Benhart Levine

M, (1903 - 1948)
Ben Levine,
1903-1948
Father*Isidore Levine (1876 - 1967)
Mother*Anna (?) Levine (1879 - 1946)
Birth*18 Jun 1903 Vilna, Russia1 
Marriage*11 Sep 1936 Cuyahoga, Ohio (OH), United States (US); Principal=Mary Kathryn Phelan Levine2 
(Witness) Marriage14 May 1938 Waseca, Waseca, Minnesota (MN), United States (US); Bride=Margaret Evelyn Phelan Karr, Groom=Lloyd Charles Karr3,4 
Death*6 Jan 1948 Los Angeles, California (CA), United States (US)5 
Burial*Jan 1948 Ridgeview Burial Park, Ashtabula, Astabula, Ohio (OH), United States (US)6 
Biography* Ben Levine, 1903-1948:
Listed as Benhart Levin when young, he listed himself as Ben Levine later in life. He was the first child of Isidore and Anna Levin and was born in Vilna, Russia. The family of three immigrated to the USA about 1906 but apparently not together and settled first in Michigan. Two more sons were born there and then by 1910 they had moved to Ashtabula, Ashtabula County, Ohio where they rented on Lake Street. In 1920, they owned a mortgaged house at 437 Lake and had two more sons. The father Isidore was a tanner of hides and although he learned to speak English he was never literate (able to read and write English). Benhart conpleted three years of high school. In 1930, their house was valued at $5,000. Benhart, 26, was living at home and had no occupation. The family was Jewish and the parents still spoke Yiddish and of course Russian and eventually English. In 1935, Ben was living in San Diego, California. In 1936, now a resident of 1875 East 24th Street in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, he was married to Mary Phelan of the same address by Justice of the Peace J. E. Chizek. Ben listed his birthplace as Flint, Michigan on the marriage license. The couple moved to San Francisco by 1939 where they worked as concessionaires at the Worlds Fair. In 1939, they each worked 26-weeks. Ben had no wages but had other income. Mary had wages of $760. In 1940 they rented for $40/month 745 Hyde Street There were 28 households at this address. Ben listed his birthplace as Poland. In 1941, when wife Mary's mother died, they lived in San Diego, California. In 1942 he registered for the World War II draft at Local Board No. 7 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Ben listed his residence as 1412 Royal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana and his mailing address as Billboard Publishing Co, Cincinnati, Ohio. Ben’s birthplace was Vilna, Russia. His contact his father Isadore, 3235 Lake Avenue, Ashtabula Ohio. Ben was self employed at 120 Bourbon Street, New Orleans. He was 5’-10’’ tall, weighed 150 pounds, had brown eyes, black hair and a light complexion. He signed Ben Levine on February 14th. A year later, Ben and Mary were given a decision by Judge Chesez in Civil District Court of Judgement of Divorce.

Ben Levine, 44, died in Los Angeles County, California on a Tuesday. He was buried with his parents in Ohio. 
Last Edited25 Jun 2023

Citations

  1. [S1848] World War II draft reg from https://www.familysearch.org/
  2. [S1993] Ohio Cuyahoga County civil marriage record.
  3. [S971] Her obituary.
  4. [S1597] Newspaper item.
  5. [S1975] Ancestry.com, California, U.S., Death Index, 1940-1997.
  6. [S1896] http://www.findagrave.com/