to my Cerf family tree? Yes and no. I have added it to my own personal tree with notations of where the information came from. But I'm not adding it to my online tree just yet until I can somehow verify the information myself with records. That may not happen unless I hire another researcher in Europe. I did that once before (that researcher has since died). It has become a more expensive proposition.

Does anyone speak French? The owner/researcher, Remi Klotz, is French. Anyone is welcome to try to contact him...as long as you let me know what you find out.

Here is a descendants chart for Jacob Moyse Cerf born in Worms for your easy reference.  It only shows six generations to keep it short and easy to read. See the red arrows on the right side noting the Cerf immigrants to the U.S., at least the ones I know about.

Reference:

Family Tree Remi Klotz on GeneaNet.org website at http://gw5.geneanet.org/rklotz1?lang=en&pz=remi+charles&nz=klotz&ocz=0&m=D&p=jacob+moyse&n=cerf&sosab=10&color=&t=A&v=10.

Add Bonn Lived to Age 101

Adrienne "Add" Bonn, an acclaimed artist, passed away in San Francisco on September 14, 2012, at the remarkable age of 101.

Add Bonn was born in 1911, the daughter of French emigrant Achille Bonn and San Francisco native Estella Robin Bonn. Her grandmother, Sara Levy Bonn, was the sister of Phoebe Levy Cerf.

As a successful artist, Add shared her visions, hopes and dreams through her art. A recent memorial about her life revealed, "She would take a tube of paint and show you a piece of her soul. Her renditions of San Francisco are detailed portraits of the flourishing city that she loved. When Add painted people, she muted the details modeling complexity in their simplicity and anonymity, allowing the viewer to insert oneself, and come to terms with her message."

Painting by Add Bonn

Among the many museums and galleries that exhibited Add's paintings were the De Young Museum, the San  Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Palace of Legion of Honor, the Oakland Art Museum, and the San Francisco Women's Gallery. Add studied  at the California School of Fine Arts, now called the San Francisco Art Institute, and the Marion Hartwell School of Basic Design.

On Add's 100th birthday, a party was held in her honor at City Hall where her paintings were on display, and there was a large gathering of friends and relatives at her home the next day. Even at the age of 100, Add was ready to talk about what it was like growing up in the San Francisco of her day. Click this link to watch a YouTube video: Interview of Add Bonn at age 100.  Be sure to go to the end to discover her secret to longevity.

A 48-page transcribed interview of Add talking about growing up in the Mission District and later living in the Russian Hill/North Beach districts is full of interesting recollections.  It can be accessed via this link: Written interview of Add Bonn.  This document, containing photos of her and of her artwork, is part of the San Francisco Public Library collection.

Add was known as a "firecracker" to her relatives.  "Although she lived a quiet, personal life, the personna that she created was loud, gregarious, vivacious, and very public. She lived the message that she wanted the world to understand. Add's philosophy was 'You don't do things in this world because of the next world. You do what's right now, right now.'"

References:

"In Celebration of Add," a memorial by relatives, October 2012.

"Add Bonn" an interview by Alison and Barbara Frantz and the Telegraph Hill Dwellers, housed at the San Francisco Public Library, 2001, http://archive.org/details/addbonn00bonn.

"Add Bonn, Former SF Girls Club Member," filmed on October 5, 2011, posted on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQdsxfwxKoU.

Bernard Cerf's Family Photos

Bernard Cerf was the oldest son and second child born to Aaron and Phoebe Cerf. He was a clothing merchant with a store on Kearny Street near Sacramento Street in San Francisco.

Bernard Cerf (1868-1942)

Regina Jacob Cerf (1871-1959), wife of Bernard Cerf

Bernard and Regina Cerf had one child, Edgar Marcel Cerf.

Edgar Marcel Cerf (1905-1996)

Edgar Cerf owned a store in San Francisco that sold ladies' hats and Clara was a school nurse. Edgar and Clara were a sweet, loving couple who enjoyed adventure and keeping in touch with friends and relatives.  I have had some lovely visits with them and received heartwarming letters.  Here they are on a hiking adventure in the early 1990's.

Edgar Marcel Cerf (1905-1996) and his wife, Clara Ruelas Cerf (1904-2003)