The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-25

 tion who have other racial or religious affnities. While the Jamestown settle ment was in 1907, the New Amsterdam in 1914, the first settlement in 1855 is certain ly not far behind.
 Jews With Columbus.
 Jews are connected with the earliest days of our country history. While the settlement was made in 1855 in New York; there were Jewish settlers in the West Indies and Brazil and Mexico prior to this and Jews were already on the Amer ican continent.
 Historical Investigation has proven that there were five persons of Jewish blood with Columbus on his first voy- age. Louis Torres Columbus interpreter, who was the first white man to step on American soil. was a Jew. Jews also shared a great deal in the discovery. Co., lumbus' best supporters and patrons be- fore the Spanish court were the Merano, or secret Jews.
 "Santangel, the chancellor of Aragon. and Sanchez. the treasurer of the state, were these men and to them Columbus sent the first word of his discovery from the Azores islands. Hence the Jew has a pretty early claim of settlement on this continent. When Spain expelled her Jewish citizens, number of them found refuge in the new world and early in the sixteen century they formed colonies in South America, where they lived under Dutch rule, in the enjoyment of religious freedom.
 But when Portugal wrestled Brazil from the Netherlands 1t caused the Jews to seek refuge on more hospitable shores. Thus party of twenty-three came to New Amsterdam in 1854. during the month of September They received, however, but little welcome from the then gov ernor, Stuyvesant. who was a bigot. He at first refused them settlement, but un- der instructions from his superiors, the directors of the Dutch West Indies, had to yield Gradually more and more Jewish refugees came to New Amsterdam and then spread to the neighboring colonies. Settled In the South.
 "The first Jewish settlement in the south was at Savannah, Ga, in 1733, and and a party of forty came from England two weeks later. Governor Ogiethorpe re- ceiyed them very kindly and granted them the same rights and privileges the other colonists enjoyed Then the Jews settled gradually at Charleston. s. C., Augusta. Ga. and in the portion of the United States still belonging to France, nov Louisiana Historical data is not suffi- cient to trace Jew settlements in Ala bama prior to 1785 when a Jew by the name of Mirdecai settled at Montgomery. It was he who built the first cotton gin in Alabama, see Pickens' history of Ala bama which was in 1902. The Jews took A lively part and interest in the war or independence and although their num- Der did not exceed three thousand in all colonies, they furnished quite large portion of soldiers and officers to Wash ington's army. The names of Brig Gen. Joseph Bloomfield, Col. Solomon Busch, Adam Benjamin, Isaac Franks and David S. Franks, Maj. Benjamin Nones, Louis Busch and other may be mentioned among those who distinguished themselves in the war of independence and the subsequent war with England In 1872.
 "The name of Haym Solomon should not be forgotten when the success of Washington's army is considered it was he, the Polish Jew. who. according to congressional documents, furnished con- siderable sums of money from his private purse to the continental treasury. Again in the civil war Jews were found in the ranks on both sides. Judah P. Benjamin. secretary of war in the Confederacy, and twenty-four others equally distinguished as officers of high rank in the Confed- crate army, were all Jews. It was sim liar in the northern army where the Jews were found in large portions. The highest ranking Jews was Major General Kneffler of Indiana. Several others with the rank of colonel and major could be mentioned both in the northern and in southern armies. The Jew equally distinguished himself in arts, industry and science. In 1 all departments of life he is eager to develop and upbnild his home and coun- I try His loyalty as a Jew demands that he be loyal to his native or adopted land.'