Abram Bynard (Abraham Binnard), 1834-1898
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Abram4 Bynard (Mosiek3, Jakob2, Lewin1) was born 19 November 1834 at Rypin, Poland.[1] He was over six feet tall, according to his grandson, Abner Goldstone.[2] A nephew, Daniel W. Greenburg, stated that Abraham had lost the thumb on one of his hands, but he didn't know how it happened. Daniel further stated that Abraham was "the mildest and most even-tempered man I ever knew. I know that many old-timers will agree that he was never seen in anger; he was a most courteous and kindly gentleman."[3]
Abraham's obituary states that he came to America at the age of 13,[4] but his name has not been found on the 1850 census. He may be the Abraham Binnard who was naturalized at New York City on 31 May 1856. At that time he was living on Mulberry Street.[5] By 1860 Abraham had married Rachel Grostein, probably in Buffalo, New York.[6] She may be the daughter Raytze born to Mosiek and Byne Grosszsteyn in Rypin, Poland in 1836.[7] Their grandson said they were childhood sweethearts.[8] Her grave marker gives a birth date of March 10, 1850,[9] which is too late, since she was already married in 1860. On the 1860 census Abraham and Rachel were living with her parents in Buffalo. He had $600 in personal estate, but no occupation is listed.[10] The 1863 Buffalo city directory shows Abraham Binnard as the operator of a clothing store at 41 Main, just a few blocks from his father Morris’s store at 397 Main.[11] In 1864 and 1865 his store was located at 19 Main, with his residence at the same address.[12] The 1865 New York state census shows Abraham in Buffalo with his wife, "Racheal" and daughters Lilly, age 4, and Sarah, 1 10/12.[13] Lilly must be the Lila Binnard who died 6 July 1865 and is buried in in Lot 22, Grave Site 10 in Temple Beth El Cemetery in Buffalo.[14] Abraham's occupation in 1865 was "ready made clothing," which fits with his entry in the 1865 Buffalo city directory, where he is called a clothier. Two other families were living at the same residence, according to the census. One consisted of Abraham's parents, Morris and "Ulia" (Julia), his sister, Jennette, age 11, and a boarder, Benhard Friedman, who worked as a clerk. The other was the family of Levi Lamkoweich, a cabinet maker from Poland. In all, 13 people lived in the building. Abraham was the only one who had been naturalized. There is little other documentation of Abraham’s activities while he lived in Buffalo. He registered for the draft in 1863, with his age listed as 26 and his occupation as tailor,[15] but apparently he never fought in the Civil War. He was probably the A. Binnard who resigned as treasurer of Temple Beth El in Buffalo on 19 June 1865.[16] In 1867 Abraham and Rachel, along with Rachel’s younger brother, Lewis Grostein, left New York for Idaho Territory.[17] They must have traveled with Sarah, age 3, and Hinda, age 1, their daughters. Rachel’s older brother Robert Grostein had gone west to California in 1854. In 1862 opened a store in Lewiston, Idaho and a few years later invited Abraham to join the business.[18] To reach Idaho, Abraham, Rachel, and Lewis had to travel down the East Coast by steamboat, then 40 miles across Panama, then by steamboat to San Francisco. From there they sailed north to Portland and then up the Columbia and Snake rivers to Lewiston, arriving on 12 May 1867.[19] Robert Grostein was there to meet them. "Hello, Bob," "Hello, Abe," they greeted each other as the newcomers stepped off the boat.[20] According to their grandson, only eleven white families were living in the town at that time. Rachel, looking around at the primitive settlement, wanted to return to New York immediately.[21] The partnership was called Grostein and Binnard. One source calls Abraham “a hale fellow well met, and as a merchant he exceeded all expectations on the part of Bob Grostein.” For the next 30 years, Abraham managed the store while Robert was in charge of the pack trains of mules needed to carry supplies to the gold camps of northern Idaho Territory. As business expanded, branch stores were opened at Warren, Elk City, and Newsome Creek.[22] Another store was built in Colfax, Washington Territory in 1881.[23] By 1872, tax records show their firm was the second wealthiest in Nez Perce County, with property worth $20,000.[24] In 1878 they received 103 tons of merchandise and carried stock worth $50,000. Besides supplying the miners, they also did considerable trade with the Indians.[25] Travel to the camps with pack trains was arduous work. At their peak, the partners had 200 mules.[26] A mule might carry a load weighing 300 pounds. Under good conditions a train could travel 12 miles in a day, beginning at 3:00 in the morning and ending at 11:00 at night. The path was narrow and wound up and down the mountains and along streams in steep canyons. Local residents came to call one section, running from Florence through Burgdorf to Warren, the Grostein and Binnard Trail.[27] In 1935 it was reported that ruts made by the mules could still be seen at Burgdorf.[28] Merchandise for the stores had to be imported from elsewhere. Both partners made frequent trips to the West Coast. In April 1872 the newspaper in Lewiston reported that Robert had "gone below to purchase goods and provide for the Spring and Summer trade."[29] In October of the same year the paper noted that Abraham traveled to Portland by stage to order goods[30] and that in October 1873 he made a trip to San Francisco.[31] The merchandise was loaded on a steamboat at Portland and sent up river to Lewiston. One such boat, the Tenino, delivered a shipment for the store in July 1874.[32] The partners also brought back copies of newspapers from other cities; the local editor used the stories to fill columns in his own paper.[33] The 1870 census shows the families of Abraham Binnard and Robert Grostein, merchants, living side by side in Lewiston. The partners' property was evenly split, with each man having $1200 in personal estate and $6000 in real estate. Abraham and Rachel had three children: Sarah, age 6, and Hinda, age 3, both born in New York, and a son, Birka, age 1, born in Idaho.[34] By the 1880 census, three more children--Phoebe, Annie, and Isaac M.--had been added to the family. Also in the household was a cousin from Poland, Abraham Silberstine, who was a "mattras maker," and 14-year-old servant Ah Charley, who was born in China and did the cooking and housework.[35] Abraham took part in the civic affairs of Lewiston. In April 1872 he was one of three men appointed one of the county judges of election,[36] and in November was elected school trustee for the Lewiston District.[37] He believed in obedience to the law and was known to have served a time or two in vigilante groups. According to one story, he proposed a city ordinance forbidding cowboys to ride on the sidewalks because a walk in front of his home had been damaged by horses.[38] In 1874 and 1876 he was the Democratic nominee for treasurer of Nez Perce County and was elected to that office for a two-year term in 1876.[39] His annual report, published in the newspaper in 1878, shows a man well-versed in accounting procedure.[40] When the Nez Perce War broke out in 1877, a company of Home Guards was organized in Lewiston. More than 80 men were designated privates, including A. Binnard and R. Grostein.[41] Grostein and Binnard joined other Lewiston merchants in appealing to the mayor of Portland for arms: Lewiston, I. T., June 17th To the Mayor of Portland: For humanity’s sake send up 50 or 100 stand of arms with ammunition. The Indians have broken out on Salmon river and Camas prairie. They have massacred 30 or 40 men, woman and children, and work is still going on. We have men but few arms. We will be alright as far as this city is concerned. The city assumes responsibility for their safe return. The arms, etc., guaranteed by the merchants. Subscribed, D. J. Warner, city recorder, by the order of the Common Council of the city of Lewiston, and N. B. Holbrook, mayor; John P. Vollmer, merchant; Loewenberg Bros. merchants; Grostein & Binnard merchants; A. Damas, merchant. P.S.—June 18th. Settlers on Palouse and Paradise valleys, and from all the country north of us, are fleeing in here for protection. Farmers are all abandoning their farms, stock and everything. (Signed) J. P. Vollmer[42] Grostein and Binnard profited from the Indian wars. In the Nez Perce War they rented 150 mules to the army to carry supplies and received a dollar a day for each. Seventy of the animals were lost, for which the army paid $100 each. The mules were used again by the military in the Cayuse and Bannack wars.[43] As business prospered, Abraham added to his real estate holdings. In 1872 the Lewiston Signal reported that A. Binnard had purchased a building and lots on Montgomery Street and would "fix it up as a dwelling."[44] There was also a Binnard residence at the south end of Second Street. This structure had been built in the 1860s from logs and was used by the family until about 1902. It was torn down in 1904 and replaced with a two-story brick building housing the Fair department store.[45] In 1890 Abraham had a large residence built on First Avenue. The house was inherited by his daughter and son-in-law, Anna and Samuel Goldstone. The building later fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1966.[46] In his leisure time, Abraham enjoyed fishing in the Snake and Clearwater rivers near his home. The story is told that his wife, Rachel, would have to track him down or send boys to throw rocks in the river in order to encourage him to come home to dinner.[47] He was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen[48] and when the Knights of Pythias Lodge was instituted in Lewiston in 1887, he was elected master of the exchequer.[49] He was also famous for a particularly sturdy pair of pants, as was reported in Portland's Morning Oregonian in 1896: One bit of history that has not escaped the local chronicler in Lewiston, Idaho, has been brought to light by the warm weather and is the fact that there is in that city a pair of summer “pants,” which have been in service 40 years. They were purchased in New Orleans by Major Binnard, now deceased, who was a well-known pioneer of Lewiston. The major wore these “pants” during 15 summers, and the present owner, A. Binnard, has worn them for 25 summers.[50] Abraham died of a heart attack at his home in Lewiston on 20 November 1898.[51] He is buried in the Normal Hill Cemetery there.[52] His grave marker gives his birth date as 15 October 1837, a difference of three years from the Polish record. At his death, the firm of Grostein and Binnard was dissolved.[53] According to the 1899 city directory of Butte, Montana, Rachel was a partner in a clothing business there with her husband's nephew, Aaron Binnard. The Binnard and Binnard store was located at 79 W. Park. She never moved to Butte; the directory gives her residence as Lewiston.[54] The 1900 census shows her as the head of household in Lewiston. Living with her were her children Anna, I.M., and Minnie, ages 24, 20, and 17, who were all reported to be "at school."[55] Rachel died of heart disease on 12 July 1902 in Lewiston[56] and is buried beside her husband in Normal Hill Cemetery.[57] In 1907 the Binnard Estate Company was incorporated in Butte, Montana, by Anna Binnard, Sarah Binnard, Birka Binnard, Gussie Binnard, I.M. Binnard, Rosa Binnard, and Samuel Goldstone. The capital was $105,000.[58] Anna Binnard Goldstone served as secretary and treasurer of the company until her death in 1964.[59] The Binnard Estate Company of Washington of Colfax was incorporated in July 1907 by I.M. Binnard, W.R. Kirk, and J.A. Perkins.[60] After the deaths of Samuel Goldstone and I.M. Binnard in 1932, the Montana company was dissolved[61] and reincorporated in Lewiston as the Pioneer Estate Company by Anna Binnard Goldstone, Amelia Binnard Davis, Birka Binnard, and Gussie Binnard.[62] On the 1900 census, Rachel Binnard reported that she was the mother of 10 children, with 7 still living.[63] As mentioned above, a daughter called Lilly or Lila was born about 1861 and died 6 July 1865 in Buffalo. There is a five-year gap between the birth of daughter Anna in 1874 and son Isaac in 1880. Perhaps the other two children were born during that time period. Children: 1. Lilly or Lila5 Binnard, born about 1861,[64] Erie County, New York; died 6 July 1865, Buffalo, Erie County, New York[65] 2. Sarah Binnard, born 25 September 1863,[66] Buffalo, Erie County, New York[67] 3. Hinda Binnard, born 13 July 1866, New York[68] 4. Birka G. Binnard, born 12 June 1869,[69] Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho Territory[70] 5. Phoebe Binnard, born 7 March 1871, Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho Territory[71] 6. Anna Binnard, born 13 November 1874, Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho Territory[72] 7. Child who died young? 8. Child who died young? 9. Isaac Morris Binnard, born 7 April 1880, Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho Territory[73] 10. Amelia Binnard, born 15 June 1882,[74] Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho Territory[75] ___________________________ [1] Gminażydowska, Rypin, Matrykuła, 1808-1865. Birth records of the Jewish community of Rypin, 1834, record number 29 for Abram Bynard. Family History Library film 715063. [2] Abner Goldstone, New York, New York to Mildred Starr, letter, 20 October 1981. [3] Dan W. Greenburg, "When Lewiston Was Very Young," Lewiston Morning Tribune (Lewiston, Idaho), 25 June 1939, section 2, p. 1. [4] “Death of A. Binnard,” Lewiston Daily Tribune, 22 November 1898, p. [4]. [5] Soundex Index to Petitions for Naturalizations Filed in Federal, State and Local Courts in New York City, 1792-1906, entry for Abraham Binnard, 1856, citing NARA Record Group 21, M1674, roll 19 (accessed through Fold3 : www.fold3.com). [6] 1860 U.S. census, 2nd Ward, Buffalo, Erie County, New York, p. 83, dwelling house 574, family 569, entry for M Grostien; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 April 2012); citing National Archives microfilm M653, roll 745. A. and Rachel Binnard are residing in her parents’ household. [7] Gminażydowska, Rypin, Matrykuła, 1808-1865. Birth records of the Jewish community of Rypin, 1836, record number 29 for Abram Bynard. Family History Library film 715063. [8] Abner Goldstone, New York, New York to Mildred Starr, letter, 20 October 1981. [9] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database entry (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 29 January 2014), entry for Rachel Binnard, Memorial 89205813, created by Cowgirl, Records of Normal Hill Cemetery, Lewiston, Idaho. [10] 1860 U.S. census, 2nd Ward, Buffalo, Erie County, New York, p. 83, dwelling house 574, family 569, entry for A. Binnard and Rachel Binnard in household of M Grostien. [11] Thomas’ Buffalo City Directory for 1863 (Buffalo, New York: E.A. Thomas, 1863), 365. [12] Thomas’ Buffalo City Directory for 1864 (Buffalo, New York: E.A. Thomas, 1864), 142; in the 1865 directory he appears on page 144. [13] 1865 New York state census, First District of the First Ward, Buffalo, Erie County, New York, p. 70, dwelling 309, family 526, entry for Abraham Binnard; digital image, FamilySearch.org (https://familysearch.org : accessed 4 April 2012); Family History Library microfilm 825683. [14] Barbara Abelson, Administrator, Temple Beth El of Greater Buffalo to Rabbi Kenneth Segal, Temple Beth Israel, Phoenix, Arizona, letter, 3 July 1996. Copy in the possession of Mildred Starr. Lilly/Lila is not listed with the family on the 1870 census. [15] "U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865," database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 April 2012); 2d Ward, 3d Subd, Buffalo, Erie County, New York, line 20, entry for Abraham Bennard. [16] Grace Carew Sheldon, "Buffalo of the Olden Time: Old Temple Beth El," Buffalo Evening Times (Buffalo, New York), 6 January 1911 ; photocopy from a scrapbook in the Grosvenor Room, Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Buffalo, New York. [17] An Illustrated History of North Idaho: Embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties state of Idaho. (S.l.: Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903), 255. [18] An Illustrated History of the State of Idaho (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1899), 404. [19] An Illustrated History of North Idaho, 255; Abner Goldstone, New York, New York to Mildred Starr, letter, 20 October 1981. [20] "Do You Remember? Abraham Binnard," Lewiston Morning Tribune, 3 November 1935. Photocopy, no page number given. [21] Abner Goldstone, New York, New York to Mildred Starr, letter, 20 October 1981. [22] "Do You Remember? Abraham Binnard." [23] "Colfax. Local News by Telegraph," The Spokane Times, 4 October 1881, p. 4. [24] An Illustrated History of North Idaho, 84. [25] “Grostein and Binnard,” Teller (Lewiston, Idaho), 30 August 1878. Photocopy of transcription of article on index card. No page number given. [26] An Illustrated History of the State of Idaho, 404. [27] M. Alfreda Elsensohn, Pioneer Days in Idaho County (Cottonwood, Idaho: Idaho Corp. of Benedictine Sisters, 1965-1971), 2:441. [28] "Do You Remember? Abraham Binnard.” [29] Barbara V. Powell, Citizens of North Idaho, Volume 2, Newspaper Abstracts 1862-1875 (Medical Lake, Washington: B.V. Powell, 1986-), 72. [30] “A. Binnard,” Idaho Signal (Lewiston, Idaho), 19 October 1872, p. [3]. [31] “Home Again,” Idaho Signal, 18 October 1873, p. 3. [32] “More Goods,” Idaho Signal, 4 July 1874, p. [3]. [33] Barbara V. Powell, Citizens of North Idaho, 2:59. [34] 1870 U.S. census, First District, Nez Perce County, Idaho Territory, p. 3, dwelling house 39, family 34, entry for Robert Grostein and dwelling house 40, family 35, entry for Abraham Binnard; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 April 2012); citing National Archives microfilm M593, roll 185. [35] 1880 U.S. census, City of Lewiston, Nez Perce County, Idaho Territory, p. 18, dwelling house 183, family 197, entry for Abraham Binnard; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 April 2012); Family History Library microfilm 1254173. [36] “Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners,” Idaho Signal, 13 April 1872, p. [2]. [37] “Election Returns,” Idaho Signal, 9 November 1872, p. [3]. [38] "Do You Remember? Abraham Binnard." [39] An Illustrated History of North Idaho, 100. [40] A. Binnard, "Finances of Nez Perce County," Teller, 19 January 1878, p. [1]. [41] An Illustrated History of North Idaho, 109. [42] An Illustrated History of North Idaho, 60. [43] An Illustrated History of the State of Idaho, 404. [44] “A. Binnard,” Idaho Signal, 6 April 1872, p. [3]. [45] "Tear Down Old Landmark," Spokesman Review (Spokane, Washington), 15 July 1904, p. 9. [46] “Going Down,” Lewiston Morning Tribune (Lewiston, Idaho), 9 Dec 1966, p. 12. [47] "Do You Remember? Abraham Binnard." [48] “Death of A. Binnard,” Lewiston Daily Tribune, 22 November 1898, p. [4]. [49] “K of P Lodge Instituted,” Morning Oregonian (Portland, Oregon), 21 May 1887, p. 6. [50] “Note and Comment,” Morning Oregonian, 21 July 1896, p. 4. [51] “Death of A. Binnard.” [52] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database entry (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 29 January 2014), entry for Abraham Binnard, Memorial 27975418, Records of Normal Hill Cemetery, Lewiston, Idaho;” created by Floral~Lady. [53] “Idaho,” Pullman Herald (Pullman, Washington), 31 December 1898, p. 6. [54] R.L. Polk & Co.'s Butte City Directory, 1899 (Butte, Montana: R.L. Polk, 1899), 103. [55] 1900 U.S. census, West Lewiston Precinct, Nez Perces [sic] County, Idaho, enumeration district 87, sheet 12B, entry for Rachel Binnard; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 April 2012); Family History Library microfilm 1240234. [56] “Lay Corner Stone; New Edifice at Yakima Dedicated; Other News and Notes from State of Washington and the Northwest," Seattle Daily Times, 14 July 1902, p. 3. [57] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database entry (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 29 January 2014), entry for Rachel Binnard, Memorial 89205813, Records of Normal Hill Cemetery, Lewiston, Idaho;” created by Cowgirl. [58] “Articles of Incorporation,” Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho), 15 June 1907, p. 6. [59] "Binnard-Goldstone Papers, 1898-1948," (typescript, 1982, describing papers donated to the Nez Perce County Historical Society, Lewiston, Idaho, by Isaac Binnard; photocopy in possession of Mildred Starr), 2. [60] “Articles of Incorporation,” Morning Olympian (Olympia, Washington), 9 July 1907, p [3]. [61] "Binnard-Goldstone Papers, 1898-1948," 2. [62] “Incorporations,” Seattle Daily Times, 5 January 1933, p. 27. [63] 1900 U.S. census, West Lewiston Precinct, Nez Perces [sic] County, Idaho, enumeration district 87, sheet 12B, entry for Rachel Binnard. [64] 1865 New York state census, First District of the First Ward, Buffalo, Erie County, New York, entry for Lilly Binnard, child, age 4, household of Abraham Binnard. [65] Barbara Abelson, Administrator, Temple Beth El of Greater Buffalo to Rabbi Kenneth Segal, Temple Beth Israel, Phoenix, Arizona, letter, 3 July 1996. [66] The Floral Birthday Book: Flower and Their Emblems, With Appropriate Selections From the Poets (London: George Routledge and Sons, n.d.), 98. Photocopy of a book owned by Anna Binnard Goldstone in which she noted family births, deaths, and marriages. [67] 1865 New York state census, First District of the First Ward, Buffalo, Erie County, New York, p. 70, dwelling 309, family 526, entry for Sarah, child, household of Abraham Binnard. [68] "California Death Index, 1940-1997;" database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 October 2012), entry for Hinda Wax, 15 Aug 1957. [69] "California, Death Index, 1940-1997," index, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VPD9-MS2 : accessed 12 Oct 2012), Birka Binnard, 1942; citing California Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Section, Sacramento, California. [70] "Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F33S-GXS : accessed 07 Feb 2013), Birka Binnard and Augusta Allender, 1897. [71] "Samuel Goldstone," An Illustrated History of North Idaho Embracing Nez Perces,Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, State of Idaho (S.l.: Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903), 529. [72] "Daughter of Early-Day Lewiston Merchant Passes at New York," Lewiston Morning Tribune, 7 August 1964, pp. 1, 18. [73] "Idaho, Death Certificates, 1911-1937," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FLYV-3YR : accessed 03 Feb 2013), Iassac [sic] Binnard, 18 Jan 1932. [74] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database entry (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 29 January 2014), entry for Amelia Binnard Boggess, Memorial 27939186, Records of Normal Hill Cemetery, Lewiston, Idaho; created by Floral~Lady. [75] "Miss Binnard to Marry," Lewiston Morning Tribune, 31 May 1912, p. 10. |