Lots of Lehmans : the family of Mayer Lehman of Lehman Brothers : remembered by his descendants [1 ed.] 9780979233609, 0979233607

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Lots of Lehmans *-

^.~

• r«»»i

-V vV

*-

^.i^-.^-'-

The Family of Mayer Lehman of Lehman Brothers Remembered by

His Descendants

Lots of Lehmans What

was

it like to

rights, responsibilities,

grow up with and

of the

all

privileges accorded

one of America's most outstanding

families

Lehmans of Lehman Brothers? In

—

addition to

New

the creme de la creme of Wall Street are

York Governor

Lehman, United

for

(and, later.

whom Lehman

States Secretary

Morgenthau

Senator)

CoUege

is

Herbert

named;

of the Treasury Henry

Chief Judge of

Jr.;

the

New York

State

Court of Appeals Irving Lehman; Manhattan District

Attorney Robert Morgenthau;

New York

Congressman Jonathan Bingham; Ambassador John

L.

Loeb

Jr.;

Arthur Goodhart, the

iirst

American master of an Oxford University lege; plus philanthropists arts

col-

and supporters of the

too numerous to mention.

What

it

was Hke

—

Jewish world

to live in a rarified

the world of

vividly portrayed here in the

German

"Our Crowd"

—

^is

words and pictures

of the descendants of Mayer Lehman, the youngest of three

came

to

German Jewish

America from Bavaria and

formed Lehman Brothers,

company ing

brothers

in

in

a mercantile

who 1850

goods

Montgomery, Alabama. After mov-

New York, Lehman Brothers helped the New York Cotton Exchange and went

to

found

(continued on hackjlap)

Lots of Lehmans

The Family of Mayer Lehman of Lehman Brothers

Remembered by

His Descendants

f

% %

§

^

-r-%

"^ ^^^\ ^

A

1

^1

»

The Mayer Lehman family secotid

row seated

Howard Goodhart, (left to right):

Lehman

in

Tarrytown,

(left to right):

Hattie

NewYork,

1888. Front

Lehman Goodhart

Babette with grandson Allan

Philip f. Goodhart, Harriet

c.

Lehman

Lehman,

row,

kneeUng: Herbert

holding daughter Helen,

Settle

Lehman Fatman

(Sigmund's wife), Sigmund

Limburg), Morris Fatman, Arthur Lehman.

(Herbert

H. Lehman

^.

Vr,i^

next

to Irving.

In the

Mayer Lehman with grandson

with daughter Margaret. Back row

M. Lehman, Suite

(left)

^

Clara

& Papers,

Lehman

(later

Clara

Columbia University)

Lots of Lehmans

The Family of Mayer Lehman of Lehman Brothers Remembered by Edited with Introduction

His Descendants

& Notes by Kenneth Libo

Foreword William

L.

Bernhard and John

L.

Loeb Jr.

Afterword June Rossbach Bingham Birge

CENTEH gJB>01SH

HISIORT

CS.1I ,

© William

AH

rights reserved.

No

L.

Copyright 2007

C~wW

Bernhard, June Rossbach Bingham Birge, John L. Loeb Jr.

part of this

book may be reproduced

or utilized in any form or by any means,

electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or retrieval system,

by any information storage and

without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published by Center for Jewish History

Editor and Compiler

Kenneth Libo

Editorial Consultant

Kathy Plotkin

Editorial, Design, and

Production Services by President

Editorial Coordinator

Design and Layout

MTM Publishing, Inc.

Valerie TomaseUi

Tim Anderson Annemarie Redmond

Copyediting

Janine Stanley-Dunham

Proofreading

Zach Gajewski; Paul Scaramazza

Genealogy and Family Trees by President

Genealogist

Designer

Our Living Tree

Bob Breakstone David Kleiman Scott Citron

'.

Distributed by Syracuse University Press

ISBN # 978-0-9792336-0-9 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data in progress.

Manufacturing supervised by Active Concepts,

Printed in Canada

mi

Inc.,

N.Y.

'

Yi

Table of Contents Foreword

vii

Acknowledgements ix Introduction:

The Lehmans, A Family and

Chapter One: Mayer Lehman

& Harriet M. Lehman Lehman

Chapter Three: Hattie Lehman Goodhart

Chapter

Five:

Chapter

Six:

Settie

Clara

Lehman Fatman

Lehman Limburg

Arthur Lehman

2

& Babette Neugass Lehman

Chapter Two: Sigmund M. Lehman

Chapter Four:

Firm

a

& Adele

Chapter Seven: Irving Lehman

Philip

& Morris

J.

Goodhart

Fatman

69 89 115

Lewisohn Lehman

137

Straus

Lehman

& Edith Altschul Lehman Afterword 283

Contributors

Appendix One: Reader's Guide

49

& Richard Limburg

& Sissie

Chapter Eight: Herbert Lehman

&

27

Wlw'sWIio 299

to the

World of the Mayer Lehman Family 313

Appendix Two: Descendants of Mayer and Babette Lehman 329 Index 351

185

219

Lots of Lehmans:

The Family of Mayer Lehman of Lehman Remembered by

Brothers

His Descendants

Edited with Introduction & Notes Kenneth Libo FOREWORX) William L. Bernhard and John L. Loeb Jr. Afterword June Rossbach Bingham Birge

Contributors Dorothy L. Bernhard Robert A. Bernhard William

L.

Bernhai'd

Jonathan B. Bingham

June Rossbach Bingham Birge Stephen Birmingham

Ann Loeb Bronfman Helen L. Buttenwieser Lawrence B. Buttenwieser Paul A. Buttenwieser Peter L. Buttenwieser

Judith Loeb Chiara Julius Edelstein

Carolin Flexner Gabrielle Forbush

Peter Friedman

Hans Gerst Straus Gerder

Ann

(in alphabetical order)

Sir Philip

Goodhart

Lord William Howard Goodhart

John D. Gordan III Goodhart Gordan Joan Morgenthau Hirschhorn Phyllis

Peter Josten

Wendy Lehman Lash Adele Lewisohn Lehman Arthur Lehman Babette Neugass Lehman Edith Altschul Lehman Herbert Lehman Irving Lehman Mayer Lehman Grin Lehman Penelope Lehman Wendy Vanderbilt Lehman Marjorie Lewisohn A. Myles Limburg

Limburg L. Loeb Frances L. Loeb John L. Loeb Jr. John L. Loeb Sr. Peter

Arthur

Eileen Josten

Lowe

William Mayer

Henry Morgenthau III Robert M. Morgenthau Franklin Delano Roosevelt Camilla Master Rosenfeld Isadore Rosenfeld

Mabel Limburg Rossbach Deborah Jane Wise Sheridan Irving

Lehman

Straus

Louise Blumenthal Sulzberger

Duane Tananbaum Lehman Wise

Peter

—

Forew^ord By William

L.

Great-grandsons of

Bernhard and John L. Loeb

Jr.

Mayer Lehntan and Babette Neiigass Lehman

Grandsons ofArthur Lehman and Adele Lewisohn Lehman

The ries

Lehman family memoHyde Park, New York, in

genesis of these

took place in

October 2004.

A

State

was being held

at

New

the Franklin and

Eleanor Roosevelt Institute under the auspices of

Lehman College with

the help of

The

previous evening, our cousin June

Rossbach Bingham Birge female

June's

—now

the ranking

member of the Mayer Lehman

clan

first

memory

was when she was about

as a

of her Uncle Herbert four: "I

was in

his

arms

we hobbled up and down at the shallow end of his swimming pool. Men's bathing suits in

as

those days had a top, but even

how

William Bernhard.

Lehman not

great governor but as a great uncle.

one-day seminar on Herbert

Lehman's four-term governorship of York

gave a talk describing Herbert

furry he was.

more told

hair

me

on

asked

his chest

he didn't

would not

I

know

so,

I

could see

why he had

so

much

than on his head.

He

but he was sure that

inherit this distinction."

I

Lots of Lehmans

John was

by June's speech

so taken

said to her afterward,

family history!" to

that

he

"You've got to write

which she repUed,"Not

a

own

ects,

but the idea of

a

writing proj-

book about

the

Lehman

family stayed alive and evolved. In 2005 the three of us (June,

Bill,

and John) met to

an important hallmark of our family.

Meetings of the four of us followed for the

in a

thousand years."

June was busy with her

continuation in America. PubHc service remains

discuss

next year, along with countless phone

calls

among us and the rest of our Lehman family, soliciting their interest

far-flung

e-mails

memories. We have used

their

member of the

every

Lehman,

mitted any

recalled

by

was

also

known

book,

Book Award

of history

we

chose

recipient

and

Hunter College. Ken

at

to us as the researcher, editor,

and writer of John

and Frances Lehman

L.

Loeb's oral memoir. All

sins

in a Lifetime.

One

of

to

make

this

as

we

to contact

have

com-

of omission or commission,

please forgive us, for

edit such a

Libo, a National

a professor

as

their descendants.

To compile and

Ken

and their spouses

his six siblings,

family. If

well

as

the sources

all

and resources we could think of

producing an anecdotal history of Herbert

and

book

we

have done our utmost

all-inclusive.

To those who

have responded to our requests for participation,

we

are truly grateful.

Over became hope

a

several

months the family responses

will provide

now

a

book we

both pleasure and

insights,

manuscript;

they are

Ken's ideas was to include letters from the

not only for a wide-ranging number of Lehman

Herbert Lehman Archives

family

as

Columbia,

as

well

members but

articles

recognizing Herbert

who

his siblings for their

enormous contribu-

lections of

Neu> York Times

and

at

tions to

pubhc

service, a

back several generations

Lehman in

tradition

Germany

going

before

its

also for other readers

find fascinating the anecdotes and recol-

well-known

readers enjoy

what

families.

May

all

our

follows.

— WLBaudjLL

Acknowledeements In compiling and editing Lots of Lehmans,

I

at

Columbia

enjoyed working closely with June Rossbach

assistance

Bingham Birgejohn

wealth of

L.

Loeb Jr., and William

—with whom

L.

University. There, with the able

of Tamar Dougherty,

I

discovered a

photographs, and oral and

letters,

the idea for this

book

written accounts. These materials, together

originated. This project could not have

been

with others from the family archives of Henry

Bernhard

undertaken wthout

Lehman memories

a

rich

assortment

of

they shared, along with

other contributors who, cumulatively, naake up the heart and soul of this book.

enormous debt of gratitude

to

I

also

owe an

Wendy Lehman

Lash, president of the Edith and Herbert H.

Lehman Foundation, both

for her invaluable

Morgenthau

IH,

Dorothy Treisman, Frances

Dinkelspiel, and John D. perfect

complement

Gordan

III,

provided a

to the family recollections

of Mayer and Babette Lehman's three dozen and more living descendants to the

who

take us back

world of "Our Crowd."

At John Loeb

Jr.'s

office,

Kathy Plotkin

genealogical contributions and for her

commit-

contributed not only a meticulous line-by-

Herbert H. Lehman Suite

& Papers

line reading

ment

to the

of the text but

also

an uncanny

Lots of Lehmans

ability for

problem

solving, often after raising

the right questions.

To Valerie Tomaselli of

MTM Publishing, MTM's editorial coordinator Tim Anderson, and MTM copy editor Janine Stanley-Dunham

a

very special thank you for

produce

this

of

archivists Phyllis

New York Times and Joan

AP/Wide World

Carroll

Photos, and researchers

Daniel Scott, Dennis Raverty, and Michael Skakun.

Finally,

thank you to the University of

Syracuse Press for permission to quote from

Bob Breakstone of Our much praise for making the

Stephen Binningham's "Our Crowd" :The Great

book.

Living Tree deserves

Collazo of the

photo

and care in helping

exercising impeccable taste to

Special thanks also to

genealogical charts both attractive and functional.

Jewish Families of New York.

—KL

Lots of Lehmans

;

TrSHBSHES-iSi

Riinpar, Bavaria, where the pliolo hi

Lehmans hvcd

The Lehmans: From Rimpar

hi

1845, fwe years

to the

before

New World, A

Mayer Lehman

Family

iiiiniigrated to the

Histoi-y, Maiiifrdiikisdies

United

Museum

States, (cover

M^iirzburfi)

INTRODUCTION

The Lehmans:

A Family and a Firm By Kenneth Libo

By 1950 Lehman Brothers, ment banking house

the sixth largest invest-

in the country,

had become to

investment banking what Levi Strauss, by then, had long

been

to blue jeans

—

quite an achievement for a family

enterprise organized in 1850 by three

immigrant brothers with

little

German Jewish

more going

for

them

— Lots of Lehmans

than determination, family

ground in the

cattle trade.

loyalty,

and

a

back-

Their economic

rise

began in the antebellum South. The exhaustion of the

soil in

the Atlantic seaboard states coupled

with the removal of the indigenous Indians precipitated

sizable

a

migration into

western

18th- and 19th-century

—

Rimpar

the historic backdrop of Jewish

as

non-Jews began immigrating to America,

The

younger brothers, heard the

soil

was

quick profits

a

—

new

staple crop that

cotton.

ing communities

promised

Almost overnight thriv-

came

into being along the

Yazoo, Alabama, and Mississippi

Word of this reached the family of Eva and Abraham Lehman. Abraham was a prosperous Jewish

cattle dealer living in

at

Landing

twenty-one, the eldest of the three

in Mobile,

"call

of cotton."

Alabama, in 1844, Henry

member of his extended family named Goldschmidt, who provided him with contacted

a

peddlers' supplies, probably

rivers.

to the

New World, A Family History by Roland Flade.) Just when many young German Jews as well Henry,

black

in Bavaria

life

can be found in The Lehmans: From Rimpar

Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. chief attraction to this vast area of rich

set against

set

on

credit, before

out with a wagonload of merchandise for

to farmers, plantation owners,

Rimpar, Bavaria

and

he sale

their families.

Peddling was the Harvard Business School

Moving north along

Alabama

(Germany). At the time the Catholic prince-

of that

bishops of Bavaria permitted only one male

River, Henry, within a year, had his

child of a Jewish fainily to receive a license to

had accumulated enough savings to open

marry and work

small store

in his place

of birth. Because

was the tradition that the receive

such

a

license,

eldest son

Abraham and

it

would Eva's

younger sons Henry, Emanuel, and Mayer were encouraged to move, and the stayed.

eldest,

SeUgmann,

(A detailed account of the Lehmans in

ing

day.

on Commerce

the

start.

Street in the

He

boom-

town of Montgomery. Beginning with

modest stock of

a

foodstuffs, kitchenware,

a

and

general merchandise, he lived alone in the

back of the

store,

working long and tedious

hours, frequently deep into the night. In 1846

Introduction: The Lehmans, A Family and a Firm

Henry

^vas

one of sixteen German Jewish

he may have already met

left,

his future wife,

founders of Hevra Mavaker Holim, a society

Babette Neugass, the daughter of a weaver from

for visiting the sick. Three years later the

nearby Rieneck

voted to form

on April

itself into a

12, 1852,

was

group

congregation, which

legally incorporated as

and 2,000

for 4,000 whites

Montgomery was Mobile and

New

linked to Atlanta by

rail

his arrival in

and

changed

point for cotton. In 1847

Emanuel, joined Henry.

A

younger brother,

a

story general store

A

Mayer had

memoir

youngest

son,

become

a

New York

Lehman

&

"He

felt it

life

who would

this distrust

and the German ruling

Lehman

main

slave

Brothers.

auctioning block, their store was well stocked

with everything from sheeting,

was

by

classes."

"The farmers would come and trade

Bro."

a

his

later

governor and U.S. senator,

"and he never got over

to

shirting,

and

ball thread. "It

was

largely a barter arrangement," recalled Herbert.

dictated late in

Herbert,

name

new two-

completely undemocratic country," according to an oral

Bro.

built a

strong poHtical rea-

sons for leaving Germany.

&

Montgomery, H. Lehman

yarn to cotton rope and

third brother, twenty-year-old Mayer,

arrived in 1850.

after

with sav-

on Montgomery's Court

Square bearing the legend "H.

Soon

later,

year

had stowed away, they

its

New York.

of

Hamburg

in

Directly opposite Montgomery's

Orleans by watei-way.The city

was already an important storage and trading

ings they

1850 Mayer boarded the Admiral

slaves,

to

he would marry in

several years later. In the spring

and on July 17 reached

Kahl ("Congregation") Montgomery.

Home

NeAV Orleans

whom

of Germany

When Mayer

such

and

it

for shirts

little as all

in

with their cotton

and shoes and

fertilizer,

was used in those days, and seed,

the necessities. That's

how

started in the cotton business."

they got

By 1852

the

brothers were also buying and selling real estate

and extending long-range credit to settling accounts in bales lars.

ry,

more

planters,

often than dol-

For some 40 years to the end of the centu-

foUowng

in 1855

the unexpected death of

from yellow

fever,

Henry

Emanuel and Mayer

Lots of Lehmans

were the firm. vative,

Mayer adventurous. According

tradition,

made

Emanuel was considered conser-

Mayer made

the money, and

sure they didn't lose

Early on,

Lehman

when

In 1858,

permanent

the brothers decided to

New York

City

open

Emanuel

to family

a

Emanuel

headed north for good and established Lehman

office,

Brothers, a cotton brokerage, at 119 Liberty

it.

Brothers established an

Street, center

of the

largest

market for cotton in

Montgomery

the country and just a few blocks from the bro-

based on loans to cotton growers secured by

kerage and banking operations of the Kuhns,

informal banking operation in

crop

liens.

They

bought cotton outright

also

and before long became cotton ing their store

Emanuel went supplies turers

as

to

dealers,

City to replenish

and negotiate with cotton manufac-

and exporters while Henry headed the

Lehman

operation in

New

Besides heading operations in Montgomery,

keep-

an adjunct. Every year

New York

Loebs, Goldmans, Sachses, and Seligmans.

Orleans, the major

Mayer made frequent

relatives.

In

born

store, dealt

Montgomery

with planters and farmers in the

surrounding

area.

Mayer became

the cotton

few days before

Montgomery

Henry's death, Babette's brother Benjamin

Mayer, in addition to managing the

A

his

Orleans,

living with

twenty-eighth

birthday, he married twenty-year-old Babette.

idence,

New Orleans. Meanwhile,

New

where Babette Neugass was then

receiving point for the cotton crops. After

Neugass took over in

trips to

where

their first four children

—Sigmund

(Lisette) in

they occupied a substantial res-

in 1859, Hattie in 1861, Settle

1863, and Benjamin (who died in

infancy) in 1865. slaves

—four

helped

at

Mayer by now owned seven

women

and three men. Some

the residence, while others

One,

the firm.

and nuance of the trade with the same

panied the Lehmans to

patience and persistence his ancestors had

War and took

applied to the Talmud.

Clara,

a

worked

in

nursemaid, voluntarily accom-

expert in the family, mastering every intricacy

who

were

New York after the

Civil

care of not only Settle but also

was born

in

New York

in 1870.

Introduction: The Lehmans, A Family and a Firm

A>-^.V_,^^

Home

of Mayer and Babette c.

Lehman

at

South Court Street

1855. (Robert

M. Morgenthau)

in

Montgomery, Alabama,

1/

Lots of Lehmans

A

staunch supporter of Alabama's leading

Democratic

politicians,

Mayer was

mem-

also a

Babette's brother-in-law

belonged to

a

ber in good standing of Montgomery's Masonic

that

lodge, as well as a leading contributor to a

New York

building fund for Montgomery's

factories were.

house of worship

first

Jewish

built expressly for that

pur-

pose. The synagogue building was completed in

Stern

group that bought the cotton

was shipped either from to Liverpool,

New

where the

Orleans or

great cotton

As for the descendants of the

Sterns, a great-grandson of

John Loeb Jr.,

Abraham

Mayer Lehman,

recalls:

1862, one year after Jefferson Davis was sw^orn in as president

of the Confederacy on the bal-

cony of the Montgomery statehouse

just a

few

blocks away.

Lehman

One

has recently retired as head of the

Liverpool Cotton Exchange, and another one, totally Anglican, has for

many

years

Brothers suffered huge costs follow-

been the

sheriff of Cheshire County. The

ing the outbreak of the Civil War, which virtually

relations

with the Lehmans get even

cut off relations between

York." Alles

ist

Montgomery and

beendetl" ("Everything

is

New

over!")

more complicated when Abraham younger brother moves

to

New

Stern's

Orleans

New York to his

and becomes partners with Babette's

wife's relatives in Liverpool.Yet the firm's business

younger brother, Benjamin Neugass, and

went on. While Mayer remained

the

Emanuel wrote

Emanuel, with

desperately

his family,

where he oversaw the ton from

in

Montgomery,

returned to Europe,

arrival

of shiploads of cot-

New Orleans to Liverpool, London, and

other European ports. All ers did

from

through various

this

the

Lehman

alliances,

Babette's kinfolk, the Neugasses

and

in

was originally

With

New

called

Orleans.

The firm

Lehman, Neugass.

the arrival of young Mr. Stern, the

name was changed

to

Meanwhile, back

in

Lehman,

Stern.

broth-

mostly with Sterns.

Lehmans

formed

a

Montgomery, Mayer

partnership with John Wesley Durr,

Introduction: The Lehmans,

Lehman,

Dun &

Co. in Montgomery, Alabama,

and operated one of Montgomery's

c.

A

Family and a Firm

1865. Mayer Lehman and John Wesley Dnrr owned

biggest storage centers for cotton. (Robert

M. Morgenthau)

.

Lots of Lehmans

the

director of Montgomery's princi-

managing

pal cotton center, the

Lehman money,

Wesley Durr,

Alabama Warehouse. With

tions

elicited the following recollec-

from John Loeb Jr.:

Mayer's know-how, and Durr's

background and connections, the Alabama

Virginia

Warehouse soon became Montgomery's leading

were two leading white members of

storage center for cotton probably shipped by

Montgomery's

New

gunrunners to Liverpool via

Lehman and Durr remained out

the

war.

In

the

Orleans.

Civil Rights

Rosa Parks was

After

months of the

to the police station

Alabama governor, Thomas

got her released. They

$500,000 from

owned cotton Alabama

in

Mayer wrote

of non-Lehman

sales

New York

soldiers in

nego-

for the relief

mission to pass through the

I

His request,

operations of

while

Brothers in

in

New York

Montgomery

We

had

a

among

movement and her support of

Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. For

Montgomery.

In the Nen> York Times obituary of

Parks

in

she was quite elderly.

Rights

continuing the partnership between

Lehman and Durr

done some seamstress work

other things of her activity in the Civil

Mayer and Emanuel resumed

Lehman

and

her person-

lovely dinner together, talking

however, went unanswered. After the war,

knew

met Virginia Durr

when

Grant for per-

lines.

NAACP

for Virginia.

Northern prison camps.

directly to General

branch of the

she had

ally;

of

local

went

with the president

of the

tiate

community.

arrested for sitting

Confederacy, Mayer was authorized by the Hill Watts, to

Clifford

in the front of a city bus, the Durrs

partners through-

final

Durr and her husband

Rosa

many

years Virginia

was ostracized for her

stand

on

by the top

civU rights

ures of Montgomery.

(October 25, 2005), the mention of

ried to

Virginia Durr, granddaughter-in-law of John

the

10

Hugo

Her

sister

social fig-

was mar-

Black, an associate justice of

Supreme Court

fi-om

1937

to 1971

Introduction: The Lehmans, A Family and a Firm

Mayer Lehman on to the

United

a visit to his family in Bavaria, States.

He

came back

1867. Seventeen years

as a successful businessman.

earlier

he had immigrated

(Henry Morgenthau

111)

Lots of Lehmans

Toward the end of the

Civil War, the

firm was widely regarded

Lehman—Durr Warehouse was burned

futures

by the owners to keep the cotton supply

cotton trade was in no small

from being confiscated by Union

the

but even

diers,

managed

so,

somehow

they

me

troops

sum of

hidden was in Mrs. John Wesley Durr's

East

Union

troops

the gold was divided equally

left,

the

months before the

his

family.

A

New York, Mayer

—

and

Clara born in

1873, Irving in

1876, and

62nd

brownstone residence

The Lehman

Street.

Herbert, to an apartment

family's arrival in

Lehman Brothers moved

to

built at 5

family occupied

when

widowed Babette moved with her youngest

Mayer moved from Montgomery

York City with

moved

a five-floor

where her

New

eldest

son

at

175 West 58th

Sig, his

Street,

two boys AUan and

Harold, and their faiTuHes also lived.

Many

few

New York,

years later

when Herbert was

a U.S.

senator, his secretary took the following notes

to Pearl Street, close to

do

um

Though Lehman

a sizable business

exchanges,

on the

the

core

as

Brothers would

he recalled the house on East 62nd

Front door in middle

coffee and petrole-

of the

a

son,

Street:

Hanover Square, the heart of the flourishing cotton trade.

by

revenue earned) from 1859 to 1899.

the house until the turn of the century,

between the two famihes.

In 1868

facilitated

Herbert in 1878. The year Irving was born Mayer

had

after

(in

1870, Arthur in

the only safe place for their gold to be

that

success in the

way

Babette had four more children

that

and

Its

American cotton crop having more than

After they

parlayed

petticoats,

and spot cotton house.

doubled

when the occupied Montgomery

into gold.Virginia told

Union

sol-

the co-owners had

to save a considerable

money which

to

the country's largest

as

—Enter

hall

—

at

right long parlor furnished in light

gold satin

business

remained cotton. By the turn of the century the

—

late

Victorian furniture.

(Children never were in

12

this

room).

"

Introduction: The Lehmans, A Family and a Firm

"My father-in-law Arthur Lehman^ [right], senior partner

—

his broth-

Herbert [middle], governor ofNewYork,

ers

and

of Lehman Brothers, with

Irving, justice

of the

NapYork

ofAppeals, the highest court

December 31, i934,

the

State

in the state

Court

—

on

day Irving swore in

Herbert for another term as governor. They are three

of the most

different

men

I've ever

known.

Arthur was a hardheaded banker Herbert was a great humanitarian. Irving

and a deeply

religious

was a leading jurist

man. Tltey were

standing in their particularfields.

Loeb Sr,

Tlie three youngest all

students at

Lehman

Dr

—

boys

Herbert, Irving,

Sachs's school,

c.

—

and Arthur

1885. (John L. Loeb ft)

13

AH

in a Lifetime

all

out-

—fohn

L.

Qohn L. Loebjr.)

Lots of Lehmans

Children used library on second

Bay window seat).

ture in

Furnished in

—

stiff

late

window

(no

front

in

their day,

brought up themselves. Mayer had received, in

On

addition to

to small

room

Governor Lehman's

Irving,

writing, and speaking

in

New York room was

ing

and Judge

German

Hebrew,

written in

as

Hebrew

well

to Jewish girls.

script.

Although the couple remained

Court of Appeals] bed-

non-kosher food, observing Jewish holidays,

back of the house in which

attending religious services regularly, and using

furniture. This

room was very hot

summer and very

Hebrew and Judeo-German

roof, however,

if

A

second

home-based Bible

was

built over

it

classes.

Instead, their daughters

to try to

nursemaids,

relieve this situation.

who

were

inculcated

raised

tional

World

its

taking

full

that

who

advantage of educa-

after years

New

of

a totally secular

Sachs's School,

went on

to Ivy

League schools: Sigmund

had not existed for Jews in Europe.

14

education

and

folk

taught

them German and French. The Lehman

of this remarkable

and economic opportunities in the

by black

them with

wisdom, and European governesses, to the flourishing

little

any formal Jewish education beyond weekly

as there

it.

expressions as a

matter of course, their children received

in

cold in winter

was no upper story above

family lay in

Babette

true to their Jewish heritage by eschewing

as

there was a double bed.Very plain, simple

The key

learn-

as

chief judge of the

served

State at

education, a traditional

had received an equivalent education given

[the future governor's brother

who

a secular

Jewish upbringing, which included reading,

which the bookcases were.

Lehman's

reared their chil-

—upholstered

the right ^vas a mantel (dark wood).

door

Mayer and Babette

America of

dren differently from the way they had been

mixed green and black brocade.

a

in the

Victorian furni-

walnut frames

Opposite was

German Jews

Like most

floor.

boys, at

Dr.

"Little Ivy"

to Cornell,

Arthur to

— Introduction: The Lehmans, A Family and a Firm

Harvard, Irving to Columbia, and Herbert to Williams.

Had

into the

American

scene, not religiously but in

most other ways. When young Herbert heard

Babette and Mayer remained in

Hebrew

Europe, in the face of limited social and eco-

his father

nomic opportunities, they might not have

family Passover seder, he had to leave the

stressed secular studies for their boys as

much

for giggling uncontrollably at

as

they did in America, where, instead of Hebrew, the boys studied

A

Homer,

strong emphasis

education

made

sense to

as a totally

Cicero, and SchUler.

on

a

well.

Governesses and Ivy League schools were,

house

my

Mayer and Babette as

over a

room

what struck him

foreign language.

Herbert nonetheless recalled growing up in

secular culture and

and other "Our Crowd" families

intoning a prayer in

in

which "both

parents' family

and

Uncle Emanuel's family would always meet

at Passover,

on January

as

my

on 1."

the Jewish high holy days, and

Herbert adds, "They didn't cele-

they well knew, a trade-off for the Jewish reli-

brate Christmas in those days, but celebrated

gious learning they would have received in the

Chanukah.

Old Country. Here

1,

was

a fellow

in America,

American,

little

where everyone

when

Settle

Lehman

grandson Henry Morgenthau

III

what he should they asked replied, "Tell

All

tell

him what them

his

to

when

York

Judaism, which urged

its

members

Babette and Mayer

in 1868, they

may

ed to continue their

religion was, she

to the dictates

Christmas tree in

Christmas presents on Christmas Day.

When

Jr.),

free

moved

to

New

very well have expect-

and easy

relations

with

the gentile elite they had enjoyed in the South,

you're an American."

conformed

first

turn of the century, the green light was given

asked his

the kids at school

never on Christmas Day"; however, once

the family of her daughter Clara, around the

Fatman's

mother, Elinor (Mrs. Henry Morgenthau

were always given on January

Babette accepted the

time remained for

learning even the rudiments of Judaism. Thus, in the 1920s,

Gifts

of Reform

where by and

large Jews

people sharing

to assimilate

15

a

were weU received

common European

as a

origin.

Lots of Lehmans

Mayer

Lcliiiiaii after iiioving to

NewYork

(Henry Morgenthau

City,

c.

Babette Neugass

1870.

Lehman

in

Neu'Yorl< City,

(Henry Morgenthau

III)

l6

III)

c.

1870.

— Introduction: The Lehmans, A Family and a Firm

Jews were accepted ery.

as

allies

on the

side

grew up and

of slav-

as a

matter of course did not

girl at

accept Jewish partners or directors. What resulted, in an

German Jewish

lated there wasn't

New York

Although

famihes of wealth inhabiting a

and education

largely self-contained

"Our Crowd"

universe parallel to that from

world,

Crowd"

a

which they had

elite

been excluded.

hardly surprising that every one of

Babette's seven children

who

Their family names

Mayer and

—

Once

Fatman,

Altschul,

as are,

a

with very

their children's spouses

resulted, in the

—

the

is

the

us."

demeanor,

were nonetheless excluded

firoin

simply because they were

circles

way

it

was

Lehman Loeb,

when my

home," Frances Lehman Loeb

at

sorts

my

recalled,

of terms were used

the dinner table the

name of the

instead.

wife of

well-known personality came up and someone

loud voice,

'Why do you

when you

say Jewish?

They looked

at

me

We

as if

I

all

And

I

said in a

lower your voices

are

were

all

Jewish

here.'

crazy."

Perhaps to compensate for providing their children with so

"was socializing entirely with other Jew^ish famThis

assiini-

"Our

said in a whisper, 'She's Jewish.'

words of Arthur and

Adele's daughter Frances (Peter)

ilies.

WASP

a

counterparts,

to their

word Jeim/;. All

forebears of this book's principal contributors.

What

about

in

"one lowered one's voice when one used the

reached adulthood

of "Our Crowd,"

few exceptions,

much Jewish

similar in appearance,

families

WASP

parents'

Goodhart, Lehman, Lewisohn, Limburg, Straus are right out

we were brought up

comfort over their religious heritage. "In

it

married fellow Jewish Americans of German origin.

I

Jewish. Invariably, this encouraged feelings of dis-

Living in an inherently exclusionary world, is

was for me.

Jewish society even though Ave were so

experienced in Montgomery, was the forma-

few hundred

it

the dancing classes at Grandpa Lewisohn 's.

Unquestionably,

atmosphere of anti-Semitism not

tion of an elite of a

way

the

is

don't think there was one non-Jewish boy or

In the North, by contrast, banks, law firms,

and hospitals

this

little

learning, Babette and

parents

17

in the

way of Jewish

Mayer encouraged them

Lots of Lehmans

to

look upon Jewish philanthropy

their religion, as

which

Irving,

and Herbert

their oldest child, Sig, did

Mount

Sinai Hospital to see for themselves

founder of Montefiore Hospital,

a

—through the wards of

{tsedaka) as

now

Montefiore Medical Center, in the Bronx. As

both the

fruits

and the challenges of Jewish

became major

philanthropy. All three boys

a

—Arthur

major supporter for many years of the Jewsh

philanthropists

Home

Federation of Jewish Philanthropies and the

at

and Hospital

West 106th

as

daughter, Hattie,

at

at

the

Mount

replaced

Aged

who

carried

Sinai Hospital, as a

member of the in

on her mother's

Street Settlement

(Modeled

Goodhart, served

Emanu-El

in

1919 and

three

fail,

charitable causes.

as a

a

founder of the

well

as a

to a

frequent and

wide range of

Through example, Mayer

and Babette passed on to their children and grandchildren the rich Jewish tradition of tsedaka.

as a

Another

tradition passed

was dedication to and

it

family.

offered love,

—Arthur,

on

no choice

a

to the family

The Lehman

their wives established a set

tern of behavior,

Mayer would

youngest children

as

anonymous contributor

window facing Fifth Avenue Mayer Lehman family.)

Every Sunday without take his

House and

Temple Emanu-El

1897 and where

after a cathedral in Marseilles,

donated by the

a

longtime president of the 92nd Street Y and

building committee was active

features a rose

Herbert

where Babette had

formulating the design of the present edi-

fice.

New York,

Joint Distribution Committee, and Irving a

a trustee

member from 1907 to 1933. In addition interest in Mount Sinai, Philip became a

trustee of Temple

of the City of

staunch supporter of Lillian Wald's Henry

member of the board of

Hattie's husband, Philip

to his

Museum

co-founder of the

and

trustees after Mayer's death in

board

located

an example to her eldest

Home for the Aged as

Mayer

(still

and Columbus Avenue),

Street

Babette served

work

for the

a

of rules,

a pat-

hierarchy of values that

for their offspring but to

honor, and obey "Papa" and "Mama."

Especially "obey." Especially Babette.

i8

brothers

Introduction: The Lehmans, A Family and a Firm

"Our Crowd" Lehman,

at

Max

play

in Elberon,

New Jersey,

c.

1923.

(Left to right):

unknown

(far left),

Edith Limburg, Adele

Rossbach, Arthur Lehman, Franz Lewisolin, Mabel Rossbach. (June Rossbach Bingham Birge)

19

Lots of Lehmans

and happy. We just

Babette s youngest son, Herbert, recalled his

mother

"as near a matriarch as

anyone

water

I've ever

known." She exercised enormous authority over

well,

her family All of her children were expected

did

regimen conforming

to maintain a daily

Babette's needs and

house

at 5

East

62nd

summer home

ed

a

as

a part

of

Street,

in Elberon,

elite, a

camp

.

Dear Papa looks

excellent stew-

can assure you that

I

More

I

didn't

once

than likely she would

have been seasick. Meyersohn's maid was

New Jersey, and, among

.

him good. Had an

miss EUen.

to the

.

touch wood, and the ocean voyage

ardess.

her domain includ-

prevaihng pattern

a

German Jewish

whims. In addition

to

magnificent.

is

Queenstown. The

left

sick three or four days.

I'm surprised Mrs.

my

Borg's wasn't. Sorry that

the

in the Adirondacks.

my

especially

children,

good and

boys, aren't as

Am glad

Babette's children and their families were

smart in everything

expected to

Friday so that dear Irving wiU be finished

least

or

visit regularly,

or

at

write to Babette w^herever she might be.

There were in

live nearby,

also visits

with

every few years to relatives

you dear Clara

Germany, with an entourage of children and

grandchildren in tow. To those letters

them

in everything, to take care

to

be

first

themselves and, "everything."

lest

from

Mama

only solace were

they forget, to

everything.

sundown

reminding

tell

of

cool.

Mama

Co.'s

HMS

.

.

.

Be

let

Dear Children, Only

you know

that thank

I'm anxious to hear

.

are in

if

Long Branch with

how you

Hke

it;

tell

me

careful in the evening after

now when

let

him go out

it is

at

possible. Kiss the dear children

stiU

night

from

a if

me

and remind them frequently of us, what

Campania:

few

lines to

get us.

God we

are well

and

a

it is

Should Irving come to you for

you must do

My

.

especially

few days don't

On June 22, 1895, she wrote home

from Cunard Steamship

.

the children and

behind the

left

exams.

his

as hers.

20

.

.

.

that the

little

ones don't for-

Have you decided dear Hattie

Settle

where you

are

going and

Introduction: The Lehmans, A Family and a Firm

Hope you have a very pleasant summer and that you Dear Sigi don't

w^hen?

always

worry

[Sig's

wife],

[Emanuel]

unnecessarily.

your

give

many

tell

thank her for her dear Arthur and

mother

Daddy

cordial greetings.

Please dear Settle

After graduating, he lived with his

Dear Harriet dear

.

.

Mrs. Einstein that

I

fruit basket.

.

Has

until 1910,

into the

Lehman

my

after Babette's

at

of Babette's children

families. Hattie

and

growing

their

Settle lived just across the

park in adjoining houses on West 81st Street built for

them by

their father. Clara,

husband Richard Limburg and resided with Babette and

a

Mayer

at 5

Street until Mayer's death in 1897.

Adele were not

far off,

on

a plot

copper and

also

62nd

Arthur and

east

a

of Sixth Avenue, father,

tycoon Adolph Lewisohn.

home while going to college. hved at home until 1895, when he

Irving lived at

Herbert

East

of land provided by Adele's

real estate

family,

having been given

house on West 56th Street built

with her

growing

Edith

married Hattie

death in 1920,

members of

the

family stayed in close proximity to one another.

hand with

remained close

He

family.

Until her death in 1932, Clara resided

Ambassador Hotel all

when he married

Lehman Goodhart's daughter Helen. Even

ten their grandmother?

In Manhattan

widowed

Altschul. Edith's brother Frank also married

EUa not yet forgot-

Httle

for Williams College in Massachusetts.

left

Street, just blocks

at

at

the

Park Avenue and 51st

away from the Savoy-Plaza

at

59th Street and Fifth Avenue where Settle resided,

and The Sherry-Netherland

also at

59th Street and Fifth Avenue, where Harriet lived.

This was within walking distance of the

Herbert Lehmans,

Avenue

who

at

who

resided at 820 Park

75th Street, and the Irving Lehmans,

lived in the

West

Sixties before

moving

to

the East Seventies. Living in close proximity to

one another was

a significant factor in

taining strong family

main-

ties.

With Mayer's death

in

1897

at

the age of

sixty-seven and Emanuel's death ten years

later,

the firm passed into the hands of a second

Lots of Lehmans

numerous department

generation of Lehmans. These included Henry's

Meyer

H.; Emanuel's son, Philip; and

turers, clothing

Mayer's sons, Sigmund, Arthur, and Herbert, the

cent operations

son,

latter

joining the firm after Sig retired in 1908.

Lehman. Even

if

all

The

you were

couldn't join the firm

Lehman. John

L.

Loeb

"couldn't get a job

at

if

other than

Lehman

its

had hith-

were extremely of

crest

a burst

profitable.

of technological

Lehmans were destined

innovation, the

to take

that his father

the ranks of America's foremost banking insti-

when

Brothers

Street. They

tutions.

from

would-

fact for years

Lehman who

During much of

that private bankers

the high road that led the firm inexorably into

think there was even a descendant

name

—

your name wasn't

Lehman

any in-laws, and in

manufacturers, and five-and-ten

results

Riding the

descendant, you

a

Jr. recalls

he wanted to work on Wall n't hire

named

the partners -were

manufac-

erto passed by.

Until 1924, nearly seventy-five years after the firm was founded,

stores, textile

I

cotton, petroleum, and coffee.

wasn't until the

It

meeting over

Goldman,

backyard fence

a

son, Philip,

and

his

counter-

Sachs.

and Mayer Lehman and

Lehman

Brothers had been occupied with tradas sugar, grain,

step in that direction resulted

Robert Bernhard, great-grandson of Babette

prominence,

ing in basic commodities such

a fateful

part at

a

got a job."

rise to

major

between Emanuel's

don't

who had

A

a

former partner of

Brothers, was told about that

tous event,

which occurred

momen-

in 1903:

second generation took over that the character

Lehman

of Lehman Brothers was altered from "mer-

ment banking

chant" to "investment" bankers. This was done

the century.

through the financing by Lehman Brothers of

then in the commercial paper business,

Jewish-owned and Jewish-run businesses as Philip

Morris and Sears, Roebuck

as

Brothers got into the investbusiness at the turn of

Goldman, Sachs

—such

and Lehman Brothers was

well as

ton-trading business.

22

&

Co. was

in the cot-

A senior partner of

Introduction: The Lehmans,

Babette and

Mayer Lehman, progenitors of the

A

seven sihUngs

Family and a Firm

who

are the subjects of this book. (Portraits by

C. Volkman, photographed by Richard Valencia, London; courtesy of Lord and Lady William Goodhart)

23

— Lots of Lehmans

Goldman, Sachs and

summer

his family

place in Elberon,

They

Department Stores and

a

New Jersey,

and so did Philip Lehman and ly.

had

his

friends of the

In 1926 a

fami-

commercial paper, the fellows

Goldman, Sachs ran emerging

retail

company

Roebuck. They wanted offering.

to

n't

Goldman

called Sears,

do

ter

a public

Philip

So

Sears, but did

to bring in the clients.

four

into

would be

parts

So

need a let-

— Goldman

the principal partner.

A generation separates

business, with

Goldman

born

dren. Sig was

almost twenty years

the money.

Between 1903 and 1926 they did deals,

some brought

in

a

by

Goldman and some by Lehman. Their included

garment and

many

Jewish origin, such the Lazaruses,

as

and Herbert

They

divide coven-

later.

older group

an

iently

into

Settle,

and Clara

The groups

of German

fer radically

— and

a

—

Sig,

Hattie,

younger group

—

including their spouses

from one another. The

—

dif-

women

of

the older group (Harriet, Hattie, Settle, and

the Gimbels and

who formed

in 1859,

Arthur, Irving, and Herbert.

leaders in the

retail industries

the oldest from the

youngest of Mayer and Babette's seven chil-

main partner and Lehman supplying

clients

didn't

Lehman clients, and clients in which either Goldman or Lehman

was asked to go into the invest-

number of

to supply

across the fence in Elberon,

ment banking the

Lehman

did-

clients,

not have the capital to do the underwriting.

Goldman

of agreement was signed dividing the

business

Goldman had been doing

commercial paper with

generation of partners

need Lehman any longer

the capital and

at

new and

into a

new

also

family.

in both firms decided that

^vere back-to-back neighbors.

In the course of looking for clients for

Lehman

who were

Federated

Clara),

24

with the exception of philanthropic

,

Introduction: The Lehmans, A Family and a Firm

work, confined their

home; however, the

activities

women

of the younger

—Adele, and Edith—widened

their horizons

ing the pubhc arena

as

group

in their

of the

own

older

children and their spouses. this

by developing public images

private ing;

differences also existed

sisters

—

Hattie, Settle,

between the

and Clara

—Arthur,

The women

remembered almost

difficult

brothers

as

are

Irving,

—and

friendly,

a

Some were

written for

few were quoted froin published were taken from

oral histories

many more were

based on taped interviews.

the world of "Our Crowd." When the

the

and Herbert.

and

memoirs of family members no longer liv-

Collectively they constitute a major

Hnk

last

to

of our

contributors goes, a vital connection with the past

goes with them. All the

invariably

more reason

to benefit

from what the Mayer Lehman family has

and demanding, their younger

warm,

book,

sources, others

and patrons

younger brothers

as

by enter-

arts.

Major

and grand-

nephews of Mayer and Babette Lehman's seven

staunch supporters ot

right as philanthropists

of the recollections that follow come

froin the grandchildren, grandnieces,

of Irving Lehman)

Sissie (wife

their husbands or

Many

mostly to the

and funny.

about a rich and vibrant world that

25

is

to say

no more.

CHAPTER ONE

Mayer Lehman Babette Neusass

In 1850

Mayer Lehman traveled

&

Lehman as a

twenty-year-

old from Rinipar, Bavaria, to Montgoinery, Alabama, to join his brothers trade.

On

a

Henry and Emanuel

courted Babette Neugass,

United

New

business trip to

States

in the cotton

Orleans,

Mayer

who had immigrated

from Rieneck,

a

neighboring town of

Rimpar. Mayer and Babette were married in

27

to the

New

Lots of Lehmans

Orleans in 1858. The Lehmans became prosperous within

short time.

a

Their four eldest children

named Sigismund always

known

lived in a large

the

(1863), and Benjamin,

—were born to

(1870), Arthur (1873),

(1878) were born. his

New York

Montgomery and

City,

where Clara

Irvmg (1876), and Herbert

Mayer was

a brilliant

businessman:

New York Cotton Exchange. As philan-

Mayer and Babette

children, with El,

died

many accomplishments, he was one of the

founders of the thropists,

in

who

house in the best part of town. In 1868

Lehmans moved

Among

originally

(1859), Hattie (1861), Lisette, but

as Settle

in infancy (1865)

— Sigmund,

Mount

and the Jewish

high on their

list

set

an example for their

Sinai Hospital,

Home

Temple Emanu-

and Hospital for the Aged

of priorities.

28

Mayer Lehman

& Babette Neugass Lehman

Mayer

Lehman 1830

Sigmund

Harriet

Lehman -— Lehman 1859

-

1930

1861

-

1944

Hattie

Lehman -— 1861

-

1948

Philip

Goodhart 1857

-

1944

Settle

Morris

Lehman —- Fatman 1863

-

1936

1858

-

1930

-

1897

Benjamin

Lehman 1865

-

1865

Babette

Neugass

1838-1919

Clara

Lehman

—

1870-1932

Richard

Arthur

Limburg

Lehman

1857-1916

1873-1936

—

Adele

Lewisohn

1882-1965

Irving

Lehman -— 1876-1945

Sissie

Herbert

Straus

Lehman

1879-1950

1878-1963

Edith

—

Altschul

1889-1976

Mayer

Lchinaii: husband, father, busiiiessiiian, philaiitliropist,

32

c.

1890. (John D. Gordan

III)

Mayer Lehman 1830-1897

NewYork

Times,

June 22, 1897

Mayer Lehman Was Taken

111

Is

Last Friday and

Dead Succumbs

to an

Operation Performed on Sunday. prominent merchant of this city and a member of the firm of Lehman Brothers, 22 William Street, died yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock after an illness of only four days, at his residence, 5 East SLxty-second Street. He was taken iU last Friday, and

Mayer Lehman,

a

Sunday Dr. Gerster performed an operation on him for gangrene. He sank rapidly and death followed. Mr. Lehman was born Jan. 9, 1830, at Rimpa[r], nearWiirzburg, Bavaria, and was educated in the pubUc schools of Wiirzburg. At the age of [twenty] he came to this country and settled with his brothers in

Montgomery,

Ala.,

where

33

[they] started the firm

of

Lots of Lehmans

Lehman joined

Brothers.

.

.

.[

He went

his brothers in 1863.]

into business for himself but again

The

following year Mr.

appointed by the Governor of Alabama

Lehman was

Commissioner to visit the Confederate soldiers confined in the Northern prisons. In 1867 Mr. Lehman came to New York, and has lived here ever since, for the past twenty years in the house where he died. Aside from his active interest in the firm of which he was a member, he has been largely identified with railroad, mining, and industrial enterprises, and was one of the twenty men who established the

first

a

iron furnace in the South before the war.

Mr. Lehman was

a

member of

the

Harmonic Club and

a

number of charitable

organizations, taking especial interest in the

Mount

and Training School, to which he frequent-

ly

Sinai Hospital

He was also a Director N. K. Fairbank Company.

contributed large sums.

Bank and

in the

In 1858 Mr.

Newgoff

[sic]

Lehman married Miss

New

of

in the

Hamilton

Babett[e], daughter of Isaac

Orleans. She survives him,

as

do four

sons— Sigismund M., Arthur, Irving, and Herbert— and three daughters—Mrs. Hattie Goodhart, Mrs.

S.

Fatman, and Mrs. Clara Limburger.

Funeral services will be held

Thursday morning ing.

at 9:30,

Interment will be

NewYork

Times,

at

at

Temple Emanu-El next

the Rev. Dr. Gustav Gottheil officiat-

Cypress

Hills.

June 25, 1897

Mayer Lehman Buried ....

Funeral Services for Mayer Lehman,

held yesterday morning

who

died Monday, were

at Temple Emanu-El, Forty-third Street and Fifth Avenue, the Rev. Dr. Gustav Gottheil officiating.

34

Chapter One: Mayer Lehman

&

Babette Neugass Lehman

Shortly before the time appointed for the pubhc services, Gottheil held a special service

second

at

the family

Dr

home, 5 East Sixty-

Street.

After music had been rendered by the

upon

full choir.

Dr. Gottheil

and achievements of Mr. Lehman, choosing for his text the verse, "As the whirlwind passeth by the wicked, but the righteous are the foundation of the world." delivered a eulogy

"Our

the

life

brother here," said Dr. Gottheil, "easily saw that the

righteous are the foundation of the world, for he and his broth-

by the work of their hands and by using their natural abilities with economy and foresight, and especially with justice, secured the fortune which they deserved. The crown of a good name shineth forth from this casket. 'Tis a heritage of which his sorrowing relatives and friends may well be proud. ". How many hearts he has made glad! How many sufferers send their mute appeal to God for him to-day! He toiled and labored in the field of charity with all the zeal that he did elsewhere. He was also a pious man. He leaned on his people's God and on his God's people. His death leaves a painful void that can never be filled." Prayer was then offered, and the casket was carried out, the twenty pallbearers preceding it and standing with uncovered heads as it was placed in the hearse. The casket, as well as the altar, was covered with flowers. Among the floral pieces were wreaths from the Cotton Exchange, Mount Sinai Hospital, and the Whitney National Bank of New Orleans. The Temple was crowded with the many friends and relatives of the Lehman family. Delegations were present from the Cotton Exchange and other institutions with which Mr. Lehman was connected. The Cotton Exchange closed at 10 o'clock A. M. as a mark of respect to his memory. ers

.

.

35

— Lots of Lehmans

The

burial

simple services

was in the cemetery

at

Cypress

There were

Hills.

the grave. Five carriage loads of flowers and

at

more than a score of carriages filled with mourners accompanied the body to its last resting place.

Shortly after

Mayer Lehman's

youngest son Irving (1876-1945) wrote Esther's husband, Isaias

er-in-law and a close

founded

the first

Hellman,

to his

pains and though

Aunt

both assured us

member of the family. (Hellman

bank

in

Los Angeles and

on Friday night of

we

it

who

in

a specialist, they

was only

Sunday they decided

later

both Dr.

called in

Adler and Dr. Kauffman,

his mother's brotJt-

became president of the Wells Fargo— Nevada Bank

San

days and particularly

death, his riext-to-

colic. ...

on

surgeon

to call in a

told us 2 hours later that there

was no

hope and on Monday he died peacefully

Francisco.)

and in

his sleep.

Our

only comfort

&

that

is

he

Elberon, N.J.

died without pain

June 30, 1897

approaching end and before sorrow had

My dear Uncle We received your

darkened kind

letter yesterday

though with heavy heart it.

I

am

M^eek,

I

felt

is

able to write to

of the

you more

He had

absolutely

no warning

Catskills.

He complained

for a

is

leave her, so

few

Mama

Dear

I

down

here with

and

Babette's

& will shortly go

perfectly

well and of course

there was anything serious the matter until

about the end.

She

is

Mayer

[Limburg,

youngest daughter]

that

life.

his

of course heart broken but bears up

Clara

last

than the bare facts of our beloved father's death.

almost perfect

bravely for our sake. She

hasten to ans'wer

afraid that in the v/orry

no one

and

his

unconscious of

my

composed and

dear

am much

to the

sisters

obliged

do not at

your

kind offer to have dear Auntie [Esther

36

Chapter One: Mayer Lehman

Neugass Hellman] come but is

not needed

really

I

hope you

traught lines but

I

is

Babette Neugass Lehman

Father got a lot of pleasure out of driving

feel that she

now by Mama. Arthur

[Irving's older brother]

Friday.

I

&

this thing.

expected next

He would

drop us off

hardly feel able to write.

Your loving nephew, Irving

stable

and then go downtown.

called

him Dad

"Papa" and

or Father.

we

called

school,

groom from

turn over the horses to the

will excuse these dis-

at

We

We

the

never

called

him

mother "Mama."

Always.

Mayer's youngest son, Herbert (i878-i963), ed an oral history his father taking

Shortly after Herbert entered Williams

which he remembered

late in life in

him and

dictat-

Mayer wrote

his brothers out for a ride

every morning after breakfast.

My

September 27, 1895

and he'd take us

My

kids out. We'd have breakfast pretty early, at

at

McGrath's

Streets.

East

My father stabled the

horses

I

dear Herbert,

wanted

you

between 59th and 60th

my

to write

you

a

long

Arthur has more

to 5

things; however, dear

my

take

experience and promised

62nd

Street,

and

father

We

had what was

would

to drive

instead; only

with

a

to

do

it

urge you to do:

come

Don't do anything of which you have

a seat in

back where two or three people could

I

years pass quickly and don't

driver's seat,

another seat next to the driver, and

one thing

me

use your time advantageously, the four

called a T-Cart, a

very heavy vehicle with

letter to give

advice and ideas about different

They would be brought over

one of his sons each morning him.

his yoimgest son the following letter of

practical advice.

father loved driving

half past seven.

College,

back. to

be

ashamed. Should you, however, with or

sit.

37

Lots of Lehmans

without your

me

as

fault,

get into trouble, call

on

have

your best intimate friend and don't

hide anything from me.

We

less

good manners. I'm

from dear Mother.

well again. Lots of love

Your

have great

feeling quite

faithful father

Mayer

hopes for your advancement and won't spare anything to

promote your

your part towards

it.

career.

Write often.You

good company who,

Do

Dear Arthur

anything wrong. Stay a'way from chaps

sending you

a

check. I'm

going to give you $1,000. Should you

are in

like you, don't

is

need more next year

do

who

somew^hat.

38

I

shall increase

it

Babctte Ncttgass Lehman, remembered by her youngest son, Gouernor Herbert as

anyone

I've ever

known. " (Herbert H. Lehman Suite

40

& Papers,

Lehman,

"as near a matriarcli

Columbia University)

Babette Neugass

Lehman

1838-1919

NewYork

Times,

August 26, 1919

Lehman. On Monday, Aug. 25, at Port Chester, N.Y., Babette Lehman, widow of Mayer Lehman, in her 83d year. Funeral services will

be held

morning, Aug. 27,

at

the chapel of Salem Fields

at 1 1

on Wednesday

o'clock. Kindly omit flowers.

41

Lots of Lehmans

In

written to her youngest son, Herbert, at

letters

Williams College, Babette Neugass

Lehman

kiss. It

because

as a dispenser of motherly advice.

do

I

every day. If

this

favorable hearing to

New York, October,

My dear Herbert,

a ripe old age.

hope you're wearing your heavy under-

I

wishes,

you won't catch

cold.

.

.

But there

is

11,

it

and

if

.

.

it's still

1897

too early for goose chiblings.

They'll only be available next month.

me know what

you. until

.

.

.

else.

.

.

.

we

you

and

blessed.

How

you.

May God

Would

to

will

and then

act

undoubtedly be lucky

often

fulfill

my good

we made

them.

.

.

plans for

.

have liked to have sent you

a

box,

dear Herbert. But one can't get half a goose

any more and due to Pesech Easter

miss

Time hangs heavy on my hands

pack along

n't

I

could-

a sugar cake.

you come.

New York, March I

my

Herbert H. Lehman

26, 1899

My dear good Herbert, How would love to convey to ly

still

accordingly,

I

can send you plenty of sugar cookies, and let

life

dear Herbert you ask yourself in

your deeds and actions, would

.

My dear good Herbert, .

you dear

much which we

father approve or advise this

New York, October

grants a

ourselves can and must contribute towards

wear, don't be careless about your shoes, and take care that

my

all

God

Herbert will lead a joyful and happy

1897

me

wish you everything good imaginable

to

excelled

does not need your birthday for

son of

very heartfelt congratulations

your 21st birthday and give you

a

Mayer and Babette Lehman -

mother

you verbal-

my

upon

warm

(1878-1963),

as a

father.

much more

I

youngest

remember my

positive character than

She was very kindly but very firm.

All the disciplining of the children was left to

42

Chapter One: Mayer Lehman

Babette Neugass

Lehman

in

NewYork City

& Babette Neugass Lehman

early in her career as a

43

German Jewish

matriarch.

(Henry Morgenthau

III)

Lots of Lehmans

my

mother.

My

My moth-

punish, or even to scold us too hard. er

was

with the children

maid

to a

as w^ell as

who had been

don't think

left

my mother

delinquent, but

my

I

daughter ofArthur and Adele

er

I

gave don't

excused.

nobody

son, just a

my

a very,

very keen and prac-

few weeks

mind, and she was

in the family

life,

very, very

during and

a factor

n't like it

my

father's

on

anyone

seeined pretty

after

every

known.

I

as

on my

family failed to caU

boys used to stop in business and

know

late in the

her

all

that

woman

head of the family

went

right

down

as

we But

us, let

ited her.

We

we

We

had

to

and we did-

us embroider

weren't religious, I

don't

a

it

remember not

everybody around.

when we

vis-

go every Sunday, and then

got our peppermint.2

afternoon from

our troubles.

of any case where a

nitely the

And

tell

daily in the park.

She used to spend

She used to give us peppermints

mother, until her death in 1919. Her daughters

went driving with her

actually a likeable per-

liking her; she just bossed

don't think a day passed that

member of the

father liked her, but

because she wouldn't

silly.

and ask to be

call

summer with

Saturday. Since

was snowing

day. If it

bit snappy.

in the

much

Ufetime. She was as near a matriarch I've ever

little

my

She was

else did.

without consultation with

tical

think

I

tant step in business

mother. She had

her every

visit

he would have to

terribly,

ever took an impor-

My grandmothtyrant. My father was

Lehman -

really like a little

required to

mother.

my father

was

(1905-

granddaughter of Mayer and Babette Lehman;

1989)5

fair

the household.

the scolding

at

think anyone ever I

but always absolutely

a disciplinarian,

used to writhe

Helen Lehman Buttenwieser

father hated like the deuce to

was

I

was so

my

don't

Frances Lehman Loeb (1906-1996),

defi-

mother.

granddaughter of Mayer and Babette Lehman; daughter of

Arthur and Adele Lehman -

not only to her chil-

dren but also to her grandchildren and great-

was

grandchildren.'

I

44

a

was

shadowy ten.

I

figure to

Grandma Lewisohn

me who

died before

knew my Grandmother Lehman

Chapter One: Mayer Lehman

much

better.

and Seventh Avenue.

Aunt Harriet had apartment house,

My

Uncle Sig and

home

their

Grandma Lehman came

hated all

and we were

and

visit

town,

in

was

I

as if

place,

terribly

about

she were

purple pin similar to what you would use to

visit

was thin and

hair

in the back. She

wore

At the dining

Grandma Lehman used

and she was not

but to

pretty,

me

arch.

Each of her children

including Daddy,

a

she had

family.

office to tell her everything that

Lehman

Brothers.

he didn't want to

By

talk

from

Grandma Lehman would

members of say

all

on

the family

scared to death

when

a

as to

she saw the tree

So she came

in,

exclaimed, "Oh,

isn't

breathed a sigh of

relief,

she looked it

lovely."

at

it,

and

Everyone

and from then on her

children always had Christmas trees.

visited her every day,

straight

various

tree.

in the family to

because they never had a Christmas tree in the

demanding matri-

who went

a

what she would

the pin to

sweet face.

Grandma Lehman was

was bring-

III, great-grandson of

one

first

Sunday, and they were

attach a napkin to her blouse. She was quite short,

moved

Mayer and Babette Lehman; grandnephew of Clara Lehman

Christmas

table.

how Mother

Henry MORGENTHAU

have

room

always

over

a lit-

wound up

Grandma

the fiirniture around. In the second place, she'd

- Clara was the

Her

attach an orchid to your shoulder.

at

first

Limburg

gray and

Mother

for about three weeks.

a little

we would walk

but she dressed

ninety, always in black.

a

In the

to visit us in Elberon

ing up both Dorothy and Helen.^

with Grandma Lehman. She was in

late seventies,

it.

complain

their families.

girl

tle

my

did their sons Allan and

as

summer

every

same

in the

Every Sunday morning w^hen

her

Babette Neugass Lehman

She Hved quite near us in an

apartment house on the corner of 58th Street

Harold and

&

his

had happened

the time he got

June RoSSBACH Bingham BiRGE,

home,

about business anymore.

great-

granddaughter of Mayer and Babette Lehman; granddaughter

45

Lots of Lehmans

Babette Neugass Lehman, both loved wid feared by her family, (Herbert

H. Lehman Suite

& Papers,

46

NewYork,

Columbia University)

c.

1900.

Chapter One: Mayer Lehman

of Clara I

Lehman

Limfcwr^

was born, but

Lehman came on

little

cal

my

boy,

make

still

alive

when my second

it."

mother, took one look

and announced, "That one

why

I

burst out laughing,

but there, in front of me, was an embodiment

of

my

mother, Mabel Rossbach,

my

grand-

mother Clara Limburg, and my great-grand-

pay the requisite new-baby

to

Neugass Lehman

don't think she kne'w

Dick Rossbach, appeared. Grandma

brother,

call

- Babette was dead before

& Babette

mother Babette Lehman.

at a sickly

will never

This kind of brutal honesty was typi-

of Jewish matriarchs,

as

I

1.

was reminded of

Herbert H. Lehman Suite

& Papers. Columbia

University. last

week when

I

ran into ninety-four-year-old 2.

Kitty CarHsle Hart

on

Fifth

Archives of Henry Morgenthau IIL

Avenue.We stopped 3. John

to chat.

"Your

glasses are dirty," she said.

"Your

teeth are clean, but your glasses are dirty."

Langeloth Loeb and Frances

Kenneth Libo. All

in a Lifetime:

York: John L. Loeb

I

47

Jr.,

1996.

A

Lehman Loeb, with

Personal

Memoir

New

CHAPTER TWO

&

Sigmund M. Lehman Harriet

M. Lehman Lehman

Mayer and born later

in

Babette's oldest child Sigmund was

Montgomery, Alabama,

in 1859.

Mayer and Babette moved with

Nine

years

their family to

New York. A

graduate of Cornell University, Sig

he was called

— subsequently married

his first

—

as

cousin

Harriet, the daughter of Emanuel, Mayer's sole part-

ner

at

Lehman

Brothers for over

49

a

generation. Sig

Lots of Lehmans

remained active

in the firm until his retirement in

1908.

much

Sig and Harriet spent

at their

weekend home

York, or on regular family offs in

They

rest

sumptuous West 58th

lives either in their

dence,

of the

London and

Paris

in

visits to

of their

Street resi-

Tarrytown,

New

Bavaria with stop-

(where Sig died in 1930).

also spent a great deal

of time

at

Runnymede,

a

family

camp bordering Quebec where

Sig enjoyed

fishing,

and Kildare

camp owned

by Harriet and her

in the Adirondacks, a sister

Evelyn, which they bought

in the late 19th century.

Sig and Harriet's older son Harold married into the socially

prominent Seligman

family,

whose

Joe Seligman was asked by President Ulysses to

be

his treasury secretary,

patriarch S.

Grant

an offer that he declined.

Sig and Harriet's grandchild Orin, born to their son

Allan and his wife Evelyn Schiffer,

is

the

last

of Mayer

and Babette's male descendants to bear the Lehman family name. The name, however,

50

is

carried

on through

Chapter Two: Sigmund M. Lehman

&

Harriet M. Lehman Lehman

the male descendants of Emanuel, Mayer's brother.

They include Robert Lehman's son Robin and three sons Philip, Jason, and Rolf.

51

his

& Harriet Lehman Lehman

Sigmund Lehman

^ 1

Evelyn Schiffer

—

1894

Allan

Anne

Lehman

Roche

1885

1

1

1

Richard

Ellen

Preston

Jane

Orin

Wendy

McCluskey

Lehman

Long

Bagley

Lehman

Vanderbilt

1914

1913

1932

1920

1944

1

1

Maureen McCluskey 1943

1

1

^

Robert

James

Oxenberg

Hammond

1949

—

Sharon,

Countess

Sondes

1

—

Henry

Orin

Vje Earl Sondes

McCluskey

1939

1951

1

1

1

Trent

Brooke

Sage

Carmichael

Lehman

Lehman

J965

1972

1975

1

—

Ellen

Susan

Regan

Lehman

1952

1964

1946

^

1

1

1

1

1

Avery

Haley

Ryan

Whitney

Carmichael

Carmichael

Carmichael

Carmichael

1995

1996

1999

2002

Sigmund

Lehman

Harriet =

=

1859

Lehman 1861

Harold

Cecile

Lehman

Seligman

1889

^ ^H

^^H^^^^^^V ^^H

V

Betty

Nelson

Lehman

Asiel

1918

1917

_

r

1

1

1

Harold

Patricia

Terri

John

Christensen

Asiel

Gagne

Asiel

Asiel

1949

1944

1943

1946

1949

Cynthia

1

1

1

Carrie

Dennis

Scott

Maureen

Asiel

Grammas

Asiel

Flynn

1973

1974

1971

1

Maya

Jordana

Alexandria

Kathryn

Treisman

Treisman

Grammas

Asiel

1999

2006

1999

2006

Sigmund M. Lehman, Mayer and and devoted

the rest of his

Bahette's eldest child, retired from

life to

leisurely pursuits.

54

Lehman

Brothers in

(Dorothy Treisnian;Joel Treisman)

1908

Sigmund M. Lehman 1859-1930

Neu'York Times, April

S.M.

8,

1930

Lehman

Dies Suddenly in Paris

Retired International Banker and Brother of Lieutenant

Governor Was

A

71.

Graduate of Cornell

Entered Family Business in 1879 and Remained Until

1908

—Traveled Much Since Then.

Special Cable to

PARIS, April

who

7.

The New York Times.

—Sigmund M. Lehman,

New York banker,

retired

arrived at the Hotel Ritz here with his wife from

four days ago, died suddenly of heart disease

71 years old.

55

this

morning.

Cannes

He

was

Lots of Lehmans

Mr. and Mrs. Lehman had intended to sail for New York from Cherbourg on Wednesday. Their son [Harold] who was in Berlin, was promptly notified this morning by his mother of his father's death and he arrived in Paris late tonight. The body will be taken to America for burial, probably on a boat leaving on Wednesday. Special to

Albany, April

7. Lieut.

The NewYork Times.

Gov. Herbert H.

Lehman

received

word

today of the death of his brother, S.M. Lehman, in Paris. Mr.

Lehman was

a

member of the

firm of

tional bankers, for about thirty years.

spent

much

Lehman

He

sons,

is

survived by his widow,

two brothers. Judge Irving Lehman of the Court of

Appeals and Arthur three

1908 and has

time traveling since then.

Besides the Lieutenant Governor, he

two

Brothers, interna-

retired in

Lehman of the

firm of Lehman Brothers, and

sisters.

Mr. Lehman was graduated from Cornell University in the class of 1878 and later went into the firm of Lehman Brothers, which wzs founded by his father and uncle. Sigmund M. Lehman was born in Montgomery, Ala., but was brought up in NewYork as a child and received his early education in this city. After his graduation from Cornell he went to Germany, where he studied for a year before entering business. He was one of the earliest members of the New York Stock Exchange. He was also one of the founders and a director of Montefiore Hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Lehman left their NewYork home, 270 Park Avenue, in February for Europe. Mr. Lehman's death was unexpected, his son, Harold, said yesterday, as last communications reported that he was enjoying good health.

56

Chapter Two: Sigmund M. Lehman

New York Times, November

Harriet M. Lehman Lehman

One Hundred Years

1931

3,

&

[condensed and abridged]

Privately printed by

ofLelinian Brothers

Lehman

Brothers,

1950.

[condensed and abridged]

Sigmund M. Lehman

left

an

estate

at

Lehman

interest in his real

gave

a life

Sigmund M. Lehman,

$4,088,060. Mr.

appraised yesterday

the first-born child of

Mayer and Babette,joined Lehman Brothers

M. Lehman of Hotel Sherry Netherlands. The real

on

estate to his wife Harriet

in 1878,

the

on record was the then princely sum of $25

estate

included the

country place in

South Broadway, Tarrytown, and interest in the Kildare St.

Club

a

tors to

left

the

received

S.

gave $100,000 for

life

at their

New York

Philip,

week

and Harold

Lehman

a partner,

as a starter.

1,

A seat

on

Stock Exchange was bought

name

in 1887. His cousin

in 1882, the year

follows.

salary

with a 5 per

Emanuel's only son, began

partner, the

to four grandchil-

first

on September

$20

a

Sigmund was made

a

was made

a

partner. In 1885, the year Philip

a life interest

of $1,139,717 in the residue. Mr.

made

in Sigmund's

$100,000 to the execu-

discretion. His sons, Allan

later,

cent share in earnings

at Piercefield,

be distributed to charities

M. Lehman, each

week. Four years

1882, he was

a half

Lawrence County.

Mr. Lehman

leaving Cornell. His

New York

The founding

at

earnings were

split as

partners took 65 per

dren. The estate owes $20,000 to Kensico

cent. Henry's son,

Cemetery

received 12 per cent and Philip 10 per cent.

for a plot

and $33,540 for

a

Arthur became

mausoleum.

Meyer H., and Sigmund

a

partner in

Herbert in 1908, the year Sig

retired.

To avoid distortion of the panorama,

57

it

1898 and

historical

should be borne in mind that

Lots of Lehmans

"Here

are

my grandfather and grandmother,

New Brunswick,

The

lodge at

where

my grandfather

Sig and Harriet Lehman, sitting in a boat at

apparently enjoyed fishing in a

Ruunymede. (Orin Lehman)

tie.

"

Rimnymede Lodge

— Orin Lehman

"Sig and Harriet relaxing with

Runny me de Lodge."

58

in

(Orin Lehman)

my

father,

— Orin Lehman

Allan, at

(Orin Lclmiaii)

Chapter Two: Sigmund M. Lehman

Lehman its

as

Brothers in 1908 devoted most of

time to the commodities markets. As 191

1,

when Herbert

and Paris

vi^ere

ing

late

end

London

to their

Sigmund

monopoly.

retired in 1908. In

1918 the firm

mend com-

Sigmund's sons, Harold and Allan. Besides the family partners, there was a staff of

Sigmund Lehman's

approximately twelve,

partici-

Goldman, Sachs

pation in the launching of the Electric

Company

in

new

&

its

small size due to

Co. shouldering most of

the mechanical and sales aspects of the

1897 was indicative

of the firm's interest in

advances in

securities issues

from 1906

to 1916,

Lehman

Brothers,

technology. They, with John Jacob Astor,

together

P.A.B.Widener and others, became direc-

underwrote and publicly issued

tors

all

consisted of Philip, Arthur, Herbert, and

modities fences.

Vehicle

collected a royalty from

incidental and secondary.

His main assignment was to

Philip and

boom,

of the automotive pioneer-

manufacturers until Henry Ford put an

his visits to

investment bank correspondents in

Harriet M. Lehivian Lehman

fifteen years

inade a business tour

of England and the Continent,

&

of the coinpany which, in the

with

for seventeen companies.

initial

59

when, they

securities

Harriet

Lehman and

her daughter-in-law, Cecile Seligman

Emanuel Lehman, married Sigmund,

Lehman.

the son of her father's brother

Harriet, the daughter of

Mayer The marriage of first

was not unusual at the time. (Dorotliy Trcisman;focl Treisman)

60

cousins

Harriet

M. Lehman Lehman 1861-1944

NewYork

Times, July 13,

1944

Mrs. Sigmund Lehman, Widow of Banker, 83 Special

to

Tlie

New York Times.

—

Tarrytown, N.Y.,July 13. Mrs. Harriet M. Lehman of 461 South Broadway, widow of Sigmund Lehman, once a member of the NewYork banking firm of Lehman Brothers and a brother of former Gov. Herbert H. Lehman and Chief Justice Irving Lehman of the Court of Appeals, died today in the Tarrytown Hospital. Her age was 83. Mrs. Lehman was a daughter of Emanuel Lehman, a founder of Lehman Brothers, and Mrs. Pauline Sondheim Lehman. She was born in Germany during a visit there of her mother, a United States citizen, and was also a first cousin of Governor Lehman and

61

Lots of Lehmans

of her husband, through her

father,

whose

brother, Mayer, was the

Governor's father.

She had hved chiefly in Tarrytown for the last twenty-eight and had a city home at the Sherry-Netherlands Hotel,

years,

New York. Sigmund Lehman died

in Paris in 1930, leaving a gross estate

of more than $4,000,000. Surviving are a son, Allan Philip

Lehman of New York,

S.

Lehman of Tarrytown,

a brother,

four grandchildren and three great-

grandchildren.

A

funeral service will be held at her residence here at 11 A.M.

on Sunday.

William Mayer, ter,

gmudson of Harriet Lehman's

-

Evelyn Lehman Ehricb

of Aunt Harriet, the

I

spoiled lapdog called Sunny. Unlike

sis-

Sunny

have vivid recollections

sister

of

my

grandmother

believe

it

came

in the Adirondacks]

.

to

it

was

a great

event

Aunt Harriet came

I

when

child a kind of royal quality

Harriet had. She seemed

Kildare with a huge steamer

would be around

had very strong

glasses

bigger than any

1

—

for a long time.

at least

than

my

which

She

was

wearing

to

me

62

less

as a

thought Aunt of

a

matriarch

brought to mind images of

associated with her

a

I

me

a

grandmother. She loved to gamble,

machines in Arizona. Her

her eyes were

had ever seen. She had

to dinner

very large emerald ring, representing to

trunk. You got the feeling (which was wrong) that she

1

favor of tenderloin.

was bought around 1896. She wasn't

there that often, so

she

camp

of meat.

quite sure that the sirloin was pushed aside in

Evelyn Ehrich and co-owner with her of Kildare [the family

ate only the very top cuts

most dogs.

name

suite at Kildare

—

a

bay

slot

is still

window and

Chapter Two: Sigmund M. Lehman

&

Harriet M. Lehman Lehman

Sig and Harriet in August 1925. (Dorothy Treisinan ; Joel Treisman)

63

Lots of Lehmans

handsome bedroom

small

had

a conversation, often involving rivalries,

adjoining one for her attendant, Miss

Borman.

I've

been

more

a host at

Harriet seemed

Kildare, although she

There was

a

for

like a guest

her

Evelyn

than

very long dining

Aunt Harriet would

sister

at

a

looked

was co-owner.

which could accommodate guests.

with

her,

sit

at

room

table,

it

When

seems

at his

everyone

or her plate. They both had

of the place; however, in retrospect,

me

incongruous to

slightly

that

Harriet parked herself in the midst of

as thirty

one end and

the other end.

down

a fierce love

many

as

told, all table talk ceased as

-wilderness every

they

descendants are

summer; but she

still

did,

a

Aunt dense

and her

doing the same.

Kildare

Kildare ivas originally formed in

1892

Emanuel

as a hunting

and fishing club by William Seward Webb and Frederick before

it

W

Lehman and

her

sister,

later to

Harriet

and

their descendants. Its

spread was remarkable enough

Vanderbilt, along with several others,

was sold a few years

clan

three pages in

Lehman

Harvey

have commanded

Kaiser's classic

oi the Kdirond^idss, first published

Great

in

Camps

1982.

Evelyn Lehman Ehrich.

Harriet and Evelyn were the daughters of

Emanuel

Lehman, and Harriet had married her first cousin

Peter Friedman,

Sigmund Lehman. Kildare became

Ehrich; son of Ralph and

and

to

10,000-acre

a major focus

center of enjoyment for the entire

grandson of Evelyn Lehman

Ruth Friedman -

My

grand-

mother Evelyn Lehman Ehrich and her

Mayer and

64

sister

Chapter Two: Sigmund M. Lehman

Harriet

Lehman Lehman were joint owners of

Kildare, a family

camp

in the

Adirondacks

my

and Harriet's son], Jules Ehrich [husband of

grandfather and a lawyer repre-

My

summer. The

parents

Harriet's sister Evelyn]

band of Sigmund and

went up there every

w^ere not there together as a rule, but

to Kildare before they a little bigger than

"It's

but

I

took

When my mother first brought my

turns.

think you'U like

The big

think

it

ought

up

to be,

dow^n in 1906 or so and was rebuilt

somewhat along

was

the

living

—one

the same lines

room,

in the

in the dining

a

few years

—

logs

with

its

Room

on

came from Jordan Lake,

also a

summer

a

wooden

base.

cowshed and a

a

they would

a

a hayloft. There

workshop.

cow. There was

we could

house

with ice cut from the

filled

set

The camp had

coop, where

in buckets

from

house

around

built

The

decor. Kildare was originally a fishing and fish in the

the

like

I

a

can

recall

chicken

gather eggs, and an icelake.

Water

dishwashing. For drinking, water was hauled up

Room; and one

called that because of

hunting club. The mounted

of the family,

was pumped from the lake for bathing and

room; one in the

called the Billiard

Red Room,

tents

helping to milk

bark outside and a shingle roof. There are three fireplaces

friends.

barn that housed the horses and

Clubhouse. The original building had burned

later

Harriet's granddaughter

In the overflow of the

said,

as

[hus-

Cullman-Asiel cottage and the Mayer cottage.

it."

building was referred to

Cullman

various times cottages for

at

branches

different

father

were married, she I

There were

or Joe

,

Sue Lehman] and their

of Emanuel and Mayer

families

Some were brought back from Florida by Allan Lehman [Sigmund

Canada or

that,

senting the owners, they bought from the Vanderbilts.

Harriet M. Lehman Lehman

Jordan River.

according to an exchange of letters in the 1890s

between

&

Red

wife,

right outside

and their

65

of

relatives.

and lived

called the Guides'

with

a small

it.

staff consisted

fishing parties

the house, or from a nearby creek called the

a natural spring,

a superintendent, his

They

led hunting

and

in a separate building

House.

Some of them were

— Lots of Lehmans

also excellent

mechanics and plumbers.

much meat on

axe. "Well, there warn't his response,

according to what

remember

on Sunday I

a tradition

in a big

was

I

it,"

ice

helped to turn. Other

activities

his

They would do

—and

w^as singing informally.

as

well

Ferdie the

Hermit

on nearby

built

land,

lived in a shack he

owned by

the

by adverse possession ("squatters is

that

The

love a

affair.

He

a

hermit

after a

wasn't a hermit

genuine hermit, so

we

in a

Ferdie's mail

box he had

met

rights").

tion.

were

The

on

parade.

didn't see

much

He

the

at a

left

them

up where the

trail

which you could it.

get to by

There was always

The superintendent

did the grilling, aided

Steak would be

staff.

and corn on the cob put into embers of

fire.

There were home-fried potatoes and

on

They made

66

we

generation to genera-

sardines

of him.

and some gro-

Lake;

set

Once

place called Pirate's Point,

home-fried onions. The

was

hanging on

menu from

grilled

disappointed

is

a big thing at Kildare.

by some of the male

title

good green

the Kildare road.

picnics

the same set

Ovalwood

Walter Scott,

poem

him from Tupper

across the lake,

had

Sir

in the

is

of the

rest

They were held

he was from Denmark or Sweden

and had become

it

canoe or walk around to

Dish Company, on which he had estabUshed

story

poem by

week we brought him

than

an adaptation of the

a

as

piano with music roUs.

state land, rather

plaque on one wall of the dining room.

to his cabin

player

as a

."The

which he

a

for

There was an out-of-

tune piano off to the side

.

.

ceries to

"masquerade

night" sometimes. Charades were very big,

.

trout,

did the carving over the dining

fireplace containing

wood

salt,

lake, picnics

a

He

beginning "Merrie

father enjoyed bird-watching with

friends.

land.

stanza of a

first

includ-

an old tradition that went way back

My

room

was

cream

churn packed with rock

ed swimming, canoeing on the

tennis.

on our

told.

of making

sometimes brought us some

claimed to have caught on

while chopping something with an

lost a toe

which

He

of

John Watson, once

the early superintendents,

I

One

toast,

first

course was always

and pancakes were the

their

own maple

dessert.

sugar and maple

Chapter Two: Sigmund M. Lehman

&

Harriet M. Lehman Lehman

Tlie

main house

at Kildare, with a porch

overlooking the lake. (Dorothy Treisman; Joel

Treisman)

Aerial shot of Kildare. (Dorothy Treisman; Joel Treisman)

The porch

of the

main

lionse, a

of many pleasant Adirondack

venue

activities.

(Dorothy Treisman; Joel Treisman)

An

interior shot,

showing the main dining area and one of the

home's three fireplaces. (Dorothy Treisman; Joel Treisman)

67

Lots of Lehmans

syrup.

As

a kid

sugar

on

cereal.

I

remember having dark maple

Today

I

can't find

it

is

Dorothy Treisman, the only daughter of Joe

CuUman and Sue Lehman, one

anywhere

of two daughters

of Harriet's younger son Harold. The Asiels

but one place in Quebec.

have an interest through Sue's younger Betty.

John Harriet

L.

LOEB

Jr., grandnephew

Harriet

still

owned by the family. On the Lehman side, one of the primary owners is

for Evelyn's side, her daughter

sister

Ruth

married Ralph Friedman and their children are

of Sigmund and

Lehman; grandson of Arthur and Adele Lehman —

Kildare

As

also

involved with Kildare. Coincidentally, our

caretaker

still

Don

Sanford, at the

Loeb camp

Bay on Saranac Lake, was brought up

68

at

Gull

at Kildare.

CHAPTER THREE

Lehman Goodhart

Hattie

Philip

The year

Philip

J.

Goodhart

J.

Goodhart married Mayer

Babette's oldest daughter Hattie was 1882.

the year

P. J.

Goodhart

&

was

established the Wall Street firm of

Co. As

his father-in-law

pered on Wall Street, so did decades was

It

a

member

Exchange. The son of

a

P. J.,

of the

P.

J.

for three

York Stock

Cincinnati grain dealer,

69

also

Mayer pros-

who

New

and

P. J.

&

Lots of Lehmans

shared a

who

common background

with

his father-in-laAv

started out in the cotton business.

dedicated philanthropists, with

Mount

Both were

Sinai Hospital

and Temple Emanu-El benefiting most from their generosity.

As

for Hattie, she

was

a

model of social propriety

who

prided herself in distinguishing "people

visit"

from "people we wouldn't

visit."

we

Hattie had rea-

son to take special pride in her progeny. Her daughter

Helen married Frank Altschul,

whose

a

senior partner of

Edith would marry

Lazard

Freres,

Hattie's

younger brother Herbert. Her son Arthur,

who

settled in

English family

sister

England and married into

when he wed

became the

good

Cecily Carter, was a dis-

tinguished professor of jurisprudence University and

a

first

at

American

Cambridge to serve as

head of an Oxford college. Arthur and Cecily produced three sons:

Goodhart,

a

Conservative

70

member

Sir Philip

of the British

Chapter Three: Hattie Lehman Goodhart

Parliament;

Goodhart,

the a

Lord

future

member

who

Philip

William

J.

Goodhart

Howard

of the House of Lords; and

Professor Charles Goodhart of the

Economics,

&

has served

London School of

on the

Committee of the Bank of England.

71

Interest

Rate

_

Hattie

Philip

Lehman

Goodhart

1861

1S57 1

1

Marjorie

Howard

Helen

Frank

Walter

Goodhart

Goodhart

Altschul

1887

ISS7

——

1884

\

__

John Gordari

~

/r.

1907

PhyUis

Charles

Daniel

Margaret

Edith

Robert

Goodhart

Altschul

Lang

Altschul

Altschul

Graham

1913

1913

1913

1915

1917

1913 I

I

I

Christine

Robert

Julia

Michael

Kathryn

Denny

Graham

Moran

Graham

Graham

1941

1953

1943

1947

I

1

Adrian

Marjorie

Bowden

Gordan

1938

1942

John

Gordan

111

1945

Catherine

Lucy

Luciano

Virginia

Ehzabeth

Adam

Kathryn

James

Morot-Sir

Gordan

Rastelli

Gordan

Graham

Lindemann

Graham

Graham

1946

1948

1939

1950

1964

1961

1966

1993

L

^_

,

Elizabeth

Stewart

Robin

John

Veronica

Rebecca

Emilio

Helen

Charlotte

Frances

Gordan

Ellis

Allan

Gordan IV

Rastelli

Rastelli

Oliveti

Lindemann

Lindemann

Lindemann

1978

1975

1980

1991

1992

1997

1975

I

—

Alexander

Nicholas

Stephanie

Richard

Robert

Frances

Helen

Eric

Bowden

Reynolds

Bowden

Bowden

Labaree

Lang

Lang

Kooijman

Lang

1976

1979

1944

1947

1949

1961

1953

1972

Cecily

u Daniel

Aaron

Hannah

Sophie

Isaiah

Dinorah

Daniel

Joaquin

Nicholas

Olivia

Reynolds

Labaree

Labaree

Labaree

Lang

Matias

Lang

Lang

Kooijman

Kooijman

2006

1978

1981

1987

1974

1998

2000

1991

1994

Stephanie

Diana

Patricia a

Wagner

Landrelh

Fleming 'S

1932

1946

=

Arthur

Siri

von Reis

=r:

Altschul

1920

i93i

1, Stephen Altschul

^

1957

1

1

Caroline

Charles

Charlotte

Arthur

Emily

lames

Altschul

Dixon

Altschul

Altschul

1956

1958

1966

1964

1966

1

=

:

John

Serena

Miller

Altschul

I95S

1970

—\ 1 I

1

James

William

Stephanie

Caroline

Rex

Altschul

Altschul

Altschul

Miller

Miller

1996

1998

2006

2003

2006

I

Lehman Goodhart & Philip

Hattie

J.

Goodhart

Margaret Smith

1938

__

]ames

William

Laura

Benjamin

Goodhart

Dallas

WatU

Goodhart

Goodhart

1967

1968

1969

1970

1972

Annabel

Josephine

Beatrice

Katharine

Matthew

Kenneth

Fletcher

Dallas

Dallas

Dallas

Watts

Watts

Watts

1997

2000

2004

2000

2002

2005

Lucy

Gordon

William

Kate

Alice

James

Sophie

Goodhart

Bennett

Goodhart

Hill

Goodhart

Snelling

Goodhart

1962

1961

1964

1970

1968

1964

1970

I

Arthur

Jacqueline

George

Goodhart

Lewis

Kershaw

1952

I

"

I

Theodore

Eli

Eve

George

Sarah

Bennett

Bennett

Goodhart

Goodhart

Goodhart

2001

2004

1998

2000

2000

Sarah

David

Lucy

Rachel

Adrian

Richard

Harriet

Daniel

Amanda

Goodhart

Goodhart

Kellaway

Goodhart

Richardson

Roberts

Goodhart

Goodhart

Moonie

1953

1956

1959

1957

1943

1964

1961

1966

1952

^J I

\

\

I

Rosamond

Matilda

Arthur

Stanley

Richard

Peter

Matthew

Goodhart

Goodhart

Goodhart

Goodhart

Goodhart

Roherts

Roberts

Roberts

1999

1991

1992

1994

1997

1989

1992

1993

Grace

John Kershaw

Harry

Thomas

Victoria

Edward

David

Rebecca

Kershaw

Kershaw

Richardson

Richardson

Richardson

Billings

Goodhart

1982

1986

1988

1981

1983

1987

1962

1964

Samuel

I

\

n

I

Jacob

Daniel

Simon

Thomas

Billings

Billings

Billings

Billings

1998

2000

2002

2005

—

1967

-^

Hattie

Florence

Wilfred

Goodhart

Goodhart

Goodhart

1996

1999

1998

Hattie Lehiiwii Goodliati, "people

we

known

i>isit"froni "people

in

"Our Cnnt'd"

we wouldn't

74

visit. "

circles for

distinguishing

0ohn D. Gordan

III)

Hattie

Lehman Goodhart 1861-1948

Neil' York Times, July 14,

1948

Mrs. Goodhart, Sister of Ex-Gov. Lehman, 88 Mrs. Hattie Goodhart, died yesterday

at

a sister

of former Gov. Herbert Lehman,

her home, 550 Park Avenue, after

the age of 88. She was the

a

long iUness

widow of Philip J. Goodhart,

at

a broker

and philanthropist, who died four years ago. Mrs. Goodhart was born in Montgomery, Ala., and came to New York when she was 8 years old. ... In 1928 Mrs. Goodhart was elected a trustee of the Home for Aged and Infirm Hebrews at 120 West 105th Street. Surviving besides the former Governor and her son, Howard, who resides in New York, are a daughter, Mrs. Frank Altschul of

75

— Lots of Lehmans

Stamford, Conn.; another son, Prof. Arthur Goodhart of Oxford University, seven grandchildren,

A Salem

Fields

Stephen Birmingham, The Great Jewish opening paragraph

Mrs. Philip

Families of

— By

J.

a

Cemetery, Brooklyn.

author of

"OmCmwd":

New York,

//'om the book's

world of heavily encrusted

and invitations

weddings

—

—but

the people Mrs.

all

stretched

versation, Mrs. "Is

it

es. ..

[like

a

person smelling of wool and

who

greeted

them

at

the

her mother, Babette] with out-

peppermint

and

arms

little

visit?

Sir Philip

into the con-

Goodhart would want

someone we would

.

Granny was admired

candies

and "people we wouldn't

new name came

She had an odd

society.

clutched in both hands.

with-

visited, a city

one of the grandes dames

in Paris

among

we

a

Evening

within the group,

"people

When

little

door

There were two kinds of people visit"

round

It

parties,

Goodhart

Still, as

by her friends. To her grandchildren she was

coming-out

to teas,

turned out Granny was an

of German Jewish

calling cards

in a city.

visit."

anti-Semite.

Goodhart had become one of and immutable values.

it

dinner one night,

the late 1930s the world of

clearly defined, fixed

was

and seven great-grandchildren

private funeral service will be held today with burial in

know,

Hattie Goodhart; eldest son of Arthur and Cecily Goodhart

Would

visit?"

In the early 1900s

She and her friends did not make a

grandson of Philip and

to

habit of repeating phras-

point of being Jewish. When

Goodhart,

Rorschach

was performed on Granny Goodhart

walking

saw an

a

home from

after

relatively

76

grandfather Philip was

the office

one day when he

attractive painting in a gallery

He went

test

my

inside

—

and bought

window.

six paintings

unknown French painter called

by

a

Renoir.

.

Chapter Three: Hattie Lehman Goodhart

&

Philip

J.

Goodhart

Hattie with her great-grandchildren Marjorie

Gordan Bowden andjolw D. Gordan

John D. Gordan

Young Hattie

Jiolding

baby

Howard Goodhart,

Qohn D. Gordan

c.

1885.

III)

77

III)

III,

c.

1947

— Lots of Lehmans

back the

Lord William Howard Goodhart,

day after they were delivered because she

grandson of Hattie and Philip Goodhart; middle son of Arthur

thought they were indecent!

and Cecily Goodhart -

My

grandmother sent the whole

lot

My

father,

Arthur Lehman

Goodhart, was brought up in a brownstone on 81st Street just to the west of Central Park.

Robert M. MORGENTHAU, grandson of Hattie's younger

Settle Fatiiian;

sister,

Hattie's sister Settle

II]

my

Hattie.

- The

mother

said,

"You have

Bring your wife with you." So

to have tea

with Aunt Hattie,

who

by

I

Hattie was the opposite of her husband small, fierce,

jokes.

called

was very

in a

into the foyer,

loud voice, "Bobby,

Peggy could

hear.

I

and Hattie

who

told her

is

said to

My

it

I

got to

know my

me

as

grand-

well.

and the family view

main motives

is

that

for his deciding to

one of the

make

his

career in England was to put the Atlantic

between him and

was, and

she didn't invite her in because she had

given to

father was the youngest of her three

children,

me

much

can remember she used to terrify

mother quite

that?" so that

who

I

dominant, and not

a small child. Later

we were having tea, Peggy, the widow of Peter Lehman [Herbert and Edith Lehman's adopted son who died in World War came

which was placed the telephone.

houses.

formal. As

II],

a passage in

In those early days the telephone served both

on Aunt

to call

lived in the

house next door. The two houses were linked

younger son of Elinor and Henry

Lehman women, particularly Hattie, were strong-minded women. They w^ere very ladylike, but they knew exactly what they wanted to do. After the war [World War Morgenthau Jr.

and her family

come

ly a

dominating

ents, Arthur

without being invited.

his

mother. She was certain-

figure. Shortly after

my

and Cecily, had married and

par-

set

up

house in Cambridge, Hattie and Philip came over to be with them. Hattie insisted on

78

visit-

Chapter Three: Hattie Lehman Goodhart

Interior

mew

&

Philip

J.

Goodhart

of the West 81st Street residence of Hattie and Philip Goodhart. Hattie's

and herjamily hved next door (Henry Morgenthau

79

III)

sister Settie

Lehman Fatman

Lots of Lehmans

ing

using

my mother

the food shops that

all

(this

over that year. In

war was about

was, of course, long before super-

markets) and

they were

was

on her return

told

my mother that

and

take her business elsewhere. Fortunately, Hattie

enough

didn't stay long

to discover that

other shops in Cambridge were just

remember when

can't

I

and

to Hattie

when

was very

I

England

them was it

first

came over

(when

as if

I

I

brother, Charles, and

older than

to

It

I

brothers

New York again. in England,

life

me

for

my

fell

my younger

into a regular

and was independent of

were dispatched

every

us).

We

to Tucson, Arizona, for the

months of October

to April

—me

to a board-

ing school, Charles with our nanny to the

five years old)

war was imminent.

Arizona Inn. We then spent

was

my grandparents should take me back to the United States

May

in

New York

decided then that

with our grandparents in their apartment

my

550 Park Avenue

brothers and

(with our nanny). night with

way

them

at

to catch the

New York just as

I

remember spending

the Ritz in

standing,

a

London on our

Queen Mary.

We

I

stayed

United

States

is

still

the apartment as large and dark,

at

Overbrook, their house near

Stamford. In July and August Hattie and Philip

through

—

took us somewhere cooler

the winter and returned to England in the spring of 1939. Hattie and Philip did not

building that

June and September we spent with the

the great 1938 hurricane was

in the

a

though now looking rather ancient.

remember

Altschuls

on

—

at

with heavy furniture.

arrived in

beginning.

We

of

pattern (my brother Philip was seven years

can associate with

was

my

was divided between

For the next four years,

bad.

month

were shipped off to

threat

grandparents and their daughter, Helen Altschul.

the

must have been

parents for a

memory

in 1938

looked

it

when the

to turn into reality,

responsibility for us

was introduced

I

small, as they

my

to visit

summer. The

when

Philip, but

as

all

August,

As both our parents remained

unhygienic and ordered her to

all

I

late

come

to a

8o

house they rented

at

in

1940 and 1941

Cotuit on Cape Cod,

Chapter Three: Hattie Lehman Goodhart

P.J.

and Hattie taking

it

easy,

c.

8i

&

Philip

J.

Goodhart

1940. (John D. Gordan

III)

Lots of Lehmans

and

in

1942 and 1943 (perhaps fearing that

Cape Cod might be marines) to

German

attacked by

large extent succeed

younger and more

Whiteface Inn complex on Lake Placid. So for three

months

a

year

we saw

a great deal

Hattie and Philip. The pattern ended

of

when my

cards,

Temple Emanu-El and used every Saturday. As

brought up

as

my brothers

and

we

devout Anglican),

to

United

never went there. As

didn't

match the spectacularly high standards of

plentiful,

though

came

naturally.

She

a

person to

did,

whom

we

a

good

we saw

returned to England

in the

summer of 1947,

that time she

went

I

was

to the

failing

and

deal of time with the

story about her

last

all

at

comes from the

large

Overbrook. Frank Altschul gave

amounts of an innocent-tasting

but lethal cocktail.

and very

from her

warmth

—and

however, try

grandfather's death

parents and Charles and

organization

Gentleness was certainly no part of Hattie's

She was not

rummy, and (improba-

time Helen was hosting a meeting of a women's

it

them

firm.

remember her

use.

saw her only

By

was

very good way of shuffling

of her. After

States.

One

the Altschuls.

character; she was small, determined,

my

a

I

who

Altschuls.

Emanu-El, the dietary laws were not observed. 550 was good and

I still

was spending

would be expected of members of Temple

at

1

when my

a

Food

less

in 1945,

it

were being

mother was

Christians (our

much

members of

I

me

Following

walk over

to

which

boisterous.)

to play gin

bly) she taught

grandfather died, in the spring of 1944.

Hattie and Philip were loyal

me

teaching

me. (I'm

in being kind to

not so sure about kindness to Charles,

sub-

cottage forming part of the

a

—

and

said,

rest,

82

Hattie

came down

she found the guests in a stupor,

"Helen, dear, your friends seem to be

very tired today."

to a

When

Philip J. Goodhart, Wall Street entrepreneur in his prime,

(Herbert

H. Lehman Suite

& Papers,

84

c.

1935.

Columbia University)

—

Philip

J.

Goodhart

1857-1944

NewYork

Times, April 27,

1944

Philip

J.

Goodhart,

Retired Broker, 88

Member

of Stock Exchange for 3 1 Years Dies

A Trustee Philip

J.

of Mount Sinai Hospital

Goodhart, former stock broker,

active in Jewish welfare

who

for

many

years

work, died early yesterday morning

was

at his

home, 550 Park Avenue, after a brief illness. His age was 88. Co-founder with his brother, Albert E. Goodhart, of the firm of P. J. Goodhart & Co. in 1882, Mr. Goodhart was a member of the NewYork Stock Exchange from 1878 to 1909. He also served as a director of the United States Pipe and Foundry Company from 1899 to 1928 and as a member of the company's executive committee for five years.

85

Lots of Lehmans

Born

in Cincinnati, Mr.

^vas associated

with

Goodhart attended schools there and

his father in a grain-dealing establishment.

dropped these connections and came

New York at the

to

to enter the brokerage business. In 1933,

when

his

He

age of 18

Stock Exchange

firm was dissolved, he retired. Recently he had maintained offices

654 Madison Avenue to handle his private affairs. One of his greatest philanthropic interests was the Mount Sinai Hospital, of which he was a trustee from 1907 until 1933, when he was made honorary trustee. Another activity to which he devoted much of his energies was the Temple Emanu-El, Fifth Avenue and Sixty-fifth Street. Joining the congregation in 1897, he was named a trustee in 1919. When plans were being formulated for construction of the present edifice he was an active member of the building committee. A Republican, he was known to have enjoyed telling his children that as a boy of 8 he watched a parade honoring Abraham Lincoln during the President's second campaign. In 1882 Mr. Goodhart married Hattie Lehman, sister of former Gov. Herbert Lehman and of Chief Judge Irving Lehman of the New York State Court of Appeals. Besides his widow, he leaves two sons, Howard Goodhart and Prof. Arthur Goodhart of Oxford University, England; a daughter, Mrs. Frank Altschul; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A fiineral service will be held tomorrow at 1 1 A.M. in the Temple Emanu-El. Burial wiU be private in Salem Fields Cemetery, Brooklyn. at

.

Phyllis Philip

Goodhart GoRDAN, granddaughter of Grampa Goodhart's

parents had

.

from Germany, and

his father

peddler, traveling with a

mid Hattie Goodhart; daughter of Howard and Mnijoric

Goodhart -

.

come

had

started out as a

wagon

in southern

Ohio and northern Kentucky. Granny

86

at

one

"

Chapter Three: Hattie Lehman Goodhart

W

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