Kirson to Konavalchuk

Beril Kirson (Boris; Barnet; Barnett; Kirzon)

Born 1872, Mogilev, Russia (present-day Belarus). Jewish. Sailor; carpenter. 1914 migrated to England; 1916 migrated to Canada then back to England. Migrated to US 1917 (jumped ship). Wife and four children in Russia. Joined the Union of Russian Workers in Buffalo in July 1919. Also a member of the Workers’ International Industrial Union. Arrested in first Palmer Raids, November 1919. Deported on the Buford.

INS file 54709/144; FBI file OG 8000-378509

Joseph Kish (Kiz; Kis; Kiss; Kism)

Born 1889, Aranyosgyéres, Hungary (present-day Câmpia Turzii, Romania). Laborer. Migrated to US 1911. Widower, three children living with his mother in Hungary. Joined Hungarian Federation of the Socialist Party of America circa 1912. Also joined IWW in 1919. Arrested in Cleveland and sentenced to thirty days in workhouse for disturbing the peace at 1919 “May Day riot.” Arrested again July 1919. Immigration Inspector in Charge in Cleveland wrote: “this alien has been confined in the County Jail at Cleveland for nearly nine months under conditions which are highly undesirable. The Cuyahoga County Jail is very old and unsanitary, and is so badly crowded that persons are lucky if they do not have to remain in their cells at least twenty-two (22) hours out of the twenty-four (24) of the day.” Deported March 21, 1920.

INS file 54616/236

Nikolai Kizer (Николай Кизер; Nick)

Born 1896, Grodno, Russia (present-day Belarus). Laborer. Migrated to US 1915. Alleged to be secretary of the Union of Russian Workers branch in Hartford, Connecticut. Arrested during first Palmer Raids, November 1919, as was his cousin, Peter Kizer. According to the Bureau of Immigration, “In some manner Peter Kizer was taken to Ellis Island rather than Nick Kizer, for whom a warrant of deportation had been issued. Nick was left in the city jail in Hartford.” The error was discovered at Ellis Island and Peter Kizer was apparently eventually released (although one source claims he was mistakenly deported). Nikolai was deported January 22, 1921.

INS files 54709/160 and 54709/265

See also: Bruce B. Sherbert, “The Palmer Raids in Connecticut, 1919-1920,” Connecticut Review 5, no. 1 (1971)

Nikolai Klemiatov (Николай Клемятов; Nicholas Klemiatoff; Kleminatoff)

Born 1891, Vilna, Russia (present-day Lithuania). Laborer. Migrated to US 1912. Joined the Socialist Party of America in Pittsburgh and in 1919 transferred to the Communist Party of America. Arrested October 1920. Deported February 1, 1921.

INS file 54885/48

Efim Kochovetz (aka M. Berisoff)

Born 1888, Minsk, Russia (present-day Belarus). Migrated to US 1907. Joined Union of Russian Workers in New York in 1914; later became secretary of New London, Connecticut branch and taught arithmetic classes in its school. Arrested in Hartford, Connecticut during first Palmer Raids, November 1919. Deported on the Buford.

INS file 54709/161

Efim Kolesnikov (Ефим Колесников; John Kolesnikoff; Joachim)

Kolesnikov (center, standing) with other URW members arrested in New York, November 7, 1919

Born 1880, Kursk, Russia. Ship reamer. Widower. Migrated to US 1912. Joined the Union of Russian Workers in New York in 1919. Arrested and beaten during first Palmer Raids, November 7, 1919, the Russian People’s House in New York. Deported on the Buford.

INS file 54709/454

Jim Komar (or Jonar)

Born 1879, Chernihiv, Russia (present-day Ukraine). Laborer. Migrated to US 1913. Wife and two children in Russia. Joined the Union of Russian Workers in 1919. Arrested Youngstown, Ohio during first Palmer Raids, November 1919. Deported on the Buford.

INS file 54709/544; FBI file OG 378979

Pavel Konavalchuk (Paul)

Born 1894, Russia. Migrated to US 1911. Machinist. A member of the Union of Russian Workers in Newark until it was broken up in November 1919. Wife and American-born child in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Arrested Newark January 3, 1920. Avowed anarchist, “but as an anarchist I am opposed to all force or violence of any kind.” Deported to Russia, February 26, 1921.

INS file 54860/164

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