The Felixes emigrate and move to Harlem
Jane and Estelle Felix emigrated with their parents and six siblings from Łódź, Poland about 1890.
The family—Arthur and Emily, the parents, and children Sara, Pauline, Eva, Josef, Flora, Estelle, Louis, and Jane—found a home in Harlem by 1900. Sometime in the next few years, the Sophians and Felixes met and became close—especially Harry with Jane and Abraham and Estelle. The brothers eventually would marry the sisters.
Harry and Jane
Harry courted Jane, which appears to have included a vacation on the Jersey shore. Their arrival at one of the Asbury Park hotels, The Park View, in July 1905 was announced in the papers—“Misses Felix, Joe Felix, and Harry Sophian” arrive.
Harry and Jane married in 1907. They welcomed their daughter Lucille into the world, 1909. And Harry applied for citizenship the same year. During this period, Harry, Jane, and Lucille lived the Felix family apartment. The 1910 census records show that nearly all the Felixes were engaged in work. Estelle was a school teacher; Pauline, a milliner; Louis, a lawyer; Josef, a salesman; Jane, a merchant; and Harry in real estate.
Abraham and Estelle
Abraham finished his medical degree in 1906, started his residency at Mount Sinai, courted and married Jane’s older sister, Estelle in 1911. Their children, Emily and Bud (Abraham Jr.) were born in 1913 and 1915.
This was an exciting time for the Abraham and Estelle. As they started their family, Abraham’s career started blooming as well. He became renowned for his work in infectious diseases and was in great demand to consult on outbreaks and epidemics. He was beckoned to Dallas in 1911 when that city suffered a particularly severe epidemic of 185 cases of meningitis. His success there was celebrated widely.
Ketubah-Jewish Marriage Contract