Rubin & Peskin

Born in present-day Michałowo, Poland, Joseph Rubin (1883-1938) immigrated to the United States in 1903 and joined his uncle at his stationary business in New York City. Around 1910, he moved south to Bamberg, South Carolina and operated a general merchandise store for two years. In 1912, he married Bessie Peskin (1890-1970) of New York and moved to Norway, South Carolina. Around 1914, Bessie’s brother Henry Peskin (1897-1978) immigrated from Poland and, according to Henry’s draft registration, began working for Joseph no later than 1918. By 1919, Joseph and Henry co-founded Rubin & Peskin in Swansea and began to sell clothing, shoes, and home furnishings using the motto, “straight business—good quality for less money.” Henry and Joseph closed the business around 1921.

After that, Henry briefly operated H. Peskin in Swansea before establishing Peskin’s Department Store in Winder, Georgia around 1929. Meanwhile, Joseph moved to Columbia in 1924 and opened a wholesale business at 1004-1006 Gervais Street. In 1937, Joseph and his son Hyman (1913-2005) incorporated the business under the name, J. Rubin & Son.