Michael comes to the United States at an age of about 21 years, perhaps in 1849. The port of origin is unknown. Although documentation is not available, he probably comes into the port of New York from Europe. In New York he may have spent some time working to earn passage on ships going to San Francisco. In any event, we find him aboard the vessel, Columbus leaving New York on February 12, 1850. Overland routes to the West Coast were very treacherous at that time and very time consuming. The trip by ship may have been influenced by the 1849 gold rush at Sutters Mill as many were attracted to this part of the United States at that time. No family records are available and one can only make conjectures as to why he wanted to go to San Francisco at this particular time. The ship log for the Columbus indicates the “vessel was crowded beyond limits of comfort”. One can only imagine the discomforts and conditions aboard ship on this voyage. The Columbus arrived in San Francisco on June 6, 1850; a 114 day voyage from New York.
In 1855, five years after Michael arrived in San Francisco, a young woman arrives in San Francisco from Prussia (Germany). The exact location of her origin is unknown. She is Bertha (Betsey) Ettinger. On September 6, 1855, Michael and Bertha (Betsy) are married. The circumstances of their acquaintanceship are not known, but we can only surmise that people from the same national origin and the same religion usually gathered in one neighborhood. According to the 1900 U.S. Census record for Los Angeles County and the city of Wilmington, Bertha Ettinger Bennett, was married to Michael Bennett the same year in which she arrived. They were both Jews from Prussia/Poland and Russia/Poland respectively. As was often the case, families may have known each other in the old country and arrangements made for family members to meet after arriving in America.
Whether before or after his marriage, Michael engages in boot and shoe making business. With this as a source of income, children begin to come forth, the first being, Louis, in 1858 while living in Oakland, California. Sometime after Louis is born, the family moves to San Francisco and a second child, Mary is born on 11 November 1859. ( Mary Bennett is the author’s great grandmother who later marries Robert Alexander Armstrong). The 1860 Federal Population Census shows that the Bennett’s are living in the First District of San Francisco with two children, Louis and Mary. The Bennetts are enumerated in a dwelling with two other individuals. The first is Louis Kraft, a stable keeper, having personal goods of value equal to $500. His place of birth is Baden (Germany). The second person is G.F. Metcalf, a boot and shoemaker, the value of his personal goods is $100 and he is born in Maryland. Michael also gives his occupation as boot and shoemaker with personal goods having a value of $100. On this record, both Michael and Betsey are noted as being born in Poland. The relationship of the above two persons with the Bennett family is not known. It appears that Michael and friend, Metcalf, may have been in business with the stable keeper as a saddlers, making harnesses or perhaps making riding boots. The full document can be downloaded at http://www.wsdstaff.net/~dbrooks/RHBrooksFiles/MBHist.doc
Other research records are also availabile at this link that may be of interest to the reader.
One will be able to read it as a PDF file at the PHPGedView web site at a later date.
RHB
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