Duval County FlArchives Biographies.....Cohen, Jacob E. April 1, 1861 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Rayburn Naev@earthlink.net December 23, 2007, 5:28 pm

Author: The History of Florida:  Past & Present, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1923,  Vol. III pg.171

	COHEN, JACOB E. has made a record of splendid achievement in 
connection with business enterprise of broad scope and importance and his 
civic loyalty has prompted him to liberality and progressiveness in connection 
with the general advancement of his home city of Jacksonville.  He is 
essentially one of the representative business men and broad-gauged and 
enterprising citizens of the Florida metropolis.
	Mr. COHEN was born in the City of Dublin, Ireland, on the 1st of 
April, 1861, and is a son of ELIAS and RAE (HEYMAN) COHEN, both natives of 
Berlin, Germany, where the former was born in 1816 and the latter in 1836, 
their marriage having been solemnized in their native city.  JACOB E. of this 
review was the youngest of their eight children, of whom four are still 
living.  ELIAS COHEN became a successful exponent of the general merchandise 
business in the City of Berlin, Germany, and in 1870 he came with his family 
to New York City, where he was engaged in the dry-goods business until 1875, 
when he retired, he having been seventy-five years of age at the time of his 
death, in 1891, and his widow having passed away in 1896, at the age of sixty 
years.  Both were active members of the Reformed Jewish Temple in the national 
metropolis.
	In the public schools of the national metropolis JACOB E. COHEN 
continued his studies until his graduation in the high school, and he 
furthered his education by attending night school.  In 1875 he came to 
Jacksonville, Florida, and became associated with his brothers, SAMUEL, MORRIS 
and JULIUS, in the dry-goods and department store business, under the firm 
title of Cohen Brothers.  Honorable dealings and effective service gained to 
the establishment a large and appreciative supporting patronage, and the 
enterprise was marked by consecutive expansion in scope and importance.  In 
1912 Mr. COHEN effected the organization of the St. James Realty & Department 
Store Company, of which he is president, this corporation owning and 
conducting the large and modern department store known as “The Big Store” and 
recognized as the leading retail mercantile establishment of the Florida 
metropolis.  In this connection Mr. COHEN purchased the old St. James Hotel 
property, covering the block bounded by Laura, Duval, Church and Hogan 
streets, and on this property the company erected the largest and finest 
business building in the city.  The initiative thus taken resulted in the 
opening of a new retail business district in Jacksonville, and the innovation 
has proved the wisdom and self-reliant action of Mr. COHEN, who found his 
course looked upon with more or less skepticism by other representative 
business men of the city.  He has built up a great mercantile establishment 
which adds much to the metropolitan facilities and prestige of Jacksonville.  
He is one of the valued members of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, is a 
director of the Children’s Home Society and also of the Florida State Fair 
Association, and gives liberally of his influence and co-operation in the 
support of measures and enterprises tending to advance the general welfare of 
his home city and state.  He holds membership in the Lakeside, Riverside and 
Norwood clubs and is a citizen who commands high place in popular confidence 
and esteem.
	At Jacksonville, Florida, on the 6th of September, 1887, was 
solemnized the marriage of Mr. COHEN to Miss HATTIE HALLE, of Memphis, 
Tennessee, and they have four children.
	When Mr. COHEN established his home in Jacksonville the city had a 
population of only 7,000, and he takes great satisfaction in the thought that 
he has witnessed and contributed his share to the development of the city to 
one of nearly 100,000 population and one of marked economic strength and 
solidity.


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