Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-25
BRING BODY OF
MERCHANT HOME
Harris Cohen Dies at st. Louis,
Aged 81; Has Pictures
que Career

Harris Cohen, aged S4 years, one of
Harrisburg's oldest Market street mer-
chants. who retired in February, this
year, died yesterday in St. Louis at
the home of his granddaughters, Mrs.
Theodore Samuels and Mrs. Julian
Samuels. These granddaughters, with
Charles Goodman, a grandson, who re-
sides at 40S North street, this city,
were at the bedside when Mr.. Cohen
| died Death was due to a general
breakdown due to old age following
an operation which was performed
several months ago. Shortly after his
retirement Mr.. Cohen went to ST. Louis
with hope that the change would
benefit his health. Mrs. Cohen died
last December as result of a shock
| received when her home in South
Fourth street was burned.
Funeral arrangements were not
completed until late this afternoon,
following the arrival of the body,
which reached Harrisburg from
is looking after the arrangements.
Started as Peddler
From peddler, carrying his pack
from town to town. to one of the most
successful business men Harrisburg
has had, and representative of a num-
Der of HarriSburgs leading corporate
interests, Harris Cohen was an in
teresting and picturesque character.
whose rise in the business circles of
Harrisburg was one of the romances
of local commercial life.
Mr.. Cohen came to New York from
Wilma, Russia, at the time of the
Crimean War and located in New
York. Shortly before the outbreak of
the war he became a peddler and
Travelled throughout Virginia Mary
land, Pennsylvania and nearby states.
After some thrilling experiences be-
tween the lines in Maryland during the
war, when he narrowly escaped death
at the hands of the rebels, who accused
him of being spy, he came to Har-
risburg and located in a little shop
near where the Market Square Presby-
terian Church now stands and began
the manufacture OF hoopskirts, then in
the height of fashion.
He made money rapidly and there
laid the foundation of his large for
tune. In 1865 he removed to 202 Mar
ket street and continued the manu-
facture of hoopskirts until they went
out of style some ten years later, when
he began to develop the business which
was sold out on February 4, this year.
Ran Speciality Shop
Mr.. Cohen's speciality was women's
goods and for many years his store
in Market street was the only business.
place outside of the larger cities carry
ing an exclusive stock of women's
skirts, corset sand other accessories.
When the old Harrisburg City Pas
senger Railway Company started busi-
ness as the first horse car line Harris
Cohen was one of the original stock
holders. Since that time he held stock
in each subsequent street railway or
ganization doing business in Harris
burg and now subsidiary of the Har-
risburg Railways Company. Recently
Mr.. Cohen was reelected a director of
the Harrisburg Traction Company. He
was also one of the original stock
holders of the Harrisburg Light and
Power Company
Mr.. Cohen was a member of Robert
Burns Lodge, No. 464, Free and Ac-
cepted Masons. an influential memb
of Ohev Sholom Congregation and one
of the charter members of the Harris
burg Board of Trade when it was or
ganized in Strawberry street
Mr.. and Mrs. Cohen had one daugh-
ter, Rose Cohen. who married Oscar
Goodman. Mr. and Mrs. Goodman
died about decade ago, survived by
three children. The two daughters
married Theodore and Julian Samuels,
brothers, and moved to st. Louis sew
eral years ago. Mr.. Cohen continued
his home here with his grandson,
| Charles Goodman, at 40S North street.
after his wifes death last winter until
he went to st. Louis for his health.