Myth-busting in genealogy - the Cotopaxi Colony list of members.

Family histories are great.  But do you take them at face value?  Do you ever try to prove them?

Flora Satt wrote her 1950 Master's thesis about the Cotopaxi Colony.  Consider what a master's thesis is and who it is written for.  While she did a great job, her professors are not going to know if it is accurate or not.  They cannot prove her right or wrong!  They were looking for her research capabilities and with the limitations given in 1950 - she did an outstanding job!  Yet with the research capabilities we have available today to genealogists, I can prove her wrong time and again.

It has been said that she was a descendant of one of the Colonists.  Her mother was Ethel Milstein.  Her grandfather was Menash Milstein.  And her great grandfather was Saul Ber Milstein.  Saul Ber Milstein and his children were not Colonists as their ship did not arrive in America until December 1884.....after the colony had disbanded.  But Flora was closely related to the Colonists.

First myth busted.  Flora's ancestors were never at Cotopaxi.

Flora gave us many great references.  But I found out that when you go to find the references, they are nonexistent.  Family Bibles cannot be traced.  Old newspaper articles have been lost, never digitized.  Family letters are not available.  I am the kind of researcher who wants to read the entire article, not just a sentence or two out of the article.  As for my research on Cotopaxi - when I am done, you will be able to read anything and everything as I will donate it all to the Family History Center here in Canon City. (oh! lucky them!!!)

Flora's proof - a lot simply doesn't exist.

In her footnotes, she gives us a breakdown of who was living in Cotopaxi in 1882 - 1884:

35. The list of the twenty-two 'heads of family' who were eligible to file on 160 acres each includes the following:
1. Benjamin Zalman Milstein, 40, with his wife Hannah, and younger son Henry. His eldest son Jacob was married and thus the head of his own family.
2. Jacob Millstein, 19, with his wife Nettie, 20. (The spelling of the name was changed on the marriage license issued at Blackhawk, 1882).
3. Jacob Milstein, 18, eldest son of Saul Baer Milstein. He represented his father, the original
leader of the group.
4. Isaac Leib 'Shames' (Milstein), widower, with two young daughters, Hannah, Rachel, (Nettie,
 see 6)
5. Michael 'Shames' (Milstein), 23, eldest son of Isaac Shames, with his wife Frieda Raisie, and two young daughters, Esther Mary and Sarah Bessie.
6. Joseph Washer, 22, son-in-law of Isaac Shames, with his wife Nettie.
7. Charles Prezant, 24, cousin-in-law, having married Keile Milstein in Europe. They had at this
 time one son, Isaac, 3 years old.
8. Max Shuteran, 19, having married Keile's sister Hannah Milstein, was also a cousin by
 marriage to the seven families listed above.
9. Solomon Shuteran, 21, brother of Max, with his wife Rachel and baby girl who died in
Cotopaxi and was buried there.
10. David Korpitsky, 37, widower with three daughters and one baby son which died in
 Cotopaxi and was buried there.
11. Samuel Schneider, 48, with his wife Alta.
12. Abrahan Newman, son-in-law of Schneider, with his wife Nechama.
13. Berel Morris, son-in-law of Schneider, with his wife Sarah and daughter Helen.
14. Samuel Shradsky, 65, widower.
15. Sholem Shradsky, eldest son of #14, with his wife Mindel, two young daughters, Asna and Sarah.
16. Hyram Shradsky, 19, eldest son of Sholem.
17. Max Shradsky, 18, son of Sholem.
18. Herschel Toplitsky, 23, son-in-law of Sholem (#15), having married Riva, his eldest daughter.
19. Charles Moscowitz, with his wife and four young daughters.
20. Morris 'Zedek' Needleman, with his wife Rivka, four daughters.
21. Max Tobias, with his wife Bessie.
22. Ed Grimes, 18.

Flora doesn't tell us specifically where this list came from, but she does use Dorothy Roberts "The Jewish Colony at Cotopaxi" 1941 as a reference.

1. Motel Shuteran, age 18, grain merchant, and his wife, Hanna, from Talne, Russia.2. Shloime Shuteran, brother of Motel, age 21, also a grain merchant, and his wife, Raebel, Talne, Russia.3. Isaac Leib Shames, age 50, farmer; his daughter, Hanna, who later married Mr. Quiatkowsky, residing in Denver, and his daughter, Rachel, who later married Mr. Singer, All came from \Vohlinia, Russia.4. Jose Washer, age 22, and his wife, Yente, daughter of Isaac Leib Shames.5. Michel Shames, age 25, son of Isaac Leib Shames, his wife, Frieda Reizel, and their daughters, Esther Mirel and Sara Bessie, who married Adolph Kliesler, now residing in Denver.6. Bezald Prezant, age 25, tavern keeper, his wife, Keile, andtheir son, Isaac. This family came from Kovel, Poland.7. David Korpitzky, age 36, Hebrew teacher, three daughters and one son one year old, from Kaidanow, Russia.8. Idel "Ed" Grimes, age 17, single, now residing in Denver. 9. Schneider, a tailor, his wife, Alta, and his two daughters,Nechama, age 20, and Sarah, age 30. The latter was a widow and had a daughter, Helen, who is the wife of K. S. Barnett, residing in Denver. 10. Boruch Zalman l\'Iillstein, his wife, Hannah; his son, Jacob, age 18, his daughter-in-law, Yente, and Jacob Millstein, age 17, a brother of Yente Millstein. This family came from Brest Litowski, Russia.11. Shmuel Shradsky, age 70, his son, Sholemm Shradsky, contractor, age about 30; his wife, Mindel (both dead) ; their grandsons, Motel (Max) Berl (died in 1923) and Cheyem (now in California), and his granddaughters, Assna, and Sarah. All from Kieff, Russia. Sarah later married Mr. Plessner.12. Moshkowitz and wife and four children, all girls, from Ekaterinoslaw, Russia.13. Zedek, carpenter, wife and four boys, from Kieff, Russia. 14. Newman, son-in-law to Schneider, and his wife.15. A brother-in-law of Newman and his wife. 16. Morris, a son-in-law to Schneider.17. Tobias, the overseer of the colony, who was sent by the Hebrew Emigrant Aid Society 18 Hirsch Teplitzsky (now dead) and his wife, Riva, a daughter of Sholem Sbradsky.5 

Dorothy gave us a reference:  the Denver Jewish News, April 1925.  This is an article that I've already blogged about in my post "Never Give Up".  That was the Spivak Interview with living Colonists and they provided us with this list:

1.  Motel Shuteran, age 18, grain merchant, and his wife, Hanna.  Came from Talne, Russia.
2. Shloime Shuteran, brother of Motel, age 21, grain merchant, and his wife Rachel.  Came from Talne, Russia.
3. Isaac Leib Shames, age 50, farmer; his daughter, Hanna, who later married Mr. Quiatkowsky, residing in Denver, and his daughter, Rachel, who later married Mr. Singer.  The family came from Rizicz, Wohlinia, Russia.
4. Joe Washer, age 22, and his wife, Yente, the daughter of Isaac Leib Shames.
5. Michel Shames, age 25, son of Isaac Leib Shames, his wife, Frieda Reizel, and their daughters, Ester Mirel and Sara bessie, the latter married Adolph Kliesler, now residing in Denver.
6. Bezald Prezantt, age 25, tavern keeper, his wife, Keile, and their son, Isaac.  The family came from Kovel, Poland.
7. David Korpitzky, age 36.  Hebrew teacher, three daughters and one son one year old.  Came from Kaidanow, Russia.
8. Idel (Ed) Grimes, age 17, single, now residing in Denver.  Came from Rizicz, Russia.
9. Schneider, a tailor, his wife Alta, and his two daughters, Nechama, age 20, and Sarah, age 30.  Th elatter was a widow and had a little daughter, Helen, who is the wife of Mr. K. S. Barnett, residing in Denver.
10. Boruch Zalman Millstein, his wife Hannah; his son, Jacob, age 18; his daughter-in-law, Yene, and Jacob Millstein, age 17, a brother of Yente Millstein.  The familly came from Brest Litowsk
11. Shmuel Shradsky, age 70, his son Sholemm Shradsky, contractor, age about 30; his wife, Mindel (both dead); their grandsons, Motel (Max), Berl (died in 1923), and Chayem (now in California), and his granddaughters, Assna, and Sarah.  The latter married Mr. Plessner.  The family came from Kieff, Russia.  Both Shmuel Shradsky and his son, Sholem, returned to Russia soon after the colony was disbanded
12. Moshkowitz and wife and four children, all girls.  Came from Ekaterinoslaw, Russia.
13. Zedek, carpenter, wife and four boys.  Came from Keiff, Russia.
14. Newman, son-in-law to Schneider, and his wife.
15. A brother-in-law of Newman and his wife.
16. Morris, a son-in-law to Schneider.
17. Tobias, was the overseer of the colony who was sent by the Hebrew Emigrant Aid Society.
18. Hirsch Teplitzky (now dead) and his wife, Riva (a daughter of Sholem Shradsky).

Compare the 3 lists.  It is pretty obvious that Roberts used the Spivak list of 1925, and that Flora changed the order and "Americanized" the names.  It's also obvious that all 3 had better, more accurate information about the Colonists who remained in Colorado....and were a bit foggy on those who moved out of state.

I do not fault any of these researchers, but we do have a lot more available today that they did not or could not access!  We have census records through 1940, we have ships manifests, newspaper articles, marriage records, clerk & recorders records.  After 10 years of research, this is my list....and it's not far off...but there are some corrections.  

I have sorted mine into the groups that came together on the same ships.

Click here

But to make it easier to compare all 4 lists,

I've created this spreadsheet .

Is my research more accurate than Flora Satts?  Or just worded better?

Example - she states that Sarah Schneider (Snyder) was a widow at Cotopaxi with a daughter Helen who is the wife of K. S. Barnett.  She further states - Berel Morris, son-in-law of Schneider, with his wife Sarah and daughter Helen.

But I have a marriage certificate that Sarah Snyder married Morris Menkowsky at Cotopaxi!

In my last blog "Finding little Lena" I showed that Sarah died about 1884 and that Morris Menkowsky was probably the same person as Berel (Baer) Morris.  There was no Berel Morris on the ship with Sarah and there was no Berel Morris listed in the miner's liens, or any other record concerning Cotopaxi....other than the lists above.

Based on census records, ships manifests and the documents I have pulled, I do agree there were 17 "families" in Cotopaxi.  My list is based on the "families" eligible for and who obtained land grants and I will follow the order of the Spivak Interview as it is the earliest that we have...and will Americanize the names as Satt did.....and put them in family clusters.

The  Cotopaxi Colony:

1. Solomon Shuteran,age 21, grain merchant, and his wife Rachel.  Came from Talne, Russia. She gave birth to a daughter who died at Cotopaxi.
2. Max Shuteran, age 18, a brother of Solomon,  grain merchant.  Came from Talne, Russia. He married Fanny Snyder, str of Abraham Snyder while at Cotopaxi.
3. Abraham Snyder, a tailor, his wife Alta, and his two daughters, Fanny (who married Max Shuteran in No 2 above), age 20, and Sarah, age 30 (who married No 4 below).  Sarah was a widow and had a little daughter, Lena, who is the wife of Mr. J. J. Barnett, residing in Denver.  
4. Morris Menkowsky, age 28, married Sarah Snyder, daughter of Abraham Snyder while in Cotopaxi.  May have been called Baer Morris which became Berel Morris.
5. Samuel Newman, son-in-law to Snyder, and his wife, Reina (daughter of Abraham Snyder)
6. Isaac Leib (Milstein) Shames, age 50, farmer; his daughter, Hanna, who later married Mr. Quiatkowsky, residing in Denver, and his daughter, Rachel, who later married Mr. Singer.  The family came from Rizicz, Wohlinia, Russia.  Isaac is a brother to Benjam Milstein (No 10 below)
7. Joe Washer, age 22, and his wife, Nettie, the daughter of Isaac Leib Shames.
8. Michel Shames, age 25, son of Isaac Leib Shames, his wife, Frieda Reizel, and their daughters, Ester Mirel and Sara Bessie, the latter married Adolph Kliesler, now residing in Denver.  (Frieda is a sister to Clare Present and Anna Milstein.)
9. Charles Prezant, age 25, tavern keeper, his wife, Clare, and their son, Joe.  The family came from Kovel, Poland.  Clare is a sister to Anna Milstein in # 10 below and to Frieda Shames, No 8 above.)
10. Benjamin Zalman Millstein, his wife Anna (sister of Clare Present and Freida Shames); his son, Jacob with his wife Nette (daughter of Saul Ber Milstein, niece of Benjamin) and Jacob Milstein, a brother of Nettie Milstein, a nephew of Benjamin..  The familly came from Brest Litowsk
11. Ed Grimes, age 17, single, now residing in Denver.  Came from Rizicz, Russia.
12. David Krupitzky, age 36.  Hebrew teacher, three daughters and one son one year old.  Came from Kaidanow, Russia. His son died at Cotopaxi.
13. Samuel Shradsky, age 70, his son Solomon Shradsky, contractor, age about 30; his wife, Mindel; Solomons sons, Max, William, and Herman, and his daughters, Mabel, and Sarah.  The latter married Mr. Plessner.  The family came from Kieff, Russia.  Both Samuel Shradsky and his son, Solomon, returned to Russia soon after the colony was disbanded
14. Hirsch Toplitzky (now dead) and his wife, Riva (a daughter of Solomon Shradsky).
15. Lieb Zedak, carpenter, wife and four children.  Came from Keiff, Russia.
16. Joseph Nudelman, his wife and 4 children, the youngest died at Cotopaxi.  
17. Hirsch Lauterstein, his Katie (sister of Joseph Nudelman) and their 4 children.

I left out  "Charles Moshkowitz and wife and four children, all girls.  Came from Ekaterinoslaw, Russia." because they were only in Cotopaxi for 6 weeks and did not declare any land.  And I did not include Tobias as he was the "overseer" of the Colony, not a member.  Finally, I've gone to great lengths to correct the Newman family.  The only evidence we have to date is that there was one Newman, married to the daughter of Abraham Newman.

From the above list, we have:

1.  Snyder/Shuteran/Menkowsky/Newman as a related unit (owning 5 plots of 160A each)

2.  Milstein/Shames/Washer/Prezant/Grimes as a related unit  (owning 2 plots of 160A each)

3.  Shradsky/Toplitzky as a related unit (owning 2 plots of 160A each)

4.  Nudelman/Lauterstein as a related unit (owning 2 plots of 160A each)

5.  Zedak (owning 1 plot of 160A each)

6.  Krupitzky (owning 2 plots of 160A each)

So we can now place the 70 colonists into 3 major family clusters with 3 other units.  Others have written they were 3 families.  I have not yet made that connection.  

It's interesting to me that no one mentioned the Nudelmans and Lautersteins.  Yet they are in the 1882 Directory, they owned land, and are listed in several other colony-related documents.  On the other hand, they did move out of state  and were not in Denver in 1925 when Spivak did his interview.

The Colony had several managers and overseers.  From E. H. Saltiel, Leon Tobias, Joseph Schwarz, HEAS....I don't think we can say that any one family was the "group" leader.  But if you look at it from a manpower standpoint - here are the men over 18:

Snyder/Shuteran/Menkowsky/Newman had 6 men

Solomon Shuteran

Max Shuteran

Abraham Snyder

Samuel Snyder

Morris Menkowsky

Samuel Newman

Milstein/Shames/Washer/Prezant/Grimes had 8 men

Isaac Lieb Shames

Michael Shames

Benjamin Milstein

Jacob Milstein

Jacob Muhlstein

Joe Washer

Charles Prezant

Ed Grimes

Shradsky/Toplitzky had 5 men

Samuel Shadsky

Solomon Schradsky

Max Schradsky

William Schradsky

Hirsch Toplitsky

Nudelman/Lauterstein had 2 men

Joseph Nudelman 

Hirsch Lautersten

leaving in individual families:

David Krupitsky

Lieb Zedak

For a total of 23 adult males.  Joseph Schwarz reported that the workforce consisted of 23 men.  I love it when the numbers match!

In summary, the highlighted list above is what I can prove about the Cotopaxi Colony.  There were 17 families connected into 3 larger groups with 3 smaller unconnected groups/families.  There were 23 men old enough to work to support a total of 70 colonists.  Of these, the largest family was the Milstein/Shames related families who settled mostly in Denver.

And for these 17 families, I have created private trees at Ancestry.  If you want to see any of the trees, just send me and email :  jlowe54@gmail.com

***** c2016Cotopaxi-Colony.blogspot.com  All content is copyright protected and may not be copied, reproduced, reused or reposted in any manner without permission.