Caspar Elias
Born: about 1830 in Prussia
Died: July 30, 1889
Married: Matilda Jacobus, December 19, 1835 in New York City, NY
Matilda Elias
Born: 1837, New York, parents from Prussia
Died:
Augusta Elias, Kaphan, Hauser
Born: 1854
Died: 1916
Married: Theodore Kaphan, Irving Hauser
Edmond C. Elias
Born: 1858, New York
Died:
Jacob Elias
Born abt. 1860, New York
Died:
Maud Kaphan
Born: 1875, New York
Died:
Blanche or Sellie Kaphan
Born: 1876, Georgia
Died:
Mortomer Kaphan
Born: 1878, Georgia
Died: May 20, 1992
Cassie or Casper Kaphan-Hauser
Born: 1879, Georgia
Died:
M. Elias
Born:
Died:
Cooper Elias
Born:
Died:
Casper Elias and his wife, Matilda immigrated to the United States from Prussia and first settled in New York. They arrived in Leadville in 1880 with their two adult sons in tow. [1] Casper, Mathilda, and Jacob lived at 121 E. Chestnut Street adjoining the Windsor Hotel. [2] Casper rented rooms in the upstairs area and a store front in the lower portion. [3] Edmond, 23, was a cigar dealer at 102 Harrison and was living above his shop. [4]
Augusta, who was known as Gussie, and her husband, Theodore followed Casper and Matilda to Leadville along with their 4 young children living at 121 E. Chestnut with her parents. Theodore’s occupation was listed as an auctioneer in the 1880 census and both were born in Prussia. [5]
In March of 1881 the South Park train was involved in a serious accident with many injuries and some causalities. The sleeping car derailed and somersaulted down into the creek dragging other cars after it. Casper received a telegram from his son Edmond, and his son-in-law Mr. G. W. Aphan (actually Theodore Kaphan, Augusta’s husband) who were upon the wrecked train, saying that they had sustained slight bruises but were otherwise unhurt. [6]
Casper and Mathilda opened a restaurant at their Chestnut building during 1882. Edmond found work as a clerk at B. Pozanski’s and had moved back to at home with his parents. [7]
Announcement by C. Elias of the availability of commercial space for rent.
“To Let.” Leadville Democrat. Saturday, May 28, 1881. Page 6.
In 1880, the Elias family lived at 121 E Chestnut Street, which adjoined the Windsor Hotel as shown here. The text written on the bottom is “Tollunlo(?) ago. | Opposite is my store | Hotel before renovation”.
This photo shows the Mining Exchange Real Estate Office at 102 Harrison Avenue, which is next to the Little Church Saloon (with the corner gabled entrance). Edmond Elias shared his cigar business with the real estate company.
Augusta divorced her husband, Theodore, on March 21, 1882 in Leadville. On the morning of May 19th 1882 a fire began in the Palace of Fashion located at 111 to 113 East Chestnut. The fire burned the entire block only stopping at the First National Bank, which was constructed of brick. Casper, Mathilda, and children lost their home, receiving an insurance settlement of 2,500 dollars. [8] After the fire the Elias family relocated to 219 West Fourth Street. Augusta married Irving Hauser on July 14th in her parent’s home. [9] (For more information on Augusta and Irving Hauser please read the Hauser biography.)
Casper and Mathilda along with other members of the Temple Israel Congregation attended a New Year’s party at the home of Mr. Sam Mayer [10] on January 1, 1883 [11] and also the Hebrew Ladies Ball on the 20th. [12] Edmond was working as a clerk and living at 609 N. Pine Street. [13]
By 1884 the Eliases had moved to 405 Harrison Avenue [14] and left Leadville shortly thereafter.
We do find mention of two other Eliases living in Leadville in 1883, M. Elias and Cooper Elias, but we do not have enough information to verify if they were members of this Elias family. M. Elias owned a pawn shop, managed by Cooper, which was robbed at some point. The August 11, 1883 issue of the Carbonate Chronicle reported “Marshal Cudibee is in receipt of a telegram from Houston, Texas, stating that Gib Lane and James Greenwood, alias, Charles Paxton, the robbers of Ellias’ pawn shop, have been released”. [15]
1 Year: 1880; Census Place: Leadville, Lake, Colorado; Roll: 91; Page: 379A; Enumeration District: 078
2 TB Corbett and JH Ballenger. Corbet, and Ballenger’s Eighth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City Of Denver for 1880. (Denver, CO: Corbet and Ballenger Publishers.1880). P# 141.
3 The Large Store Room. (Leadville, CO, USA. Leadville Democrat, May 21, 1881). P2
4 Corbett, Hoye and Ballenger. Leadville, CO. 1880. P# 141.
5 Year: 1880; Census Place: Leadville, Lake, Colorado; Roll: 91; Page: 379A; Enumeration District: 078
6 Daily Democrat. (Leadville, CO, USA. Leadville, Democrat, March 12, 1881). P8
7 TB Corbett and JH Ballenger. Corbet, and Ballenger’s Thrid Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City Of Leadville for 1882. (Leadville, CO: Corbet and Ballenger Publishers.1882). P# 124.
8 The Conflagration. (Leadville, CO, USA. Leadville Daily Herald, May 20, 1882). P4
9 Rays. (Leadville, CO, USA. Leadville Daily Herald, July 14, 1882) P4
10 For more information on Sam Mayer and family, please visit: http://www.jewishleadville.org/mayer.html
11 Sylvester Evening. (Leadville, CO, USA. Carbonate Chronicle, January 6, 1883). P1
12 Hebrew Ladies’ Ball. (Leadville, CO, USA. Carbonate Chronicle, January 20, 1883). P4
13 TB Corbett and JH Ballenger. Corbet, and Ballenger’s Fourth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. in The City Of Leadville for 1883. (Denver, CO: Corbet and Ballenger Publishers.1883). P# 118.
14 TB Corbett and JH Ballenger. Corbet, and Ballenger’s Fifth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City Of Leadville For 1884. (Leadville, CO: Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1884). P# 108.
15 Robbers Released. (Leadville, CO, USA. Carbonate Chronicle, August 11, 1883). P3
Bibliography
Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH. Corbet, and Ballenger’s Eighth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Denver For 1880. Denver, CO: Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1880.
Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH. Corbet, and Ballenger’s Second Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City Of Leadville for 1881. Leadville, CO: Corbet and Ballenger Publishers.1881.
Corbett, TB and Ballanger, JH. Corbet, and Ballenger’s Tenth Annual City Directory: Containing A Complete List Of The Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms Etc. In The City Of Denver For 1882. Denver, CO: Corbet and Ballenger Publishers.1882.
Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH. Corbett, and Ballenger’s Fourth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City Of Leadville for 1883. Leadville, CO: Corbet and Ballenger Publishers.1883.
Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH. Corbet, and Ballenger’s Fifth Annual City Directory: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms etc. in The City Of Leadville For 1884. Leadville, CO: Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1884.
Daily Democrat. (Leadville, CO, USA. Leadville, Democrat, March 12, 1881).
Hebrew Ladies’ Ball. (Leadville, CO, USA. Carbonate Chronicle, January 20, 1883).
Sylvester Evening. (Leadville, CO, USA. Carbonate Chronicle, January 6, 1883).
The Conflagration. (Leadville, CO, USA. Leadville Daily Herald, May 20, 1882).
To cite any of the information in this biography, please use the following reference.
AUTHOR: Janice L. Fox
EDITOR: William Korn
SOURCE: Jewish Surnames/Elias
PUBLISHED BY: Temple Israel Foundation. Leadville, CO; USA. 2019
STABLE URL: http://www.jewishledville.org/elias.html
