Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2, Part 76

Author: Greve, Charles Theodore, b. 1863. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1048

USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2 > Part 76

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111

THE UNION SAVINGS BANK & TRUST COMPANY BUILDING.

THE INGALLS BUILDING.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING.

THE TRACTION BUILDING.

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pupils, Rev. Dr. Louis Grossmann, who had been at Detroit, Michigan, for 14 years. After Dr. Wise's death, the congregation unanimous- ly elected Dr. Grossmann as the successor of Dr. Wise, which position he has been filling with the utmost satisfaction.

Dr. Grossmann is a graduate of the 1884 class of the Hebrew Union College and the University of Cincinnati, a member of the Hebrew Union College faculty, and active in the Central Con- ference of America Rabbis and the Sabbath School Union. He is prominent in all public charities and educational matters, and is a writer of note. In 1901, the congregation reestablished the office of cantor and elected I. H. Weinstock. The choir which is under the direction of Hans Seitz is one of the best in the city. The present officers are : Fred Rauh, president ; Jonas B. Frenkel, vice-president; B. Bettmann, treas- urer ; Max B. May, secretary ; B. Kahn, warden; trustees,-A. S. Brown, N. Drucker, L. J. Gold- man, Joseph A. Friedlander Albert Moch, Elias Moch, Emil Pollak, Charles Shohl, Samuel Straus, Myer Oettinger, Joseph May and Jacob Ottenheimer. The present membership is 370; the receipts during 1901-02 were $19,793.18; the expenditures, $18,817.58. The congregation is now building a handsome Sabbath-school build- ing on Reading road and Whittier strcet with an auditorium seating 600.

ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUES.

While the reform element of the Cincinnati Jews is most prominent in the public and re- ligious life of the community, there are still many orthodox congregations, the most prominent of which are Sherith Israel (Remnant of Israel) on Richmond and Mound streets, which was forined in 1855 by those orthodox Jews who objecting to the reform tendencies of the Bene Israel Congregation withdrew therefrom ( Eman- uel Auer is president and Moses Bing, secre- tary ) ; and Ahavath Achim ( Brotherly Love) on John street and Bauer avenue, which was organized in 1847 (Julius Frank is president and Nathan Wolfstein, secretary). In 1853, the Con- gregation Adas Israel on Ninth street near John was organized; Jacob Davis is president and M. H. Franklin, secretary. In addition to these there are many Russion congregations scattered throughout the city.

SABBATHI SCHOOLS.

In 1849, Henry Mack advocated the establish- ing of a school for the purpose of educating the

young children in English as well as in Hebrew and religious subjects. The result was the or- ganization of a school under the name "Talmud Yelodim Institute." This school was conducted by the Plum Strect Temple, and remained a day school with five or six classes until 1868, when it became a Sabbath-school only. Talmud Yelo- dim Institiute is still in existence as a Sabbath- school, and as stated above a new building is being erected on Reading road and Whittier street, Avondale.

The Bene Israel Congregation also established a school called Noyoth, which offered instruc- tion in secular studies. To-day all the congre- gations conduct Sabbath-schools for the benefit of the children of members and non-members.

THIE HEBREW UNION COLLEGE.

Cincinnati enjoys the distinction of being. the home of the only institution in America for the education of rabbis for Reform Judaism. The founder of this institution was the late Dr. Isaac M. Wise. Dr. Wise was the first Jew in the United States to see the necessity of an institution where young Americans could be edu- cated for the rabbinate. While in Albany in 1848, he sought to bring about a union of con- gregations to establish such a theological sem- inary. When he received the call from Cincin- nati in 1853, he wrote: "I entertain the hope that Talmud Yelodim Institute will in a few years realize my fervent wishes of a Hebrew College, in which our national literature may flourish alongside of a classical and commercial education." But the "fervent wishes" were not to be realized until 1873 and 1875. After one of the most remarkable campaigns in the history of religious reforms, Dr. Isaac M. Wise succeeded with the aid of able and enthusiastic Cincin- natians in establishing, in 1873, the Union of American Congregations, and that body in 1875 established the Hebrew Union College. The in- stitution was located in Cincinnati, because this city was Dr. Wise's home. He was elected the first president and continued to serve as president and professor of theology without pay until March 24, 1900, when he was suddenly stricken. From this College have been graduated 95 rab- bis, the first class in 1883; these graduates are occupying pulpits in all the large cities of the Union, and in many of the smaller cities; they are to be found in New York, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Boston, Baltimore. Chicago, Cincin- nati, New Orleans, Louisville, Kansas City, Mo- bile, Atlanta, Denver, Richmond, Peoria, Al-

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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CINCINNATI

bany, Montgomery and others too numerous to mention. It is not an exaggeration to say that the Jew in America owes his present position to Reform Judaism, and that without the Hebrew Union College, Reform Judaism would not have flourished.

The College is governed by a board of gov- ernors, composed of resident and non-resident members. The present efficient chairman is B. Bettmann, who has held that position since the opening of the institution. His resident col- leagues are Abe Bloom, Jacob Kronacher, Louis S. Levi; Nathan Stix, Dr. David Philipson, Sam- uel W. Trost, Julius Freiberg, Nathan Drucker, Edward L. Heinsheimer, Alfred M. Cohen and Max B. May. The faculty is composed of ca- pable men, many of whom have international rep- utations. Rev. Dr. M. Mielziner is the acting president and professor of the Talmud ; his col- leagues are Professors G. Deutsch, E. Feldman, D. Philipson, L. Grossmann, M. Buttenweiser, C. Levias, S. Mannheimer and M. Malter.

The College is supported by a one dollar per capita tax on all members of the Union of Amer- ican Hebrew Congregations, and annual subscrip- tions and donations. At present an endowment fund of $500,000 to be known as "The Isaac M. Wise Memorial Fund" is being raised. All graduates of the Hebrew Union College must be graduates of the University of Cincinnati, or hold a degree of an institution of the same stand- ing as the University.

The office of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, consisting of 112 congregations, is in Cincinnati. Julius Freiberg is the president and Lipman Levy has been the efficient secretary since its organization in 1873.

JOURNALISM.

Although the first Jewish journal in America was not established in Cincinnati, nevertheless the oldest, ablest and most authoritative Jewish journal in America is published here,-The Am- erican Israelite established by Rev. Dr. Isaac M. Wise. In July, 1854, the first number of The Israelite, now The American Israelite, was issued by Dr. Wise. He continued to be its editor until his death in 1900; in fact the issue of March 20, 1900, which appeared on the day of his funer- al, contained editorial matter written by him the week previous. This journal which is still pub- lished by Leo Wise & Company, and of which Leo Wise is the managing editor, has been the leading organ of American Reform Judaism, the . stanch defender of the Jew's civil and religious

rights and his zealous advocate in all important matters.

Rev. Dr. Max Lilienthal established a Sab- bath-school paper, The Sabbath School Visitor, but the paper did not survive him many years.

THE CHARITIES.

The Jew is preeminently charitable; from the earliest times his intense sufferings and terrible persecutions have compelled him to assist his distressed and unfortunate brethren, and all give him credit for the excellent and unselfish man- ner in which he has done so. Charity work was contemporaneous with congregational work; in fact, in the early days both Bene Israel and Bene Yeshurun congregations carried on a sys- tem of relief work. An independent relief so- ciety, known as the Hebrew General Relief Asso- ciation, was organized in 1856; then in due course of time there were organized the Jewish Ladies' Sewing Society (1875), where comforts, clothes and shrouds were made for the poor ; the Plum Street Temple Industrial School ( 1882), where young girls are taught during the vaca- tions to sew, crochet, embroider, etc. ; the Jewish Kitchen Garden ( 1890), where all phases of housekeeping are taught ; the Jewish Foster Home (1892), an institution where mothers, who must work away from home, may leave their children during the day; the Industrial School for Boys ( 1895), a technical school on a small scale ; and Jewish kindergartens, whose names indicate their purpose. Early in 1896, a number of ladies and gentlemen, prominent among whom were Messrs. B. Bettmann, Max Senior, James Lowman, Louis S. Levi, Victor Abraham, A. G. Schwab, Julius Freiberg, Albert Moch, Henry Jonap, J. Walter Freiberg, Drs. Wise and Philipson and Mes- dames Duffy, Freiberg, Rosa F. Sachs, Lizette Friedlander, Carrie Friedlander, L. P. Ezekiel and M. Isaacs, saw the necessity for a union of all the various charitable organizations, so that time, money and energy should be united and waste and duplication of relief prevented. To this end a federation of the following associa- tions was effected under the corporate name, "The United Jewish Charities of Cincinnati," viz .: The Hebrew General Relief Association, the Society for the Relief of the Jewish Sick .Poor; the Jewish Ladies' Sewing Society; the Jewish Foster Home; the Kitchen Garden Association; the Kindergarten Association; the Phim Street Temple Industrial School, and the Industrial School for Boys. The ob- ject of the union is "to relieve the deserv-

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ing poor, to prevent want and distress and discourage pauperism." The management and control of the union is vested in a board of gov- ernors, composed of 29 members elected by the federated societies. The board is divided into many committees, such as building, finance, edu- cation and entertainment, visiting, tenements, law, labor and employment, tabulation and sta- tistics, foreign relations and executive. The main work is done by the superintendent and exccutive committee. The United Jewish Char- ities have about 1,000 subscribing members, whose aggregate subscriptions amount to about $35,000 annually. During the year ending Feb- ruary 28, 1902, 1,820 applications were consid- ered; the society furnished work to 177; trans- portation to 155; distributed 358 tons of coal; treated 2,013 patients ; furnished 27 nurses ; dis- tributed 300 grocery orders. The annual ex- penses, including annual contribution to the Na- tional Hospital for Consumptives in Denver, nearly equal the annual receipts. The Jews of Cincinnati take especial pride in the fact that while they contribute both to non-sectarian and other sectarian charities, no Jews are allowed to apply to such organizations for relief.

The first superintendent was M. Goldstein ; the present able superintendent is Rabbi Sol C. Low- enstein, a graduate of the University of Cin- cinnati (1898), and Hebrew Union College (1900). The following are the officers and mem- bers of the board of governors: President, B. Bettmann; vice-president, Louis S. Levi; treas- urer General Fund, Albert Moch ; treasurer Sink- ing Fund, Louis S. Levi; financial secretary, Mrs. J. Walter Freiberg ; secretary, Miss Hannah Marks ; assistant superintendent, Mrs. C. Guenz- barger ; agent Employment Bureau, H. Hutner ; members of board, -- Messrs. Victor Abraham, J. Walter Freiberg, I. J. Friedlander, Dr. Alfred Friedlander, Dr. Louis Grossmann, William J. Levy, James Lowman, L. D. Marks, Jacob Otten- ·heimer, Dr. David Philipson, Emil Pollak, A. G. Schwab and Max Senior, and Mesdames L. P. Ezekiel, Walter Ezekiel, Samuel Fletcher, Julius Freiberg, M. Guiterman, Ross Holzman, M. Isaacs, Mathilda Kahn, Louise Mannheimer, Pauline Mayer, S. B. Sachs and Louis Stern.

The United Jewish Charities occupy a large building at No. 731 West Sixth street with of- fice hours, except Saturday, from eiglit A. M. to six P. M., and eight to twelve M. on Satur- days.

The wisdom of federated charities led in 1800 to the formation of the National Jewish Chari-

ties, of which Max Senior was president from 1899 to 1902. The cities of Chicago, Rochester, Philadelphia and St. Louis have followed Cin- cinnati's example and have formed confedera- tions of various charitable organizations.

HOSPITALS AND HOMES FOR TILE AGED.

In addition to the charitable work carried on by the United Jewish Charities just described, the Jews of Cincinnati in addition support a hospital conducted by the Jewish Hospital As- sociation, composed of the following: Henry S. Fechheimer, president ; James Lowman, vice- president ; A. J. Seasongood, treasurer ; Samuel Mayer, secretary ; L. J. Mack, finance secretary ; Julius Freiberg, D. J. Workum, S. W. Trost, Louis Kramer, Jacob Ottenheimer, Julius Reis, Moses Marks, 1. J. Friedlander, M. E. Moch and Samuel Straus, trustees; and a Home for Jewish Aged and Infirm which is managed by the following board, to-wit: James Lowman, president ; Julius Freiberg, vice-president ; Frank Seinsheimer, recording secretary ; David Spritz. financial secretary ; Louis Kulin, treasurer ; and A. J. Seasongood, Moses Moch, Alexander Straus, James Levy, Emil Pollak, Louis Kramer. M. H. Marks, and Henry Fechheimer, directors. Both these institutions are supported by annual contributions and donations ; they are located 011 Burnet avenue and Union street. The Hospital, which is non-sectarian, is equipped with the best operating room in the city and its Training School for Nurses has an excellent reputation. The staff is composed of the following well known physicians : Joseph Ransohoff (dean), Louis J. Krouse, Albert H. Freiberg, J. E. Marcus, Al- fred Friedlander. L. J. Fogel, Samuel Rothen- berg, Sigmar Stark, Philip Zenner, D. 1. Wolf- stein, Oscar W. Stark, S. C. Ayres, S. E. Allen, Samuel Iglauer, Jos. C. Marcus, William A. Bettman, Carl Hiller, M. L. Heidingsfeld and Edwin H. Shields.

THE JEWISHI SOCIAL SETTLEMENT.

In 1899 a number of young ladies and gen- tlemen organized a "Society for Neighborhood Work," which is now known as the "Jewish Settlement," where work along the lines of Hull House is carried on. There is a resident head worker, Miss Clara Block, who has many assist- ants. Here cooking, sewing, bookkeeping. read- ing, gymnasium and other classes are conducted. The house has a large library of well selected books. Entertainments,-literary, musical and social,-are given regularly. The board of offi-

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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CINCINNATI

cers are : Alfred Bettmann, president; Mrs. Ben Loewenstein, vice-president ; A. Julius Frei- berg, secretary ; Max B. May, treasurer ; execu- tive committee,-Sol C. Lowenstein, Sidney J. Rauh, Mrs. Ross Holzman and Miss Essie Fleischmann. The house is crowded every night and the work of the Settlement has been very successful.

The Jews of Cincinnati, however, do not con- fine their charitable aid, pecuniary and personal, to local institutions. They are among the most liberal contributors to the Cleveland Jewish Or- phan Asylum, the National Hospital for Con- sumptives in Denver, the Hebrew Union College and the National Farm School. They are also active on the various boards of these outside in- stitutions. The amount of money contributed an- nually by the Jews of Cincinnati for all Jewish charitable purposes, local as well as national, is about $77,000.

PUBLIC SERVICE.

The American Jew has ever been loyal to his country. His services during the various wars has been told by Hon. Simon Wolf in his book, "The American Jew as Soldier, Patriot, Çitizen."

In Cincinnati at all times the Jew has been called upon to serve his city, county, State and nation ; in every instance he has discharged his duties faithfully and well. It is impossible with- in the limits of this article to give a separate account of each gentleman so honored; the list of names and the various officers will show the con- fidence placed in the Jew by his fellow citizens.

Mayor,-Julius Fleischmann, who strange to say defeated a coreligionist, Alfred M. Cohen ; judges of the Common Pleas Court,-Jacob Shroder and Frederick S. Spiegel; county so- licitor, Frederick S. Spiegel; prosecuting attor- ney,-Harry M. Hoffheimer; county clerk,- Lewis G. Bernard; State Senate,-Henry Mack, Charles Fleischmann, James Brown and Alfred M. Cohen; House of Representatives,-Joseph Jonas, Daniel Wolf, Frederick S. Spiegel, Harry M. Hoffheimer and Max Silberberg; county boards,-Morris Bauer and Louis Krohn; Board of Visitors,-Mrs. Jacob Shroder; U. S. col- lector of revenue, -B. Bettmann ; U. S. appraiser of customs,-Nathaniel Newburgh ; members of Council,-Morris Bauer, Daniel Bauer, Alfred M. Cohen, Gus Loewenstein, J. M. Ray, Julins Reis, Daniel Wolf, Charles Kulin and Enoch L. Stricker; members of School Board,-Rev. Dr. Max Lilienthal, Henry Mack, Frederick S.

Spiegel, Isaac Simon, Edgar M. Johnson, James Brown, Dr. L. J. Fogel, B. Bettmann, W. J. Klein and Dr. J. C. Marcus; Union Board of Cincinnati High Schools,-Jacob Shroder and Isaac Simon ; directors of the University of Cin- cinnati,-Rev. Dr. Max Lilienthal, Rev. Dr. Isaac M. Wise, James Brown, Lewis Seasongood, Edward Senior and Max B. May ; Public Libra- ry Board,-Dr. Henry W. Bettmann and James Brown; Park Board,-Jacob Elsas and Adam A. Kramer; police commissioner,-Julius Reis; Board of Public Service,-May Fechheimer and Samuel Weil; Board of Fire Trustees,-Abe Furst, Joseph M. Rice; State Board of Pardons, -Nathan Drucker ; U. S. commissioner,-Joseph L. Adler ; assistant corporation counsel,-Joseph L. Adler and Harry M. Hoffheimer ; trustees of the Southern Railway,-Philip Heidelbach and Henry Mack; trustees of the Sinking Fund,- Lewis Seasongood and Julius Freiberg; city prosecuting attorney,-Edgar M. Johnson ; Water Works commissioner,-Maurice J. Freiberg ; justices of the peace,-Leopold Block, Samuel L. Bloom, Fred A. Johnson, William Renau and Samuel Bloom.

COMMERCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE.

In Cincinnati the Jews play a prominent part in the commercial and professional life of the community. The clothing, whiskey, boot and shoe, dry goods, and trunk trade are largely in the hands of the Jews, and the prominent Jews are large stockholders and officers and members of the boards of directors of the, large national banks and trust companies. The Jews have been active in the management of the Chamber of Commerce, of which body Maurice J. Freiberg was president from 1895 to 1896. The only or- ganization of a strictly commercial nature with which the Jews have not been identified is the Commercial Club. It has been a matter of com- ment that such an organization should have no Jews among its members. It has been asserted that race prejudice is the cause here. If so, the Jew does not care, for his commercial pres- tige has never been affected.

Among the prominent physicians of the city, professors of medical colleges and members of hospital staffs are many Jewish physicians; in fact, the list is too large to name. Among the leading members of the bar are many Jewish citi- zens. One of the most distinguished members was the late Gustavus HI. Wald, who at the time of his death was dean of the Law Department of the University of Cincinnati.

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SECRET SOCIETIES.

There are many national secret orders among the Jews, notably the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith; the Free Sons of Israel, and the Kesher Order. The oldest is the I. O. B. B. These lodges in the early days paid sick and death benefits. To-day the death benefit feature has been dropped by nearly all of them. To-day their work is charitable in the main, helping dis- tressed members and assisting in the support of orphan asylums and homes for the aged.

The women of Israel have of late years been very active and the National Council of Jewish Women has just completed its third triennial meeting. The Cincinnati Section of the National Council of Jewish Women, with a membership of 700, devotes itself to "the work of social bet- terment through religion, philanthropy and edu- cation."

The Jews of Cincinnati are also members of the Masonic order, Knights of Pythias, and the Odd Fellows, and many of them have filled the highest offices in these orders.

THE SOCIAL LIFE.

The Jews everywhere have understood the art of living. Forced by circumstances to live together, they have evolved a family and social life, which has been the admiration of all man- kind. The family is the pivot about which Jew- ish life revolves. As communities grew in num- bers, congregations were formed, and as social

life became more complex, clubs were organized for purely social purposes. Among the earliest clubs was the Allemania, now no longer in ex- istence. In 1856 the Phoenix Club was formed. It is composed of 300 members and has a mag- nificent club house at Ninth and Race streets. The Cincinnati Club, which has a beautiful home on Melrose avenue, between Oak and Lincoln avenues, Walnut Hills, was established in 1889. The one feature which distinguishes these clubs from those of non-Jews is the frequent and gen- eral use made of them by the families of the members. Here on Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve, Washington's Birthday, early in the fall and spring, grand balls and entertainments are given in which the young ladies and gentlemen take part in operettas and dramatic perform- ances. During the year there are lectures and entertainments of an informal nature.

In the foregoing pages, I have tried to sketch the history of the Cincinnati Jew, setting forth the character of the settlement and his many activities, religious, educational, charitable, po- litical and social. No history of the Cincinnati Jews or Cincinnati Judaism, however, would be complete without some account of Isaac M. Wise, who during nearly a half century's active life in the community excited not only a most powerful influence on Cincinnati Jews, but on the Jews of America.

A sketch of the life of the foremost American Jew of the 19th century appears in the second vol- ume of this work.

CHAPTER XLIX.

EARLY MEDICAL CINCINNATI.

BY ARCH. I. CARSON, M. D.

THE FIRST PHYSICIANS OF THE SETTLEMENT AND THE ARMY SURGEONS-LATER ARRIVALS-MEDICAL SOCIETIES - MEDICAL SCHOOLS - HOSPITALS - MEDICAL JOURNALS - MEDICAL LIBRARIES.

The first purehaser of the land on which Cin- cinnati stands was John Cleves Symmes, a Mem- ber of Congress from New Jersey, who secured about 600,000 acres between the Little and Great Miamis. He sold part of his grant to Matthias Denman, of New Jersey, Col. Robert Patterson, and John Filson, of Kentucky. The last named was killed by Indians while exploring this region and Israel Ludlow succeeded him as one of the proprietors.

A party of 26, including Ludlow and Patter- son, left Limestone, now Maysville, Kentucky, on the 24th of December, 1788, and landed on the 28th of December at a small inlet, which was later called Ycatman's Cove, situated near what is now the foot of Syeamore street. They pro- ceeded first to the clearing of the land and the erection of houses, the first house being built on Front street just cast of Main.

Israel Ludlow was the surveyor and proprietor in charge of the affairs of the company and at onee commenced a survey of the ground, and the town was finally located on the 7th of. Jan- uary, 1789. The original town site extended from Eastern row ( now Broadway) to Western row (now Central avenue), and from the river to Northern row (now Seventh street). The land owned by the company extended, however, to what is now Liberty street.

The proprietors had agreed to donate a lot to each of the first 30 settlers who would clear the

ground and build a house 20 feet square. The lots were drawn on the 7th of January, 1789. THE FIRST PHYSICIANS OF THE SETTLEMENT AND THE ARMY SURGEONS.

In the following May, 49 more lots were do- nated and this time we find a physician, Dr. John Hole, among those receiving a lot,-No. 227. During 1789-90 many lots were sold, the following physicians appearing as purchasers : John Hole,-Nos. 93, 216, 62, 63, 66, 67 and 12; John Adams .- Nos. 145 and 146; and Cal- vin Morrel,-No. 7.

When the site of the town was first selected, John Filson, who was a schoolmaster, devised the name I .- os-anti-ville ( the town opposite the mouth of the Licking), and it was so called when first laid out. About June 1, 1789, Major Doughty arrived from Fort Harmar with 140 soldiers and commenced the erection of a fort which he completed in November. It consisted of four blockhouses, one at each corner, joined by a row of houses of hewn logs, the struc- ture being 180 feet square with a triangular space, on its north side, enclosed by palisades.

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Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2, Part 76

Author: Greve, Charles Theodore, b. 1863. cn Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1048

Author: Greve, Charles Theodore, b. 1863. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1048