Benjamin “Ben” H. Fleischer
Occupation: Clothing merchant
Born: 1887
Birthplace: Denver, Colorado
Died: 1930
Benjamin Fleischer, the eldest son of German immigrants Jacob and Rosie Fleischer, was born in Colorado in 1887, followed by Susette, also born in 1887, and Leo in 1891. [1] Ben lived in the state his entire life, predominantly in Denver but for a brief period in Leadville.
Although Ben is the only documented member of the Fleischer family residing in Leadville, his father Jacob frequently traveled through the city beginning in 1887 on his way to Battle Mountain (near present day Minturn) to manage mining interests. [2] Ben arrived in Leadville in 1907 at age 20 and began working at Famous Shoe & Clothing Co. located at 318 Harrison Avenue [3] and managed by Elias Pelton, a longtime Jewish Leadvillian. [4] He roomed at 114 West 6th Street which he shared with at least five others, none whom appear to be Jewish. [5]
Ben was not recorded in Leadville’s city directories after 1907, nor was his name mentioned in local newspapers, indicating an absence of residency after that year. Ben had probably returned to Denver as early as 1908. However, evidence proving residency did not appear until 1909. [6] Ben visited Leadville frequently between 1909 [7] and 1924, [8] and The Herald Democrat noted his arrival at local hotels no fewer than 14 times. Although the reason for his repeated visits is unclear, the 1910 U.S. Census listed Ben’s profession as a traveling clothing merchant, suggesting he was in Leadville for business purposes. [9]
Ben married Irene M. Pivan on June 1, 1918, at a ceremony in Colorado Springs. [10] He passed away 12 years later in 1930 and is buried at the Temple Emanuel Cemetery in Denver. [11] The couple had no known children, evidenced by a 1930 U.S. Census documenting that Irene, Ben’s widow, boarded alone at the home of Isabelle Antonides in Denver. [12]
1 "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQMM-SCW: accessed February 10, 2021), Bengiman Fleischer in household of Jacob Fleischer, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 61, sheet 11A, family 231, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972); FHL microfilm 1,240,118.
2 Our Mines and Smelters (Leadville, CO: Herald Democrat), August 6, 1887, P2.
3 J. H. Ballenger and W. H. Richards, Ballenger & Richards Twenty-Sixth Annual Leadville City Directory for 1907: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. (Leadville, CO: Ballenger & Richards, Publishers, 1907), P149.
4 For more on the Pelton family, see: Trevor Mark, Pelton (Leadville, CO: Temple Israel Foundation), 2019: http://www.jewishleadville.org/Pelton.html.
5 Ballenger and Richards, 1907, P149.
6 Hotel Arrivals (Leadville, CO: Herald Democrat), March 14, 1909, P5.
7 Hotel Arrivals, March 14, 1909, P5.
8 Hotel Arrivals (Leadville, CO: Herald Democrat), February 21, 1924, P5.
9 "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKWY-8M8: accessed February 10, 2021), Benjamine H Fleischer in household of Jacob Fleischer, Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 97, sheet 2B, family 46, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 115; FHL microfilm 1,374,128.
10 "Colorado, County Marriage Records and State Index, 1862-2006," database with images, Ancestry (https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=61366&h=127894&ssrc=pt&tid=108217481&pid=130068325939&usePUB=true: accessed February 11, 2021), marriage between Ben H. Fleischer and Irene M. Pivan, Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, United States; citing Marriage Records. Colorado Marriages (Denver: Colorado State Archives, nd.), microfilm number 001690076.
11 Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73454326/ben-h.-fleischer#source: accessed February 11, 2021), memorial page for Ben H. Fleischer (1887–1930), Find a Grave Memorial no. 73454326, citing Congregation Emanuel Cemetery, Denver, Denver County, Colorado, USA; Maintained by Dr. Andree Swanson (contributor 47094290).
12 "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X74M-CWT: accessed February 11, 2021), Irene Fleisher in household of Isabelle C Antonides, Denver, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 138, sheet 7A, line 50, family 175, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 238; FHL microfilm 2,339,973.
Bibliography
Ballenger, J. H. and W. H. Richards. Ballenger & Richards Twenty-Sixth Annual Leadville City Directory for 1907: Containing a Complete List of the Inhabitants, Institutions, Incorporated Companies, Manufacturing Establishments, Business, Business Firms, Etc. Leadville, CO: Ballenger & Richards, Publishers, 1907.
"Colorado, County Marriage Records and State Index, 1862-2006." Database with images, Ancestry (https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=61366&h=127894&ssrc=pt&tid=108217481&pid=130068325939&usePUB=true: accessed February 11, 2021). Marriage between Ben H. Fleischer and Irene M. Pivan, Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, United States; citing Marriage Records. Colorado Marriages. Denver: Colorado State Archives, Microfilm number 001690076.
Find a Grave. Database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/73454326/ben-h.-fleischer#source: accessed February 11, 2021). Memorial page for Ben H. Fleischer (1887–1930). Find a Grave Memorial no. 73454326, citing Congregation Emanuel Cemetery, Denver, Denver County, Colorado, USA; Maintained by Dr. Andree Swanson (contributor 47094290).
Hotel Arrivals. Leadville, CO: Herald Democrat. March 14, 1909.
Hotel Arrivals. Leadville, CO: Herald Democrat. February 21, 1924.
Mark, Trevor. Pelton. Leadville, CO: Temple Israel Foundation, 2019: http://www.jewishleadville.org/pelton.html.
Our Mines and Smelters. Leadville, CO: Herald Democrat, August 6, 1887.
"United States Census, 1900." Database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQMM-SCW: accessed February 11, 2021). Bengiman Fleischer in household of Jacob Fleischer, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 61, sheet 11A, family 231, NARA microfilm publication T623. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972; FHL microfilm 1,240,118.
"United States Census, 1910." Database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKWY-8M8: accessed February 10, 2021), Benjamine H Fleischer in household of Jacob Fleischer, Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 97, sheet 2B, family 46, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 115; FHL microfilm 1,374,128.
"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X74M-CWT: accessed February 11, 2021), Irene Fleisher in household of Isabelle C Antonides, Denver, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 138, sheet 7A, line 50, family 175, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 238; FHL microfilm 2,339,973.
To cite any of the information in this biography, please use the following reference.
AUTHOR: Quinn Whittington
EDITOR: William Korn & Andrea Jacobs
SOURCE: Jewish Surnames/Fleischer
PUBLISHED BY: Temple Israel Foundation. Leadville, CO; USA. 2021
STABLE URL: http://www.jewishleadville.org/fleischer.html
