Sam Kotkins was born in either
Lithuania or Latvia. Like many Jews of the time in the early 1900's he fled to America to
avoid the army. His arrival in the US was believed to be in Philadelphia. He traveled with
his uncle Genss. He arrived on his 13th birthday having had his Bar Mitzvah aboard the
ship. The Genss family lived in Seattle which is how the family became Seattlites. After
just a few years of education he dropped out of school to earn a living. He married Nellie Kulman and had two sons, Walter and Herbert (Buddy).
Except for a brief period during the depression, he worked for his
brother, Abe Kotkins at the Seattle Suitcase, Truck and Baggage Co (now
Skyway Luggage), until he retired about a year before his death.
The Seattle Directory of 1911 listed Samuel Kotkins as a "helper", probably to
Abe Kotkins who was then listed as a "pawnbroker". The residence of both was
listed as 115 18th Avenue, Seattle. The 1920 census released in March of 1992 disagreed
with the date in which Sam Kotkins arrived in US. The census reported arrival in 1908
which meant he was 8, not 13. In 1920 he lived with his brother Abe Kotkins at 725 28th
Avenue. (See Abe Kotkins). He received his citizenship in 1919 after serving in the army
during WW I. During WWI Sam served in the Army and fought in France where he received a
head injury from shrapnel.
His Jewish date of birth is 19 Taivis 1897 and was the 5th child in the family.
Herbert Kotkins, also nicknamed "Buddy" was born the second son to Nellie and Sam Kotkins. He lived in Seattle until 1976 when he moved to Washington D.C. After graduating from the University of Washington he entered into the paint business and worked for himself and for a local paint manufacturer. In 1976 he accepted a position with the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization as business manager. He and his wife Marlene moved in July. They remained in DC living in College Park, Silver Spring and Rockville, Maryland until 1994 when both he and wife retired and moved back to Bellevue, Washington.
Nosson Gens remember:
The grandfather (Gens Leim-Juhuda) was the silent, quiet man. Two his sons Cvi (Hirsh) and Tevye have left in USA. One of them became a merchant, had shop of a ready dress, and another - rabby in Siattle, though had no the diploma on such post. But in that time all was possible, because America required all. He has managed in this rank to grow rich. Means, he was not only vigorous, but far not the fool and has managed to use a favorable situation.
The continuation follows!!!
Hannah was the
daughter of Label Genss and his wife (name unknown at this time). She had four brothers:
Tevia, Beryl, Hirsch and a
brother (name unknown). For a list of decendents of Hannah and Fivel see decendants lists
for Fivel Kotkes.
It is assumed that neither Hannah or her husband Label ever travel to the US. However her
brother Tevia settled in Fort Worth and
Hirsch in Seattle. Hirsch became an early Rabbi serving the Seattle orthodox
community.Sometime after Hannah gave birth to seven children she died. The date is not
know at this time. However, her husband remarried and had 3 more children with his second
wife.
It is believed that Fivel
Kotkes lived his entire life in Vilno, Lithuania. Dates of birth, death,
marriage are not know at this time.
Fivel was either a Rabbi or a very religious Jew. Fivel had three wives. His first was Hanna Genss, his second
was Fruma Shifsra Pape, and his third was Malka
(maiden name unknow). With his first wife he had children: Abe
Kotkins, Samuel Kotkins,Cherie Kotkins (Orloff), Teresa Kotkins (Massey), Sara Kotkins
(Bell), Sylvia Kotkins (Kaplan), and Naftel Kotkes. With his second wife he
had children: Morton Kotkins, Ephraim Kotes and Shirley Kotkins
Litma (Litma). He and his wives Hanna Genss (Kotkes) and Fum Pape (Kotkes)
gave birth to ten children. Eight of these children moved no the USA in the early 1900s.
The decendents of one family (Naftel) now live in Israel.
No information is available about one son who is assumed to have perished in the Nazi
holocaust.
Additional information about Fivel Kotkes or wife Hanna Genss would be appreciated to be
added to this biographical information.
Abe Kotkins
was the first son of Fivel Kotkes to arrive in USA.
The following information is preliminary and may contain
inaccuracies. Corrections and additions are requested.
Like most of Fivel's children, he was sponsored by the Genss family. He, like the other
male children, were required to serve in the Russian Army. For this, and perhaps other
reasons, relocated in USA. He settled in Seattle because of the Genss family. The amount
and location of schooling is unknown. He founded the Seattle Suitcase Truck and Baggage
Company which was later changed to Seattle Luggage, which ultimately grew into what is
today, Skyway Luggage. A publication was prepared by son Henry
L. Kotkins about 20 years ago which describes the growth of the company. The
orginal family name is "Kotkes" but became Kotkins as the family immigrated to
the USA. The name was probably changed at customs or was changed to
"Americanize" the name. The Seattle Director of 1911 listed Abraham Kotkins as a pawnbroker with the address listed
as 608 3rd Avenue, Seattle. Sam Kotkins was listed
as "helper". The residence of both is shown as 115 18th Avenue, Seattle. The
1920 census listed Abe Kotkins as age 34, and arrived in US in 1904; a proprietor of a
leather store, wife Ida 35, Son Henry 8, and daughter Lucille
. Also living with them was Sam Kotkins, 23.
They lived at 725 28th Avenue in Seattle.
His Jewish date of birth is 22 of Ader 1887
He is the oldest child in the family and first to come to US
During World War II, Cherie
Orloff lived in Yonkers, New York. (Biographical
information is needed. )
She was involved in selling War Bonds and won awards for her work in this area. Among
other presentation, she received a WWII Jeep. Her Jewish date of birth is on Sukas 1902.
She was the 7th and last child born to Fivel and Hanna Guess. Fivel had three more
children with his 2nd wife.
Philip Kotkes
is the son of Naftel Kotkins and Hannah. Hannah's
maiden name is currently unkown. Philip was born in either Latvia
or Lithuania. When the Russians overtook the countries during World War Two, the family
was moved to Siberia. After the War Philip
moved to Israel. At this time there is no information about the rest of his family. We are
currently seeking additional information.
LIttle information is know of Naftel Kotkes. Anyone who has information is urged to add
to this biography.
Naftol stayed in his home town until his death.
It is assumed that he died in the Holocaust of World War II His Jewish date of birth is 25
Chesvon 1893 and is the 3rd oldest child of the family.
Walter Kotkins was born in Seattle, Washington and was the first son of Samuel Kotkins and Nellie Kulman Kotkins. During World War Two he served in the US Navy in the Pacific theatre of war. Upon return after the war he worked for the Seattle Luggage Corp and when the company opened a sales office in Portland, Oregon, he moved there. He was married in Seattle. He has three sons.
Label Kotkes
is the head of the family about which this is concerned. On February 1, 1990 there are 93
know direct decendents but this is
prior to any recent updating. It is believed that Label Kotkes was born in Vevya and later
moved to Vilno, both cities in Lithuania.
Much information is missing about Label Kotkes including such details as the name of his
wife, dates of birth, death and the name of his
children except for Fivel Kotkes. (It is Fivel's family about which this "family
tree" is actually drawn.) "Kotkes" is the original family name.
"Kotkins" apparently was not used until the family moved to USA.
Honey Massey,
Horen has indicated that at birth Hope was named Hanora.
However, shortly after birth Honey convinced Hope's mother
that her name should be Hope. That would make a
combination of the Mother...Cherie, the twin sisters Hope and
Faith. It was done.
