An American Family History

Jacob Swientoslawski Morrison (Jack, Jake) was born on February 15, 1889 in Klodawa, Poland. He was the youngest son of Moishe Swentoslawski and Pearl Kolsky.

He married Manya (Mary) about 1926 in Poland. Mary was born about 1891 in Poland. She was his first cousin. Their children were Joe Morrison born in 1917 in Poland and Marvin Morrison born in 1926 in Illinois.

They immigrated to the United States in 1920. He was the last to immigrate and brought stacks of postage stamps with him in an attempt to take money out of Poland. At the time of the 1930, census they were living in Chicago next door to the Simon Morrison family at 406 Christiana. Jacob was a manager in a neckware firm.

His nephew, Ray Morrison, related this sparing between his uncles:
Simon: Ray, what size hat do you wear?
Ray: Six and seven-eights
Simon:  That’s my size too. Have you noticed Jake’s head?
Ray: No, why?
Simon:  His hat size is seven and one-eight.  Naturally I have to be satisfied with less.

According to Katherine Morrison

Manya had a brother, Schmuel who was murdered in the Holocaust.  His son survived and came to the U.S. after the war and took the name Samuels. They lived at the Manson for a time.  Manya gave the family $25,000 (a $5,000 check each for husband, wife and children) when she was gravely ill in the hospital . . . They made good use of it--bought a 4 unit building in Beverly Hills, lived in one unit and rented out the others.

He died in Los Angeles on January, 13, 1966.