Bird Farrar was born Bertha Reiss on April 9, 1895 in Manhattan, New York City, the daughter of Joseph and Anna (Cohen) Reiss. Both parents were Russian immigrants, Joseph from Kiev and Anna from Odessa. Bertha "Bird" had at least eight siblings: Jerome, Sophie, Harry, Lena "Lee", Herman, Amelia "Millicent", Abraham, and Reuben "Robert". The oldest four were born in Russia, and the youngest five in New York City. Joseph supported his large family by dealing in real estate, and by the 1920's as a building contractor. In 1900 the family lived at 35 W. 111th Street in New York City, in 1910 they lived on College Avenue, and in 1915 they were living at 1509 Bryant Avenue in the Bronx. From 1905 to 1915 the family had a servant, usually young Russian or Polish girls.
Sometime after 1915 Bird married a blue-eyed Englishman named Louis Palmer Farrar. Born in London on April 5, 1895, Louis was an accountant. In 1930 Louis, Bird and their two sons Donald and Richard were living on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. Ten years later they had moved to 15 W. 94th Street in NYC, and Bird was working as a saleswoman in a department store. Richard at 15 was still in school, and Donald at 23 was working as the manager of a ballroom.
In 1942 when Louis registered for the draft during World War II, he stated that he was unemployed.
In 1950 Bird and Louis, with both sons grown and gone, were living in an apartment hotel- the Hotel Holly in NYC. Louis was working as the credit manager of a department store, and Bird as a sales clerk.
Through 1959 and 1960 the couple were living at 142 W. 139th Street in Manhattan.
Louis Palmer Farrar died on April 7, 1970. His last residence was in the Murray Hill neighborhood of NYC.
Bird's sister Lee (wife of Dr. Mark Liebert) died on March 10, 1979. Her obituary mentions surviving sisters Millicent Gordon and Bird Farrar, both of New York City.
Bertha "Bird" Farrar died on April 28, 1982 at St. Vincent Catholic Medical Center New York-Brooklyn and Queens. She was buried October 25, 1984 on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com; US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007;- US, Newspapers.com; NY, NY, US, Index to Birth Certificates, 1866-1909; US, City Directories, 1959 and 1960; 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950 US Federal Censuses; 1905 and 1915 NY, State Censuses; US, WWII Registration Cards, 1942.
Sometime after 1915 Bird married a blue-eyed Englishman named Louis Palmer Farrar. Born in London on April 5, 1895, Louis was an accountant. In 1930 Louis, Bird and their two sons Donald and Richard were living on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. Ten years later they had moved to 15 W. 94th Street in NYC, and Bird was working as a saleswoman in a department store. Richard at 15 was still in school, and Donald at 23 was working as the manager of a ballroom.
In 1942 when Louis registered for the draft during World War II, he stated that he was unemployed.
In 1950 Bird and Louis, with both sons grown and gone, were living in an apartment hotel- the Hotel Holly in NYC. Louis was working as the credit manager of a department store, and Bird as a sales clerk.
Through 1959 and 1960 the couple were living at 142 W. 139th Street in Manhattan.
Louis Palmer Farrar died on April 7, 1970. His last residence was in the Murray Hill neighborhood of NYC.
Bird's sister Lee (wife of Dr. Mark Liebert) died on March 10, 1979. Her obituary mentions surviving sisters Millicent Gordon and Bird Farrar, both of New York City.
Bertha "Bird" Farrar died on April 28, 1982 at St. Vincent Catholic Medical Center New York-Brooklyn and Queens. She was buried October 25, 1984 on Hart Island.
Sources: Ancestry.com; US, Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; US, Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007;- US, Newspapers.com; NY, NY, US, Index to Birth Certificates, 1866-1909; US, City Directories, 1959 and 1960; 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950 US Federal Censuses; 1905 and 1915 NY, State Censuses; US, WWII Registration Cards, 1942.