Matel Birk (1892 - 1953)

Born 15 Jul 1892 in Gargždai, Lithuania

Ancestors

Husband of Rebecca (Simon) Birk — married 26 Jun 1936 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

Died 1 May 1953 at age 60 in Lakeland, Polk, Florida, United States

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Biography

Matel (aka Max) was the last child of Solomon Elias Birk and Necke Gelle Birk, born in Gargzdai, Lithuania. He arrived in New York City in 1906 aboard the SS Ryndham from Rotterdam, saying he was headed to brother Isaac Burk, c/o M. Mahler (Isaac's f-i-l). He moved to Chicago to work as a jeweler, where he registered for the WWI draft and claimed exemption due to a broken arm.

Matel was naturalized in Chicago in 1923, and then returned to NYC by 1935. He married Rebecca Simon Chaiken (1897-1984) on June 26, 1936, in Manhattan, NYC, when he was 44 and she was 39. They had no children together.

In the 1940 US Census, the couple lived in Brooklyn, NY, where his occupation was jewelry polisher, and hers was bookkeeper. They were still living in Brooklyn at the time of the 1950 US Census.

Late in the 1940s, Matel and Rebecca moved to Florida to be near his sister Jennie Birk Salkowitz. He died at the age of 61 in Lakeland, Polk county, Florida and was buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Queens, New York. When his wife Rebecca died, she was buried next to him. Her stone says "beloved wife and aunt."

Sources

• Naturalization index from US Dist Court Chicago;
• NY passenger list.
• WWI/WWII draft registration cards;
• Florida death index.
• Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95978591/max-birk.