Mayer was born in Plavo. A town that was mixed jews and gentiles, neighbour to neighbour.
He had 7 sisters, and his father had poor health, so he supported them all. He had a few fields, and would make business buying and selling and trading hay, among other things. In his lifetime, he was a consumate businessman. This apparently was obvious at a young age.
Stories to capture:
-Stehanovitch, Aaron Markevitch
-when the russians came into the metal working place and he protected his fellow jew by complaining he worked to hard
-Avoiding the doctors in labour camp in siberia
-the candy Chaja gave Mayer when they were young