"This page is an overview of the Wilpan/Wilpon family line.  Research suggests the family is most likely from Minsk, Belarus (formerly Russia).  Jacob Joseph also resided in Mena, Ukraine. The surname BALABAN appears in most searches involving the keyword WILPON or WILPAN.

Various birth dates listed in the detailed sections of the early family history are just guesses since good records were not kept or were lost.  The Ellis Island ship manifests are most likely incorrect regarding ages and spelling of names and should be interpreted with this in mind. 

Rachel Wilpon arrived in America around 1882 via the Galveston port.  Currently, no records are available. In fact, significant portions of the Galveston ship records from 1871-1894 have been lost.  An assumption has been used to relate the WILPAN & WILPON family line based on information from Warren Wilpan that Wolf Wilpan was from Minsk."

Jacob Joseph Wilpon married Scheina Raizel (Sophie) Kaufman(n).  Jacob was born around 1859 and he died 04/20/1931.  Scheina was born around 1866 or 1869 and died 06/26/1949.  They are buried at Baron Hirsh Cemetery in Staten Island (Richmond) NY.  Section J, Row2, Graves 29-31, Society Ponidel. Jacob's parents as listed on his death certificate were Benjamin & Chaje Sarah Wilpon from Russia.  Together they had 6 children: Lena, Esther, Rose, Miriam "Mary", Isidore and Abraham.  They came to America in 1912.