Abraham Abraham

Abraham Abraham (March 9, 1843 – June 28, 1911) was an American businessman and the founder of the Brooklyn department store Abraham & Straus, founded 1865. The chain, which became part of Federated Department Stores, is now part of Macy's.

Early life

Abraham was born to a Jewish family, the son of Judah Abraham, a native of Bavaria who left in 1837 and married Sarah Sussman en route to the United States. Soon after arrival, Judah Abraham opened a store on Murray Street in New York. In 1843 Abraham Abraham was born. He had delicate health, and wanted to be a violinist. During the Civil War, he ran away to Chicago to enlist, but was brought back by his father. At 14, he worked at Hart & Dettlebach of Newark, along with Simon Bloomingdale and Benjamin Altman for $1 a week.

Career

Abraham opened Wechsler & Abraham in Brooklyn in 1865 at 297 Fulton Street. The company later became Abraham & Straus.

He became a Brooklyn philanthropist, establishing the Brooklyn Jewish Hospital, among many other causes. In 1890, he commissioned a house, now demolished, at 800 St. Mark's Avenue in Brooklyn.

Personal life

Abraham married twice. In 1868, he married Isabella Hyams; she died in 1875. In 1882, he married Rose Stein; they remained married until his death. He had four children with his first wife: Lillian Isabelle Abraham Rothschild (married to Simon P. Rothschild); Florence May Abraham Blum (married to Edward Charles Blum); Lawrence Emanuel Abraham; and Edith Abraham Strauss (married Percy Selden Straus, son of Isidor Straus). His many notable descendants include grandson Donald B. Straus (son of his daughter Edith), an educator, author, and advisor; great-great-granddaughter Nina Rothschild Utne, a magazine publisher; and great-great-great-grandson Arthur Bradford, an author and director.

Abraham died on Cherry Island, near Alexandria Bay, New York.