Jewish Pioneers of McAlester, Hartshorne & Wilburton, Oklahoma In 1895, Sam Wolf opened the New York Store in Hartshorne. The store was later run by his wife and brother-in-law, Jacob Epstein, known locally as “Mose.” In 1895, Abbie Wolf of McAlester owned the Globe Department Store. He lived
Read more →Jewish Pioneers of Tulsa, Oklahoma In 1902, the first Jews arrived in Tulsa, mostly Latvians. Simon Jankowsky opened Palace Clothier in 1904 and stayed in business until 1943. Sylva Goldman was an early businessman. Leo Meyer was the state’s Secretary of State (1907-1911) and State Auditor (1911-1913).
Read more →Jewish Pioneers of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Ben Hirschland was a successful paper wholesaler and box manufacturer in Oklahoma City prior to Oklahoma’s statehood (1907). In 1909, Ben Barnett started a laundry which expanded into other businesses. In 1915, Al Rosenthal opened a shop. B.J. Kaufman
Read more →Jewish Pioneers of Muskogee, Oklahoma Joseph Sondheimer was born in Bavaria in 1840. He came to Oklahoma around 1872 by way of Baltimore, Pennsylvania, and St. Louis. He headquartered his stores, depots, and commissaries in Muskogee around 1881. He also brokered pecans, furs, hides, and wool sales. The town of Muskogee grew
Read more →Jewish Pioneers of Enid, Oklahoma Meyer Meibergen and Marinus Godschalk, cousins from Holland, came to Enid by way of Kansas and opened Meibergen & Godschalk Mens Clothing in 1893. Their store remained open until 1944, always run by family members. In 1899, Abe Herzberg and Samuel Renberg ran Herzberg’s
Read more →Jewish Pioneers of Chickasha, Oklahoma In 1902, Benjamin Lubman, from Russia via Kansas City, opened a jewelry store, and also sold eyeglasses and men’s furnishings in Chickasha. Herman Kohn opened a dry goods in store in 1906. Abraham Belk and hid wife, Sadie, opened a junk business before
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