Simpson (Simon) Thorman

The first Jew to settle in Cleveland and the first Jewish bridegroom

Simpson (Simon) Thorman's Geni Profile

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Simpson (Simon) Thorman

Also Known As: "Simson"
Birthdate:
Birthplace: Unsleben, Bad Kissingen, Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany
Death: July 12, 1881 (68-69)
Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, United States
Place of Burial: Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States
Immediate Family:

Son of Schmuel Thorman and Bunla Thorman
Husband of Rosa Thorman and Rachel Regina Thorman
Father of Samuel M. Thorman; Esther Wiener; Elizabeth Hays; Laura Rhoda Schloss; Fanny Erlanger and 7 others
Brother of Meyer Thorman; Abraham Thorman; Ramle Thorman; Samuel Thorman and Rose Thorman

Managed by: Linda Sue Silverman
Last Updated:

About Simpson (Simon) Thorman

http://ech.case.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=TS

THORMAN, SIMPSON - The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

THORMAN, SIMPSON (sometimes given as "Simson") (1811-12 June 1881), businessman and the first permanent Jewish resident of Cleveland, was born in Unsleben, Bavaria, immigrated to the U.S. by the late 1820s, passed through Cleveland in 1832, purchasing land at Erie (E. 9th) and Woodland, then went to Donaphin, Mo., where he was a trapper and purchased land. Thorman returned to Cleveland in 1837, settling in the FLATS and continuing in the hide and fur business, making periodic trips to St. Louis to purchase pelts from trappers and Indians. Although he remained in this business until his retirement, he also owned a grocery for a time, and in the late 1850s owned a cattleyard and slaughterhouse. In 1839, several friends and acquaintances from Unsleben settled in Cleveland and Thorman and his cousins Aaron Lowentritt and Isaac Hoffman established the Israelitic Society of Cleveland, the city's first Jewish congregation. The following year, Thorman was an incorporator of WILLETT ST. CEMETERY, the city's first Jewish burial ground, which he gave to the city. He was a founder and first president (1853-59) of the Solomon Lodge No. 6 of B'NAI B'RITH, the first chapter of B'nai B'rith in Cleveland. In 1867, he served 1 term on CLEVELAND CITY COUNCIL. Thorman married Regina Klein (1816-1885) in 1840, the first Jewish marriage in the city. That same year a son, Samuel, was born, the first Jewish child born in Cleveland. In all, the Thormans had 11 children: Samuel, Esther, Elizabeth, Laura, Rebecca, Fanny, Abraham, Judy, Frank, Simon, and a son who died in infancy.

http://www.clevelandjewishhistory.net/people/city-council.htm

Simpson Thorman  1865

(1811-1881), Cleveland's first Jewish resident, was its first Jewish member of City Council. He served one term, 1865 - 1867, representing Ward 4.

Bavarian-born Thorman was Cleveland's first permanent Jewish settler. His encouragement brought 19 more settlers from Unsleben to Cleveland in 1839. He was a founder of many Jewish organizations including the Willet Street Cemetery, Cleveland's first synagogue, and Bnai B'rith.

Thorman's many descendants - his wife Regina (born Raichl) had ten children - have played key roles in Cleveland's economic and cultural life and in its Jewish community. Buried in Mayfield Cemetery.

http://www.clevelandjewishhistory.net/gen/gen-thorman1.htm



http://jewgenpedia.com/families/thormann.html

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Simpson (Simon) Thorman's Timeline

1812
1812
Unsleben, Bad Kissingen, Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany
1837
August 1837
Age 25
Immigrated to Donophon, MO and then to Cleveland, OH
1840
1840
Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States
1841
December 20, 1841
Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States
December 20, 1841
Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States
1842
September 1842
Age 30
Court of Common Pleas, Cleveland, OH
1845
December 1845
Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States
1846
1846
Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States
1848
February 22, 1848
Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States