SOLOMON YALOMSTEIN FAMILY:

1870 brought an immigrant family from Russia to the settlement of Elk Rapids.  Solomon & Rebecca (Starzk) Yalomstein arrived from Bialastok, Russia to carry mercantile & groceries by foot from the Village to the surrounding lumber camps. 

Coming directly from Russia to Michigan and settling at Elk Rapids, where he began canvassing from house to house with a line of mercantile goods.

Solomon & Rebecca Yalomstein produced 15 children, raising 12 to adulthood.

At the end of the lumber boom they opened a dry goods store on River Street in Elk Rapids.  Solomon Yalomstein was the first naturalized citizen from Russia in the newly formed Grand Traverse County in 1870. 

Solomon Yalomstein opened another dry goods store in downtown Traverse City in 1882.  He was a co-founder of both the Traverse City Opera House and The Temple Beth El synagogue in Traverse City.

2005 ANCESTORS RESIDING IN ELK RAPIDS TOWNSHIP:  Richard L. Smith, former owner of Dockery-Wilhelm-Smith Funeral Home and current owner with his wife, Shen Smith of Bokhara Pet Care Center, Elk Lake Road.  Richard Smith is a great grand son of Solomon & Rebecca Yalomstein.