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The History of the San Diego Jewish Community—Part II

By Myron Lustig
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 22, 1952, pages 1, 2

Reviewing the more than 100 years of Jewish life in San Diego, we will deal separately and at length with those personalities who figured more prominently in the news of that day—Louis Rose, Lewis A. Franklin, Joseph Mannassee (sic, Mannasse) Marcus Schiller and Lewis Strauss. But there are many settlers in the little village we now know as Old Town, men and women whose names appeared in the San Diego Herald, (our main and at times only source of information) just enough to let us know that they were among the pioneer Jews of this community. 

"The Anniversary Story," the history of Congregation Beth Israel, for the 75th birthday of which this research was done, will contain many details which will not be repeated here, including the first mention of Jews in the records of that day. One of those mentioned was Charles A. Fletcher, of whom was written (Sept. 25, 1851): "Mr. Fletcher recently returned from San Francisco with one of the best selected stocks of dry goods, groceries, liquors, etc."

Another of those mentioned in that first reference to local Jews was Jacob Marks, who became a partner of Mr. Fletcher.

A few months later (March 1852) we learn that "Marks and Fletcher are closing out and returning to the East." There is a confusing but minor point here. The important thing is that official records show us that Charles A. Fletcher was a member of the last city council before the charter was taken from San Diego; and also of the first city council after it was reinstated 20 years later, but we do not know when he returned to San Diego.

We do, however, know that his partner returned to San Diego within a year, presumably with his entire family consisting of at least his wife, a son and three daughters. Two of the daughters figured in marriages here, but we do know that Jacob Marks upon his return to San Diego reversed his name so that it became Marks Jacobs. As a matter of fact, in 1853 Marks Jacobs advertised his business as "late of Marks and Fletcher," and the names of Hannah and Leah Jacobs are listed in the delinquent tax rolls.

He must have cleared up that obligation for later (Aug. 18, 1855) we learn that "Marks Jacobs is building an adobe house near the Plaza." Meanwhile there appeared this advertisement (Sept. 3, 1853): "Married on the 24th day of August, at the residence of the bride's father, Miss Leah Jacobs, daughter of Mr. Marks Jacobs, of this town, to Mr. Marcus Katz, late of Baltimore, Md. Baltimore Sun please copy."

Marcus Katz's marriage was performed by H.L. Kohn, who evidently clerked in Marks Jacobs' store, and who in the Herald's report of the wedding is referred to as "Rabbi Kohn." Kohn subsequently left San Diego and the only other mention of him, in 1855, declared that he "Passed through San Diego from Guadalupe with cattle," an incongruous company in which to visualize a rabbi.

What stimulus for imagination in the single mention of a Jewish name: Rosette Rosenbaum, wife of Elias Rosenbaum, advertised in 1854 as a "Sole Trader" under a new law entitling married women to transact business in their own names. The Herald reported (July 28, 1855) that Jacob Stein obtained a judgment against A.S. Wright. Jacob Nauman is mentioned in 1856 as urging the formation of the San Diego Lyceum. Jacob Elias (May 7, 1856) "has taken over the Bandini and Reiner store. H. Mannassee is in charge." "Newman's store (Mar. 12, 1859) prospers since Heyman Mannassee closed out." Who was Newman? Could he have been the man who eventually left a Mrs. Mathilda Newman free to marry Louis Rose in 1868, as we know he did?