Pincus Kogutt Family
 

A native of Miedrysch, Poland (Russia), Pincus Kogutt was born on December 25, 1889, and married Leah Roseman, who was born on April 4, 1889, in Komerinka, Poland. Their first child, Israel Harry “Pete,” was born on October 18, 1911, in Poland, and Pincus and Leah’s daughter, Raye, was born on June 1, 1913, also in Poland. Pincus left Poland to escape conscription into the Russian army and emigrated to United States about November 1, 1912, on the vessel, Rhein, leaving his expectant wife and son in Poland. He arrived at the port of Galveston, where he joined a brother-in-law. There he became engaged in the shoe repair business, and at the same time learned to speak English. He was able to earn and save enough money to establish a shoe repair business of his own, and decided to settle in Bay City, where he purchased a home situated at 2509 Avenue H. 

Because of the onset of World War I, Leah was unable to emigrate to the United States until 1920. She arrived at Ellis Island with Pete, then age nine, Raye, age seven, and her sister, Molly Roseman. Pete later married Dorothy Posner and resided in Houston.  Raye married Leon Guzick and resided in Bay City.

Following her arrival in Bay City, Pincus and Leah had three more children: Sara, who married Sidney Schwartz of Bay City; Albert I., who later resided in Houston; and Samuel M., who later resided in Dallas with his wife Aileen. Pincus Kogutt became a citizen of the United States on December 31, 1919.

Pincus operated his shoe repair and shoemaking business in several locations in Bay City, and eventually purchased a building located on the corner of Avenue H and Seventh in 1919. At that location he operated a shoe repair shop and also sold work clothes. In 1929, when the depression was at its peak, Pincus sold the dry goods section of the store, divided the building, and rented one side to be used as a cafe. He continued to operate his shoe repair business until a few years before his death. It is said that because of his fantastic memory, Pincus could recognize his customers and remember the shoes they had brought in without the benefit of tickets or numbers.

During Hitler’s reign, the Nazis killed all of Pincus and Leah’s family except two of his brothers. One brother escaped to the United States and lived in Galveston, and another brother escaped to Israel.

Pincus Kogutt died in Houston on December 8, 1975, at the age of eighty-six.  In 1984, Leah Roseman Kogutt, at the age of ninety-five, lived at the Seven Acres Jewish Home for the Aged in Houston.   

Mrs. Sidney Schwartz - 1984

Historic Matagorda County, Volume II, pp 294-295
Typed by Faye Cunningham.
 

Pincus Kogutt Family in about 1925
Front row, left to right: Albert, Mrs. Leah, Samuel, Mr. Pincus "Pete", Sarah (Mrs. Sidney Schwartz)

Back row, left to right: Israel H. "Little Pete", Sol (Pincus' brother), Raye (Mrs. Leon Guzik)

Pincus Kogutt in his Shoe Repair Shop in the 1960s
 

Site of Mr. Kogutt's Shoe Repair Shop in 2013

(on right)
Mrs. P. (Leah) Kogutt carrying plates in her hand at the home wedding
of her daughter, Raye, to Leon Guzick in about 1933. Belle Wadler
and Herman Denn on the right.
 

Pincus Kogutt
December 25, 1889 - December 8, 1975

Pincus Kogutt, 86, of Bay City, died in Houston Dec. 8, 1975. He was born Dec. 25, 1889 in Poland. Survivors include his widow, Leah Kogutt of Bay City, two daughters, Sarah Schwartz and Raye Guzick of Bay City, three sons, I. H. Kogutt of Bay City, Albert Kogutt of Houston and Sam Kogutt of Dallas,  two brothers, Sol and Isaac Kogutt. Graveside services were held Tuesday, Dec. 9, 1975 at 3:30 p. m. officiated by the Rabbi Weinberg. Burial was held in Shearith Israel Cemetery in Wharton. Pallbearers were Marvin, Mike, Randy, and Rubin Kogutt and Harvey and Stacy Schwartz. Funeral arrangements are with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.

Daily Tribune, December 9, 1975

Leah Kogutt
April 4, 1891 - December 3, 1984

     Graveside services for Leah Kogutt, 93, of Houston, were held at 4 p. m. today with Rabbi Ted Sanders officiating at Shearith Israel Cemetery.
     Mrs. Kogutt was born April 4, 1891, in Poland, and died at 1 p. m. Dec. 3, 1984, at 7 Acres Jewish Home for Aged, Houston.
     She was a member of Shearith Israel Synagogue.
    Survivors include: two daughters, Raye Guzick and Sarah Schwartz of Bay City; three sons, I. H. Kogutt of Houston, Samuel Kogutt of Dallas and Albert Kogutt of Houston; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
     Arrangements were with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home, Bay City.

Daily Tribune, December 1984
 

Israel H. "Pete" Kogutt

I. H. "Pete" Kogutt, 91, passed away September 17, 2003.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Dorothy Kogutt; son, Dr. Marvin Kogutt and wife Myra; sister, Sarah Schwartz and husband Sidney; brother, Samuel Kogutt and wife Irene; grandchildren, Todd Bradley Kogutt, Terri Sondra Lane and husband William; great-grandchildren, Patrick Fisher Lane and Sarah Elizabeth Lane; nephews and nieces.

Graveside services were 2:30 p. m. Thursday, September 18, 2003 at Emanu El Memorial Park, 8341 Bissonet, Rabbi Roy Walter officiating. Contributions may be made to a charity of choice.

Bay City Tribune, September 21, 2003

I. H. "Little Pete & Dorothy Kogutt 1947
 

Albert I. "Al" Kogutt

Graveside services for Albert I. "Al" Kogutt, 70, of Houston, were held at 3 p. m. Monday at the Shearith Israel Cemetery in Wharton with the Rabbi Ted Sanders of Houston officiating.

Mr. Kogutt was born Feb. 22, 1923 in Bay City and died Nov. 13, 1993 at Memorial Southwest in Houston after a brief illness.

A graduate of Bay City High School, he attended the University of Texas and was a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. He was also the owner of A. K. Gun Cases in Houston. He served as an officer in the U. S. Navy in the Pacific theater during World War II.

Survivors include two sisters and a brother-in-law, Raye Guzick and Sarah and Sidney Schwartz, all of Bay City; two brothers and sisters-in-law, I. H. "Pete" and Dorothy Kogutt of Houston and Samuel and Irene Kogutt of Houston and Samuel and Irene Kogutt of Dallas and numerous nieces and nephews.

Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements are with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home of Bay City.

Daily Tribune, November 16, 1993