Uncle Harry writes that Grandfather was drafted into the Russian Army just prior to the Russian-Japanese war. His treatment in the army was very cruel. Somehow, on maneuvers near the Baltic Sea, he defected and managed to get passage to America with the aid of money sent by his brother Max who was already in New London.

Another version of how Grandpa Sam left Russia was told by his nephew living in Israel, Abraham Gorden, from a story told to him by his mother Batya Einhorn. She shared that, "Sam lived on a farm outside Vilna. He fled Russia and Vilna after a pogrom which he witnessed in his town. He messed up the guys trying to destroy Jewish shops with a piece of a fence. The police came after him and he fled out the back window of his house, took a horse and came to his sister's house in Vilna. With some money from his sister Batya he was able to flee the country."

Sam immigrated to the United States from Hamburg, Germany on or about the 10th of December 1904 on the vessel Bluecher and arrived in the U.S. on the 23rd of December 1904. He declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States on the 11th of June 1906 under the name of "Samuel Cohen". In his oath of allegiance he renounced all allegiance and fidelity to Nicholas II, Emperor of all Russia. He received his certificate of Naturalization on June 3, 1913. Sam applied for admission as a voter in the town of New London, CT on September 27, 1913. His residence was 31 Morgan Street and occupation was a merchant, peddler, laborer and proprietor. One of his jobs was selling ice in New London. He was a member of the Orthodox Ahavat Chesed Synagogue.

Cousin Shirley remembers her Uncle Sam as a Will Rodgers type and joking around. He was the tallest and he had to bend down when he came in a door.

Sam had two brothers, Max and Alexander, and a sister Rachel who all lived in the states. In the area of Vilna and Kovna he left behind one half brother Nathan and three sisters Batya, Chaya and Ester. All their families went through the holocaust, ghettos and concentration camps. Most of Sam's 20 nieces and nephews and their families were killed during the war. Four survived and came to live in Israel. Two came to the U.S. and one went to Mexico.

Sam and Annie had 8 children. The first two died on the way to the United States. In New London were born Arthur, Harry, Rose, Alice, Morris and Pearl.

Samuel Isaac Einhorn died on April 7, 1960 at the age of 84 in New London ,CT. May he rest in peace.

If you have your own personal memories of grandpa Sam please share them with me.
Thank you. Your cousin Robert Sasportas from Karmiel Israel. Click here to send me an e-mail.

Click here for a picture of Annie and Sam Einhorn with Dorothy in 1945.