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Joseph Blumenthal (politician)

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Joseph Blumenthal (December 1, 1834 – March 2, 1901) was a Jewish German-American businessman, politician, and communal worker from New York.

Life

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Blumenthal was born on December 1, 1834, in Munich, the Kingdom of Bavaria, the son of Lawrence and Rebecca Blumenthal. He immigrated to America when he was 5.[1]

In 1853, Blumenthal moved to Mariposa County, California, where he lived for the next five years. In 1858, he returned to New York City, where he worked as a merchant and importer. He was a member of the Committee of Seventy.[1] He served as a director and president of the Caddo Asphalt Mining Company.[2] As a young man, he was a member of the state militia, serving as a staff officer of the Third Cavalry Regiment of the New York National Guard.[3]

In 1872, Blumenthal was elected to the New York State Assembly as a Democrat, representing the New York County 15th District. He served in the Assembly in 1873,[1] 1874,[4] 1888,[5] 1889, 1890,[6] and 1891.[7] He served as head of the Bureau of Incumbrances for several years, and was the commissioner taxes and assessments from 1893 to 1895.[8]

Blumenthal was active in Jewish communal affairs. He was a member, trustee, and president of Congregation Shearith Israel, a director and president of the Young Men's Hebrew Association, and a founder and president of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He was also a member of B'nai B'rith and the Freemasons.[3] He helped make the Hebrew Orphan Asylum of New York more prominent, was the first president of the Sanitary Aid Society,[9] served as president and director of Mount Zion Cemetery, and helped in the founding of another of Jewish charities.[2]

Blumenthal died in New York on March 2, 1901.[3] He was buried in Beth Olam Cemetery.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c William Henry, McElroy; McBride, Alexander (1874). Life Sketches of Government Officers and Members of the Legislature of the State of New York for 1873. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Company. pp. 151–152 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b "Joseph Blumenthal Dead" (PDF). The New York Times. Vol. L, no. 15960. New York, N.Y. 4 March 1901. p. 7.
  3. ^ a b c Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society. Vol. 10. Baltimore, M.D.: American Jewish Historical Society. 1902. pp. 175–176 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ McElroy, William Henry; McBride, Alexander (1874). Life Sketches of Government Officers and Members of the Legislature of the State of New York for 1874. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Company. pp. 156–158 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ The Evening Journal Almanac, 1888. Albany, N.Y. 1888. p. 161 – via Internet Archive.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ McBride, Alexander, ed. (1890). The Evening Journal Almanac, 1890. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Co. p. 168 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ^ McBride, Alexander, ed. (1891). The Evening Journal Almanac, 1891. Albany, N.Y.: Weed, Parsons & Co. p. 165 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ Singer, Isidore, ed. (1903). The Jewish Encyclopedia. Vol. III. Funk & Wagnalls. pp. 274–275 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Markens, Isaac (1888). The Hebrews in America: A Series of Historical and Biographical Sketches. New York, N.Y. p. 189 – via Google Books.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. ^ "Joseph Blumenthal". JewishData.
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New York State Assembly
Preceded by New York State Assembly
New York County, 15 District

1873-1874
Succeeded by
Preceded by New York State Assembly
New York County, 22nd District

1888-1891
Succeeded by