The Phoenix Jewish news., 1956-03-30

MIO1AEL UOAAOWhAGAS AhoN
the name of Mineral City changed
to Ehrenberg, and the road from
LaPaz to Weaver was also named
in his honor.
Soon after Ehrenberg's death,
the mines at La Paz began to
give out, and the miners began to
leave. BY 1870 it's importance had
diminished to the point that the
Territorial Legislature moved the
county seat to Yuma, the former
Arizona City.
One of the first Jews to settle
in Yuma was Abraham Frank,
who came to the United S t t es
from Germany in 1854. Frank was
a partner with the Goldwater Bro
theirs at La PaZ and came to Yuma
when that city folded. He opened
store on Main Street, on the
corner now occupied by the I'm
perial Hardware Company. Frank
served as mayor for several years,
was a member of the TERRITORIAL
Legislature, and also occupied the
positions of supervisor, superinten-
dent of schools, and probate judge.
ANOTHER OF the early Yuma
settlers was Isaac Levy, who had
a store on Main Street and also
served as the town treasurer. Min
utes of the meeting Of the Town
Common Council Oct. 10, 1876
show the granting of title to lots
in town to Levy, Isaac Lyons, JUL
A1nxrondn1. Al
bert Maroff, Leo Fiener, and Rose
Salamon. For several years begin
ming in 1876 N. A. Alexander was
the village attorney.
Abe Frank was mayor in 1891-93.
On May 8, 1898, Levy was elected
treasurer. In April 1895 the name
of I. Levinson appears on a petit
ton to the Council protesting the
increase in taxes imposed on vii
layers. In 1895 Levy was reelected
treasurer, a post he held till De-
cember 1898. He was succeeded by
another Jew, Althee Modesti, a
Sephardi. On July 81, 1898, an ord
nance was passed by the Common
Council allowing Modesti Ito con-
Struct a sewer from his residence
and other properties and permit
ting other residents to connect
thereto upon payment of certain
fees" Later a Sewer Commission
was elected with Modest as one
of the commissioners.
FRANK DONATED to the town
a large piece of land on which is
now located the Mary Elizabeth
Post School and the city park.
Frank was responsible for bring
ing Mary Elizabeth Post to Yuma
as one of it's first school teachers.
The homes of ModeSti and Frank
were among the less than a dozen
residences left standing after an
1891 flood and were used as Shelf
ers for the homeless victims.
AT THE CLOSE of World War
I, a new group of merchants came
to Yuma. Harry Goldsmith in 1919
! opened a store in partnership with
a brother, who subsequently left,
and Harry assumed sole control.
Goldsmith began to take a very
active part in veterans organiza-
tions and the Boy Scout movement.
In 1881, he was elected Post Com
mander of the H. H. Donkersley
Post No. 10 of the American Leg
ion, then state commander, state
head of the 40 and 8, and many
other important posts. He h a S
been leader of the Boy Scouts for
over 20 years. Harry has also
served as master of his Masonic
Lodge.
Another newcomer at about this
time was Morris Schwartz, WI o
operated the Emporium Depart
ment Store. He also became active
in veterans affairs and was elected
post commander of the Legion in
1888. He sold the Emporium t O
Harold H. Giss in 1888. Morris
Schuman, father of Councilman
Richard Schuman, came to Yuma
in the early 1920s and established
his iron and metal business which
is now being operated by his two
sons. Schuman tried to organize
Jewish religious services for the
small group in town and some
meetings were held sporadically.
Later, when Jewish Congregation
Beth Jacob was organized at Ell
Centro, Calf, 60 miles away,
Schuman became one of its first
members.
MEMBERS OF the Fire Depart
ment in 1920 included Ike Luposky
and Henry Levy. Henry also
served as police commissioner for
a time. That we had our share OF
backsliders is indicated by the fact
that during prohibition, one Julius
Levy was fined 5000 plus $S6 costs
for bootlegging.