Shlomo Saltz, Ruchla Chana Dvora Olej, Baila Saltz, Hershel Saltz, Chaia Saltz, Pinchas Saltz, Echeil Saltz, Machel Saltz, Sarah Saltz, Benjamin Saltz, Abraham Morris Saltz, Berish Dov Saltz
After Avram Moshe Olej’s wife, Baila Horowicz passed away in 1871, he moved to Zdunska Wola where he met the widow Chana Glevitsky Saltz. In 1872 they were married, bringing together the Olej and Saltz families.
Shlomo Saltz and Chana Dvora Olej, who probably met through their parents, were married on the 21st of January 1880. They lived in Pabianice where Shlomo had already opened a Bakery. [i] Shlomo and Chana Dvora had 10 children between 1882 and 1900: Baila, Hershel, Chaia, Pinchas, Echeil, Machel, Sarah, Benjamin, Abram Morris, and Berish.[ii]
Both Shlomo and Chana Dvora were remembered fondly by their children. Chana Dvora was described as “a remarkable person,” with a strong character and saw to it that her family was well cared for. “We were not the greatest earners, but [with] 12-14 people at the table,” “she had to (as they say in America) cut corners.” Despite this when people asked for charity she always gave generously. Shlomo was also very generous and would help everyone. “Whatever he couldn’t give himself, he went out and collected from his friends.” If this sounds tiring, it was. Sometimes Shlomo would be so tired he would fall asleep while eating.[iii]
This large family had to make do with the space that they had. One of their rooms served as the store, office, bedroom, kitchen, and dining room. It was partitioned off with baked goods on the shelves and the beds hidden in the back, sleeping 6 boys to one bed. Their meals often were borsht and stale bread, with meat added at dinner. However, “when it came to Shabbos, it was a different story”. They would have fish, meat, broiled goose and Tzimmes (stew of carrots, sweet potatoes, and fruit) and Cholent (stew).[iv]
Finished with Poland
In 1904, Shlomo made a decision that ended up being a very fortunate mistake. He decided to partner with his son-in-law, Jake Steck, and became a flour merchant selling to non-Jewish bakers. In 1910 and 1911 there was a financial crisis, and the bakers were no longer able to pay their bills. This ruined the business and at the beginning of 1912 it was declared that “the time of Shloimeh Saltz and his family in Pabianice had expired.” It was decided that all would go to Canada starting with his son Pinchas Saltz who arrived in Montreal on the 5th of July 1912. Upon arrival he joined the Bakers union, which allowed him to earn up to $0.20 per hour.[v]
Having established a presence in Canada, around 1913, he was joined by his father Shlomo, his brother, Benjamin, his brother-in-law, Jake Steck, and his first cousin, Abraham (Abe) Olej.[1] Abe, Benjamin, Jake and Shlomo decided to open a company together and purchased a bakery on St. Denis Street. They rented “a big flat” and while they ran the bakery, Sarah Saltz (who recently arrived) ran the household. Chaia was likely next to arrive in Canada with husband, Shimon Vineberg.[2][vi] [vii]
Unfortunately, the Bakery lost money. To increase profitability, Morris Saltz, who had recently arrived in Montreal, became a delivery driver for their company. They further expanded by opening a branch store, on Prince Arthur Street. These efforts did not reverse the loss, causing them to use up their credit. As a result, their suppliers stopped delivering flour. Furthermore, as Pinchas reflected an understandable fact that the workers “had a funny habit, if they didn’t get paid, they didn’t work.”[viii] It was time to look for even greener pastures In the United States.
Setting up shop in Chicago
With friends in Chicago, Pinchas and Morris chose that as their destination and arrived in June of 1916. Pinchas worked as a Baker and did well for himself.[ix] It is here he met Minnie Leavitt. They were married and had three children.[3] Morris also settled in Chicago and married Ethel Levin.[4] [x]
It is not known exactly when Hershel Saltz left Poland, but we know that he arrived in New York City from Canada on the 15th of June 1918. Certifying that he was not an anarchist or a polygamist, he was allowed into the country.[xi] His intention was to bring his wife, Esther, and their four children who remained with Ester’s family.[5] [xii] Sadly, after World War I, along with many other members of her family, Esther contracted and succumbed to tuberculosis on the 10th of June 1919, she was 36.[xiii] Left without parents in Poland had to be a difficult experience. Fortunately for Philip, Helen and Rae, their 16-year-old sister, Bella took charge. Once Bella became 18, accompanied by their uncle Abram Rozenbaum, Bella and her siblings boarded a train Le Havre, France where they boarded the La Lorraine, traveling 3rd class. They arrived in New York City on the 29th of August 1919. This was not the end of their adventure, Bella became ill during the trip and her father, Harry, had to bribe the Ellis Island authorities to allow her to disembark. Lacking means they lived in a tenement on Cherry Street. Over a period of 8 years, Harry slowly moved his family to Chicago (with his children living with his parents and Morris. By 1930, Bella, Philip and Helen lived with their father in Chicago.[xiv]
With the end of the war, the rest of the family arrived rapidly. Belle Saltz joined her husband, Jake Steck in Chicago. She came from Poland to New York City on the SS Aquitania on 21 August 1920.[6] [xv] Berish (Ben) arrived in Montreal in Nov of 1920 and entered the United States in Buffalo on the 10th of Oct 1921. He married Dora Gordon and they had two children.[7] [xvi] [xvii]
By 1920 the instigators of these moves, Shlomo and Chana Dvora came to Chicago. They were joined by and their nephew Abe Olej (now Olive) who worked as a barber which provided him the funds to support his siblings in Poland. Finally, Machel Saltz and his wife Raisel (daughter of Sucher Saltz) arrived in Chicago (via Canada) by 1930.[8] [xviii] With Machel’s arrival (now going by Michael), Shlomo’s fortunate “mistake” ensured the survival of all his and Chana’s children. The Saltz and their descendants were very lucky. In Part Six of this book, we will find out why.[9]
[1] Abe was the son of Yosef.
[2] They had 5 children, Miriam, Bella, Razel, Yisrael and Shalom.
[3] Pinchas and Minnie’s children: Bernadine, Adele and Arthur.
[4] Morris and Ethel had two children, Barbara and Stanley.
[5] Hershel and Ester’s children: Bella, Philip, Helen and Rachel to New York city.
[6] Belle and Jake had three children: Irving, Leon, and Rose.
[7] Bennie and Dora’s children: Judith and Sidney.
[8] They also brought their children: Belle, Lena and William. Their daughter Ida was born in Canada.
[9] The only one not to make it out of Poland was Echiel. We do not know what happened to him but suspect that he died young.
[i] Pinchas Saltz Memoirs, see Appendix F
[ii] Professional Genealogist Petje reviewed birth, marriage, and death records on Metryki GenBaza, source of vital records. Petje transcribed and summarized in a tree located in Appendix E. Available online at (Metryki GenBaza – Księgi metrykalne i USC. Genealogia.).
[iii] Pinchas Saltz Memoirs, see Appendix F
[iv] IBID
[v] IBID
[vi] IBID
[vii] Obtained by Keith Olive and Judith Silberg through interviewing cousins, aunts, uncles, and his parents. They were Provided to Sean Logan via family sheets. Notes in the possession of Sean Logan.
[viii] Pinchas Saltz Memoirs, see Appendix F
[ix] IBID
[x] “Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991″, database and image at Ancestry.com, National Archives at Chicago; Chicago, Illinois; ARC Title: Petitions For Naturalization, 1906-1991; Name: Abraham Morris Saltz, Spouse: Ethel; Arrival date: 1 Jun 1916; Accessed 3 Aug 2025.
[xi] “New York, U.S., State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1794-1943″, database and image at Ancestry.com, The National Archives at Philadelphia; Name: Harry Saltz; Arrival date: 15 Jun 1918, Accessed 9 Aug 2025.
[xii] Recollections from Harry and Ester’s grandson Siggy Saltz.
[xiii] IBID
[xiv] “1930 United States Federal Census“, database and image at Ancestry.com, United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930; Harry Saltz and family, Widowed, Location Chicago IL, Accessed on 3 Aug 2025.
[xv] “Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991″, database and image at Ancestry.com, National Archives at Chicago; Chicago, Illinois; ARC Title: Petitions For Naturalization, 1906-1991; Name: Belle Steck; Arrival: 21 Aug 1920; Accessed on 3 Aug 2025.
[xvi] “Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991″, database and image at Ancestry.com, National Archives at Chicago; Chicago, Illinois; ARC Title: Petitions For Naturalization, 1906-1991; Name: Bennie Salltz; Arrival: 10 Oct 1921; Accessed on 3 Aug 2025.
[xvii] “1930 United States Federal Census“, database and image at Ancestry.com, United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930; Ben Saltz and family, Names: Dora, Judith and Sidney; Location Chicago IL, Accessed on 3 Aug 2025.
[xviii] “1930 United States Federal Census“, database and image at Ancestry.com, United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930; Michel Saltz and family, Names: Rose, Belle, Lena, William and Ida; Location Chicago IL, Accessed on 3 Aug 2025.
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