Krantmans in Marshalltown Iowa.
The other mentioned fur buyers were also Jewish.
5 buyers in a town of aprox 25,000, and that is just the big guys.
Gervich is the only business left and they deal in new and used steel.
Schwartz has a different name now, Not sure if any family is still involved. Deal in Coiled Steel now.
I asked Shem about his history.
Josesph was his great Uncle. He was a fur and wool buyer He was here in Marshalltown prior to 1917 he brought Shem's father, uncle, aunt and Grandmother here during the Bolshevik rebellion. He sent boat tickets and money to pay the smugglers. (I think life was pretty hard on Jewish people in Russia at this time)
His family's leaving Russia was pretty harry. At a road checkpoint they were hiding in hay Stack on a horse drawn wagon (the driver was paid to smuggle them out) the guards poked their bayonets into the hay stack several times Fortunate for them they missed all four of them.
The two brothers worked for Joseph until he died then they bought the business from his wife.
They bought fur until about 1950 or so then moved the business to 18th Ave and continued in the wool business for a few more years.
After they moved to 18th Ave, Shem's Dad handled the Steel business, The Uncle The Scrap, And Shem the auto parts.
(You can still see the Krantman name on that building too)
He also said there were at least 3 more places buying fur at that time, Freemans, Schwartz, Gervich. Schwartz and Gervich were and are in the Steel business. I am not sure what Freemans primary business was.
He remembered his father going on buying trips and getting home late and Mother being worried as a small child in the mid 40s He also remembered the fur being worked in the basement of the 2nd ave building and going down in the freight elevator and seeing the guys and the fur.
Next Time I see him we will talk more, I had a great time visiting with him.
Shem Died before I had a chance to set down with him again. My Loss.
Last edited by Mike Cope; 11/29/23 08:41 PM.
