Hania and Sol Steffan
The Steffan Family - Sol Steffan Story
Nimer and Shumma Estfan's oldest son, Solomon Nimer, was born on July 15, 1902, in Kfeir, Syria (now Lebanon). As a teen-ager, he did agricultural and public work. He often joined his father on a caravan, riding his donkey, to sell yard goods and other merchandise.
The flu epidemic of 1916 took both of his parents leaving him with the responsibility of his two younger sisters. He was 17 when he married Hania Kawaja on November 11, 1919. Their daughter, Shumla, was born on November 11, 1920.
He decided to come to America to escape the religious persecution created between the Moslems and Christians, and to escape the political and economic oppression in his country. He was 19 when he arrived at Ellis Island on July 2nd, 1921. The immigration officer did not understand his last name and registered him as Steffan. He arrived in Williamson, WV the next day to stay with his sponsor and brother-in-law, Abe Kawaja.
Anxious to start working , his first job was washing dishes at the Sweet shop owned by his cousin, Abe Mickel. He immediately started to learn the English language and to find a business for himself. He needed to make enough money to send for his wife, daughter and two sisters. He was not successful in Williamson and moved to Toledo, Ohio. He failed in a candy business. He worked at Lazarus Department Store and became an Assistant Buyer in shoes. Even though he became a naturalized citizen in 1926, he was still considered a foreigner and could go no further in the Lazarus store.
Despite the fact that he was not successful in Toledo, and that he lost his money in two different banks in 1925 and 1926, he was still determined to succeed. He returned to Williamson to work in the National Department Store.
Both of his sisters had married and made their homes in Kfeir Thus in May, 1930, he was able to send for his wife and daughter. After nine years of separation, they became a family again. He still struggled to fulfill his dream of life in America. The arrival of his second daughter, Mary Vivian on May 18, 1931, didn't make his life easier.
With the help of a $500 loan from a family friend, Verna Williams, he opened Sol's Shoe Store on February 28, 1932 on Logan Street. The store remained in the same location for 43 years.
Starting a new business in the middle of a depression had its difficulties. He was the owner and the only worker. Hania would bring him his lunch and dinner. She would stand guard while he ate and refreshed himself. Hania always stood beside him in every way, making a comfortable home and giving him encouragement. When Shumla was 12 years old, she started to work in the store after school and on Saturdays.
Owning his own business was one dream. His second dream was to own his own home. In 1936, he purchased the house at 703 Academy Street. He lived there until his death in 1985.
In September 1940, Shumla met Eli Bassitt from Milan, Michigan at a Kfeirian Reunion in Beckley, WV. They were married on Sunday, January 5, 1941 in the First Baptist Church by the Rev. J. C. Jones. They made their home in Milan, Michigan where they owned their own store. They worked together in the store and in the community where they were instrumental in attracting new businesses to Milan. After they sold their store, Eli served a term as Mayor of Milan. Still wanting to be active, he became a top Real Estate Agent in their locality. Shumla and Eli raised two children, David George Bassitt and Stephanie Kay Bassitt (Stanton). There are five grandchildren.
During World War II, Sol was turned down by the military, but did his part by serving as Chairman of the Williamson Office of Price Administration and by conducting War Bond Rallies. His business survived despite the fact shoes were rationed.
After the war, life became a little easier for him. Ida Abraham started working in the store in 1941. Vivian started to help after school and on Saturdays when she was twelve in 1943. He found he had time to "give back" to the community that he cherished. He was a charter member of the Williamson Rotary Club a Past President and Past district Governor. The family joined the First Presbyterian Church where he taught Sunday School and became an elder. He held all the important offices of the O'Brien Lodge 101, A F & A M. He served as the Chairman of the Mingo-Pike Boy Scout District. He became a Director of the National Bank of Commerce, and became more active in banking after he closed his store.
He never forgot his heritage, continuing to be active in the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation which he helped to start. He was instrumental in developing a fund to bring electricity into his hometown of Kfeir, and to have a school built there. He also helped to establish a Scholarship Fund for young people of Lebanese descent.
Vivian graduated from Williamson High School in 1949 and graduated from Marshall College in 1954. She received a scholarship to the Graduate School of Retailing at the University of Pittsburgh. She received her Master's Degree in 1956 and went to work with Woodward and Lothrop Department Store in Washington, DC. She met Marshall Woods at the University of Pittsburgh. He too, worked at "Woodies". They were married on Saturday, August 23, 1958 and have lived in the Washington area ever since then. Vivian retired from "Woodies" in 1986 as a Senior Vice President in Merchandising. Marshall retired in 1988 as Purchasing Manager for the store.
Hania died in April, 1963 after a horrible bout with cancer. Sol would not consider living with either daughter. Williamson was his home. He lived alone for 14 months. He married Nahi Abourizk in June, 1964 and maintained the home on Academy Street. They did some traveling but he was comfortable in the hills of Williamson. He died of congestive heart failure on August 25, 1985. He was 83 years old.
Sol Steffan was the self-educated man, a dedicated citizen of his adopted country, never taking for granted the liberty and freedom that America offered to him. He was proud of his achievements, of his family, and his community.
He never forgot where he came from and he never quit loving his adopted country and his beloved Williamson.
--Written by Vivian Steffan Woods with the help of Shumla Steffan Bassitt
Nimer and Shumma Estfan's oldest son, Solomon Nimer, was born on July 15, 1902, in Kfeir, Syria (now Lebanon). As a teen-ager, he did agricultural and public work. He often joined his father on a caravan, riding his donkey, to sell yard goods and other merchandise.
The flu epidemic of 1916 took both of his parents leaving him with the responsibility of his two younger sisters. He was 17 when he married Hania Kawaja on November 11, 1919. Their daughter, Shumla, was born on November 11, 1920.
He decided to come to America to escape the religious persecution created between the Moslems and Christians, and to escape the political and economic oppression in his country. He was 19 when he arrived at Ellis Island on July 2nd, 1921. The immigration officer did not understand his last name and registered him as Steffan. He arrived in Williamson, WV the next day to stay with his sponsor and brother-in-law, Abe Kawaja.
Anxious to start working , his first job was washing dishes at the Sweet shop owned by his cousin, Abe Mickel. He immediately started to learn the English language and to find a business for himself. He needed to make enough money to send for his wife, daughter and two sisters. He was not successful in Williamson and moved to Toledo, Ohio. He failed in a candy business. He worked at Lazarus Department Store and became an Assistant Buyer in shoes. Even though he became a naturalized citizen in 1926, he was still considered a foreigner and could go no further in the Lazarus store.
Despite the fact that he was not successful in Toledo, and that he lost his money in two different banks in 1925 and 1926, he was still determined to succeed. He returned to Williamson to work in the National Department Store.
Both of his sisters had married and made their homes in Kfeir Thus in May, 1930, he was able to send for his wife and daughter. After nine years of separation, they became a family again. He still struggled to fulfill his dream of life in America. The arrival of his second daughter, Mary Vivian on May 18, 1931, didn't make his life easier.
With the help of a $500 loan from a family friend, Verna Williams, he opened Sol's Shoe Store on February 28, 1932 on Logan Street. The store remained in the same location for 43 years.
Starting a new business in the middle of a depression had its difficulties. He was the owner and the only worker. Hania would bring him his lunch and dinner. She would stand guard while he ate and refreshed himself. Hania always stood beside him in every way, making a comfortable home and giving him encouragement. When Shumla was 12 years old, she started to work in the store after school and on Saturdays.
Owning his own business was one dream. His second dream was to own his own home. In 1936, he purchased the house at 703 Academy Street. He lived there until his death in 1985.
In September 1940, Shumla met Eli Bassitt from Milan, Michigan at a Kfeirian Reunion in Beckley, WV. They were married on Sunday, January 5, 1941 in the First Baptist Church by the Rev. J. C. Jones. They made their home in Milan, Michigan where they owned their own store. They worked together in the store and in the community where they were instrumental in attracting new businesses to Milan. After they sold their store, Eli served a term as Mayor of Milan. Still wanting to be active, he became a top Real Estate Agent in their locality. Shumla and Eli raised two children, David George Bassitt and Stephanie Kay Bassitt (Stanton). There are five grandchildren.
During World War II, Sol was turned down by the military, but did his part by serving as Chairman of the Williamson Office of Price Administration and by conducting War Bond Rallies. His business survived despite the fact shoes were rationed.
After the war, life became a little easier for him. Ida Abraham started working in the store in 1941. Vivian started to help after school and on Saturdays when she was twelve in 1943. He found he had time to "give back" to the community that he cherished. He was a charter member of the Williamson Rotary Club a Past President and Past district Governor. The family joined the First Presbyterian Church where he taught Sunday School and became an elder. He held all the important offices of the O'Brien Lodge 101, A F & A M. He served as the Chairman of the Mingo-Pike Boy Scout District. He became a Director of the National Bank of Commerce, and became more active in banking after he closed his store.
He never forgot his heritage, continuing to be active in the Kfeirian Reunion Foundation which he helped to start. He was instrumental in developing a fund to bring electricity into his hometown of Kfeir, and to have a school built there. He also helped to establish a Scholarship Fund for young people of Lebanese descent.
Vivian graduated from Williamson High School in 1949 and graduated from Marshall College in 1954. She received a scholarship to the Graduate School of Retailing at the University of Pittsburgh. She received her Master's Degree in 1956 and went to work with Woodward and Lothrop Department Store in Washington, DC. She met Marshall Woods at the University of Pittsburgh. He too, worked at "Woodies". They were married on Saturday, August 23, 1958 and have lived in the Washington area ever since then. Vivian retired from "Woodies" in 1986 as a Senior Vice President in Merchandising. Marshall retired in 1988 as Purchasing Manager for the store.
Hania died in April, 1963 after a horrible bout with cancer. Sol would not consider living with either daughter. Williamson was his home. He lived alone for 14 months. He married Nahi Abourizk in June, 1964 and maintained the home on Academy Street. They did some traveling but he was comfortable in the hills of Williamson. He died of congestive heart failure on August 25, 1985. He was 83 years old.
Sol Steffan was the self-educated man, a dedicated citizen of his adopted country, never taking for granted the liberty and freedom that America offered to him. He was proud of his achievements, of his family, and his community.
He never forgot where he came from and he never quit loving his adopted country and his beloved Williamson.
--Written by Vivian Steffan Woods with the help of Shumla Steffan Bassitt
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