Joseph was born somewhere in Russia. According to a descendant, Joseph and his wife Tauba or Tillie left Russia after they married in 1884. They stopped off in Sweden where Tauba gave birth to their first child Mary. Tauba and little Mary remained in Sweden for two or three years, and Joseph went on ahead to St. Louis, Missouri so he could set up a home for his family.
The name was also spelled Farbstein.
Tauba (Tillie) and little Mary left Sweden in 1889 for St. Louis. Joseph worked as a tailor to support his family, which eventually included at least six other children.
The three boys in the family, Leo F. Forbstein, Lou Forbes, and Sam L. Forbes, all made their way to Hollywood in the early days, and worked in the studios.
Leo Forbstein's memorial: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9012
There was also a younger daughter named Bertha or Bertie, born in 1906 who lived till 1964. Also another daughter, Lottie, who was born about 1895. Lottie was recorded in the 1900 census as a 5 year old. Another older daughter, Malke, was found. Malke died five days after birth in 1890 in St. Louis. And another little daughter was found, Sadie, who died at the age of one in 1901. It seems there were at least two other children for Joseph, neither one named in their St. Louis death records, both of whom died at birth, one in 1900 and another in 1901.
Joseph's death record could not be located in Missouri records or in the California Death Index.
Update: Joseph Forbstein was found in the 1930 federal census for California, living as a lodger in the Belmont Hotel in Los Angeles. From the census info, his age was 63; he immigrated in 1887; he was widowed by 1930; and he was working as a tailor, his usual occupation. The hotel where he lived was not far from the homes of his sons who were working at the Hollywood studios. All those were clues that this was the same Joseph.
The 1930 census was incorrect in that it recorded that he was born in Sweden, but that was never in his previous records, so it was a mistake on the part of the census-taker or someone.
Joseph died at some point between 1930 (the census) and 1940 (the beginning of the California Death Index, in which he could not be located). There is some information that a Joseph Farbstein died in 1937 in Los Angeles, and that was probably the correct one. An obituary could not be located for him in the Los Angeles Times newspaper archives, so no place of burial could be determined.
The likely father for Joseph is someone named Lejb Farbstein who died in 1901 in St. Louis. Lejb and his wife Slata lived exactly one block away from Joseph and his family. Joseph lived at 714 Washington St. in St. Louis, and Lejb lived at 813 Washington St.
The name Louis was so important to Joseph and his wife Tillie that all three of their sons had the name Louis or Leo as part of their names: Leo F. Forbstein (whose original name on his birth record was Louis); Lou Forbes; and Samuel L. (for Leo) Forbes.
Because all three sons had the name Louis (or Leo) it was speculated that Leib would probably be Joseph's father's name, and it turns out that it most likely was:
Lejb (Louis) Farbstein's memorial: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28223876
Lejb Farbstein was born March 12, 1829 according to his Missouri death record. Other information on Lejb's death cert: he was a retired merchant; he died of chronic peritonitis and dropsy.
Another clue is that one of Joseph's older daughters was named Lottie, and if Lejb was Joseph's father, then the mother's name would be Slata or Zlota (which is similar to Lottie).
Updated: The missing links for Joseph's information were kindly contributed by Scott G who found the death certificate with birth date, burial location and death date. Joseph's father's name was recorded on that as Leon, and the mother's name was unknown for the record. Joseph's son Sam was the informant for the DC and Joseph's place of death was Sam's address. Thanks so much, Scott! (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=453)
Ref: US census info; St. Louis Registry of Births; St. Louis Registry of Deaths; California Death Certificate.
The name was also spelled Farbstein.
Tauba (Tillie) and little Mary left Sweden in 1889 for St. Louis. Joseph worked as a tailor to support his family, which eventually included at least six other children.
The three boys in the family, Leo F. Forbstein, Lou Forbes, and Sam L. Forbes, all made their way to Hollywood in the early days, and worked in the studios.
Leo Forbstein's memorial: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9012
There was also a younger daughter named Bertha or Bertie, born in 1906 who lived till 1964. Also another daughter, Lottie, who was born about 1895. Lottie was recorded in the 1900 census as a 5 year old. Another older daughter, Malke, was found. Malke died five days after birth in 1890 in St. Louis. And another little daughter was found, Sadie, who died at the age of one in 1901. It seems there were at least two other children for Joseph, neither one named in their St. Louis death records, both of whom died at birth, one in 1900 and another in 1901.
Joseph's death record could not be located in Missouri records or in the California Death Index.
Update: Joseph Forbstein was found in the 1930 federal census for California, living as a lodger in the Belmont Hotel in Los Angeles. From the census info, his age was 63; he immigrated in 1887; he was widowed by 1930; and he was working as a tailor, his usual occupation. The hotel where he lived was not far from the homes of his sons who were working at the Hollywood studios. All those were clues that this was the same Joseph.
The 1930 census was incorrect in that it recorded that he was born in Sweden, but that was never in his previous records, so it was a mistake on the part of the census-taker or someone.
Joseph died at some point between 1930 (the census) and 1940 (the beginning of the California Death Index, in which he could not be located). There is some information that a Joseph Farbstein died in 1937 in Los Angeles, and that was probably the correct one. An obituary could not be located for him in the Los Angeles Times newspaper archives, so no place of burial could be determined.
The likely father for Joseph is someone named Lejb Farbstein who died in 1901 in St. Louis. Lejb and his wife Slata lived exactly one block away from Joseph and his family. Joseph lived at 714 Washington St. in St. Louis, and Lejb lived at 813 Washington St.
The name Louis was so important to Joseph and his wife Tillie that all three of their sons had the name Louis or Leo as part of their names: Leo F. Forbstein (whose original name on his birth record was Louis); Lou Forbes; and Samuel L. (for Leo) Forbes.
Because all three sons had the name Louis (or Leo) it was speculated that Leib would probably be Joseph's father's name, and it turns out that it most likely was:
Lejb (Louis) Farbstein's memorial: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28223876
Lejb Farbstein was born March 12, 1829 according to his Missouri death record. Other information on Lejb's death cert: he was a retired merchant; he died of chronic peritonitis and dropsy.
Another clue is that one of Joseph's older daughters was named Lottie, and if Lejb was Joseph's father, then the mother's name would be Slata or Zlota (which is similar to Lottie).
Updated: The missing links for Joseph's information were kindly contributed by Scott G who found the death certificate with birth date, burial location and death date. Joseph's father's name was recorded on that as Leon, and the mother's name was unknown for the record. Joseph's son Sam was the informant for the DC and Joseph's place of death was Sam's address. Thanks so much, Scott! (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=453)
Ref: US census info; St. Louis Registry of Births; St. Louis Registry of Deaths; California Death Certificate.
Joseph was born somewhere in Russia. According to a descendant, Joseph and his wife Tauba or Tillie left Russia after they married in 1884. They stopped off in Sweden where Tauba gave birth to their first child Mary. Tauba and little Mary remained in Sweden for two or three years, and Joseph went on ahead to St. Louis, Missouri so he could set up a home for his family.
The name was also spelled Farbstein.
Tauba (Tillie) and little Mary left Sweden in 1889 for St. Louis. Joseph worked as a tailor to support his family, which eventually included at least six other children.
The three boys in the family, Leo F. Forbstein, Lou Forbes, and Sam L. Forbes, all made their way to Hollywood in the early days, and worked in the studios.
Leo Forbstein's memorial: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9012
There was also a younger daughter named Bertha or Bertie, born in 1906 who lived till 1964. Also another daughter, Lottie, who was born about 1895. Lottie was recorded in the 1900 census as a 5 year old. Another older daughter, Malke, was found. Malke died five days after birth in 1890 in St. Louis. And another little daughter was found, Sadie, who died at the age of one in 1901. It seems there were at least two other children for Joseph, neither one named in their St. Louis death records, both of whom died at birth, one in 1900 and another in 1901.
Joseph's death record could not be located in Missouri records or in the California Death Index.
Update: Joseph Forbstein was found in the 1930 federal census for California, living as a lodger in the Belmont Hotel in Los Angeles. From the census info, his age was 63; he immigrated in 1887; he was widowed by 1930; and he was working as a tailor, his usual occupation. The hotel where he lived was not far from the homes of his sons who were working at the Hollywood studios. All those were clues that this was the same Joseph.
The 1930 census was incorrect in that it recorded that he was born in Sweden, but that was never in his previous records, so it was a mistake on the part of the census-taker or someone.
Joseph died at some point between 1930 (the census) and 1940 (the beginning of the California Death Index, in which he could not be located). There is some information that a Joseph Farbstein died in 1937 in Los Angeles, and that was probably the correct one. An obituary could not be located for him in the Los Angeles Times newspaper archives, so no place of burial could be determined.
The likely father for Joseph is someone named Lejb Farbstein who died in 1901 in St. Louis. Lejb and his wife Slata lived exactly one block away from Joseph and his family. Joseph lived at 714 Washington St. in St. Louis, and Lejb lived at 813 Washington St.
The name Louis was so important to Joseph and his wife Tillie that all three of their sons had the name Louis or Leo as part of their names: Leo F. Forbstein (whose original name on his birth record was Louis); Lou Forbes; and Samuel L. (for Leo) Forbes.
Because all three sons had the name Louis (or Leo) it was speculated that Leib would probably be Joseph's father's name, and it turns out that it most likely was:
Lejb (Louis) Farbstein's memorial: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28223876
Lejb Farbstein was born March 12, 1829 according to his Missouri death record. Other information on Lejb's death cert: he was a retired merchant; he died of chronic peritonitis and dropsy.
Another clue is that one of Joseph's older daughters was named Lottie, and if Lejb was Joseph's father, then the mother's name would be Slata or Zlota (which is similar to Lottie).
Updated: The missing links for Joseph's information were kindly contributed by Scott G who found the death certificate with birth date, burial location and death date. Joseph's father's name was recorded on that as Leon, and the mother's name was unknown for the record. Joseph's son Sam was the informant for the DC and Joseph's place of death was Sam's address. Thanks so much, Scott! (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=453)
Ref: US census info; St. Louis Registry of Births; St. Louis Registry of Deaths; California Death Certificate.
The name was also spelled Farbstein.
Tauba (Tillie) and little Mary left Sweden in 1889 for St. Louis. Joseph worked as a tailor to support his family, which eventually included at least six other children.
The three boys in the family, Leo F. Forbstein, Lou Forbes, and Sam L. Forbes, all made their way to Hollywood in the early days, and worked in the studios.
Leo Forbstein's memorial: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9012
There was also a younger daughter named Bertha or Bertie, born in 1906 who lived till 1964. Also another daughter, Lottie, who was born about 1895. Lottie was recorded in the 1900 census as a 5 year old. Another older daughter, Malke, was found. Malke died five days after birth in 1890 in St. Louis. And another little daughter was found, Sadie, who died at the age of one in 1901. It seems there were at least two other children for Joseph, neither one named in their St. Louis death records, both of whom died at birth, one in 1900 and another in 1901.
Joseph's death record could not be located in Missouri records or in the California Death Index.
Update: Joseph Forbstein was found in the 1930 federal census for California, living as a lodger in the Belmont Hotel in Los Angeles. From the census info, his age was 63; he immigrated in 1887; he was widowed by 1930; and he was working as a tailor, his usual occupation. The hotel where he lived was not far from the homes of his sons who were working at the Hollywood studios. All those were clues that this was the same Joseph.
The 1930 census was incorrect in that it recorded that he was born in Sweden, but that was never in his previous records, so it was a mistake on the part of the census-taker or someone.
Joseph died at some point between 1930 (the census) and 1940 (the beginning of the California Death Index, in which he could not be located). There is some information that a Joseph Farbstein died in 1937 in Los Angeles, and that was probably the correct one. An obituary could not be located for him in the Los Angeles Times newspaper archives, so no place of burial could be determined.
The likely father for Joseph is someone named Lejb Farbstein who died in 1901 in St. Louis. Lejb and his wife Slata lived exactly one block away from Joseph and his family. Joseph lived at 714 Washington St. in St. Louis, and Lejb lived at 813 Washington St.
The name Louis was so important to Joseph and his wife Tillie that all three of their sons had the name Louis or Leo as part of their names: Leo F. Forbstein (whose original name on his birth record was Louis); Lou Forbes; and Samuel L. (for Leo) Forbes.
Because all three sons had the name Louis (or Leo) it was speculated that Leib would probably be Joseph's father's name, and it turns out that it most likely was:
Lejb (Louis) Farbstein's memorial: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28223876
Lejb Farbstein was born March 12, 1829 according to his Missouri death record. Other information on Lejb's death cert: he was a retired merchant; he died of chronic peritonitis and dropsy.
Another clue is that one of Joseph's older daughters was named Lottie, and if Lejb was Joseph's father, then the mother's name would be Slata or Zlota (which is similar to Lottie).
Updated: The missing links for Joseph's information were kindly contributed by Scott G who found the death certificate with birth date, burial location and death date. Joseph's father's name was recorded on that as Leon, and the mother's name was unknown for the record. Joseph's son Sam was the informant for the DC and Joseph's place of death was Sam's address. Thanks so much, Scott! (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=mr&MRid=453)
Ref: US census info; St. Louis Registry of Births; St. Louis Registry of Deaths; California Death Certificate.
Family Members
Children
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Mary Farbstein Peckman
1887–1964
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Malke Farbstein
1890–1890
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Leo F. Forbstein
1892–1948
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Lottie Forbstein Shipper
1895–1982
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Lottie Forbstein
1895 – unknown
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Sam L. "Samuel Forbstein" Forbes
1898–1982
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Sarah "Sadie" Farbstein
1900–1901
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Lou "Louis Forbstein" Forbes
1902–1981
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Bertie Forbstein Gelles
1906–1964
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