Austin (Arenstein) Family
Gershon Zeilic Arenstein left Russia, then travelled to New York and Montreal, and finally reached Calgary in 1905. He travelled to Canada with his two brothers-in-law Elachman and Alman Kanevsky. His wife Chava Sara prepared to join him. This involved selling their general store, bidding good-bye to her brothers and sister and readying her three sons and three daughters for the trip.
They arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick, in April, 1906, crossed Canada by train and were met in Calgary by Gershon Zeilic. They walked from the CPR station to their new home at 6th Avenue and 4th Street E.
Gershon Zeilic delivered goods by wagon until 1907, when he purchased a grocery store in Riverside. In 1912, after selling the store to the Nagler family, he built a new one on what is now the site of the General Hospital parking lot.
In 1908 Gershon Zeilic became a British subject and from then on was known as Jacob Austin. In 1913 Jacob became ill and died in 1914 before the onset of the war. His eldest daughter Mary died of appendicitis at the age of 22 and his eldest son Aaron died of tuberculosis, also at a young age.
Jacob believed in the importance of music as well as education and all of his children studied music as they were growing up.
His son David, a serious violinist, was given a violin by Micha Elman when he played in Calgary in 1909. David married Mary Freeman in 1928. The lived behind their store, the Valentine Confectionery, where they worked long hours. He and Mary had two children: Zelda (Hanson) and Harold.
Other children of Jacob and Chava were:
Morris (1898-1989) married Clara Edith Chetner. Their three children ware Jack Austin, Eva Sarah and Josephine.
Rose (1900-?) married Raphael Waterhouse and had two daughters: Joan and Connie.
Sophie (1903-1988) married Nathan Lipetz.
Ann (1907-1965) married Sam Litchinsky. Their children were Dena, Daniel and David.
Joseph (1909-1960) married Anne Schecter. Their two children were Harvey and Sheila.
