Edward Nathan
Immigration: England, unknown
Occupation: Dry goods
Siblings: Abraham (Abe) and Nathaniel (Nat)
Spouse: Mrs. Ed(ward) Nathan
Also: Louis
Edward arrived with his brothers, Abe and Nat, in Leadville in 1879. [1] At the time of the Nathan brother’s arrival in the city Edward was approximately 25 years old, Abe and Nat were 21 and 27 years old respectively. [2] The Nathan brothers promptly set up a dry goods shop under the name of Nathan Bros. and the business was located on Harrison Avenue, between State and Main Street. [3] Though the name of the shop indicated that it was, indeed a family run business not all of the brothers owned a share of Nathan Bros. Edward and Nat were named co-owners of the shop while Abe served as their clerk.
Where the brothers initially resided is unknown, but the 1880 city directory listed the Nathans as living at 208 West 7th Street while their shop had made the move to 219 Harrison Avenue. [5] In 1882, Edward met and married an unknown woman who is simply listed or referred to within the city’s periodicals as Mrs. Ed Nathan. [6] The couple moved to 127 West 7th Street while Abe and Nat stayed at the brothers’ original residence. [7] However, the next year Louis and Abe moved to 427 Harrison Avenue [8] and remained here for a year until their last move to 313 Harrison Avenue. [9]
From 1882 to 1885, the Nathan Bros. dry goods business was located at 219 Harrison Avenue until 1885, which is the last year that the business is listed within the city directory. In 1886, Edward and Abe no longer reside in the city and the only clues to where Edward and his family went after leaving Leadville are the mentions of a second residence and the birth of a son in Denver. [10] Any whereabouts for the Nathan family after 1886 are unknown.
Joseph Nathan
Born: New York, 1864
Occupation: Clothier
Joseph Nathan was born in New York in approximately 1864. [11] Nathan’s whereabouts prior to his arrival in Leadville are unknown, but he is working and living in the city by 1885. Nathan is listed as living as a boarder at the address of 115 East 5th Street and is reported by the 1885 city directory as being employed as a clothier. [12] Nathan only appears in the city directories in 1885 and there are no other known recorded documents on his presence in the city. Nathan’s departure from the city is unknown.
Abraham Nathan
Birth: Approximately 1839
Death: February 17, 1888
Immigration:
Occupation: Cigar Seller
Abraham Nathan immigrated to Leadville in approximately 1878. [13] The date of his migration to the United States is unknown and Nathan is listed as immigrating from Grand Duchess (? of Germany/Austria?). [14] Upon arriving in Leadville, Abram Nathan set up a tobacco and cigar shop at 102 East Chestnut Street. [15] Nathan also lived at this same address but only occupied the 102 East Chestnut address for a single year. In 1881, Nathan moved his shop and residence to 102 Harrison Avenue. [16] Nathan continued to live and work at this address until his death in 1888.
Though there were other prominent families of Nathan’s living in Leadville at the same time as Abraham, the two are not related. Regarding Nathan’s social presence in the city, the Leadville Daily/Evening Chronicle labeled Nathan as a “a hermit” and a “confirmed recluse.” [17] Given this personality trait, Nathan was not one to attend social gatherings of any sort and his presence in the city’s business directory and the single article reporting his death serve as his only written records in Leadville. No family could be contacted when Nathan passed away and nothing was discovered about the cigar seller’s life prior to arriving in Leadville save for a friend in Brooklyn, New York and a few Masonic tokens. [18] Nathan was interred in the Leadville Hebrew Cemetery and any extended family’s whereabouts remain unknown. [19]
Modern grave marker stating “Abram Nathan. February 17, 1888. Age 50 Years”
Hebrew Cemetery, Leadville, Colorado.
Simon Nathan
Born: 1824, Hamburg, Prussia, Germany
Died: 1906 Pueblo, CO
Immigration to U.S.: 1852
OCCUPATION(s):
Miner (Leadville), Butcher, Cattle Rancher, Dry Goods Merchant (Pueblo).
Known U.S. Relatives:
Anna (Wife: Zucker)
Born: 1834, Prussia.
Died: 1917, Pueblo, CO.
Adolph (Son)
Born: November 11, 1858, Leavenworth, KS
Louis (Son)
Born: October 7, 1860, Leadville, CO
Died: April 1, 1946. Denver, CO
Belter (Son)
Born: 1863, Leadville, CO.
Leah (Daughter)
Born: Leadville, 1865.
Died: Pueblo, CO. 1870
Rebecca (Daughter: Hirschfield)
Born: 1866, Colorado.
Died: August 29, 1947
Abraham (Son)
1868, Pueblo, Colorado.
Mary (Daughter: Klein)
1871, Pueblo, Colorado.
Simon Nathan emigrated from Prussia to the United States in 1852, with a first stop in New Orleans. From there Simon moved on to Leavenworth, Kansas where he met and married Anna Zucker in 1857. [20] By all accounts, Simon was a family man. So much so that he arrived in California Gulch, [21] from Leavenworth, Kansas, with his wife and their first-born son, Adolph, [22] in tow. Not long after their arrival, their second son, Louis, was born on October 7, 1860, [23] which gave him the distinction of being either “the first or second among the Jews” [24] to be born in the region.
Simon came to California Gulch with the intention of mining. There is no specific information relative to the claim within the California Gulch area that Simon worked, but according to several sources he did quite well; one granddaughter’s account remarked that Simon “took the gold out in hunks.” [25] Over the course of five years in the area, the Nathan’s had two more children: Belter, in 1863, and Leah, born in 1865. Although this was truly a pioneer family, all the Nathan children reached adulthood with the exception of Leah, who in an undetermined incident was burned to death in 1870. [26] Rebecca had her own adventure; she was abducted by Indians and returned when Simon and Anna paid her ransom. [27]
The Simons left the Gulch in 1866, and moved further down the eastern side of the divide and tried their hand at ranching and farming. [28] Two years of this agricultural lifestyle was enough. Several accounts have Anna so concerned about more trouble with the local indigenous peoples that she would crawl on all fours to the barn, milk the cows, and return to the house by the same method, but dragging a full pail behind her. [29]
When the Nathan’s gave up on the georgic way of life, they helped to found the city of Pueblo, opening the town’s first dry goods store. [30] Simon is frequently described as having been extremely generous, sometimes to the dismay of Anna, particularly when he gave their home away to a recent widow. [31] Simon was part of the Jewish association that opened the first reform synagogue in Pueblo, and is known as an important historical figure in that city’s history. [32]
Passport photo of Adolph Edward Nathan. May 1, 1920.
Family Search. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99X3-MWGN?i=685&cc=2185145
Combination gravestone for Father Simon Nathan 1824-1906 and Mother Anna Nathan 1834-1917.
Gravestone for Leah Nathan, born September 5, 1865, died May 26, 1870.
1 Clark, Root, and Anderson, HC. “Clark, Root and Co’s First Annual City Directory of Leadville And Business Directory of Carbonateville, Kokomo And Malta For 1879”. pg. 118.
2 “United States Census, 1880”.
3 Clark, WM, Root WA and Anderson, HC. “Clark, Root and Co’s First Annual City Directory of Leadville And Business Directory of Carbonateville, Kokomo And Malta For 1879”. pg. 118.
4 Corbett, TB, Hoye, WC and Ballenger, JH. “Corbet, Hoye and Co’s First 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 1880”. pg. 276.
5 Ibid. 4.
6 “Social For The Sabbath”. Herald Democrat. March 21, 1886. pg. 4.
7 Corbett and Balanger. “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”. pg. 208.
8 Ibid. 7.
9 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”. pg. 190.
10 “Sautee For A Sabbath”. Herald Democrat. March 14, 1886. pg. 4.
11 1885 Colorado State census. Lake County, Colorado, Leadville. Alice Dehay. Boarders are listed as Geo Ulrich, Pete O’conner, Joseph Nathan, John Bancroft, John Smith, Joe Newton, John Dalton, James Kennedy, John Julius. P 2.
12 Corbett, TB and Ballanger, JH. “Corbet, 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”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1885. pg. 188.
13 “Funeral Notes”. Leadville Daily/Evening Chronicle, February 17, 1888. P 2.
14 1880 U.S. census, Lake County, Colorado, Leadville, pg. 78, Abram Nathan. Nathan is listed in the 1880 census as being born in Grand Duchess but the exact location of Grand Duchess is unknown.
15 City Directory, 1880, pg. 275.
16 City Directory, 1881, pg. 225.
17 “Funeral Notes”.Leadville Daily/Evening Chronicle, February 17, 1888. P 2.
18 Ibid. 5.
19 Hebrew Cemetery of Leadville (Leadville, Lake County, Colorado), Abram Nathan, Headstone, 2016
20 Ida Libert Uchill. Pioneers, Peddlers & Tsaddikim: the story of Jews in Colorado.1957. P 23.
21 Jeanne Abrams And Anita Wenner. A Curriculum Guide: Early History Of Jews Of Colorado. 1998. P 8.
22 "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24ZX-86V : 20 March 2015)
23 "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVLX-YPJV : 13 December 2015)
24 Ida Uchill.1957. P 23.
25 Interview: “Mrs. Fred Meyers; JO, Mar. 2, 1906” Jewish Outlook, 1903-1913 American Jewish Archives. USA. 1906.
26 Uchill. 1957. P 289.
27 Harriet and Fred Rochlin. Pioneer Jews: A New Life in the Far West. Boston, MA: Houghton, Mifflin Company, 1984. P 71.
28 Phil H Goodstein. Exploring Jewish Colorado. Denver, CO: Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society, 1992. P 123.
29 Rochlin.1984. P 71.
30 Uchill. 1957. P 288.
31 Interview: “Mrs. Fred Meyers; JO, Mar. 2, 1906” Jewish Outlook, 1903-1913 American Jewish Archives. USA. 1906.
32 Interview: “Mrs. Fred Meyers; JO, Mar. 2, 1906” Jewish Outlook, 1903-1913 American Jewish Archives. USA. 1906.
Bibliography
Abrams, Jeanne, comp. A Curriculum Guide: Early History of Jews of Colorado. Central Agency for Jewish Education and Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society Printed in Denver, Colorado. Edited by Anita Wenner. 1998. https://www.du.edu/ahss/cjs/media/documents/curriculumguideearlyhistoryofjewsofcolorado.pdf
“An Indiana Cyclone”. Herald Democrat. CC Davis And Co. Leadville, CO; USA. March 14, 1886.
“A Wedding in High Life”. Colorado Daily Chieftain. June 30, 1892. https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/cgi-bin/colorado?a=d&d=CFT18920630-01.2.82&srpos=19&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-Mary+Nathan-------0-# .
Breck, Allen DuPont. The Centennial History of the Jews of Colorado, 1859-1959. Denver, CO: Hirschfeld Press, 1961.
"Colorado State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8WN-534 : 1 April 2016), Carl Pfl*Gradt, 1885; citing NARA microfilm publication M158 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 498,507.
Clark, WM, Root WA and Anderson, HC. “Clark, Root and Co’s First Annual City Directory of Leadville And Business Directory of Carbonateville, Kokomo And Malta For 1879”. Daily Times Steam Printing House And Book Manufactory; Denver, CO: USA. 1879.
Corbett, TB, Hoye, WC and Ballenger, JH. “Corbet, Hoye and Co’s First 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 1880”. Democrat Printing Company; Leadville, CO: USA. 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”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1881.
Corbett, TB and Balanger, JH. “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”. 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”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1884.
Corbett, TB and Ballanger, JH. “Corbet, 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”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1885.
Corbett, TB and Ballenger, JH. “Corbet, 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”. Corbet and Ballenger Publishers. 1886.
"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKZ-XVRF : 13 December 2015), Simon Nathan, 1906; Burial, , Pueblo, Colorado, United States of America, BNai Jacob Cemetery; citing record ID 41174319, Find a Grave.
"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVLW-TGFH : 13 December 2015), Leah Nathan, 1870; Burial, , Pueblo, Colorado, United States of America, BNai Jacob Cemetery; citing record ID 91533003, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVLX-YPJV : 13 December 2015), Louis Jackson Nathan, 1946; Burial, Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States of America, Congregation Emanuel Cemetery; citing record ID 96361558.
"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVGC-Y24V : 11 July 2016), Rebecca Nathan Hirschfield, 1947; Burial, Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States of America, Fairmount Cemetery; citing record ID 121483281, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
“Funeral Notes”. Leadville Daily/Evening Chronicle.Leadville, CO; USA. February 17, 1888.
Goodstein, Phil H. Exploring Jewish Colorado. Denver, CO: Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society, 1992.
“Mrs. Fred Meyers; JO, Mar. 2, 1906” Jewish Outlook, 1903-1913 American Jewish Archives. USA. 1906.
“Sautee For A Sabbath”. Herald Democrat. CC Davis And Co. Leadville, CO; USA. March 14, 1886.
“Social For The Sabbath”. Herald Democrat. CC Davis And Co. Leadville, CO; USA. March 21, 1886.
Uchill, Ida Libert. Pioneers, Peddlers & Tsadikim: The Story of Jews in Colorado. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado, 1957.
"United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4L2-78H : 12 April 2016), Anna Nathan in household of Simon Nathan, Colorado, United States; citing p. 11, family 89, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,594.
“United States Census, 1880,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFDK-9WP : 13 August 2016), Simon Nathan, Pueblo, Pueblo, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district ED 93, sheet 242A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0092; FHL microfilm 1,254,092.
"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X74M-VLH : accessed 19 August 2017), Louis J Nathan, Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 140, sheet 8A, line 34, family 223, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 238; FHL microfilm 2,339,973.
"New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24ZX-86V : 20 March 2015), Simon Nathan in entry for Adolph Edward Nathan and Lillian B. Michel, 12 Mar 1899; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,503,974.
Rochlin, Harriet, and Fred Rochlin. Pioneer Jews: A New Life in the Far West. Boston, MA: Houghton, Mifflin Company, 1984.
To cite any of the information in this biography, please use the following reference.
AUTHOR: Matt Hulstine and Jeffrey P. Grant
EDITOR: William Korn
SOURCE: Jewish Surnames/Nathan
PUBLISHED BY: Temple Israel Foundation. Leadville, Colorado; USA. 2017.
STABLE URL: www.jewishledville.org/nathan.html
