USA > South Carolina > The Jews of South Carolina, from the earliest times to the present day > Part 19
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" It was but natural that such a man should be missed in a community and that his death causes universal sorrow, and to-day there are many sad hearts in Sumter. But death came to him in the fulness of time, after a long, well-spent, and useful life; and the sorrow that is felt is tempered with gladness that he was spared so long to do good and to set a worthy example."-The Watchman and Southron."
MAJOR MARION MOÏSE, a son of General E. W. Moïse, is to-day one of Sumter's most prominent citizens. He was born on Sullivan's Island on June 14, 1855. He spent one year at the Virginia Military Institute and a few months at South Carolina College, leaving that institution when negroes were admitted in 1873. Like his father, Mr. Moïse
" Many newspaper tributes, together with other material, have been collected by the author in the small memorial volume: Edwin Warren Moïse-In Memoriam (Charleston, S. C., 1903).
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has taken an active part in public affairs. He served as Intendant of Sumter for four years and also for one term in the State Senate (1886-90). He has taken a prominent part, likewise, in educational affairs, having served as a member of the School Board of the Sumter Graded School for ten years, of which body he was for three years chair- man. He has earned an enviable reputation in the State as a lawyer, and is to-day identified with the principal busi- ness enterprises of his adopted city.
ALTAMONT MOSES, son of Montgomery Moses, is a native of Sumter. He served for three terms in the City Council, was for many years a member of the Democratic County Executive Committee, and is now chairman of the City Executive Committee. He has frequently been a delegate to the State Conventions, his first service in that capacity being in 1868. He was a member of the National Demo- cratic Convention in 1888 and also in 1904. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1886 and has been unin- terruptedly a member of the General Assembly since that date. He is chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and a member of the "Sinking Fund Commission," "Hamp- ton Monument Commission," and of the "Commission for Repairs to the State-House." He is Commissary-General on Governor Heyward's staff with the rank of colonel. He has been president of the Sumter Hebrew Benevolent So- ciety, and also of the Sumter Society of Israelites; has served as president of the Board of Trade and of the Busi- ness Men's League, and as chairman of the Board of Com- missioners of the city schools. Mr. Moses is considered to be one of the best informed men in the State on the finances of South Carolina, and one of the hard-working members of the House. He comes from a family of legislators. His grandfather, Myer Moses, was a member of the House from Charleston in 1810. His uncle, Chief-Justice Moses, was Senator from Sumter for twenty-five years, and another
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uncle, Henry M. Phillips, was a prominent member of Con- gress from Philadelphia.
ISAAC C. STRAUSS is one of the more prominent of Sum- ter's younger Jews. He has been Referee in Bankruptcy since 1898; he is vice-president of "The Sumter Savings Bank," counsel and director of "The Sumter Telephone Company," and secretary and treasurer of "The Society of Israelites" of Sumter.
The following names include the principal Jews of Sum- ter to-day: H. D. Barnett, A. D'Ancona, M. Fromberg, Moses Green, Henry J. Harby, Horace Harby, Horace Harby, Jr., Jackson M. Harby, Joshua J. Harby, Ferdi- nand Levi, Mitchell Levi, J. H. Levy, Davis D. Moïse, Har- mon D. Moïse, Marion Moïse, Altamont Moses, H. Clare- mont Moses, Eugene H. Moses, A. J. Moses, I. Harby Moses, Perry, Moses, Perry Moses, Jr., Abe Ryttenberg, C. D. Schwartz, Isaac Schwartz, Isaac Strauss, Isaac C. Strauss.
The present Jewish population numbers about one hun- dred and twenty-five souls. The community is more than ordinarily prosperous, supports a Synagogue, of which Rev. J. Klein is minister, and a Benevolent Society.
OTHER COMMUNITIES.
We have taken note only of the older and historical com- munities of the State. Besides these, there are numerous small communities whose Jewish populations vary from twenty to one hundred souls: Abbeville, Barnwell, Beau- fort, Branchville, Chester, Darlington, Florence, Green- ville, Kingstree, Manning, Marion, Newberry, Orangeburg, Rock Hill, Spartanburg, St. Matthew's. St. Stephen's, and Union. There are many settlements of Jews, too, still smaller than these. To these places we cannot refer at length. It may be noted, however, that Beaufort had quite a large settlement of Jews in the early days, as is clearly shown by the tombstones in the Jewish cemetery at Savannah and
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from scattered notices of individuals in the Charleston newspapers of the first quarter of the nineteenth century. Beaufort has no records, however, and careful inquiry among the older present inhabitants has failed to elicit any authentic data of historical value or interest. Darlington has a Jewish community of about sixty souls. It is visited periodically by Rev. J. Klein, of Sumter.
The country Jew is by no means a negligible quantity in estimating the importance of its Jewish citizens to the State. In the early days the majority of the Jews lived in Charleston. This is no longer the case, and many country Jews have been important factors in the moral and material development of their respective towns or cities. Of these several call for special mention.
MOSES LEVI, of Manning, was one of the oldest settlers of that town, whither he removed from Sumter in 1856. He engaged in business and amassed quite a fortune, which, however, he lost in the war, in which he had a very good record. After the war he resumed his business, and by dint of thrift and hard work regained his fortune to a large extent. He died in Manning, at the age of seventy-two, on January 26, 1899.41
ABRAHAM LEVI, son of Moses Levi, was born in Manning on July 31, 1863. He attended the primary schools of Man- ning and, later, private schools in New York City. He graduated in 1882 from Carolina Military Institute at Char- lotte, N. C., studied law at the University of Virginia, and graduated at the Albany Law School in 1884. He was ad- mitted to the Bar in 1885 and has practised law since that time in Manning. Mr. Levi is president of the Bank of Manning, which he organized in 1889, and is one of the leading financiers of Clarendon County. He was for a time editor of The Manning Times. No man has done more than
# The News and Courier, Jan. 27, 1899.
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he has for the industrial growth of the community in which he lives.
When Moses Levi, the father, died, he left a widow, six sons, and three daughters. The sons are all esteemed mer- chants in their respective communities, and the daughters splendid examples of exalted womanhood. After their father's death the children bought the fine property that was occupied as a school building and presented it to the town. It is now known as the "Moses Levi Memorial In- stitute." The mother, Hannah Levi, died recently,42 and her children have again manifested their generosity by the donation of $1,000 for the purpose of founding a library, to be known as "The Hannah Levi Memorial Library." The town of Manning has appropriated $1,000 towards the building, and at the time of writing public subscriptions are being collected for the same purpose. Such is the work that is being done to-day by country Jews in South Caro- lina.
LOUIS APPEUT is another distinguished Jew of Manning. He was born in the city of Troy, N. Y., on March 22, 1857. He was educated at the public schools of New York City and later at the High School at Greenport, L. I. He came to South Carolina while still a youth and engaged in mer- cantile pursuits. Mr. Appelt was Judge of the Probate Court for Clarendon County for twelve years (1886-1898), City Treasurer for four years, and was appointed Post- master by President Cleveland, which position he continues to hold. He served four years in the State Senate (1898- 1902), was on the staff of General Stoppelbein with the rank of major, was a member of several State Conventions, and also a member of the Democratic State Executive Committee. He has always taken the liveliest interest in matters relating to education. He is at the present time the editor and pro-
" The News and Courier, Jan. 20, 1905.
. PP
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prietor of The Manning Times, a paper conducted with much ability. He married Miss Eliza Steinmeyer Clark in 1880.43
While writing of Manning, mention should be made of REUBEN B. LORYEA, a gifted pharmacist, who was held in the highest esteem by the community, and who died at the early age of thirty-four on August 22, 1899. He was vice- president of the Pharmaceutical Association of South Caro- lina and for many years secretary of the Board of Pharma- ceutical Examiners.
It might be noted here that the town of Marion had for- merly quite a large settlement of Jews and an established congregation. Among the first residents were the Iseman. Cronheim, and Witcover families. This last family has been conspicuously identified with the development of the town since about 1860, and one of its members, Hyman Witcover, is to-day one of Marion's most prominent citi- zens.
In The News and Courier of June 15, 1905, there is a very interesting article on "The Jews of Darlington," which states that Jews have resided there since 1815. The earliest Jewish settler was a John Lazarus, a tanner by trade, who came from England.
THEODORE KOHN (1840-1902), one of Orangeburg's most prominent citizens, was a native of Furth, Bavaria. His father was a distinguished artist who took part in the strug- gle for political liberty in Bavaria, and, together with his wife and two sons, came to America in 1850. In the same year Theodore Kohn came to Orangeburg and went into business with his uncle, D. Louis. We have already noted his record in the war between the States. After the war he engaged in business in his adopted city and was likewise active in the public service. He was an Alderman of the
43 The News and Courier, Jan. 30, 1899.
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city and was foremost in all public enterprises. He was instrumental in the organization of the Edisto Bank, being on its first Board of Directors. His most distinguished pub- lie service, however, was in connection with education. To him more than to anyone else is due the credit for the estab- lishment of the excellent graded school system in Orange- burg. He is still referred to as the " father of the Orange- burg graded schools," and served on the Board of Trustees from the beginning till just prior to his death, when he resigned on account of ill-health. He was president of the Hebrew Benevolent Association from its organization in 1885. He was much esteemed by the community in which he lived, every place of business in the city being closed during his funeral services. Of his sons, August Kohn is one of the best known newspaper men in the State; Sol. Kohn continues his father's business in Orangeburg, and David Kohn is a textile engineer in Columbia.44
AUGUST KOHN, a son of Theodore Kolin, was born in Orangeburg on February 25, 1868. He received his early education at the school of Captain H. G. Sheridan in his native city, and studied for one year in New York. In 1885 he entered South Carolina College, taking the literary course and graduating with distinction in 1889. In 1888 he won the debater's medal in the Clarisophic Society. His first newspaper work was done on The Carolinian, the Col- lege magazine, of which he was first managing editor, be- coming editor-in-chief in 1889. It was his original intention to become a lawyer, but circumstances, combined with his love for newspaper work, fortunately changed his plans. In 1889 Mr. N. G. Gonzales, the manager of the Columbia Bureau of The News and Courier, was stricken with typhoid fever. Recognizing Mr. Kohn's ability, he secured him to
" For an appreciative biography of Theodore Kohn see The News and Courier, June 19, 1902.
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take charge of the Bureau, which he did most acceptably. Instead of studying law, he accepted a position as one of the local reporters of The News and Courier. His career was one of steady promotion, and he became manager of the Bureau in February, 1892, in which office he has re- mained continuously since that time.
Mr. Kohn is to-day recognized as one of the ablest jour- nalists of the State, and bids fair, if he continues as he has begun, to rival the great Cardozo himself. We can only make brief reference here to his work as a journalist, for Mr. Kohn has been remarkably productive in every variety of work that the newspaper man is called upon to perform. His reports of the legislative proceedings, that he has fur- nished for years to his paper, are models of completeness and accuracy. In April, 1894, the "Darlington Rebellion," the tragic result of the Dispensary Law, excited the entire State. Darlington was under martial law. Mr. Kohn's vigorous reports from the scene of action were such that the militia officer in command was instructed by Governor Tillman to "muzzle Kohn or put him outside of the lines," but, notwithstanding all efforts made to thwart him, he managed day by day to publish the fullest news. The story of how he got the news is as thrilling as any of the adven- tures of the representatives of the Associated Press. Single- handed, he reported the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention of 1895, his daily reports often covering two whole newspaper pages, an achievement that few could have performed successfully, and for which Mr. Kohn received the public thanks of the Convention. Mr. Kohn has reported many of the important criminal trials in the State, and has likewise reported more political campaigns than any news- paper man in the State. His wide knowledge of the politics of the State and his possession of the confidence of the poli- ticians have made his daily letters both interesting and of permanent value to the future historian. His articles on
-
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industrial subjects, notably his "Review of the Cotton Mill Industry," in 1903, attracted the widest attention and are accepted as authoritative. During the Spanish- American War Mr. Koho accompanied the 1st Regiment to Chickamauga as war correspondent. His graphic de- scriptions of the doings of the soldiers in camp were eagerly read day by day and will be long remembered.
Mr. Kohn is not only a good newspaper man, but is an equally good business man and is connected with many important enterprises. He is a director of the National Loan and Exchange Bank, of Columbia, and of the Columbia Trust Company; he is treasurer of the South Carolina Press Association, a trustee of South Carolina College and of the South Carolina College Alumni Fund; a director of the Richland Cotton Mill, and of many other enter- prises. He is a director of the Hebrew Orphan Home at Atlanta. He was appointed lieutenant-colonel on the staff of Governor McSweeney and occupies a similar position on the staff of Governor Heyward. He is generally ac- knowledged as a most potent factor in the commercial upbuilding of the prosperous city of Columbia.45
Of the country Jews of South Carolina we have selected only a few names that stand out more prominently. There are doubtless many others who have rendered and are ren- dering good service to the State. Such a man, for example, was the late Philip Cohen, of Union, the founder of the public school system of that city. Authentic data, however, are not at hand, and our present task is restricted to the things that are matters of record. Enough has been said to establish the value of the country Jew as a factor in the uplifting and the upbuilding of the State.
45 For numerous notices of Mr. Kohn's multifarious activities see the Centennial edition of The News and Courier, especially pp. 26 and 27.
CHAPTER XIV-MODERN PERIOD 1865-1905
HE main object of this volume, as ex- plained before, being the preservation of the early memorials of the Jews of South Carolina, we have treated the early story in full detail. In writing of the modern period such detail is no longer necessary. We are too near the scene to make a critical estimate of the present and we can leave that for the future historian. We will therefore deal with this period only in broad outline.
In a previous chapter the Jews of South Carolina, or rather the Jews of Charleston,-for historically, prior to 1865, the Jews of South Carolina were the Jews of Charles- ton, --- presented a picture of a house divided against itself. The lamentable religious dissension that existed was not confined to the Synagogue, but manifested itself likewise in the general life, son being often estranged from father and father from son. It was a pitiable state of affairs that could not last. Among the older men were many who "re- membered the glory of the former house," and the hope of an ultimate reunion had never quite faded from their breasts. In 1866 they saw this long-hoped-for consumma- tion realized, and, amid great rejoicing, the two Congrega- tions again met, a united body, in "the holy and beautiful house where their fathers had praised God."
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But the very thing that brought the community together again was now to scatter it. The fearful commercial de- pression that followed the war caused many of its formerly prosperous Jewish merchants to leave Charleston. Men like Ben. Mordecai, wealthy before the war, were reduced to poverty and had to go elsewhere to try to retrieve their fallen fortunes. Others, like M. C. Mordecai, likewise left to find larger scope for their activities. Still others left to seek fame and fortune in the professions. To trace them in detail in their migrations, identified as they have been with the history of so many communities in the land, would carry us too far afield and would require far more space than the limits of this volume would warrant. Suffice it to say, that in art, science, literature, law, and in the army and navy they have played a significant part, many of them attaining eminence.
Thus did the war cause a dispersion of many of the old settlers. For many years there was a slight diminution of the Jewish population. The Russian persecutions of 1880 and 1890 and subsequent years, however, caused a notable influx of Russian and Polish emigrants into South Caro- lina. These same emigrants form to-day a prosperous element in the community.1
It is a common mistake of writers that the Jews of South Carolina are less numerous and influential than formerly. As a matter of fact, they are far more numerous than ever before. Their aggregate wealth, too, is greater than it has ever been, only the Jews are more scattered. There is scarcely a settlement in the State where they are not found, and their enterprise and industry are everywhere mani-
1 A Polish congregation was organized in Charleston as early as 1857. Though this element of the community now far outnumbers the older element, it has had no history, communal or otherwise, worth recording. It has never had a leader and bids fair to continue in its present con- dition.
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fested. In commerce, especially, they are playing a promi- nent part. In the professions, they are most distinguished as members of the Bar. In medicine, at the present time, the author is the only Jewish practising physician in the State; several, however, have left the State in recent years. In literature. Mrs. J. D. Harby (Lee C. Harby), of Con- way, has won fame as a writer of short stories and poetry. Mrs. J. Visanska, of Charleston, is a prominent worker in the Federation of Women's Clubs, and Miss Isabel Cohen is an artist of promise. In politics, the Jews are not as prominent as formerly.
Charleston has lost several of its representative Jews and Jewesses in recent years: Asher D. Cohen,2 L. L. Cohen, H. H. De Leon,3 Sam. Hart, Sr., B. F. Moise,4 Dr. J. R. Solomons,3 S. S. Solomons,8 M. Triest, and Dr. P. Wineman. Among the representative Jewesses who have died are Miss Sally Lopez, the founder of the second Jewish Sabbath-school in America," and Miss Annie Simpson, one of the founders of the Ladies' Memorial Association and for many years a directress of the Confederate Home.8
The following notes of those who have held public office since 1879 are necessarily incomplete and imperfect, com- plete data not being available. It will be sufficient to indi- cate, however, that the Jews of South Carolina are now, as ever, doing their full duty as citizens of the Common- wealth :
A. Baruch was Sheriff of Darlington, 1876-8.
2 See The News and Courier, Oct. 11, 1904; also June 14, 1905.
' Ibid., Jan. 4. 1901; also The Sunday News, Jan. 6, 1901.
' Year Book for 1887, pp. 249-250.
Ibid., pp. 289-290.
The News and Courier, Feb. 16, 1904.
' The American Israelite for Jan., 1902.
8 The News and Courier, Jan. 27, 1905.
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Ansley D. Cohen was Harbor Commissioner of Charles- ton, 1883-7.
H. H. De Leon was a Commissioner of the Orphan House, 18S0-1900.
Ralph Elias, Assistant Postmaster, has occupied that position since 1890.
A. A. Goldsmith was a Commissioner of Markets, 1880-3, and Police Commissioner, 1883-7.
Morris Harris has been a Commissioner of the Alms- house since 1880.
S. Hart, Sr .. was a Commissioner of Markets, 1880-2.
I. W. Hirsch has been a Commissioner of the Orphan House since 1901.
M. J. Hirsch represented Williamsburg in the Legisla- ture in 1876. He was Circuit Solicitor, 1877-9.
M. Israel was a Commissioner of the City Hospital, 1887-9. He is at present a member of the State Board of Equalization.
Louis Jacobs was Judge of Probate for Williamsburg in 1876; Sheriff of Williamsburg, 1877-1880; Chief Deputy Collector of Customs of Charleston in 1891, and is at pres- ent Postmaster at Kingstree.
Maximilian Jacobs was Clerk of the Court of Williams- burg, 1876-8.
J. H. Loeb was Alderman of Charleston, 1879-1883; a member of the Board of Firemasters, 1880-1, and a trustee of the College of Charleston, 1880-1.
Captain B. Mantoue was a Commissioner of Marion Square, 1882-7.
B. F. Moïse was chairman of the Board of Health, 1880-2.
C. N. Moïse was Auditor of Sumter County, 1878-1881.
E. W. Moïse was Adjutant and Inspector General of the State, 1877-1880.
T. M. Mordecai has been a Commissioner of the City Orphan Asylum since 1901.
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J. L. Moses was a member of the Board of Equalization, 1880 -- 1.
Montgomery Moses was a Circuit Judge, 1876-7.
J. N. Nathans was a member of the Constitutional Con- vention of 1895.
I. M. Pearlstine was an Alderman of Charleston, 1895-9.
S. Phillips was a Commissioner of the Almshouse, 1895- 1900.
Warley Platzek, now a prominent member of the New York Bar, was Assessor and Treasurer of Marion in 1874-5.
G. M. Pollitzer was a Commissioner of the City Hospital, 1895-1903.
J. R. Sampson was Coroner of Marlboro in 1892.
A. L. Solomon was Auditor of Richland County, 1876-7.
Dr. J. R. Solomons was a Commissioner of the Alms- house, 1879-1880, and a Commissioner of the City Hospital, 1880-1887.
J. L. Tobias was a Commissioner of the Orphan House, 1876-1880, and a member of the Board of Health, 1882- 1893.
Dr. P. Wineman was a Commissioner of Markets, 1883-7.
In the late Spanish-American War the Jews of South Car- olina furnished their full quota of soldiers. The following names are compiled from Floyd: South Carolina in the Spanish-American War (Columbia, 1901) :
Henry Appelt, Company A, 2d Regiment.
Clarence M. Berman, Company K, 1st Regiment.
Ansley D. Harby, Company M, 1st Regiment.
August Kohn, special detailed war correspondent of The News and Courier, Charleston, S. C.
M. E. Lopez, Jr., seaman, naval batteries, Port Royal.
Herbert A. Moses, corporal, Company M, 1st Regiment.
Isaac H. Moses, Jr., 1st lieutenant, Company M, 1st Reg- iment.
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W. Graham Moses, sergeant, Company A, Ist Regiment. A. Pearlstine, corporal, Company G, 2d Regiment.
Mordecai A. Strauss, corporal, Company M, Ist Regi- ment.
To the country Jew we have devoted considerable atten- tion. We will only add that the Jews of Charleston to-day include many prominent citizens. Mr. Morris Israel, the President of Beth Elohim, is a financier of acknowledged ability; Mr. M. E. Lopez has been for many years promi- nently identified with phosphate and other interests; Mr. J. N. Nathans and Mr. T. M. Mordecai are distinguished members of the Charleston Bar.
The following list includes the leading Jewish merchants and citizens of Charleston to-day :
S. Behrmann, H. Blank, I. Blank, S. Blank, E. Brown, H. Brown, Z. Brown, A. D. Cohen, I. S. Cohen, L. Cohen, McDuff Cohen, W. B. Cohen, J. L. David-one of Charles- ton's prominent merchants and most public-spirited citi- zens, M. M. David, L. Elias, Ralph Elias, R. Elias, D. B. Falk, J. Flaum, M. Frank, M. Furchgott, J. Goldman, A. A. Goldsmith, M. Goldsmith, D. L. Hart, M. E. Hertz, A. A. Hirsch, G. A. Hirsch, I. W. Hirsch, H. Hirsch- mann, S. Hirschmann, M. Hornik-one of Charleston's most successful merchants, M. J. Hornik, A. Israel, L. Israel, M. Israel, M. M. Israel, N. Israel, S. Israel, N. P. Jacobi, I. Jacobs, J. Jacobs, L. Jacobs, W. M. Jacobs, M. H. Lazarus, L. Levine, O. Levy, E. J. Lewith, S. Link, J. Livingston, J. S. Loeb, L. Loeb, M. E. Lopez, B. Man- toue, I. Marks, J. Marks, L. Marks, M. Marks, M. M. Marks, I. M. Mendelsohn, I. M. Monash, A. J. Myers, H. H. Nathan, M. H. Nathan, J. N. Nathans, Sr., J. N. Nathans. Jr., H. Oppenheim, H. Pearlstine, I. M. Pearlstine, I. Pin- kussohn, J. S. Pinkussohn, G. M. Pollitzer, S. Rittenberg, A. Rubin, I. D. Rubin, E. M. Solomons, Dr. R. Solomons, T. Solomons, J. J. Strauss, A. Tobias, J. R. Tobias, T. Jef-
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