I have been reading with great interest the postings on BARKAN and see that there are a few similarities.
My ggggrandfather was Granum BARKAN (Hacoen) married to Anna
my gggrandfather was Abraham/Abram MARRINSON married to Esther KASDAN. The name Marrinson was taken to avoid conscription into the army. Abraham was a teacher and scribe in Vitebsk and emigrated to Minnesota. He was born in Borisov, Belarus in 1842 and the description of the area was near the Dvinsk River & Polatsk. Esther was born in Pleshtinitz.
my ggrandfather was Hershel/Harry MARRINSON married to Mary EDELSON. He was born iin Kamen, Vitebsk in 1867.
Our family is Cohen and originally part of the Lubavitch sect.
If anything sounds at all familiar please contact me. Thanks in advance for your help.