The morning news., 1899-11-13
MOSES ABRAM COHEN DEAD.
HE WAS sAvANNAH's OLDEST BUS
MESS MAN.

BRIEF AAlneAs anu AA0SSA hh
and Useful Career-The Deceased
Was S5 Years ola and Had Been
05 Years a Resident of savannah.
Was a Pioneer i'm SteambOating
and the NestOr of Insurance Men
in savnnnaI-His Death the Result
of n FaII-The Funeral VIII Take
Place Tomorrow.
. AT 11:22 O'Clock last night death remov-
ed one Of Savannah's best known and most
highly esteemed and Oldest business man.
For over sixty years Moses A. Cohen had
borne an honorable, and during a large
portion OF that time an active part in the
business affairs Of Savannah. Death dealt
gently with him, and he passed away as
quietly and as peacefully as he had lived.
Love walks unchallenged through the
gates 10 sit beside the throne" were the
words used in speaking of his death by
one who had long known him.
Mr. Cohen was apparently in his usual
good health up to about ten days ago,
when he suffered from fall. After leav-
ing a street car at Charlton and Whita-
ker streets while on his way home. he
struck his foot against the curbing and
fell upon the sidewalk. He suffered
slight abrasion of one hand, but was aP-
parently otherwise uninjured. He regard
ed the accident as of slight importance,
and said but little about it to his friends
and continued 10 attend TO his business,
as usual. On Tuesday afternoon, however,
he was taken i'll and compelled to go
home. The following day he was again
l.stA rrssae
afternoon Thursday he was no better,
and Friday he was critically III, but i'm
proved decidedly that night being able
to sit up in bed the next morning and read
the paper and attended TO some matters
of business. Saturday night there was
decided change for the worse, and early
Yesterday it was realized that death was
Inevitable MIR. Cohen retained conscious
ness, his mind being bright and clear, un-
til late IN the afternoon after which he
fingered until death made sure It's work.
Mr., Cohen's children, who were absent
from the city had been telegraphed of his
serious condition, and all we're present at
his death.
Mr.. Cohen's death removes one of the
most notable figures in Savannah's busi-
ness and social life. He had long been
spoken of as a most remarkable man. His
weight of years was so lightly carried, he
was so active in mind and body, so warm
in his friendships and so genial and COM
panionable with his associates that he
was regarded as a remarkable exception
to the usual run of men. The greater part
of mis- life has been spent in Savannah,
and yet the men with whom he associated
daily were not only unknown but unborn
when his business career here began. The
men who were his contemporaries in bus
mess at the beginning of his career nave
long since retired, and, with one or two
exceptions, have long since passed away.
fr.I hon L.,
Charleston, S. c.. Oct. %, 1915 He was the
son of Barnett Cohen, a well-known citi-
zen of Charleston, who was especially
prominent in Masonic circles. While at a
tender age, Mr.. Cohen's parents removed
to the family plantation in Barnesville
district S. c. This plantation is still in
the family, being owned by a broth
er of the deceased. AT II years of age Mr.
Cohen began business for himself at
Mathews Bluff on the Savannah river In
1884 he came to Savannah, and was with
Mr.. Cormack Hopkins in the hardware
business for year. The year following
he entered the employ of John Boston in
the cotton business. He then entered the
cotton commission business for himself
in which he continued until the early for
ties.
During the greater part of his business
career Mr. Cohen was actively engaged in
the steamboat business. He saw the first
iron steamboats, ever used, built at Sa-
Fannah in the thirties, and later entered
extensively into this business, having sew
eral iron steamboats, built at the North
He was owner and agent of the first and
only daily line of steamboats, between Sa-
vannah and Augusta, and also operated
steamboat lines to Charleston ana Jack
sonville, and as far up the st. Johns river
as Palatka. He was the owner of the
Magnolia, whose loss on the st. Johns
bar in the early ifties is suU re-
mRnlDaTaSi ha old 81
more largely interested i'm the steamboat
business than anyone at Savannah has
been before or since, and was properly en-
tilted to be called the pioneer in that line
business reverses caused him to give up
the steamboat business about 1872 He had
been for some time secretary OF the Home
Fire Insurance Company of Savannah and
from thencetorth gave his entire atten-
tion 10 the insurance business. represent
ing several well known companies He
was The Nestor of the insurance business
IN savannah, being the Oldest both in age
and in the length of time in the business
and was looked up to with affectionate re-
gard Dy all the agents Of the civ
Ihoueh never taking any part in ponlics
MI Cohen was interested in much that
pertained 10 the business and social life Of
the city. He was one of the organizers and
Tor many years was the secretary ana
treasurer of the Savannah Yacht Cj0b and
Tor many years held the same position
with the Ten Brock Racing Asso-
ciation He also filed the same
positions with the Evergreen Gene
terry Company, from the organiza-
ton OF the company unlil his death He
was also the oldest living member of the
Chatham Artillery. having joined the com
pany in 1886 and paraded with it on the
occasion of its fiftieth anniversary in that
year. he was present on the occasion of
It's one hundredth anniversary celebration
In 1886 He was a member of the com
pany for nearly sixty-four years and had
long been an honorary member. During
the war between the states MIR. Cohen
served for some time at Fort Pulaski with
the Savannah Artillery, being The order
ly sergeant Of the company. He contract
ed typhoid fever while in service there.
which incapacitated him for further SER
vice.
Few people were aware of the fact that
Mr.. Cohen was a veteran of the Seminole
war. He left Savannah with the Phenix