Maurice Kremer

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Maurice Kremer
Lorraine, France
DiedMarch 7, 1907 (age 83)
NationalityAmerican
OccupationBusinessman
SpouseMatilda Newmark
Family (cousin)

Maurice Kremer (1824–1907) was an American businessman and civil servant.

Biography

Kremer, who was Jewish,

Lazard & Kremer Company, with his cousin and brother-in-law Solomon Lazard[6] (Lazard and Kremer both married daughters of Joseph Newmark). In 1856, they formed Newmark, Kremer & Co. with his father-in-law, Joseph Newmark, and Newmark's nephews, Joseph P. Newmark and Harris Newmark.[4]

Kremer along with fellow Jewish immigrants Harris Newmark,

fraternal organization, and in 1854, the Hebrew Benevolent Society.[7]

He served in various positions with the city of Los Angeles: Treasurer of Los Angeles (1860–1865); Los Angeles School Board (1866–1874); City Clerk of Los Angeles (1875–1876); Tax Collector of Los Angeles (1876–1879); and Chief Tax Collector of Los Angeles (1880).[4] Kremer later opened a fruit shipping company M. Kremer & Co. and a fire insurance company which he operated until his death on March 7, 1907.[3][4]

Personal life

In 1856, he married Matilda Newmark, the daughter of Joseph Newmark.[4] His wife served as a founder of the Ladies Benevolent Society of Los Angeles. They had 12 children of which only 6 survived infancy: daughters Rachel Kremer Lazarus (1858–1935), Emily Kremer Germain (1864–1951), Eda Kremer Hellman (1870–1912), and Agnes Kremer Hellman (1870–1964)(Agnes married her predeceased sister Eda's husband, James W. Hellman, 1861–1940, the brother of Isaias W. Hellman and Herman W. Hellman); and sons Fred Kremer and Abraham Kremer.[4]

The Kremers were founding members of Congregation B'nai B'rith (now

Turnverein and in 1860, he was co-founder of the French Benevolent Society.[4] In 1880, he was named a Trustee of the Hebrew Benevolent Society of Los Angeles.[4]

Kremer spoke English, Spanish, French, and German.[4]

References

  1. .
  2. ^ a b Artsy, Avishay (January 6, 2015). "L.A.'s First Jew". Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
  3. ^
    County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors
    . August 27, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Maurice Kremer: Very Early Pioneer Jewish Merchant and Civil Servant of Los Angeles". Jewish Museum of the American West. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  5. .
  6. ^ "Solomon Lazard: Jewish Pioneer of Early Los Angeles' Infrastructure". Jewish Museum of the American West. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c Luce, Caroline Elizabeth (2013). Visions of a Jewish Future: the Jewish Bakers Union and Yiddish Culture in East Los Angeles, 1908–1942 (PDF) (PhD). University of California, Los Angeles. pp. 58–60.
  8. ^ "History". Wilshire Boulevard Temple. Congregation members are deeply involved in the life of Los Angeles: ... Maurice Kremer as a member of the Board of Education; and Solomon Lazard as the first president of the original Chamber of Commerce and a director of the city's first water company.