THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Friday, July 23, 1976 3

275

Years ago,
July 24, Antoine
Laumet
de
LaMothe
1701... Cadillac

First Jewish Settler
in Detroit, 1762

landed at the site of the
present Detroit and built
a stockade village that
was to become one of the
most important cities in
the world.

.v.t

Chapman Abraham's name appears
in the Detroit records of 1762, giving
him the distinction of being the first
known Jewish settler in Detroit.

From the Detroit Historical Museum

Happy

"You've come a long way, Detroit.- 275 years
makes us one of the very few cities in America
that can properly be called old. In fact. Detroit is the
oldest city in the middle west... 75 years older than
the United States itself. Detroit's history
is especially colorful. It was twice
besieged by savages. once captured
in war, once completely destroyed
by fire. Its allegiance has been claimed by three
different sovereignties. Its flag has changed five times.

Birthda
'Detroi

Founded by a courageous French officer and a small group of his
countrymen, Detroit was the first important outpost of civilization west
of the Allegheny mountains. The first settlers were eventually followed
by other ethnic and nationality groups, primarily from Europe, but
there were some from Asia, too. It was a typical American melting-
pot city.
Detroit's first 200 years were interesting, but the real excitement of
accomplishment started at the end of the 19th century with the advent
of the automobile. That is when our workingman population explosion
began. when families flocked to Detroit from all over America.
"The City of the Straits: "The City of Beautiful Homes - became
popularly known as "The Automotive Center of the World: "America's
Great Industrial Town:' "The Arsenal of Democracy, - "The City that
Put the World on Wheels: "The City of Destiny. - These phrases
described Detroit in all its glory.
Like life itself. and in common with most large cities ever y where,
Detroit has had its share of both good fortune and troubled times. With
great American fortitude, Detroit is moving forward with dreams and
plans for the future. Its blueprints for revitalizing its economy and ap-
pearance are being worked on diligently by its citizens of all creeds and
colors. What is happening can best be expressed in those memorable
words of Robert Browning's Rabbi Ben Ezra:
"Grow old along with me!
The best is yet to be.-

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Photo courtesy of Michigan Bell Telephor le Co

Abraham was a native of Germany
who came here from Quebec. At one
point, he was captured by the Indians
but escaped. He was a fur trader who
became a successful merchant in the
young village, owning a house and lot.

In 1765 he formed a partnership
with a friend. Benjamin Lyons. They
sold "brandy, wine, gunpowder. ball
and shot, fusils:' Later they added
snuff, tobacco, mustard, and silver
works: Chapman remained in business
until 1783 when he died.

Ezekiel Solomon, Michigan's first
known Jewish settler, arrived in
Michilimackinac in 1761 and moved to
Detroit in 1789.

In 1850, when Detroit had a popu-
lation of 21.019, the city directory
showed 60 Jews of all ages. It was also
the year of the first Jewish congregation
— Temple Beth El.

Detroit's records show the great
number of important contributions the
local Jewish community has made to
Detroit. The list of civic leaders in every
field of endeavor. such as social prog-
ress, education. politics, the professions,
and the arts is far too long even to at-
tempt to include here.

Detroit has been good to its citizens
of the Jewish faith, and the Jewish
people have been good to Detroit. It's a
mutual love affair.

american
federal
savings