rectors of the Michigan TruSt
Co., .was - identified with other
enterprises and at the time of
his death left a large estate,
which was estimated at nearly a
million dollars.
By IRVING I. KATZ
land. In 1876, he disposed of his
His record of service in public
The first- and only Jew in business to his cousin, . Joseph
life was noteworthy. In poli-
Michigan who • was elected • a
member of Congress was Julius Houseman, Wto had Been .a part- tical affiliations, Houseman was
ner for seVeral years and who a Democrat. He served as Alder-
HouSeman of Grand Rapids.
man in Grand Rapids for eight
Houseman was barn at Zeck- was also a prominent Jewish resi- years; from 1863 to 1870, was
endorf in Bavaria, Germany, dent of.-- brand Rapids, and Moses Mayor in 1872 and in 1874, and
Dec: 8, 1832. His father, Solomon May, who continued it for a represented Grand Rapids in the
Hausernann, a native of Bavaria, number of years under:the firm State. Legislature in 1871-72. Dur-
was a merchant and manufac- name of kousernan & May; which ing his term of office as Mayor,
turer of silk and cotton goods at was later succeeded 'by House- the city water works system was
Zeckendorf, where he died in man, Donnally &. Jones. The
constructed and put in operaion.
1873 at the age of 71. His mother, business, which is today the 'sec- In 1876 he was the candidate of
ond
oldest
mercantile
establish-
Henric‘tta, daughter of Julius
his party for Lt. Governor of the
Strauss of Heiligenstadt, Bavaria, ment in Grand Rapids and still
died in 1835 at the age of 35. is located on Monroe Street, goes State. He was proposed for the
Julius Houseman was the older by the name of Houseman & Governorship of Michigan but
refused to be a candidate. In
of two children born to them, Jones,
his sister, Mary, having married
Houseman had meanwhile 1883 he was elected to represent
fifth district of the State of
Albert Alsberg, a prominent New taken an active interest in dther the
Michigan
in the 48th Congress.
York merchant.
lines of business and investments,
He became a member of the
notably
in
timber
landS
and
the
Houseman's education, up to
Masonic Fraternity in 1854 and
the age of 13, was obtained in manufacture of pine lumber in
the National Schools of Zecken- Michigan, and after 1876 de- was also a member of Odd Fel-
voted himself largely to those lows. He was a leading member
interests. He became one of the of both the Peninsular and
largest holders of real estate in Owashtanong Clubs, served the
that section of Michigan, owned latter as a director and officer
large tracts in the Upper Penins- and was also an honorary mem-
ula anein other states, and had ber of Companies B. I. and K. of,
many investments in lumber the. Michigan National Guard.
Houseman was a loyal and de-
companies. He also bought
largely of real estate in Grand voted Jew and he took a leading
Rapids, and was regarded as one and active interest in the affairs
of the most sagacious and pro- of the Jewish Community of
gressive promoters in the city. Grand Rapids. He was - one of
The Houseman Building, • which the founders of Temple Emanuel,
occupies the entire. half block in 1871, and served as its first
bounded by Lyon, Ottawa, Pearl president. : He was one 'of the
and Ionia Streets, is one of the organizers of Grand Rapids
largest and finest business blocks Lodge 238, Independent Order of
In the state, and a fitting monu- Bnai Brith, in 1875, and served .
ment to his good taste and good as " its first president. When
citizenship. In . business life Houseman died the lodge's name
throughout, his career was one was changed, in tribute to his
of continuous and gratifying suc-
*A.
cess and is attributed to the gen-
JULIUS HOUSEMAN
erous but discriminating credit
dorf and Bamberg, and was com- which he gave to Western Michi-
pleted with a two years' com- gan merchants.
mercial course, after which he
Houseman was largely iden
engaged as a dry goods clerk in tified with other business inter-
a store in Bavaria, where he re- ests in Grand Rapids, and in all
mained three years.
of them has proved a tower of
The Revolution in Germany in strength, both with his money
1848 had its influence on the and his counsel. In 1870, he be-
young man's life, and in 1851, came a stockholder in the City
when, 19 years of age; he started National Bank, the predecessor
out to cross the ocean and seek of the National City Bank; In
freedom, usefulness and business 1874, he was chosen a director
success in the United States. His and in 1882 he was elected- vice-'
first home was in Cincinnati, president of the bank. He was
wherehe ,was a clerk in a cloth- one of the organizers of the
Attractive
ing house for a few months. Grand Rapids Chair Company of
ere-Season Rates
Then he went to New Vienna, 0., which he was a director and vice-
,
OPEN ALL YEAR
IS 14 Seers of luxurious living
where he remained as clerk in a president. He was a director,
• Ike entire block of private beet*
• Swimming pool and Cabana Club
general store until March, 1852, too, of the Grand Rapids Brush
• Dining Room and Cocktail lounge
• Radio in every room
when he came to Battle Creek, Co. and a leading stockholder,
IRVING WEINBERG, MAN. OIL
Mich. Here he engaged in the director and president - of the
ORM ON OCEAN, 39th to 40th $ti
merchant tailoring and clothing Grand Rapids Fire InSurance Co.,
business with Isaac Ainberk the was one of the founders arid di-
firm name being Athberg &
Houseman.
In August, 1852, when he was
not yet 20, he came to Grand
Rapids, the first Jewish settler in
that city Which then had a pop-
ulation of less than 3,000. He
established a branch of the Bat-
tle Creek firm • in that city and
the business prospered under his
able management. In 1854 he
became sole proprietor which he
continued for nine years, grow-
ing steadily in the confidence and
esteem of the community, and
in wealth and influence.
In 1864, the firm of. Houseman,
Alsberg & Co. was organized,
with branch houses in New York,
The "564 Question"
Baltimore and Savannah, and
and the extension of
continued until 1870, when the
abstracts and titles,
firm. was dissolved, Mr. House-
both' call for quickand
man retaining possession of the
correct answers.
Grand Rapids establishment. In
"One time, and one
1870, Mr. Houseman spent a sum-
time only'', is all we'll
mer in Europe, visiting Germany,
need to convince you,
Switzerland, France and Eng-

luiius Houseman: 1st and Only
Michigan Jewish Congressman

"26—THE JEWISH NEWS

700 Refugees Sail
From Italy to Israel

-- Friday, April 8, 1949

memory, to Julius Houseman
Lodge, a name under which it
functions to this day.
Julius Houseman died in Grand
Rapids on Feb. 9, 1891, at the
early age - of 59, and by public
request he lay in state in the
City Hall.
At the time of his death he
was - survived by his daughter,
an only . child, Mrs. David M.
Amberg and _family of Grand
Rapids; his sister, Mrs; M. Als-
berg of New York City; William
Holtseman, a'-half brother; 'Mrs.
Simon Mainzer, a half-sister; his
cousin,. Joseph Houseman; sev-
eral half-brothers and half-
sisters in Gerrnany.

ROME, (JTA)—Approximately
700 Jewish refugees sailed for
Israel aboard the liner. Mare
Ligura from the Italian port of
Bari. The passengers comprised
474 Jewish 'refugees from Aus-
trian displaced persons camps and -
218: Shanghi Jewish refugees.

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