The Western States Jewish History Assn. cites the late 19th Century and early 20th Century in America’s “Wild West” as one of three golden ages for Jews in world history. “It was a time when we were free to do the best we could, using our intelligence, creativity, hard work ethic, and Jewish Values.” The story of the Kaufman brothers in Montana seems to validate that belief.
The Kaufmans were natives of Germany, sons of Helen and Leopold Kaufman. Louis, born in April 1865 was two year older than his brother, Jacob. Of the boys’ early life little is known. Because of differing census data Louis’ arrival date in the United States is variably given from 1880 to 1885. My preference is for the earlier date since his younger brother’s arrival is recorded at 1881.
Louis is first recorded in Montana in 1887 living in Glendale, Beaverhead County. Now considered a ghost town, Glendale, shown here, at its peak population boasted 2,000 residents and was a community owned by the Hecla Consolidated Mining Company. Louis at 22 years old was listed as a “dry good merchant,” likely an employee of the mining outfit’s general store.
Not long after, Louis appears to have moved to Melrose in Silver Bow County , about 34 miles south of Butte, where he was employed at the Hecla Mercantile & Banking Company, a subsidiary of the mining firm. There he may have had a managerial position involving general goods and some banking activity. Within a few months, possibly occasioned by Jacob’s arrival, he moved to Butte, shown below in 1904.
The Western States Jewish History Assn: “We came with merchandise, in wagons and ships. We brought anything we thought would sell in this vast new territory that had literally nothing with which to start… If we arrived in a new town with the “right stuff,” we were often an instant success.”
For the Kaufmans, the “right stuff” was whiskey. As recorded in the Butte city directory, about 1900 Louis stepped out on his own, opening a wholesale liquor house at 26 East Broadway called the Montana Liquor Company. He advertised that it sold “Wines, Whiskies, Cordials & Cigars, Bar Glassware and Utensils” — in short, anything that the burgeoning number of Butte saloons might want. Louis was company president; Jacob, secretary and treasurer.
The Western States Jewish History Assn: Whoever had the best prices, the best quality, the best service, and kept the best records usually succeeded the most.
The Kaufmans appeared to have been successful from the outset. Experienced in the ways of Western merchandising, they aimed for quality in their advertising, as evident in the outdoor sign that opens this post, and in their flagship whiskey, “Overland Rye.” Trademarked in 1905 after Congress had strengthened the laws, this brand found widespread approval throughout Montana and adjoining states.
The brothers also paid considerable attention to the quality of the packaging for their whiskey. At a time when liquor often was marketed in locally made crude earthenware containers with “scratch” labels, the Kaufman’s bought relatively expensive underglaze transferred stoneware jugs from Red Wing, Minnesota, two states and 1,100 miles east. Avidly collected today, those containers came in one, two and three gallon sizes.
The Kaufmans also were selling whiskey by the bottle to customers. Once again they opted for an enhanced appearance. In an era when whiskey often was sold in crudely made, clear bottles bearing a hand-lettered label, the brothers sold well made amber bottles bearing a “slab seal” label. That feature added to the cost but advertised the brothers’ Montana Liquor Co. in perpetuity.
With their quick success, the Kaufmans were able to erect a three story building at 26 East Broadway in the heart of the Butte business district. There the brothers blended whiskeys imported from actual distilleries into their Overland Rye and other brands. They also maintained a warehouse on Ohio Street at the railroad tracks to facilitate bringing in supplies and shipping out whiskey. Both buildings are shown below.
The Western States Jewish History Assn: “We expanded quickly into retailers, wholesalers, and commodity brokers — sometimes all three at the same time.”
From their highly profitable wholesale liquor house the Kaufmans expanded into other products in demand as the West developed. The brothers advertised as sole agents for the Hall's Safe & Lock Company of Cincinnati. Incorporated by Joseph L. Hall in 1867 that company quickly had grown to become the largest safe and vault manufacturer in the world. By 1892 Hall was responsible for one-half the entire output of fire proof and burglar proof safes and vaults in the United States. Safes were in increasing demand in the “Wild West” where fires and thefts were all too common. The Kaufmans understood.
Another area of high demand was for milling equipment associated with mining. The machinery is essential to break down minerals into granules. Valuable metals like gold, gemstones, and minerals used in construction all required a milling process after being extracted from the ground. Again the Kaufmans responded. By 1904 the brothers had established a separate enterprise selling milling equipment, calling it “Louis Kaufman & Company.” In time the firm would become the “Butte Machinery Company” and Jacob would assume the presidency.
The Western States Jewish History Assn: Everything was open to us, and, in general, we did well.
The Kaufmans’ expansion efforts, however, were not always appreciated in Butte. Apparently even a Golden Era may produce some “slag.” The City of Butte hauled Louis into court in 1914 for intruding on land he did not own that earlier had been designated as a right-of-way for a city street. Louis had constructed a barn worth $200 on the anticipated public thoroughfare and appropriated and fenced the land around it. Taken to court by the city, Kaufman lost, appealed to the Montana Supreme Court and lost again.
When prohibitionary forces prevailed in Montana in 1918, the Kaufmans were forced to close their liquor house, but had their milling and mining machinery business to fallback on. The brothers continued live in Butte, Louis dying in 1931 at the age of 66. Jacob followed in 1946, age 79. The brothers lie in adjacent plots in Butte’s Bnai Israel Cemetery, likely unaware that their success had been part of what later would be called “A Golden Age.”
Note: This post and illustrations were assembled from a variety of Internet sources. The Western States Jewish History Assn. whose October, 2012, article provides the context for this post is located at 285 Sierra Woods Drive in Sierra Madre CA 91024.
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