Chaya-Tova Kac

Chaya-Tova Kac
Born	c. 1861 or c. 1868 Poland
Died	July 6, 1929
Resting place	Waldheim Cemetery, Forest Park, IL
Spouse	Samuel Minkus
Children	Meir Minkus Libby Minkus Sarah Minkus Zalman ("John") Minkus
Parents	Yekuti'el Kac

Chaya-Tova was probably the oldest child of Yekuti’el Kac. She came to Chicago around 1889. A well-known caterer for Jewish weddings in Chicago, she had a reputation for being very charitable. She was a very observant Orthodox Jew. She had 4 children, and they had a half-brother, Henoch – details are not clear.

Historical Records

• John (age 12) lives with his parents Samuel (age 45) and Ida (age 39) and younger sister Sarah (age 5) in the 1900 Federal Census. Notes:
  • "Ida" is a nickname for Chaya-Tova?
  • Ida is listed as having had 7 children, but only 2 are still living
  • Samuel's birthdate is given as Mar 1854; Ida's is Dec 1860; John's is May 1888 (born in Russia); Sarah's is Nov 1894 (born in IL)
  • Samuel's immigration year is 1890 (he's still an alien); Ida's and John are 1893.
  • Their marriage year is 1884
  • Samuel is listed as a "Junk Dealer"
  • John is in school; Sarah is not.
• Chaya-Tova's death record is listed under the name Ida Joby Minkus on 6 Jul 1929 in Cook County, IL

Burial

According to the Waldheim Cemetery, "We have a Toby Minkus (Chaya-Tova) who died 07-06-1929 at the age of 66. Buried next to Toby is a Samuel Minkus who died in 08-11-1918 at the age of 60. On the same lot is a Henry Minkus who died 06-26-1923 at the age of 42. There is also a Samuel Goldsmith who died in 10-03-1951 at the age of 69 and a Sarah who died in 02-22-1979 at the age of 90. These people are buried in our B’nai Israel Section Gate 24, Lot 26, Row 11 Graves 1 thru 5." (Note: Zalman Minkus had a cousin named Henry, but it is unclear if this is the same individual.)