Port of Entry - ASD Henry Cohen....Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....5/17/1860...stationary from Germany
Henry Cohen immigrated from England to Philadelphia in 1837 and quickly established a highly successful business career. Shortly after his arrival, he founded a high-end wholesale stationery enterprise that specialized in envelope manufacturing and foreign imports. During the 1850s and 1860s, the commercial headquarters for this flourishing operation were located at 42 Market Street. Under Philadelphia's older grid numbering system, this specific location later shifted to what is known today as the 500 block of Market Street.
When the American Civil War broke out in the 1860s, Cohen's business experienced significant growth. He chose to use his newly acquired wealth to fiercely back the Union cause. As part of these patriotic efforts, he became an early member of Philadelphia's historic Union League. Through this organization, he provided massive financial subscriptions to help fund and equip the Union military.Beyond his commercial success, Henry Cohen and his wife, Matilda, were pillar figures in the early American Jewish community.
According to 19th-century historical records—including Henry Samuel Morais' landmark 1894 volume The Jews of Philadelphia—the family maintained a deep commitment to Jewish communal life. They were lifelong, deeply involved members of Kahal Kadosh Mikveh Israel, one of the oldest and most historic synagogues in the United States, where Henry routinely contributed leadership, resources, and financial support.
The Cohens also maintained an elite social and philanthropic partnership with Rebecca Gratz, the famous Jewish-American educator who founded the first Hebrew Sunday School in America. Matilda Cohen was an intimate friend of Gratz and served as her primary co-worker across multiple local Jewish charity organizations.
This philanthropic drive extended into the Civil War when Philadelphia hosted the Great Central Fair for the Sanitary Commission. Henry funded and Matilda led the Women's Branch of the Sanitary Fair Committee, where she spearheaded efforts for Pennsylvania’s Jewish women to organize mass sewing circles that crafted essential clothes and blankets for Union soldiers.
In addition to wartime relief, historical records show that Henry Cohen acted as a primary benefactor and financial adviser to the early Philadelphia Jewish Foster Home and Orphan Asylum. His leadership helped establish a vital social safety net for arriving Jewish immigrants and orphaned children.
Toward the end of his life, Cohen continued his civic dedication by acting as a chief promoter for the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. His wife served as a highly decorated organizer for the event, ensuring that the civic, cultural, and charitable contributions of the Jewish community were prominently represented on a global stage