My great-grandfather was Max Eskin. He was originally from either Seinai, Lithuania (which was once part of Poland), or Gomel, Belarus' (once part of Poland as well). According to my deceased grandmother (Max's daughter) there were 12 or 13 siblings. From what I've found out from ship's manifests, one of them was named Mendel. He traveled to the US with my aunt Vera and my grandmother (Fania) several times when both were in their teens. I have no idea where Mendel eventually settled in the US. I suspect that there was some sort of family feud, and everybody stopped speaking with each other.

I believe that one of my grandfather's other brothers was named George (wife Rachel). He had a son named Vladimir, who lived in California.

My great-grandfather moved from Seinai (or Gomel) to Harbin, China. Apparently some of his brothers did also. They ran a department store there, Brat'ia Eskiny.

I'm not sure if we're talking about the same Mendel...do you know if he ever lived in China?