Looking Back with Aunt Bertha

By Rhea Regenbogen and Miriam Ampolsk

       Miriam (Meril) Hershberg and Soloman Kluclevich (or Cluclevich) were married after being engaged, sight unseen, for three years.  The family lived in Kiev and while enduring the Pogroms decided to move to America where Soloman had an Uncle, Meyer Teles living in New Orleans.  Solomon came to America about 1907 and moved his family here about 1910.  They had seven children in Russia, three of whom died.  The four remaining children who came in 1910 were Isidore, Pearl, Israel and Annie.  In 1911 Bertha was born in New Orleans.  Isidore was 14 years old when he arrived here.  Before leaving Russia, Meril's (Miriam) sister, Rose, was murdered by the Cossacks.  She was survived by three children, one of whom was Ben (Bengy) Shrieverman, who was unable to enter the United States because of the quota system.  So he decided to go to Mexico while awaiting entry.  He became very successful in Mexico City and remained there until his death.

       When the family arrived here the name was Kluclevich (?) but because of the difficulty in spelling it, it became Corenman and years later the e was dropped and it became Cornman.  Isidore married in 1916, Pearl in the 1920's, Annie in the 1920's, Israel about 1930 and Bertha in 1933.

       Miriam had another sister, Lena (Katz) and a brother, Harry (Hershberg) both of whom moved to New Orleans and lived here until their deaths.