Jacob Elias Cohen (April 1, 1862 – June 1, 1927) was an American businessman who served as president and CEO of Cohen Brothers department store in Jacksonville, Florida. He was nicknamed "Wanamaker of the South" after John Wanamaker the proprietor of Wanamaker's department store.
Cohen was born to a Jewish family on April 1, 1862, in Dublin, Ireland, the youngest of eight children of Rae (née Heyman) and Elias Cohen.[1] His family was originally from Germany but soon returned to Berlin and opened a general merchandise store.[1] After the American Civil War, the family immigrated to New York City where they opened Cohen Brothers, a company dedicated to the import of dry goods (textiles, clothing, and sundries).[1] In 1867, two of his brothers, Morris and Samuel visited Jacksonville, Florida, which was still recovering from the Civil War and recognized the pent-up demand for dry goods. In 1867, they moved the family business to Jacksonville which then had a mere 4,000 residents.[1] Cohen attended public schools in New York City and then joined his brothers (along with a third brother Julius ) in Jacksonville in 1875 which had grown to 7,000 residents.[1] In 1880, Jacob assumed control of the store after his brother Samuel moved to New York City to work as a purchasing agent and Morris moved to England where he became engaged in the lace business.[1] Jacob established a "one-price" policy with fixed price tags where there was no negotiating involved, an unusual practice at the time.[1] In 1890, the population increased to 17,000 and Cohen moved the business into the Gardner Building, Jacksonville's first skyscraper and Florida's tallest building.[1] In 1891, Julius died of typhoid fever.[1]
In 1901, Jacksonville burned to the ground and Cohen built a 300,000 square foot store on the site of the burned down St. James Hotel designed by Architect Henry John Klutho promising that the building would be "institution for the people."[2][3][4] Under Cohen's tutelage, Cohen Brothers became Florida's largest department store. In 1958, The May Department Stores Company acquired the Cohen Brothers Department Store turning it into the May Cohens chain.[5]
Personal lifeedit
In 1887, Cohen married Hattie Halle; they had five children: Edna (1888); Halle (1893); Rae (1895); Hazel (1897); and Minna Cohen Seitner (1899).[1] Cohen died on June 1, 1927.[2][6]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghijDavis, Ennis; Gojekian, Sarah (October 16, 2012). Cohen Brothers: The Big Store. ISBN9781614237303.
jacob, elias, cohen, april, 1862, june, 1927, american, businessman, served, president, cohen, brothers, department, store, jacksonville, florida, nicknamed, wanamaker, south, after, john, wanamaker, proprietor, wanamaker, department, store, bornapril, 1862dub. Jacob Elias Cohen April 1 1862 June 1 1927 was an American businessman who served as president and CEO of Cohen Brothers department store in Jacksonville Florida He was nicknamed Wanamaker of the South after John Wanamaker the proprietor of Wanamaker s department store Jacob Elias CohenBornApril 1 1862Dublin IrelandDiedJune 1 1927 age 65 NationalityAmericanKnown forPresident and CEO of Cohen BrothersSpouseHattie HalleChildren5Parent s Rae Heyman Cohen Elias CohenBiography editCohen was born to a Jewish family on April 1 1862 in Dublin Ireland the youngest of eight children of Rae nee Heyman and Elias Cohen 1 His family was originally from Germany but soon returned to Berlin and opened a general merchandise store 1 After the American Civil War the family immigrated to New York City where they opened Cohen Brothers a company dedicated to the import of dry goods textiles clothing and sundries 1 In 1867 two of his brothers Morris and Samuel visited Jacksonville Florida which was still recovering from the Civil War and recognized the pent up demand for dry goods In 1867 they moved the family business to Jacksonville which then had a mere 4 000 residents 1 Cohen attended public schools in New York City and then joined his brothers along with a third brother Julius in Jacksonville in 1875 which had grown to 7 000 residents 1 In 1880 Jacob assumed control of the store after his brother Samuel moved to New York City to work as a purchasing agent and Morris moved to England where he became engaged in the lace business 1 Jacob established a one price policy with fixed price tags where there was no negotiating involved an unusual practice at the time 1 In 1890 the population increased to 17 000 and Cohen moved the business into the Gardner Building Jacksonville s first skyscraper and Florida s tallest building 1 In 1891 Julius died of typhoid fever 1 In 1901 Jacksonville burned to the ground and Cohen built a 300 000 square foot store on the site of the burned down St James Hotel designed by Architect Henry John Klutho promising that the building would be institution for the people 2 3 4 Under Cohen s tutelage Cohen Brothers became Florida s largest department store In 1958 The May Department Stores Company acquired the Cohen Brothers Department Store turning it into the May Cohens chain 5 Personal life editIn 1887 Cohen married Hattie Halle they had five children Edna 1888 Halle 1893 Rae 1895 Hazel 1897 and Minna Cohen Seitner 1899 1 Cohen died on June 1 1927 2 6 References edit a b c d e f g h i j Davis Ennis Gojekian Sarah October 16 2012 Cohen Brothers The Big Store ISBN 9781614237303 a b Cohen Brothers Metro Jacksonville Wood Wayne St James Building Jacksonville s Architectural Heritage Retrieved on July 27 2010 Wood Wayne Henry John Klutho Archived February 14 2012 at the Wayback Machine Jacksonville Historical Society Retrieved on July 27 2010 50 years ago this week Financial News amp Daily Record November 24 2008 Obituary Tampa Tribune Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jacob Elias Cohen amp oldid 1189999531, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
