Michigan Jewry's History

By IRVING I. KATZ

Editor's Note: This is the third installment of the "Chron-
ology of the History of the Jews in Michigan, 1761-1850."
It is another American Jewish Tercentenary feature. Based
on Mr. Katz's forthcoming book, to be published by Wayne
University Press, this chronology, to be followed by chronolig-
ical facts about Detroit and Michigan Jewry, will present the
story of the development of our communities in this state.

1808—Louis Benjamin, who may possibly have been a Jew, was
mentioned in the records of the Governor and Judges of Michigan
Territory as having been awarded a new lot to indemnify him for
his loss in Detroit's great fire of 1805 which destroyed all the
buildings in the village, save one.
1812—John Lawe, a nephew of Jacob Franks, served as a lieu-
tenant with the British forces that defended Mackinac against the
Americans during the War of 1812.
William Solomons, one of the sons of Ezekiel Solomons, served
as interpreter at British occupied Mackinac during the War of 1812.
Detroit was surrendered by Governor Hull to the British Gen-
eral Brock during the War of 1812.
1813—Detroit was recaptured by American troops.
1815—Detroit was re-incorporated and provided with a local
governing board elected from the residents. Corporate name be-
came "City of Detroit."
1821—Lewis Solomons, youngest son of William Solomons and
grandson of Ezekiel Solomons, was born at Drummond Island. He
studied later at the Detroit Academy.
1823—Congress transferred territorial government from Gov-
ernor and Judges to a Governor and Legislative Council.
1824—City Charter was adopted providing for local govern-
ment by Mayor and Common Council or Board of Aldermen.
A James Solomons, who was probably a relative of Ezekiel
Solomons, was listed as a resident of Drummond Island.
1827—"The Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen of The City of
Detroit" became the corporate name of Detroit. Detroit city seal
was adopted, commemorating the fire of 1805.
1834—Stephen Cohen was listed as a resident of Adrian.
1835—Alex Cohen was listed on the payroll of the Common
Council of Detroit for grading a street. W. A. Cohn was listed as
a resident of Huron Township.
1837—Frederick E. Cohen, an English Jew from Woodstock,
Ontario, came to Detroit, remaining until about 1855. He became
a famous portrait painter, Michigan's first Jewish artist.
Michigan was formally admitted to the Union as the 26th state.
First Directory of the City of Detroit was published: No known
Jews appeared therein.
1842—Detroit's first Board of Education was organized.
German-born Jacob Hirsch was the first Jew to settle in
Jackson.
1843—Solomon Weil, a German Jew, arrived in Ann Arbor. He
was followed by his brothers, Moses (1844), Leopold (1845), Marcus
(1846), Jacob (1848), and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Well
(1850). The first 1Viinyan (private religious service) in Michigan
was held in 1845 at the residence of Leopold Weil and his brother-
in-law, Judah Sittig, who came to Ann Arbor about 1845. The
first Jewish cemetery in Michigan was established in Ann Arbor in
1848 or 1849.
1844—Charles E. Bresler and Edward Kanter, both immigrants
from Germany, were residents of Detroit. Bresler first came to
Ypsilanti, possibly in the late 1830's. Kanter went to Mackinac
but returned to Detroit in 1852. He was the first Michigan Jew to
serve in the State Legislature (1857) and he became the first Mich-
igan Jewish banker by organizing the German-American Bank.
Kanter street in Detroit was named after him. Mannes Israel of
Waldeck, Germany, settled in Kalamazoo, starting a general store.
Solomon and Andrew Freedman settled in Adrian. They
moved later to Detroit.
1845—The Detroit City Directory of 1845, containing 2800
names, listed the following Jewish firms and individuals: Solomon
Bendit and Company, dry goods; Freedman and Goodkind, fancy
and dry goods; Moses Rindskopf.
Lewis F. Leopold, a native of Baden, Germany, and his family,
as well as his sister and brother, were located on the Island of
Mackinac where they pioneered in the fishery business.
1846—The Detroit City Directory, containing 3238 names, listed
the following Jews: S. Bendit and Company, dry goods; Frederick
E. Cohen, portrait painter; Solomon Freedman, fancy and staple
dry goods; Adam Hersch, cigar maker; Moses Rindskopf; Jacob
Silberman.
1848—Samuel and Marx Hart, natives of South Germany, ar-
rived in Marshall.
Louis Freidenberg and Solomon Meyerfield settled in Monroe
(originally Frenchtown).
1849—Charles, Henry and Emanuel Lederer, natives of Bohemia,
settled in Lansing. They came originally to Ann Arbor in 1847.
1850—Detroit's population numbered 21,019. The Detroit City
Directory contained the names of the following Jews and their
businesses: A. Amberg and Company, merchant tailors; - S. & H.
Bendit and Company, dry goods; F. E. Cohen, portrait painter;
Solomon Cohen, peddler; S. Freedman and Brothers, dry goods
dealers; Alexander Grunwald, clothing store; Joseph Grunwald;
Adam Hersch, firm of Silberman and Hersch; Leopold Pappen-
heimer, fancy store; Silberman and Hersch, cigar manufacturers;
Jacob Silberman, firm of Silberman and Hersch.
1852—Julius Houseman became the first Jewish settler in
Grand Rapids. He later served as Mayor of Grand Rapids and as
a member of Congress, the first Michigan Jew to hold the office
of Mayor and the only Michigan Jew to this day to have been
elected to the House of Representatives.
(Chronological History to Be Continued)

Visa Fees Abolished
Between US., Israel

Israel Lana Project to Honor Pierre van Passen

NEW YORK, (JTA)—The es- noted author and theologian, was
tablishment of a land develop- announced at a dinner honoring
Israel and the United States ment project in Israel bearing van Paassen on his 60th birth-
reciprocally abolished visa fees the name of Pierre van Paassen, day.
for tourists, passengers in transit
and temporary residents as of
March 15, it was announced by
the Consulate General of Israel
In Honor of
Passover
and the Israel Government Tour-
ist Office.
Pilgrims and tourists to Israel
Strictly Kosher
Strictly
for Passover and Easter will be
Kosher Royal
KEDEM
BRAND
the first to benefit from this new
Sacramental
agreement. 5,000 foreign visitors
Domestic
are expected in the Land of the
Bible during this holiday season.
WINE
Last year, tourism to Israel
reached a new high with 38,661
1KEIOENI
Made & Bottled
visitors touring the country, 36%
of whom came from the United
WINE
IN ISRAEL
States.
Israel has allocated $900,000 for
Available in:
Available in a
tourism this year, a fivefold in-
MALAGA, ALICANTE,
Delicious Flavors
crease in her budget, aimed at
HOCK and SAUTERNE
Variety of
attracting more tourists. $650,000
will be spent on the construction
Michigan Distributors:
of new hotels and the renovation
of others. $175,000 will be spent
8938 12th St.
on the improvement of historic
sites and another $75,000 for the
TR. 1-0606
construction of youth hostels.

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Better Schools

Today Mean

Better Citizens

Tomorrow

LEONARD KASLE

Candidate for

Short Term
Board of Education
Urges You to Vote for

Israel's Largest Cargo Ship Ready for Service

Mayor of this port city, who,
like her husband, was a political
prisoner in a concentration
camp under the Nazis.
The 4,000 - ton freighter will
be operated by Zim-Shoham
Lines. Scheduled to be put into
operation in May, she will carry
citrus cargoes to north European
ports in season, and West Afri-
can timber to Haifa the rest of
the year. A sister ship of the
7 same dimensions is now under
construction here.

LUEBECK, (JTA)—The "Gall-
ha, "largest cargo ship yet built
in Germany under the Israel re-
parations pact, slid down the
ways here.
She is named for another
"Galilia"—a decrepit freighter
used to ferry illegal immigrants
into Palestine just after World
War II. The new vessel was
named officially by Mrs. Hedwig
Passarge, wife of the Lord

DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Friday, April 1, 1955

-

DR. REMUS G. ROBINSON

for Regular Term

Board of Education

Vote Monday, April 4

