Interview with Robert Liebowitz, July 23, 1954, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Partial Transcript: Robert was from Minsk. He came to the United States when he was thirteen years old and the journey took six weeks. His father was the first in the family to go to America five years Robert came. Robert arrived in New York, where he had an uncle. When Robert arrived in Milwaukee, he started working in a tailor's shop.

Partial Transcript: Robert is not completely sure of his exact age, but he thinks he was born in 1883.

Partial Transcript: Robert lived in a small town outside of Minsk until he came to America at the age of thirteen.

Partial Transcript: Robert thinks his father was a butcher in Russia, but he is not completely sure. His father left Russia when Robert was young.

Partial Transcript: Robert quit school when he was twelve years old. His father sent money to Robert and his family in Minsk. Robert has two sisters.

Partial Transcript: Robert thinks he came to America in 1895. He knows that he came to America a few years before the start of the Spanish American War.

Partial Transcript: Robert attended Hebrew school in Minsk, because there were no public schools.

Partial Transcript: Robert arrived in New York, where he had an uncle.

Partial Transcript: Robert took a train from New York to Milwaukee, which took about two days.

Partial Transcript: Robert's father peddled around Milwaukee.

Partial Transcript: Robert had to work ten to twelve hour days when he came to Milwaukee. He peddled dry goods, and later switched to peddling junk. He eventually started peddling fruit.

Partial Transcript: Robert and seven others started a peddlers union. They worked to lower the price of a peddlers license.

Partial Transcript: When Robert started peddling, there were no trucks and so he used a horse and wagon to transport his wares. It was possible to make a decent living peddling. Robert and his father did not often encounter many other peddlers.

Partial Transcript: Robert belonged to a Jewish congregation for a while in Milwaukee, but he was not very religious. Most of the Jews lived in the same neighborhood when Robert came to Milwaukee.

Partial Transcript: Robert discusses the boundaries of Milwaukee when he arrived in 1895.

Partial Transcript: Robert says that most of the Jews in small communities were orthodox.

Partial Transcript: Robert says that the city of La Crosse had an orthodox synagogue. Robert briefly lived in La Crosse. He estimates that the community had forty of fifty Jewish families. Robert says he traveled around most of the state of Wisconsin. He would often encounter a Jewish family in small Wisconsin towns.

Partial Transcript: When Robert peddled with a horse and wagon, he estimates that he covered thirty miles a day. He often had to camp out while working as a peddler.

Partial Transcript: Robert says that he rarely encountered any Indians during his travels. There were some Indian settlements around Eagle River, Wisconsin.

Partial Transcript: Robert says he would occasionally encounter gypsies in the Wisconsin.

Partial Transcript: Robert says he just used "common horses" to peddle. Horses were fairly expensive when he peddled. Some people think that horses used to be stronger and more durable. He tells a story about buying a horse for $20.

Partial Transcript: Robert talks about the towns in Wisconsin where he would do business.

Partial Transcript: Robert does not remember much about attending the temple in Milwaukee. The services were in Hebrew. He discusses the various rabbis in Milwaukee.

Partial Transcript: Robert would only see German Jews in Milwaukee on Jewish holidays.

Partial Transcript: Robert says that when he lived in Milwaukee, those who wanted to be religious had plenty of opportunities and resources.

Partial Transcript: Robert says that it was difficult for him to be religious and be a peddler, because he had to work on Saturdays to make a living.

Partial Transcript: Robert did not keep kosher.

Partial Transcript: Robert talks about how he used to have picnics in Shorewood Park when he lived in Milwaukee.

Partial Transcript: Robert does not remember much about other Wisconsin Jewish communities.

Partial Transcript: Robert says that the Jewish community used to have a lot of poor people, but others in the community would give them help.