Meyer Herstein (Robert's father, MAG's great-great-great grandfather) was born in 1796 in Battenfeld, Hesse, Germany. Meyer died in Baltimore, Maryland on June 25, 1858 and was buried in Oheb Shalom Cemetery. He was married twice. His first wife, Ranchen Hess, was born in Hesse and died between 1825 and 1828 in Germany. Meyer and Ranchen had two children: Moses and Nathan.

Moses, born in 1824 in Battenfeld married and had seven children. He immigrated to Baltimore where he died in 1889.

Nathan, born in 1825, in Battenfeld, first married Amelia Rider who died at childbirth with their only child.

Amelia Herstein born in 1858 in Germany. It was Amelia Herstein Hollander who provided the oral history on the family for Charles Hollander.

Nathan then married his second wife, Amelia Emerich. They had six children. We know that Nathan was in Huntsville by 1875 where he was among the founding members of B'Nai B'rith. While in Huntsville he was a merchant and a tailor. There was a Herstein Brothers store in Huntsville which may have included Nathan and another brother. He either was working with Robert in his business when Robert died in 1878 or he began helping Robert's widow, Rosa, run the business after Robert's death. Nathan and his second wife lived in Huntsville for a number of years. Nathan returned to Baltimore when he retired and was buried in the Oheb Shalom Cemetery.

MAG's great-great-great grandfather, Meyer Herstein's second wife, Friedchen (?), was born 1796 in Battenfeld, and died in Baltimore October 17, 1873. They had five children, including MAG's great-great grandfather, Robert Herstein. The five children were named: David, Rosetta, Robert, Bertha, and Jacob. The children were born in Battenfeld. All immigrated to America. We do not know when Meyer and Friedchen immigrated or if they came with all of their children. Both are buried in Oheb Shalom cemetery. Note that Oheb Shalom was considered "middle" i.e. between Orthodox and Reform. This was prior to the beginning of the Conservative Movement. Also note that the leader of Oheb Shalom for many years was Benjamin Szold, father of Henrietta Szold, founder of Hadassa.