The Poliakoff Family

south carolina merchants with roots in aiken

The Poliakoff family has a long history as successful merchants across South Carolina – with roots in Aiken dating back to the 1890s. The Poliakoffs were from Belarus (White Russia) and like many Jewish families are believed to have come to the US to escape pogroms (ethnic violence) and for economic opportunity.

One of the earliest Poliakoff immigrants to the America was Abraham (AJ) Poliakoff (1861-1924) who became a Rabbi in Augusta. Abraham Poliakoff originally came to Baltimore but is believed to have gone South (first to Atlanta & then to Augusta) in search of a Jewish community that needed a Rabbi.

After establishing himself in Augusta, it’s believed many Poliakoff cousins came to this area because of him and then fanned out in search of opportunity. Aiken was a natural first stop in this process and several Poliakoff cousins operated businesses here:

Samuel Poliakoff (1875-1925) is believed to be the first Poliakoff to operate as a merchant in Aiken before moving to the Upstate of South Carolina. Samuel operated as a peddler in Aiken County as early as 1894; he’s believed to have worked in Graniteville where he served the needs of Mill workers in that area. He subsequently opened The Famous Shoe Store in the Aiken Hotel which operated from 1904-1908.

Samuel’s first wife Rosa died in 1902 and he subsequently married his second cousin Rachel Poliakoff (1888-1969). Samuel & Rachel left Aiken in the 1910s and went on to open dry goods stores throughout the Upstate, including in Laurens, Greenville & Anderson.

Jacob S Poliakoff (1866-1937) followed Samuel to Aiken and decided to stay. Jacob operated as a peddler in Aiken County as early as 1897. He opened JR Poliakoff Dry Goods in the Aiken Hotel in 1908, likely taking over the space from his cousin Samuel. Jacob ran the store (later with help from his daughter Gussie) until his retirement in 1936.

Like many Jewish families in Aiken, Jacob & his wife Rebecca (who died in 1928) lived on Pendleton St, eventually buying a 12 room 2 story home that today “houses” the offices of the Johnson & Johnson law firm.

Tragically, Jacob Poliakoff passed a way in a steamship accident in Baltimore in 1937, just one year after retiring and closing his dry goods store. He was traveling with this daughter Gussie to visit his son Louis Poliakoff when the accident occurred.

Moses Poliakoff (1866-1922) was also initially a peddler in Aiken County before opening a store in downtown Aiken. Moses operated as a peddler as early as 1901. He opened M Poliakoff Dry Goods in the new Polier Building on Laurens St in 1910. Moses ran this store until his death in 1922, after which it was operated for a few more years by his son Nathan.

Both Jacob & Moses Poliakoff went on to become founding members of Adath Yeshurun Synagogue; they are two of the four members of the Aiken Jewish community whose names are listed on the notice of the Synagogue Charter. Moses was also one of the Trustees of the “Sons of Israel”, an organization that purchased land for a Jewish burial ground at Aiken’s Bethany Cemetery.

Other Poliakoff cousins also became successful merchants in South Carolina:

• David Poliakoff (1872-1940) immigrated from Russia in 1890. He is believed to have initially worked with Samuel Poliakoff as a peddler in Graniteville in the 1890s before moving to Abbeville where he was living in 1900 and where he founded the Poliakoff Department Store which operated for more than 100 years

• Shlomo Poliakoff (1887-1975) immigrated from Russia in 1904 coming to Augusta and marrying Fannie Poliakoff (daughter of AJ Poliakoff); he subsequently set up shop as a merchant in Barnwell during the 1920s & 1930s

The success of these early Poliakoff merchant families meant that many of their children went on to become professionals rather than staying in the family business. However, some of these next generation Poliakoffs retained a connection to Aiken:

• Benet Poliakoff (the son of Jacob Poliakoff) was a successful lawyer in North Carolina who won a $1 million fee as part of a settlement in a case involving an heir to the RJ Reynolds tobacco fortune. He later became an investor in the Parkview hotel on Park Avenue in Aiken

• J Manning Poliakoff (a son of Shlomo Poliakoff) became a lawyer along with his brothers Mathew & Bernard Poliakoff. Mathew & Bernard practiced law in Spartanburg while J Manning moved to Aiken. The building where J Manning practiced (on Park Avenue above Nandina) was long called the Poliakoff Building although there is no evidence he owned the property

While there are no Poliakoffs living in Aiken today, Aiken remains the “final resting place” for many Poliakoffs. The Poliakoff family helped raise money to buy the land for the Sons of Israel section of of Bethany Cemetery & they reserved a section of this burial ground for members of the family. This cemetery has been a popular final resting place for members of the Poliakoff family whether or not they were raised in Aiken. Over 20 Poliakoffs are buried here (more than 10% of all gravesites).

poliakoff aiken county peddler licenses

(courtesy of Aiken County Historical Museum)

poliakoff aiken store ads

• Famous Shoe Store Ad (S Poliakoff): Aiken Journal, 9-23-1904

• JR Poliakoff Ad: Aiken Journal & Review, 12-15-1908

• M Poliakoff Ad: Aiken Standard & Review, 12-15-1920

The poliakoffs & Adath yeshurun synagogue

• Notice of Synagogue Charter: Aiken Journal & Review, 1921

• Services at Synagogue, Aiken Journal & Review, 9-1925

• Poliakoff plaque at Sons of Israel cemetery, photo courtesy of Steve Silver

later poliakoff generations retain a connection to aiken

(images courtesy of Bella Magazine, The Poliakoff & The Poliakoff Building, April 2012)

• Parkview Hotel: Benet Poliakoff was a part owner

• “Poliakoff Building”: name given by many to this building on Park Avenue where J Manning Poliakoff had his offices

jacob poliakoff obit