VILKAVISKIS
          A small town in Southern Lithuania
Where the Jewish Community is no more
Baruch Postawusky
This is a picture of her mother (my grandmother), Mildred Cohen (Michal bat Baruch Haim HaCohen) at the gravestone of her father Baruch Haim. The photo was taken shortly before she emigrated to the USA. She arrived in the USA in 1920. My grandmother's father was married to Mashi Irmas. He was a 'contractor' who built barracks for the Czar's Army. His family also owned land. According to my mom, Baruch had a 'special' seat in the synagogue. His family was given the area's postal franchise. His mother, Rochel, had an inn in the area. After returning from maneuvers with the Army he became sick. In an effort to recruit Hashem's mercy, his entire family fasted (even the young children) on Yom Kippur. Despite being attended to by 'professors' from Konigsberg, and being fed chicken soup (recommended by their Rabbi), Baruch died in 1907 or '08 (maybe the last days of Sukkot). My mom says that the date of his passing is on his gravestone. At the time of his passing, his wife, Mashi was 36. In 1920, after Baruch died, Mashi emigrated to Chicago with her 3 of her children, Mildred, Neil and Sidney. Mashi also had a brother in Chicago, Aaron and another brother, Henry who settled in Kansas City in 1880. In the 1880's, Henry had the first or one of the first Jewish weddings in Denver. Henry's descendants now live in California.
My mom also has a certificate for shares issued by "Colonial Trust." It is dated September 1900.
This information has been supplied by Danny Hirsch, Bronx, USA