Julius Freshman (“Freschman”)
Occupation: Cigar merchant
Born: N/A
Birthplace: Virginia
Died: N/A
Rosa (“Rose”) Freshman (“Freschman”)
Occupation: Owner of boarding house
Born: est. 1850
Birthplace: Germany
Died: N/A
Sadie Freshman (“Freschman”)
Occupation: N/A
Born: est. 1881
Birthplace: Ohio
Died: N/A
David Freshman (“Freschman”)
Occupation: N/A
Born: est. 1883
Birthplace: Leadville, Colorado
Died: N/A
The Freshman family resided in Leadville only briefly, from 1882 to 1886, but nevertheless became involved in Leadville’s Jewish community. Rosa Freshman, the family’s matriarch, was born in Germany around 1850 and immigrated to the United States at an unknown time. [1] Vital records for Julius, Rosa’s husband, are unfortunately limited and may not be wholly reliable. Julius does not appear in the 1885 Colorado census, however census records for Rosa’s household indicates that he was born in Virginia. [2] When and where Rosa and Julius married is also unfortunately unclear. The family lived in Ohio prior to Leadville, evidenced by their first child, Sadie, being born in Ohio circa 1881. [3]
The first indication of the Freshman family’s presence in Leadville was a June 21, 1882 notice in the Leadville Daily Herald of Julius being charged $17 for “leaving garbage in alley,” a ceremonious introduction. [4] During their first two years in Leadville Julius worked as a manager for Adolph and Simon Hirsch, [5] Jewish owners of a popular liquor distribution business. [6] The family lived at 313 West 4th Street [7] at this time where they welcomed their second child, David, in 1883. [8] By 1884, Julius had begun his own business as a cigar merchant living at 124 West Chestnut Street while his wife lived, curiously, at a separate residence at 137 West 4th Street. [9] Julius and Rosa were reportedly once again living together by 1885 at 137 West 4th Street, although the veracity of the listing is somewhat questionable. [10]
Leadville’s 1884 city directory showing Julius and Rosa living at different homes is the first symptom of their eventual divorce in 1885, the circumstances surrounding which are unclear. [11] Perhaps indicative of their cooling relationship, Rosa also attended a ball by held by Ladies’ Hebrew Benevolent Association by herself in 1884. [12] A court case between Rosa and Julius Freshman appeared in the Leadville Daily Herald in early April of 1885, likely being the couple’s divorce proceedings. [13] Despite the previously mentioned 1885 city directory listing Rosa and Julius living at the same address, the 1885 Colorado census does not. Instead, the census recorded Rosa living with her two children as divorced head of the household and boarding house owner. [14] The other inhabitants at 137 West 4th Street included two servants, Rosa and Sallie Schwartz, and Simon Hirsch, a boarder. [15]
Julius does not appear in census records, city directories, or local newspapers after 1885, indicating he left Leadville soon after the divorce. Rosa remained until 1886, having moved to a new residence at 133 West 4th Street [16] and attending the Purim Masque Ball in March. [17] Rosa nor her children appear in local records after 1886, concluding the Freshman’s time in Leadville.
1 "Colorado State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8WN-6LP) Rose Freshman, 1885; citing NARA microfilm publication M158 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 498,507.
2 "Colorado State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8WN-6L), Sadie Freshman in entry for Rose Freshman, 1885; citing NARA microfilm publication M158 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 498,507.
3 “United States Census, 1885,” Sadie Freshman.
4 Locals, (Leadville, CO: Leadville Daily Herald) June 21, 1882, P4.
5 For more information on the Hirsch family and their time in Leadville, please visit: http://www.jewishleadville.org/hirsch.html.
6 T. B. Corbett and J. H. Ballenger, Corbett and Ballenger’s Third 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: Corbett and Ballenger Publishers, 1882), P134.
7 Corbett and Ballenger, Leadville, CO: USA, 1882, P134.
8 "Colorado State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8WN-6LR), David Freshman in entry for Rose Freshman, 1885; citing NARA microfilm publication M158 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 498,507.
9 T. B. Corbett and J. H. Ballenger, Corbett 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: Corbett and Ballenger Publishers, 1884), P118.
10 T. B. Corbett and J. H. Ballenger, Corbett and Ballenger’s Sixth 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 1885 (Leadville, CO: Corbett and Ballenger Publishers, 1885), P117.
11 Historical Research Cooperative, Divorces: Lake County, Colorado, 1879-1938, [88-217], Leadville, CO, Lake County Public Library, 1988, P17.
12 The Sixth Annual Ball, (Leadville, CO: Leadville Daily Herald) October 9, 1884, P4.
13 The County Court, (Leadville, CO: Leadville Daily Herald) April 2, 1885, P3.
14 “United States Census, 1885,” Rose Freshman.
15 “United States Census, 1885,” Rose Freshman.
16 T. B. Corbett and J. H. Ballenger, Corbett and Ballenger’s Seventh 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 1886 (Leadville, CO: Corbett and Ballenger Publishers, 1886), P123
17 The Purim Bal Masque, (Leadville, CO: Leadville Evening Chronicle March 25, 1886, P3.
Bibliography
Colorado State Census, 1885. Via FamilySearch.org. https://www.familysearch.org/.
Corbett, T. B. and Ballenger, J. H. Corbet and Ballenger’s Third 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.
Corbett, T. B. and Ballenger, J. H. 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, T. B. and Ballenger, J. H. Corbett 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: Corbett and Ballenger Publishers, 1884.
Corbett, T. B. and Ballenger, J. H. Corbett and Ballenger’s Sixth 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 1885. Leadville, CO: Corbett and Ballenger Publishers, 1885.
Corbett, T. B. and Ballenger, J. H. Corbett and Ballenger’s Seventh 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 1886. Leadville, CO: Corbett and Ballenger Publishers, 1886.
Historical Research Cooperative. Divorces: Lake County, Colorado. 1879-1938. [88-217]. Leadville, CO, Lake County Public Library. 1988.
Locals. Leadville, CO: Leadville Daily Herald. June 21, 1882.
The County Court. Leadville, CO: Leadville Daily Herald. April 2, 1885.
The Purim Bal Masque. Leadville, CO: Leadville Evening Chronicle. March 25, 1886.
The Sixth Annual Ball. Leadville, CO: Leadville Daily Herald. October 9, 1884.
To cite any of the information in this biography, please use the following reference.
AUTHOR: Quinn Whittington
EDITOR: William Korn
SOURCE: Jewish Surnames/Freshman
PUBLISHED BY: Temple Israel Foundation. Leadville, CO; USA. 2020
STABLE URL: http://www.jewishleadville.org/freshman.html
