F 4

, zekiel Solomon is a name
that may seem unfamiliar;
however, it has great
importance to the
Michigan Jewish community. This
man planted the seeds of Judaism in
Michigan, for he is Michigan's first
known resident of the Jewish faith.
A native of Berlin, Germany,
Ezekiel came to America, served in
the British army, and later became
a fur trader in what was known as
the Fort Michilimackinac area in
the summer of 1761. Solomon was
one of the most prominent
Mackinac fur traders until his death
in 1808.
Ezekiel Solomon's business often
took him to Montreal where he met
and fell in love with Louise Dubois,
a French-Canadian girl. Despite his
marriage to a Christian girl,
Solomon was an active member of

the Sephardic Congregation
Shearith Israel, Canada's first
Jewish congregation founded in
Montreal in 1768. In 1784, once set-
tled in Montreal, Ezekiel decided
to resume his trading enterprises in
the Northwest. During the
Revolutionary War, he and other
diligent traders, known as the
Nlackinac Company, formed a gen-
eral store, which is considered the
first department store operation in
the United States.
Later, in 1789, Ezekiel and his
wife became residents of Detroit,
where he continued his fur trading
business. Solomon died in Detroit
and was buried in Montreal at
Shearith Israel. Today, at Fort
Mackinac, a state historical marker
(shown in the photo) stands in his
honor.
— Liza Lax

(Editor's note: We honor Michigan's first
Jewish settler, Ezekiel Solomon, in
commemoration of Detroit's 300th birthday.)

MICHIGANS FIRST
JEWISH SETTLER

Ezekiel Solomon. a native of Berlin.
Germany. who had served with the
British army. arrived at Michilimack-
inac in the summer of 1761. He is

Michigan's first known resident of the
Jewish faith. Solomon was one of the
most active Mackinac fur traders
until his death about 1808. He was
one of those who narrowly escaped
death in the massacre of 1763. During
the Revolutionary War, he and other
hard-pressed traders pooled their re-
sources to form a general store. In
1784 he was a member of committc ,:
of einht formed to regulate the
Mackinac area trade. Ezekiel Sclemon' ,.
business often took him to Mont - , al
where he Is believed to have be,-1 ,
!i_lrled and where he was a raernb , -,-
of Canada's first JewisF,
Shearith

-

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