David Cohen
History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana Archives
May be copied for non-profit purposes.

David Cohen, Sr. figures prominently as one of the respected 
citizens and early and successful businessmen 
of Anaconda and is ranked with the Montana pioneers of 1864.
Mr. Cohen was born in Exin, Prussia, February 15, 1839. He 
received his early education in his native country
and when sixteen years of age emigrated to America, landing in 
New York City and there securing a clerkship at 
$15 per month. He remained in New York two years. Then he went 
to Chicago and clerked in a general merchandise 
store in that city. In 1861 we find him in Vicksburg. From there 
he went to New Orleans and thence to Philadelphia
and from the latter place started for Pike-s Peak, stopping for 
a short time in Kansas. Before reaching his 
destination, however, he met a party returning from that place 
who brought a bad report of the country and this
news caused im to return to Leavenworth Kansas. A little later, 
becoming convinced of the great opportunities 
offered for trade in Montana, he, in partnership with a Mr. 
Phillips, fitted out a train of merchandise and miner's
supplies and started across the plains on the 5th of April 1864. 
They were three months on the way, their journey 
being fraught with many privations, and on the 22nd of June they 
landed in Virginia City.

Upon their arrival in Montana, Mr. Cohen and his partner opened 
up their stock in Nevada City (near Virginia City)
and at once began selling goods. He was there during the flour 
riot. His stock of flour consisted of 100 sacks,
all of which the committee took, allowing him cost for it. He was 
also there through the exciting times of the
Vigilantes and saw Slater hung. In the spring of 1865 he removed 
to Helena, sold out his stock soon afterward
and returned to Denver, being there at the time of the killing 
of the men at Julesburg. Martial law was declared 
in Denver and such was the excitement throughout the West that 
it was considered unsafe to attempt to return 
to the United States so he concluded to fit out an ox train at 
Denver, which he did, and started back to Montana 
about the last of August. His return trip was attended with many 
difficulties, the Indians being hostile,
the cold weather setting in and half of their oxen dying, but 
with the aid of cattle they hired they finally 
reached Virginia City in November. Again Mr. Cohen opened up in 
business in Nevada City and prospered greatly.
 
He had a mining claim in the gulch which he operated and which 
also proved a success year later he returned to 
Leavenworth and attended the wedding of his sister Austina, who 
married Mr. Copenis and after this event he set sail for Paris. 
He spent some time on the Continent, visiting his old home and 
friends and the Paris Exposition in 1867 and in 1870 was married 
in Berlin to Rosalie Engel, a native of that place.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Cohen returned with his bride to 
America and again took up his abode in Montana. He 
opened a store at Deer Lodge and was doing a prosperous business 
when, a year and a half later, he and others were
visited by a disastrous fire, in which he lost all his 
accumulations. This was a severe blow to him but with courage 
undaunted he soon started up in business gain, he and his brother 
Alec Cohen, being partners and doing a successful 
business there until 1877 at which time he removed to Butte 
City. In 1880 he bought out his brother's interest
and continued in the business alone.


In 1883 when Anaconda was started, Mr. Cohen was through the 
influence of Marcus Daly, induced to come to 
this place and with his characteristic push and energy he 
established the first business house in the town. 
This store was located on lot 9 and block 7 on the west side 
of Main Street. He conducted a prosperous business 
here until 1889 when he retired and until November 1891 he was 
not engaged in any active business. Then he and 
his son-in-law Mr. Katzenstein, formed a partnership and opened 
a large clothing and gents' furnishing goods
house at the corner of Cherry and Commerical streets, where they 
keep an elegant stock of goods and have an 
extensive trade.

Mr. and Mrs. Cohen have had six children, four of whom are 
living: Anna, wife of Mr. Katzenstein, 
Oswald D, Charles C. and Jessie.

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