M. Cohn and Son
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Transcript of M. Cohn and Son
Special thanks to:
Dr. Jeanne Abrams, DirectorJCRS Collection, Beck Archives,Special Collections, Penrose Library andCenter for Judaic Studies, University of Denver
Ancestory.com. Oct. 2008 <http://www.ancestory.com>. Rich, Tracey R. "Mourner's Kaddish." Judiasm101. 2005. 2008 <http://judiasm101.com>. Unknown. "Unknown." New York Times Apr. 1919: 1.Elsner, Bj, Editor. Rock Island: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow. Rock Island History Book Committee: 1988. 247 pgs.Tweet, Roald. The Quad Cities: An American Mosaic. East Hall Press: 1996. 106 pgs.
Baskerville Old Face 1757 John Baskerville, Shalom Old Style copyright ©1990-1992 Jonathan Brecher
Designer: © 2008 Sean SavittAuthor: Leonard Savitt
M. COHN & SONNinth Street Shoe Store
Blessed are you,
Lord, our God,
sovereign of the universe
who has kept us alive,
sustained us,
and enable us
to reach this season: (Amen)
Molih Klm vnyhla H hta Kvrb [Nma] :hzh Nmzl vniyghv vnmyqv vnythw
Molih Klm vnyhla H hta Kvrb [Nma] :hzh Nmzl vniyghv vnmyqv vnythw
prefaceMorris Cohn was a patient at the Jewish Consumptive
Relief Society (JCRS), a free of charge turburculosis
sanitarium outside Denver Colorado operation in the
early 1900’s. This book began with a day of ravaging
through the patient archives. 10394 written on the left tab
of a manilla folder accompanied by JCRS was all Morris
Cohn was to me at first. As I read through the documents
contained in the folder I realized what I‘d stumbled upon.
Morris Young was my great grandfather. Much like
Morris Cohn, He immigrated to the United States from
Russia. With the help of my grandfather Leonard Savitt,
we were able to fill in the details that the archive could
not. This story is about what lies behind the red white
and blue. It's about a dream.
This is a story composed of two lives.
the lawMorris Cohn was born
in a small town about
40 miles from Kiev, a
middle size city in Russia.
Whenever we asked him
where he came from,
he always would reply,
the lawBut anyone who knew suspected Morris, or
Moisha, as he was commonly called, never
lived in Kiev. The law during the early 1900
was that a Jew was never allowed to live in a
metropolis like that. But rather all Jewish com-
munities existed in small towns around the city.
“I am ofen RUSSIA .”KI-EV,
v
During this era there were serious anti-semitic movements all over Russia and Poland. The great “Pogroms” of the era were weekly occurrence.
v
Bands of anti-semitic
gangs roamed the small
towns, and harassed
the Jewish communities.
aa
&THUGS
would cause chaos
in what might have been a quiet Jewish community.
Generally life became unbearable, in that a Jew could never get a job in a public or city government, large companies would openly refuse
to hire a Jew and there
was little option for Jewish
people to make a living.
Even schools prohibited
attendance by Jewish kids.
The Jewish community was
forced to fend for itself.
Jewish children were educated but strictly in religious Jewish schools called “cheders” and most Jewish breadwinners provided a living by starting small business enterprises to eke out a living on their own.
It was not uncommon to find a small clothing
store, a shoemaker, a bicycle repair store, a bakery all owned by the local Jews in town.
Main Entry: en·tre·pre·neur Pronunciation: \,än-trə-p(r)ə-'n ə r, -'n(y)u̇r\ Function: noun Etymology: French, from Old French: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
Main Entry: en·tre·pre·neur Pronunciation: \,än-trə-p(r)ə-'n ə r, -'n(y)u̇r\ Function: noun Etymology: French, from Old French: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
Main Entry: en·tre·pre·neur Pronunciation: \,än-trə-p(r)ə-'n ə r, -'n(y)u̇r\ Function: noun Etymology: French, from Old French: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
Main Entry: en·tre·pre·neur Pronunciation: \,än-trə-p(r)ə-'n ə r, -'n(y)u̇r\ Function: noun Etymology: French, from Old French: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
Main Entry: en·tre·pre·neur Pronunciation: \,än-trə-p(r)ə-'n ə r, -'n(y)u̇r\ Function: noun Etymology: French, from Old French: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
Main Entry: en·tre·pre·neur Pronunciation: \,än-trə-p(r)ə-'n ə r, -'n(y)u̇r\ Function: noun Etymology: French, from Old French: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
Main Entry: en·tre·pre·neur Pronunciation: \,än-trə-p(r)ə-'n ə r, -'n(y)u̇r\ Function: noun Etymology: French, from Old French: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
Main Entry: en·tre·pre·neur Pronunciation: \,än-trə-p(r)ə-'n ə r, -'n(y)u̇r\ Function: noun Etymology: French, from Old French: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
Main Entry: en·tre·pre·neur Pronunciation: \,än-trə-p(r)ə-'n ə r, -'n(y)u̇r\ Function: noun Etymology: French, from Old French: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
Main Entry: en·tre·pre·neur Pronunciation: \,än-trə-p(r)ə-'n ə r, -'n(y)u̇r\ Function: noun Etymology: French, from Old French: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
Main Entry: en·tre·pre·neur Pronunciation: \,än-trə-p(r)ə-'n ə r, -'n(y)u̇r\ Function: noun Etymology: French, from Old French: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
Main Entry: en·tre·pre·neur Pronunciation: \,än-trə-p(r)ə-'n ə r, -'n(y)u̇r\ Function: noun Etymology: French, from Old French: one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
Learning to enterprise was a special ability for
the Jewish population, knowing that they could
never get a job. The future was pretty dismal.
The only hope for most Jewish families was that
if they could get someone to sponsor them in the
United States, they would save their money, and
the husband would buy one ticket in steerage,
(the cheapest level in a boat) and leave to the US,
with a specific plan that when he saved enough
money, he would send for his wife so they could
start to live a better life.
And so it was wıth Moisha Cohn, the son of a local rabbı ın the town. Hıs wıfe Ida, whıle very sad on learnıng that Moısha’s uncle Max, ın Chıcago, agreed to send hım some money and accept responsıbılıty for hım, they belıeved and prayed that theır dream would be fulfılled...
And so, at the age of 27, Moısha Cohn left hıs small town and took a traın from
Russıa. He kıssed Ida and hıs two ınfant daughters, Ceıl
and Rose goodbye, traveled, thru Poland and south to a port cıty ın Yugoslavıa and
set saıl to Amerıcan.
Morris arrived in NewYorkwith only $35 in his pocket, a small black satchel,
a change of clothes, a ticket to Chicago,
and a dream.He arrived in Chicago where Max was waiting at the station. It was a godsend that a friendly face was there to greet him, although he had never seen him before. Max was Morris’s uncle’s oldest son.
They had come here in 1897 also in an attempt to escape the miserable life they lived. Max lead Morris to a local street corner, caught a streetcar, paid the four cents for each of them, and went home.
Morris had never seen such a maze of humanity, apartment buildings, stores, traffic with horses, and bicycles filling the streets. “Finally,” Morris thought as they got off the streetcar. Max led him three blocks to Morgan Street and up three flights of stairs to a small apartment. Max, his wife Pearl, and their two small daughters lived in this two-bedroom apartment. Max showed Morris to his bed, which was in the living room. They had a small pullout bed, or studio couch as it was known, that opened up at night to a bed.
Although this was nothıng lıke Morrıs
had dreamt he would arrıve to, he offıcıally
lived hıs fırst day of the Amerıcan lıfestyle.
Max said, “ I will take
you to work with me
and try to arrange for
a regular job for you.”
So it was, Morris’
first job was in a
sweatshop. He would
be taught to cut fabric
for dresses, he would
work every day from
8 in the morning until
7:30 at night, with only a
half hour off for lunch.
Even Saturday for a half
day. He would receive a
salary of $14. 00 a week.
Morris set aside $2.50 of
it for Pearl,
“Tomorrow”“Tomorrow”“Tomorrow”
“Tomorrow”Max’s wife, who provided dinner for him every night. He also set aside $2.50 a week for Ida, so some day she and her daughters could join him in America. The rest was for transportation and expenses during the week.Although Morris knew, it was not the road to wealth, at least he was independent, making his own way. With a promise of a future.
“Tomorrow”
And so it was that Morris started his new life. That is except that every moment of the day that he could dream, he wished for the day that Ida could join him, and that maybe, maybe he could have a business of his own.
After two and a half years. Morris had
accumulated enough to buy the cheapest
ticket for Ida and the two girls and went about
arranging for them to come here. At the same
time he heard about a little town, Rock Island,
about two hours south of Chicago that he
could rent a small store, pay only $65 a month
rent, and open up his own business. Morris
spent every moment of every day, waiting
for Ida to arrive, and for them to go to Rock
Island to see the small vacant store.
Praised be You,
Eternal our God,
Ruler of the universe,
who has kept us alive,
sustained us
and permitted us
to reach this day.
Molih Klm vnyhla H hta Kvrb [Nma] :hzh Nmzl vniyghv vnmyqv vnychw
“Fınally I have reached fulfıllment of my dreams. Only four years ın thıs wonderful Amerıca and I am a busıness owner. No more a prısoner of a despotıc polıtıc system or the slave to a mıserable, heartless boss. Now I can realıze my own dreams, be my own person, and provıde the lıfe I have always dreamt of for my famıly.
With a $1500 loan from Uncle Max, a
$1000 loan from the local bank in Rock
Island and only a signature to seal a three
year lease for 613 9th street, Rock Island,
Morris opened up his small shoe store
and upstairs he rented the two bedroom
apartment so he could live and work at the
same place: avoid any unnecessary expense.
Two or three manufacturers and a couple of
small jobbers were willing to extend limited
credit to the newly established Cohn Shoes.
As Morris unpacked the first few cartons of shoes and stacked the shelves, he enjoyed moments of absolute delirium at the prospects of his new life. “ Who would believe that this day would finally come? “ My wife Ida was behind the counter, with $25.00 of small change for making sales and I, with my apron to look like the ‘successful entrepreneur’.
When the first customer came in, looked around and picked a pair of shoes for $2.59 I felt like jumping into the sky, and after that a lady with a small child, then another and a man for a pair of sturdy work shoes. When the day was over, I walked over to Ida and asked, “So how did we do?” Ida, with a smile across her face, “Well, we started with $25.00 in cash and now I count $61.80. A net gain of $36.80. Not bad, huh, Morris.”
And so it was that Morris reached the
beginning of his dream. The following year
they were blessed with their third child,
Howard. Rock Island was good for Morris
and Ida. Not only did they work hard and
develop a loyal trade, but also little by little
they made friends in town. Germans, Irish,
Jews and African-Americans, all settled in
distinct neighborhoods. Morris met a few
more Jewish families who lived near by and
they decided to start a small synagogue
in a vacant storefront. It was not long
before Morris knew that “he belonged.”
His friends came to him for advice. He
walked into the bank and said Hello to the
president, and marched up and down 9th
street looking straightforward like a man of
“importance” Within a few years, Morris
even had a small savings account. “A man
needs to save for the future, doesn’t he?”
He remarked to his Ida one day. “I have
been blessed,” said Morris, each and every
day that he got up to work, every day he
would stop by the local synagogue when
at least ten men would meet and say their
daily prayers. “In the back of my mind,
I knew, that without Hashem’s help,
I would never reach this day” After a
short service Morris would have his daily
libation, say L’Chaim (to life) and start his
regular routine. “My business is growing
by leaps and bounds,” he boasted. Only
one other shoe shop in town, and he is a
far-shloffener (asleep at the wheel) so
I can run promotions, give a coupon
once in a while, make a donation to
local organizations including the local
churches, and continue to grow my
business.” It wasn’t long before Morris
was able to reach $50,000 of sales volume
in one year. “For that I am proud, but
not half as proud as I am of my family.
After Ceil and Rose, then Howard, my
first American born child, and finally my
Abie. A growing business, a beautiful wife
and family, what else could I ask for?”
In 1919, America was struck with a
world war.” Morris was terrified what
the future would bring, “ I hope I don’t
have to go to the army. After all I am
already 41 years old. I have a business, a
growing family, a mortgage on my house,
and a bundle on my plate. Thank God,
I was not called but Rock Island was not
the same after that. Many of our young
boys were called to fight, many of the
factories that were producing consumer
goods were required to retool and make
items for the war. A shoe factory stopped
manufacturing shoes, and made marching
boots for the army. The local clothing
factory was making uniforms. A tool and
die shop in town was making parts for
weapons. Much of the merchandise I
need was just not available. My customers
were coming into the store, asking for
simple items, but I had to tell them they
were not available. Who would have
believed that I had the customers, but did
not have the merchandise!“
“
For Morris, it was heartbreaking, not only for his business, but for his love of the country; that they should be so overwhelmed with a world war. “I thought I escaped from these problems. But I guess they follow you wherever you go. But, of course, why should I complain, look where I was and look where I am now.”
The war came to an end in four years.
Life in Rock Island started to come back.
In fact with the return of the soldiers,
and the return of the factories to normal
production, business was experiencing
a post-war boom. “The town was
burgeoning with new business, the
factories were over loaded with orders,
and money was available to spend” A
pair of boots that were $1.59 were now
up 40% to $2.19. And Morris’ sales
volume was growing, as was his savings.
Morris was now able to treat his family
to their own car, a 1921 4 door Packard,
green with matching seats inside.
is yours,” Morris proudly shouted,
“pick whatever you want and don't
look at the price.” It was a moment I
shall never forget. The sheer happiness
of my whole family, and the pride
that I felt." The next few years were
the greatest prosperity this country
has every seen. From the end of
the war, 1923, to 1929, everything
went right. The price of homes and
property were skyrocketing. People
knew a new investment, the New York
Stock Exchange. I remember buying
General electric stock. I paid $9.70 in
1924 and two years later it was over
$14.00, an increase of over 30%.”
I remember when I drove that new
car home the first time, I pulled up
in front of the house, honked the
horn, Ida looked out the window,
and shrieked. She came running
out followed by Ceil, Rose, Howard,
and even Little Abie. Everyone
wanted to get in the car and go
for a ride. I got back behind the
wheel. Put on my driving glasses,
my over coat, and started up the
car. Everyone screamed with joy. I
drove them from my house, right
through town, down 9th street, past
my store, and right over to Freilich’s
Ice Cream Emporium. The choice
Morris watched his business, but in every spare moment, Morris watched the stock market.” He never stopped talking about the companies he’d be watching.
I learned the American Way, invest your money, and let your money make money.
Their share cost, and their prospects. “We have to be aware of what is going on around us, “ Morris said, “because America has gold on the streets for the taking, and I want to be a part of that prosperity”
because America has gold on the streets for the taking, and I want to be a part of that prosperity”
“
That was until that prosperity was totally overblown, abused, and came
to a screaming halt. In 1929, the market experienced Black Monday.
A catastrophic crash in the New York Stock Market.
Overnight stocks lost 40% to 60% of
their value. People who had bought
real estate at over valued prices, with
hardly no money down, and stocks
on margin, were wiped out overnight.
The lost of stock market value and the
owner’s inability to come up with the
margin requirement lost all, and with
the turn in the economy, everyone
across the country was affected.
“I never saw anything like it,” Morris
muttered, “Union men out of work, long
lines every morning hoping for just a days
wages, people’s homes foreclosed on. Even
debtors unable to pay, it was like a curse
hit the American economy.
In order to keep my business, I had to give
shoes to my customers on credit. A dollar
down, and 25 cents a week. My cash flow
went down to nothing, my debts were rising,
and my stock market holdings vanished. Who
would have believed that it could happen?
And as a result of this chaos and sanitary
conditions, my health was no longer perfect.”
business, but the customers didn’t have the money.Of course, now I had the merchandise, I had the“
Nishtu gedachtFirst my doctor told me that I had a high sugar
count, with signs of Diabetes. Then the worry and
fears started to affect my sleeping; I was obsessed with
the future. Worst thing of all, I started to get pains
in my chest. Nishtu gedacht, God forbid. It
wasn’t long until I rose every morning with a dozen
pills to remediate the health problems.
Nishtu gedacht
Chap nitChap nit, you have to let up a little, “ Ida hollered. “Money is
not everything in life.” Morris knew that she was right but it was not
easy to let all that he had built go by the wayside. Ida came to the
store in the afternoon so Morris could go home a little earlier and
take a rest. All of the kids came in after school so that they could
help. It is not my business,” Morris would say, “it is our business. It is
what makes our life comfortable. And after I am gone, you kids can
take over the business, with Hashem’s will, it will provide for you and
your family, like it provides for mine, it is our [Golden Cow].”
“
President Roosevelt was elected in 1932 after three years of the worst economic problems in recent history. Everyone looked to him with a dream for a better life, and a change from what had happened. He promised change, people believed in him, and when election time came he was elected.
As Morris hoped, the economy
did start to pick up as a result of
many of Roosevelt’s programs, but
Morris’s health did not improve. His
symptoms become more common
and were appropriately diagnosed as
the White Death. In fact, in the next
few months, Morris was required to
let go of many of his responsibilities.
Doctors told him emphatically that he
must relocate to a sanitarium at once.
It was as though someone pulled the rug
out from under me. Ida and I often stayed up late into the night discussing how we would afford such treatment.
A good friend of mine
from the Jewish National
Worker’s Alliance, Mr.
Louis Segal, mentioned
that there was a free of
charge sanitarium in
Colorado, and that his
father had planed on
going there. His father
had passed the night
before last, merely a
statistic of the times.
He told me his father was to go to a
Sanıtarıum ın Lıberty, New York, through the
Workmen’s Allıance called Workmen’s
Cırcle Sanıtarıum. It was paıd for already
and they wouldn’t know the dıfference.
HE WAS OFFERING ME HIS FATHER’S PLACE.
A flash back of the humanity I had experienced my first day in America rushed back to me. I spoke with Ida that night and we decided it was best.
I WAS ASTONISHED.
I arrived at the sanitarium on March 25th 1935 with a short-term lease. Working with the Workmen’s Alliance Branch 66 of Rock Island Morris was able to migrate with a few fellow patients to Colorado to the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society. They checked out on June 35, 1936 and set out on their journey.
Morris and his companions checked into the JCRS on July 8th, but the travels were hard on his frail body. Morris was now losing the will to fight as he once had, and often found himself grasping onto his faith as tightly as the dye to his fingers from the shoes he not so long ago fashioned. The summer was dry with most harsh weather seeming to split south of the property. Time crept ever so slowly, no hustle and bustle of a rich commerce and city but rather cattle lazily grazing the fields, the chewing and re-chewing of its cud, and the occasional vehicle heading west along Colfax Ave.
“Summer came and went as the afternoon rains would. I remember being warned of the winter. People telling me, “I better get a coat and boots,” they said, “When it snowed the west becomes a wall of ice reaching to the heavens.”
When winter came it became very apparent they hadn’t been to Chicago. Though it snowed quite a bit that winter and the next, days were still, and clear.
“The sun would burn my skin when I stayed out too long but they said that was the medicine. The sun, believe that, even the air. If you ask me, it lacked substance but I’m grateful for my friends, and the secretary who delivers my correspondences. I don’t regret coming here, but I often wonder what will become of Rock Island, my home, my family, and my dream.
May the great name of God be exalted and sanctified, throughout the world, which he has created according to his will. May his Kingship be established in your lifetime and in your days, and in the lifetime of the entire household of Israel, swiftly and in the near future; and say, Amen.
May his great name be blessed, forever and ever.
Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled, honored elevated and lauded be the Name of the holy one, Blessed is he above and beyond any blessings and hymns, Praises and consolations which are uttered in the world; and say Amen. May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and life, upon us and upon all Israel; and say, Amen.
He who makes peace in his high holy places, may he bring peace upon us, and upon all Israel; and say Amen.
htvirk arb yd amlib .abr hmw wdqtyv ldgtyNvkymvybv Nvkyycb htvkl Kylmyv
byrq Nmzbv algib larwy tyb lkd yycbv:Nma vrmav
ymlilv slil Krbm abr hmw ahy
awntyv Mmvrtyv raptyv cbtwyv KrbtyKyrb .awdqd hmw llhtyv hlityv rdhtyvatrywv atkrb lk Nm [alilv] alil .avh
:Nma vrmav .amlib Nrymad atmcnv atcbwtlk liv vnyli Myycv aymw Nm abr amlw ahy
:Nma vrmav .larwy
vnyli Mvlw hwiy avh vymvrmb Mvlw hwi:Nma vrmav .larwy lk liv