Around 1895, Joseph Levinson (1861-unknown) and his large family moved to Bishopville, South Carolina from New Jersey. In Bishopville, Levinson operated both a jewelry store and a general merchandise store. Much about Levinson’s life remains unclear, although it is known that he immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1878. His wife, Sarah Levinson (1864-unknown), also immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1878. The pair married in 1884. Joseph and Sarah raised at least seven children. Before the Levinson family moved to South Carolina, they also lived in Connecticut and New York.