Esther Lew and Victor Wolff
In the late 1880s and 1890s many of my great grandma Ray’s siblings came to settle in the United States, specifically in the New York City area. In fact, of the nine children of Victor and Esther (Lew) Wolf/Wolff, eight eventually left their small town, Ciechanowiec, in the Bialystoker region of Russia to move to the United States.
As a young child, I remember going into New York for the Cousins’ Club. These crowded and noisy events were filled with all the descendants of these siblings and their descendants. Eventually we stopped meeting. I believe it was when the last siblings passed away.
Since I was always an inquisitive person, I was the grandchild who sat down in the early 1970s with all of my grandparents and asked for their stories. It paid off, because I now am writing their histories.
From my Grandma Esther, I got the names of all of her mother’s siblings and all of the children. Later in life, when my cousins saw my determination to chronicle our family, I was sent an additional document written by my aunt, my father’s sister, that gives a bit more detail for some, but not as much for others as Grandma’s reminiscing.
So for all those who are interested, here are the nine children and the many grandchildren of Victor and Esther. I am not sure of the list in age order, as Grandma and my aunt had it a bit differently. I will go with Grandma’s list.
Sarah: She never had children of her own. But she raised the daughter of her sister. And actually Grandma said she had two children: Esther (Meshugganah Esther to the family) and Abraham, who might also be the child of Anna/Champka. (See blog link below.)
Rosie (Lichtenfeld): had four children: Benny, Jack, Jules and Esther. (My aunt was friendly with Benny’s two daughters Rhoda and Janet.)
Anna/Champka: She came as a young widow from Europe with three children and pregnant. It was her youngest Estelle/Esther who was raised by Sarah. Her other children were Ray, Fanny and Abe (who also might have been raised by Sarah). (See blogs below.)
Israel(Ezriel Aharon): He was the one who remained orthodox. His children were Esther, Ray, Jack, Fannie and Charles. His children were all born in Europe. So they came later. Fannie never had children because she had tuberculosis.
Cheika/Chia Vrona/Wrona: This is the sister who never came to the USA. But two of her children came: Louis Verona who lived in Atlanta. Julia/Yudia who had three children Esther , Irene and Louis. Ichie never came to the USA.
Ray/Rasha: My great grandmother who married Louis and had five children. Minnie, Esther, Jake (who died young) Philip and Sam.
Simcha/Sam: He had three sons Hymie, Victor and Charlie.
Harry: married Minnie and had four children: Esther, Julius/Yudel, and Goldie survived. His daughter Rosie died when she was in her 20s.
Jacob: He was the youngest. That I know for sure. He had a daughter, Gertie who married Dave Stern. And two sons Hymie and Victor.
I remember there were many children named Hymie, Victor and Esther. (I wrote about the Esthers as well, see the blog below.) But my Uncle kept in touch with one Hymie who came to several family events.
I do know the names of some of the next generation. And occupations of some of the original siblings and first cousins. But I think this should be a good start in knowing the family.
https://zicharonot.com/2018/05/08/updated-esthers/
https://zicharonot.com/2015/01/27/serendipity-wins-in-finding-a-family-connection/
zicharonot 
Being able to come up with a list of so many siblings is an important feat in the process.
Thank you. I was fortunate to have sat with my grandparents and to write everything down. Now I plan to do my grandmother’s father’s family.