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Detroit's Earliest Jews: Unique Historical Facts

Mrs. Werbe Recalls Activities
Of Jewish Artists in Detroit

20—THE JEWISH NEWS

Friday, July 13, 1951

British Freighter

Important Data Traced in
Compilation by Historian

On the occasion of Detroit's dashing personality, and withal Search Unprotected
250th Birthday celebration, Anna he was able to keep his head
By IRVING I. KATZ
L. Werbe, who for 30 years has and his promises to his wife.
Direct JTA Teletype Wire to
Executive Secretary, Temple Beth El, Detroit
The Jewish News
"An artist in those days could
not be any too finicky, and this
LONDON—An official spokes-
Although the history of Detroit Jewry as an organized
genius took many commissions man Tuesday told the Jewish
that were not exactly artistic. Telegraphic Agency that the community goes back to Sept. 22, 1850, when Temple Beth
When he was not engaged on British Government has not yet El, Michigan's first Jewish congregation was founded, the
some portrait he took small protested to the Egyptian Gov- history of individual JeWs dates back to 1762, or 61 years
stray jobs. In those days the ernment over the search of the after the founding of Detroit which this year celebrates its
250th Anniversary.
lake passenger steamers bore on
Freighter Empire Roach
The first known Jew was the first known Jew in Michi-
their panels gaily colored decor- British
by
Egyptian
forces
July
1.
The
Chapman Abraham, a trader, gan, who settled in Mackinaac
ations. Mr. Cohen was responsi-
ble for many of these and also incident took place near the en- who in 1762, two years after De- in 1761, was a resident of De-
troit's occupation by the Eng-
most of the bill boards around trance to the Gulf of Akaba.
troit in 1789.
The spokesman declared that
town. Mr. Cohen once painted
Isaac MoseS was a member of
the portraits of a certain Mr. no protest is likely to be made
Zion Lodge, Detroit's first Ma-
Ryan and his daUghter and before the return of the vessel
sonic Lodge, in 1798.
when the work was completed and the filing of a full report
Louis Benjamin was awarded
Mr. Ryan refused to give the by the master of the ship. Thus
artist his just remuneration on far, the Foreign Office has had
a new lot in 1808 to indemnify
the ground that he was not sat- only scanty reports of the in-
him for his loss in Detroit's great
cident and has for that reason
isfied.
fire of 1805 which destroyed all
"Mr. Cohen then adorned the not publicized the matter. It is
the buildings - in the village,
father's portrait with an enor- understood here that the vessel
save one.
mous pair of donkey's ears and was carrying suplies for British
Ezekiel Peltier, son-in-law of
upon the portrait of the daugh- troops stationed in the Gulf of
Ezekiel Solomon, was 'a resident
ter he painted a very neat nap- Akaba.
of Detroit. in 1820.
ANNA L. WERBE
Official sources here have con-
kin covering the lower portion
J. Solomon, probably a rela-
firmed
the
receipt
of
a
French
been active in art circles here of her face: He then hung the
tive of Ezekiel Solomon, is listed
note
suggesting
the
partition
of
and has earned • laurels in her portraits in a conspicuous 'place
in 1820 in the Detroit Gazette
own rights as an artist, recalled in the postoffice, and all who the Huleh region as a solution of
as a passenger on the pioneer
the
Israeli-Syrian
dispute.
These
came,
looked
and
went,
back
to
the activities of early Detroit
steamer, "Walk-In-The-Water."
sources
told
the
Jewish
Tele-
bring
others.
Within
two
hours
artists.
Alex Cohen was on the pay-
Mrs. Werbe traced back her the artist received a hurried call graphic Agency that the note
roll for grading a street in 1835.
historical reminiscenses to the from Mr. Ryan who fairly hurl- was delivered "some time ago."
It is understood that the note
Frederick E. Cohen was in De-
days of Detroit's first Jewish ar- ed the money at him and de-
troit in 1837 during the Patriot
tist, Frederick E. Cohen. She manded that the painting be re- come from a "not very high
War when he was enlisted in the
level" and there are indications
pointed out that he went from moved to a less public place.
IRVING I. KATZ
•Canadian Militia. Cohen soon
"He came to Detroit from that no action will be taken on
his native land, England, to
Woodstock, Canada, then came Canada in 1837 after he served it. British officials are known to lish, settled in Port Detroit. Ab- settled in Detroit and became a
to Detroit. His name appears in in the Canadian army during oppose the proposal, believing it raham conducted a successful prominent portrait painter, the
business in the village and his first Jewish artist in Michigan.
the Patriot War."
to be unworkable.
Detroit's directory of 1950.
enterprises included the selling A: self portrait of Cohen is in the
Mrs. Werbe paid tribute to a
"Mr. Cohen was far above the
Of liquor, furs, gun powder, possession of the Detroit Insti-
best of several artists then in group of noted local artists— 'Hadassah' Takes First
snuff tobacco, silver works, real tote of Arts.
Detroit and many of his admix.: Samuel Cashwan, the sculptor;
estate, etc. During the Indian
Charles E. Bresler, who car-
able pictures have local historic J a s c h a Schwartzman, Isidore Place—At Aqueduct
War of 1763 led by Chief Pon- ried on an extensive, trade in
significance," Mrs. Werbe said. Ressler, Jacob Reis, Arthur Lov-
NEW YORK, (AJP)—Players tiac, Abraham and three other furs and wool, was in Detroit
She especially made reference to inger, Myron Barlow, FrArices
Cohen's painting showing J. C. Higer Quint, Mrs. Harry Farbs- of hunches who frequent the Jews were captured by the In- in 1844 and perhaps even earlier.
Edward Kanter was in Detroit
Holmes, secretary of the State ten, Mrs. Alexander Freeman, race tracks have eyes on a new dians during the siege of Detroit
Agricultural Society, reading off Mrs. Julian Wolfner, Maxine nag _named Hadassah who's been but all managed to gain their . in 1844 and later became the
a list of State Fair premiums, Levin, - The Jewish News art currently burning up the track. freedom. Abraham was a prop- first Jewish banker in the city
P
on editor, and many others—for Mounted by Ace Jockey Eddie erty and land owner as early as when he founded the German-
as reported in the Free _Press
Arcaro, Hadassah ran first in a 1768 when Detroit had 678 white
their fine gifts to art.
Juhe 18, 1853.
Mrs. Werbe was the founder, field of 12 at Aqueduct. It inhabitants, exclusive of the American Bank. He was the first
Mrs. Werbe called attention to
Jew to be active in politics and
--
the following article that was 30 years ago, of the Jewish Cen- burned up the sands behind the garrison.
Samuel Judah of New York was a member of the State
written about Mr. Cohen in the ter art department. For a quar- ninth place Sahara.
Followers of horses named af- was in Detroit in 1780 trading Legislature in 1857• He was a
ter of . a century she directed this
Detroit News, June 18, 1922:
great friend of the Indians and
department; organized art ex- ter Jewish themes remember with Chapman Abraham.
PIONEER DETROIT COHEN
MADE HIS JOKING PAY - hibits and brought noted artists that a horse named Hatikvah
Michael Gratz, of Philadelphia, was nicknr.med by them as
"Are all artists teinpermental to Detroit and made possible the spurred "hope" in the hearts of father of Rebecca Gratz, the'Re- "Firecracker."
beings, who blame their foibles organization of the Center Art inveterate race track addicts becca of Scott's "Ivanhoe," help-
Detroit's City Directory of
ed plan and supply an expedi- 1845, the second to be published,
and queer habits on their genius? School which she also directed. two years back.
tion against the British in De- lists the following Jewish firms
"Most are, it is true, but there
troit in 1781 during the struggle and individuals: Solomon Ben-
is a notable exception in one of
for independence. The expedi-
the pioneer ,artists of Michigan
tion did not materialize, how- dit and Company, dry goods;
—a unique expert who lived in
Freedman and Goodkind, fancy
ever.
Detroit many years ago under
Solomon
ben
Isaac
Halevi,
who
and dry goods; and Moses Rind-
the prosaic name of Cohen—his
Direct JTA Teletype Wires to The Jewish News
name in full being Frederick E.
is none other than Levi Solo- skopf.
In the third City Directory
TEL AVIV—Israel will not fol- considering the special circum- mons, a partner of Chapman
• Cohen. It is said of him that hie
radiated wit and cheer and pos- low the example of the United stances existing between Ger- Abraham and one of the early published in 1846, the following
Jews are listed: Solomon Ben-
•sessed the necessary amount of States, Britain and France in many and the Jewish people.
"The German war against the Jewish Pioneers of Canada, lived dit and Company, Dry Goods;
restraining common sense. As he declaring the state of war with
in Detroit in 1783•
Frederick E. Cohen, Portrait
walked down Woodward avenue Germany at an end, an Israel Jewish people cannot be regard-
Ezekiel Solomon, another part-
nearly a century ago, clad in his Foreign Officer spokesman said ed as having ended," the spokes-
Painter; Solomon Freedman,
ner
of
Chapman
Abraham
and
long, tight fitting blue swallow Monday night. The three pow- man said. He added that Israel
Fancy and Staple Dry Goods;
tail coat, and his broad white ers notified Israel of their inten- could not approve the Three-
beaver hat jauntily perched on tion to proclaim an end to the Power move. Commenting on the its were officially termed cour- .Adam Hersch, Cigar Maker;
Moses Rindskopf;
and Jacob
his raven hair, he commanded state of war, the spokesman said, Three Power action he declared: tesy visits prior to his return to Silberman.
•
"For 12 years Germany pur- Britain on vacation. The meet-
the admiration of all passersby. and asked Israel what this 'coun-
During the period of Jewish
He was welcomed everywhere try intended to do. Israel, he sued a hostile cause against the ings last week in New York be- immigration from Germany, a
because of his sparkling and added ; replied in the negative, Jewish people with a ruthless tween Israeli Delegate A b b a number of new residents settled
persistence unparallelled in any Eban and Soviet UN Represen-
war. Such a course ended with tatiVe Jacob Malik ate also be- in Detroit and by 1850, the com-
the slaughter of 6,000,000 Jews lieved to have dealt 'with the munity numbered about 12 Ger-
man-Jewish families. The . little
in Europe. Six years after the Suez Canal issue.
band of Jews felt the need for
that
learned
Meanwhile
it
was
end
of
hostilities,
Germany
has
Outstanding Mates- in 1951
not yet made expiation or repa- on July 1 an Egyptian coastal a ' congregation and on Septem-
DETROIT
Congregation' Shaarey Zedek
90th ration for the crimes committed patrol at the mouth of the Gulf ber 22, 1850, ,Congregation Beth
Congregation Bnai Israel
810th by the Nazis, not yet abjured or of A lc- a b a intercepted and -El was established. This day
60th solemnly dissociated themselves searched a British freighter— marks, as stated above, the be-
Detroit Section of the Council of Jewish Women
Temple Beth El Sisterhood
50th from the appalling record of the Empire Roach—which was ginning of organized Jewish
Congregation Mishk-an Israel
40th Nazi rule, continued to enjoy carrying supplies into the Gulf community life in Detroit. From
Congregation Mogen Abrahain
40th possession of property stolen of Aka.ba.
this humble beginning grew one
1,053/ Arrive From Romania
Congregation . Bnai Moshe
40th from Jewish victims prior to
On Monday. 1,053 Romanian of the largest Jewish communi-
Yeshivath Beth Yehudah
35th sending them to the death immigrants
arrived in Haifa on ties in the country,. today nurn-_
JewiSh Welfare Federation
25th chambers and today. the . evil
•
bering 95,000.
doctrines of Nazism are rampant the Transylvania.
GRAND RAPIDS
80th in Germany; So long as this
Temple EmanUel
1state of affairs continues, Ger-
_ MUSKEGON
40th many's war against the Jewish
Congregation Bnai Israel
people cannot be regarded as
WYANDOTTE
5th having ended."
Congregation Beth El .
Marked diplomatic activity has
Outstanding Dates in 1952
been noted 'in the last few days
JEWISH. POP.
POPULATION OF DETROIT
DETROIT
- DATE
95th around the government offices
Pisgah Lodge, Bnai Brith
50
21,019
1850
Congregation Bnai David (originally. Beth David)
60th at Hakirya and at the United
200
45,619
1860
60thl Nations on the question of rais-
Congregation Beth Abraham
540
79,603
1870
Congregation Beth Moses
50th ing in the Security Council the
665
116,340
1880
30th
issue
of
the
Egyptian
blockade
Michigan State Federation of Temple Sisterhoods
1,200
205,876
1890
25th of the Suez Canal.
Temple Beth El of Flint
5,000
285,704
1900
25th In this city American Ambas-
Detroit League of Jewish Women's Organizations
14,000
465,766
1910
sador Monnet Davis called on
JACKSON
40,000
993,678
1920
90th Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett
Temple Beth Israel
75,000
1,564,397
1930
while
British
Minister
Alexan-
BENTON HARBOR
90,,000
1,623,452
1940
70th der Knox Helm visited both
Congregation Bnai Israel
95,000
1,838,517
1950
Premier David Ben-Gurion and
MT. CI•FM-ENS •
40th Mr. Sharett. Minister Helras
Congregation Beth Tefilath Moses

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Israel Regards Germany's .War
As Coittinuing Against Jewry

Michigan Anniversaries

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Statistics of General and Jewish•
.Population of Detroit; 1850-1950

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