Jeffrey M. Dreifuss

William Kamp, a successful Syracuse businessman told his family about growing up in a town the Jews called "Neistadt," Russia.  Neistadt, now "Kudirkos Naumiestis," a part of modern Lithuania was located in Suwalki Geburnia (County) near Russia's border with East Prussia. Neistadt was known as Wladislawowo in Polish and Vladislavov in Russian.  

Much evidence, however indicates that his hometown may have been a nearby border town that William knew as Verzhbolov, Poland (Wirballen or Werballen in German, Verberlov or Vezhbalov in Russian). This town is now Kybartai, (Kybert to the Jews) Lithuania.  When Kampinsky parents Jankel and Gissell immigrated in 1912 they listed their town as "Werbald."   However, for the place of Birth, Jankel listed Neustadt (per ship manifest). When Kampinsky brothers Louis and Charles immigrated in June 1904, they both list "last residence" as "Werballen."  Per Martin Miller of Syracuse, The Declaration of Intent (for Naturalization) filed in Kings County NY for Wolf's brother Abe George Kamp (Kampinsky) lists last his foreign residence as "Verberlov, Poland.  Wolfs own manifest lists his "Last Permanent Residence", as well as "Place of Birth" as "Kibartyn." It is possible that the family was originally from Neistadt, but ultimately moved to Verzhbolov.

Many of the towns described in this paper will have several names, and even different spellings of the same names.   This is for several reasons.  First of all, as the political control of each region changed, different names were given to the same towns.   To confuse matters more, the different languages and cultures in each region caused different names to be assigned by different peoples.  Conseqently each town tended to have a Russian, Lituanian and Yiddish name or pronunciation.

PILVISKIA

Not far from Neistadt and Verzhbolov was the town of Pilviskia, also referred to by Jews as "Pilvashoc". Kamp's daughter, Revelyn, recalls a song that her father used to sing.  Apparently referring to the poor Russian travel conditions, the song laments that it is a short distance from Neistadt to Pilvishok (Pilviskiar), but it takes the horse a full day to make the trip (see graphic 1).

  Graphic 1:   Kybartai, Kudirkos Naumiestis and Pilviskia

The Medallion

In Russia, William was known as Wolf Yankelov Kempinsky (Kampinsky).   On October 12, 1902, Wolf   had just turned twenty when he was conscripted into the Tzar's Army for service in the War with Japan.   Dolores Kamp Weinreb, William's daughter recalled a story her father told her about this traumatic moment of his life.   Wolf's mother, Yente Gittle (Gertrude in the U.S.) thinking that she would never see her son again, gave him a medallion to remind him of his family.   William told Dolores that he believed this medallion got him through the conflict.

Side One		Side Two

Graphic 2: The Medallion

It is clear that Wolf was in harms way during his military service.   His discharge papers indicate that he was trained in combat and sent for action in Manchuria where he remained from 1904 to 1905.   He told his family of his recovery from a leg wound sustained in battle.   According to Dolores, he attributed surviving this and other perils to the pendant.

The medallion itself is a commemoration of the pre-Zionist settlement of Rishon Le-Zion, now a city in Israel.   Established in 1882, Rishon Le-Zion was the first Russian-Jewish Agricultural Colony in what was then Palestine.   (The Jewish Encyclopedia, Agricultural Colonies (Palestine) p 248)

Amram Eshel, a fellow genealogist from Israel found a sketch of the medallian and a photo in Encyclopedia Ariel, with an article in Hebrew. The front side, according to this writeup, dispays an image of the Village (Colony) Rishon LeZion, vineyard, houses and road.   The image is based upon a photograph taken about 1888.   The road is Rothchild Street, leading to the synagogue at the highest place.   The center of the front of the medellalion has the date of the establishment of the Colony, 5642 (1882).    The upper script is a verse from the book of Isaiah:(41:27) "The first shall say toZion, Behold them.   And I will give to Jerusalem one that bringith good tidings."   The Lower script says Colony Rishon LeZion.

The reverse of the medallion shows two images The first shows Jews praying at the Wall in Jerusalem.   The second shows a peasant (farmer) sowing a field.   The outer script   has the well known quote from The Book of Psalms: "If I forget thee, Oh Jerusalem, let my right had loose its cunning,"   a promise made by every Jewish bridegroom.     (Psalms, 137:5).   The inner script: "Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion (Psalms, 137:5).   (Information on the medal comes from a number of contributers to JewishGen Disscussion Group [JewishGen.org], most notably, Aram Eshel of Israel.)

This medallion becomes even more significant given that 1882 was Wolf's birth year (according to his Army Discharge Papers).   Was this why Yente Gittle chose this medallion to give to her son?   We will never know, however, it very likely demonstrates that the Kampinskys of Russia were among the earliest Zionists.   It may have represented the hope the family had in a better life, possibly in Israel.

Escape From Russia

In 1908, 26 year old Wolf   was released from active duty in the Russian Army.   His discharge papers state a continuing obligation to serve in the reserves until January 21, 1924, but this was not to be.  

On August 30, 1909, young Wolf departed the port of Antwerp, Belgium on the Red Star Line ship "Zeeland."    He arrived in New York City On September 11, 1909.   There is no real documentation of how he escaped from Russia, but there is much to suggest it would be a colorful story.  

Kamp grandson, Gerald Kamp recalls a story of young Wolf, after discharge from the army, attempting raise funds (possibly in order to buy his way out of Russia).   Wolf purchased horses and attempted to sell them to the Army.   Unfortunately, the scheme did not take into consideration the frigid Russian winters.   The horses froze in transit and Wolf was ruined.

We will never know for certain how Wolf managed to obtain the funds to immigrate by 1909 but there is one fascinating possibility.  

Graphic 3

  RUSSIA'S BORDER WITH EAST PRUSSIA

The above map shows the nature of the Suwalki border with East Prussia.   While this portion of Russia was land locked, East Prussia had a seaport on The Baltic Sea.   Both "Vladislav" and "Kybert" are towns that border upon East Prussia.   There was a railroad that crossed through Verzhbolov and into East Prussia.   It is easy to see why both cities were likly major smuggling ports for goods and emigrants.  

The following is a quote from   Joseph Rosins, Yitzger Book,    Kibart (Kybartai) Lithuania Yizkor Book. (Note that Rosins originially wrote the book in Yiddish, and his translation is a bit rough.):

"At the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century many Russian Jews who lived in the "Thum haMoshav" (the special zones where Jews were allowed to live) emigrated to the USA.   In order to emigrate legally a passport was needed whose cost was excluded other expenses 25 Rubles, the price of half the ship ticket.   Many people didn't have the money to pay such a sum or could not get a passport for different reasons, therefore they had to leave Russia illegally.   As a result of this groups of "smuggler" organized along the border who for 5, 6 or 10 Rubles would take the emigrants across the border.   They had agents in many towns who would recruit the "clients."   Such a group was also in Kibart, because the conditions there were suitable.   The small river Liepona, whose width in some places was not more than 2-3 meters, was watched by the Russian Border Guard and for a bribe of half a Ruble per person the the soldier guarding the border and something to the sergeant who would arrange the guard and something more to the officer in duty everything became arranged...Thousands   of Jews who arrived to America with the help of these smugglers, remembered them with favor, in spite of the fact that they were not always treated properly."

Wolf   having, most likly grown up in a border city, probably knew how this system worked.   While there are some family stories that indicate Wolf might have been involved in smuggling, there is no direct evidence of this.    There is, however, one document that may or may not indicate a link to such activity.

THE VERZHBOLOVSKY LETTER

When William Kamp died in 1972 , many documents were found in his safe at the Fulton scrapyard.   Included among these documents were several documents in English and Russian, including:

• documents evidencing his military service and discharge,
• a government document authorizing a 28 day leave of absence and passaage over the East Prussian border through the city of Verzhbolov,
• documents from a shipping company for Wolf Kampinski, and
• letters written by and toWilliam in English in the United States concerning attempts to obtain passports for his sister and her family

It is understandable why William chose to save these papers through all the years.   Each documents an important chapter of his life, and, in particular, his, and his family's immigration to the United States.   There was one additional document, however, which, on its face has nothing to do with William, his family or emigration in general.

Graphic 4

 

LETTER TO V.M. VERZHBOLOVSKY

The letter reproduced above, written on the letterhead of a hotel in Moscow, purports to be from a "John Craven-Berley" to a "V.M. Vezhbolovsky." The letter translates as follows:

August 31, 1908 To: Madame V.M. Vezhbolovsky "Dear Madame: In response to your letter of the 25th of this month, it is my duty to report that unfortunately I cannot agree to your proposed conditions.   Thus, I do not deliver my pomade (cream) to any private individual on credit.   Therefore it would be unfair to make an exception for you.   However, I am ready to offer you a large discount and to deliver to you one large 5 ruble container for 3 rubles and 50 kopeks, including the cost of delivery. I look forward to your order by mail, and remain, Faithfully Your, John Craven-Berley

No one in the Kamp family to whom I have spoken recognizes either of these names.   So why would William have kept these documents over all these years?   Verzhbolovsky is a real name, however it is taken from Wolf's town of Verzhbolov.  David Goldman, my translater points out that since Wolf was living in Verzhbolov, the "V.M."   could be his pseudonym.  If this is true, what does the letter mean?

It is possible that what appears to be an innocent business letter, actually could be saying "I will not smuggle you out of the country for no charge, but will agree to give you a "large discount."   What were the "conditions" cited in the letter?   Perhaps free passage for Wolf in exchange for delivery of other Jews to be smuggled out at full price?  We will never know, but this letter could have been Wolf's passport out of Russia.  

This is pure speculation, but we know that Wolf had continuing Reserve responsibilities until 1923.  We must assume that he could not have left legally.   It is likely that he was smuggled out. This interprepation of the letter could explain how Wolf obtained the funds to leave Russia, in violation of the terms of his military discharge.

LEAVING RUSSIA

On July 27, 1909 Wolf received a 28 day leave of absence to cross the Russian border into East Prussia, through the city of Verzhbolov.   The stamps on the pass indicate that he crossed   the border several times, but the final stamp indicates that he did not return to Russia.   He then may have obtained passage to Brussels for his voyage to the New Country.

Graphic 5

Wolf's Pass

The square stamps seem to indicate Wolf Crossing the border into East Prussia.   The round stamps appear to indicate his return into Russia.   Note the last square stamp without corresponding "return stamp."

 

WHY SYRACUSE?

The 1909 manifest of Wolf Kampinsky, indicates that he was going to stay with a "Henry Kaplin" in Brooklyn, N.Y.    Perhaps he joined his brothers there.   From the earlier manifest of   brothers Louis (Leib) and Ralph, it appears that they originally headed to join a currently unknown cousin "Ephriam Goldstein" also in Brooklyn.

What is known, however is that they ultimatly came to live and work in Syracuse and nearby Fulton, New York.   Syracuse was apparently not a random choice.  According to " From a Minyan To a Community: A History of the Jews of Syracuse"   by B.G, Rudolph, Syracuse, 1970,  "There seem to have been quite a community of immigrants from Neustadt in Syracuse - enough to form their own congregation in 1872, the New Adath Yeshurun, also known as the Neustadter Shul."

Wolf, Louis and Ralph came to Syracuse (Fulton) in the early 1900s,   however, much of their mother's family found their way there much earlier.  The 1880 census found Wolf's uncle (his mother's brother), Harris Rosenbloom already settled with a   family and habidashery business in Fulton.  There appears to have been a number of other Rosenblooms in the area before the Kamps arrived.   The details of how and when the Rosenblooms came to live in Syracuse is currently unknown.

Eventually siblings Minna, Abe George, Julius. Florence and Belle would join Wolf, Louis and Ralph in the US.    One sister, Sarah (Shana Baley) and her family, were never able to get out of Lithuania in spite of   Letters by Wolf to the American House of Representatives.  All family members apparently changed their names to "Kamp", including parents Abraham Yakov (Ben Yitzhak) and Yenta Gittle.

In 1914 The Directory for the City of Syracuse, NY reflects an ad for "Kamp and Roth", a business devoted to "sole and upper leather remnants, old rubber, iron and metal."  In 1915 the same directory again reflects Kamp and Roth and this time also lists Louis S. and Ralph S. Kamp, glaziers.

Wolf would be known to his family and friends as William Joseph (Yussel Velvel) Kamp.  Perhaps he spoke of his hometown of "Niestadt", in what is now Lithuania, in the way that a resident of Fulton might tell a foreigner that he is from "Syracuse".  

On September 12, 1914 William, then 31, married American born Rose Bernstein after a long courtship.  Family lore is that the family began tobacco farming in Baldwinsville, NY.   Family photographs reflect the young couple and William's siblings on the farm during this era. Ship manifest of parents in September, 1912 Jankel and Gittel indicates that they were headed to join "children Kempinsky Bros. RFD# 2(?) Baldwinsville NY., -Wolf Son"

Rose was born in New York, but to date little in known about her background.  Her parents, according to family lore were Zekeg Berryl Bernstein and Pearl (Pesha) Weinberg Bernstein.  However, all records I found on the couple identified them as Barnett and Betsie Bernstein.  Barnett and Betsie were married (twice for some reason) in New Yorks Lower East Side.   However, when Wolf met her she was living in Brooklyn.

William turned out to be a successful busnessman and Patriarch, venturing into an automobile dealership and a furniture store.  But his greatest business success was in scrap iron and steal, founding yards in both Syracuse and Fulton, NY. These yards would eventually support the families of William and each of his four sons, who settled nearby.

William and Rose had 21 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.

 

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