Ben Rosenfeld was born circa 1904 in Starokonstantinov, Volynia Gubernia, in the Russian Empire. Ben, born Boruch Rosenfeld, arrived at Ellis Island in July of 1913. He traveled with his older half-sister and brother immigrating separately from his father and other half-sister who had already landed in Philadelphia in 1912. Ben’s mother, Rivka, never did immigrate, and it is assumed she died during the interim between the two sailings of her family.

Joseph M. Neal Jr. was born July 28, 1935. Senator Joe Neal shares many memories of his childhood in Mound, Louisiana. He recalls his mother leaving him and his older brother Willie with a woman named Bea so that she could go to Alexander to get a job. He and Willie were ages 2 and 4, respectively, and were frequently left on their own. Willie would leave periodically for hours at a time and come back with food. He eventually took Joe to meet the couple who were supplying the meals, Mary and Gowens Prayder.