
No, not a bare-knuckles fist fight. The reference is to the Fists, German Jewish immigrants who found their way to Pueblo, Colorado, shown above as it looked in 1888. While selling liquor in Pueblo the Fist family found a welcoming home and considerable prosperity.
The family founder was Julius Fist, likely born “Feis,” in July 1852 in Sotern, Sankt Wendel, Saarland, Germany. His parents were David and Babet “Yetta” Levy Feis/Fist. Educated in German schools, Julius emigrated from his homeland to the United States about 1864. He likely came with other family members, including older brothers Emanuel and Israel. Their part of Germany frequently was inhospitable to Jews and the youthful Fists may have sought to escape discrimination for a land of greater opportunity.
According to the census, by 1870 Julius was working as a clerk in Atchison, Kansas, living there with a family named Kline. His brothers were not mentioned. By 1888 a directory located the three Fists together in Pueblo, Colorado, where they had established a liquor house. They called it “Julius Fist & Company,” with both Julius and Emanuel listed as officers. A letterhead identified the firm as selling wholesale liquor and cigars as well as imported wines and liquors.




Throughout their careers in Pueblo, the Fists sited their business on Santa Fe Avenue, illustrated below. A 1889 directory found Julius and Emanuel living together several blocks away on that street, along with Israel. Another brother, Herman, lived nearby. All were working at the liquor house; at that point all apparently were still bachelors.

Julius Fist was the “face” of the company, traveling throughout Colorado and adjacent states selling liquor and wine. For example, the Salida Mail in November, 1893, noted the arrival of Julius “supplying the wants of his trade.” Several years later the Wet Mountain Tribune reported Fist had come to town on business, terming him “the popular wholesale liquor dealer.” As Author Marni Davis has pointed out in her book “Jews and Booze,” Jewish whiskey men in the West faced far less prejudice than in the East. The Fists were evidence of that more tolerant attitude.
Additional evidence was the willingness of the Wm. J. Lemp Brewing Company to make the Fists exclusive agents for its beer in and around Colorado. Established in St. Louis in 1840 by a German immigrant, Johann Lemp, and carried on by his son, William, the brewery pursued a vigorous marketing strategy that included placing distribution depots strategically around the Western U.S. That they chose Pueblo for one of these facilities and trusted the Fists with the merchandising was a tribute to the family’s reputation.
The prosperity that these immigrants had found in America translated into their being able to afford substantial housing for their families. Julius’ home at 32 Carlile Place was and still is in full view of passersby.
In October 1913 Emanuel died at the age of 65. Julius continued to guide the fortunes of the liquor house that bore his name, assisted by his deceased brother’s sons. He passed away in November 1920, age 68. Funeral services for the brothers were held at Temple Emanuel, a synagogue they had helped to build. Shown here, it was the second Jewish house of worship in Colorado and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Both Fists were buried in Pueblo’s Roselawn Cemetery under a family monument. They would be joined there later by their widows and, in the case of Emanuel, their children and children’s spouses. Today a total of 16 Fists lie in that burying ground.
The liquor business the Fist brothers built was forced to close its doors after 1916 when Colorado voted statewide prohibition. Lemp beer sales also were terminated — financial blows received four years before National Prohibition. Emanuel’s sons went on to other pursuits. Nevertheless, over a 28 year period the family had built a thriving business and gained respect among their fellow Coloradans— proving repeatedly that Fists could win in the West.
Thanks for the post. I grew up in Pueblo and a few of my ancestors immigrated from Austria at the turn of the century.... the 20th not the 21st. They moved to Pueblo as soon as they got off the boat in Galveston. They may have known the Fists but my guess is that, being as antisemitic as they were, they most likely did not socialize with them. It would be neat if schools taught this kind of local history as part of their cirriculum. I thoroughly enjoyed your post and I'll be sure to share a link to it with my friends and family that are still living in Pueblo.
ReplyDeleteVince
Thanks for your kind comments, Vince. Many American "whiskey men" were of Jewish background. More than a few were forced from Europe by prejudicial laws. Almost all did well here, faced with little discrimination except from antisemites like Henry Ford. This was especially true in the West. One gent who barely had arrived but had learned English was elected judge in his town -- again in Colorado, I believe. Hope your friends in Pueblo like the story.
ReplyDeleteDavid and Regina are the husband and wife, I believe. The had a daughter Henrietta "Yetta" who married a Jacob Blum on Aug 6 1888.
ReplyDeleteThere is also a younger Regina that married a 2nd gen Fist, too. But I have the older Regina as David's widow living at Wilson Ave and Carlile Pl (that's 18 Blk G; which across from 32 Blk E or 32 Carlile Pl) by Apr of 1892.
DeleteHeather N: Thanks for the additional genealogical details in this comment and the one above. The Fists are a fascinating family.
ReplyDeleteMr. Sullivan, I now own the Julius Fist House. The street is spelled Carlile, after the gentleman who built the first house on that street, not Carlyle.
ReplyDeleteMr. St. Clair: Thanks for the clarification. Am making the change.
ReplyDeleteHi Jack,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this excellent writeup! I am a descendant of the Fist Family. Emanuel was my great, great grandfather, and his daughter was my great grandmother. We are still in Colorado almost 150 years later.
Thanks, Dan, for your kind comments. It is interesting to know that you and other family members have stayed in Colorado. The Fists were true pioneers and their success was the result of intelligence and much hard work. A heritage of which to be proud.
ReplyDeleteThe Photo of 128 Jackson St. (corner of Jack & Evans) is wrong. It was my Grandfather's home from at least the 1940s. Google it and you'll see the original Redstone.
ReplyDeleteThe Photo of 128 Jackson St. (corner of Jackson & Evans) is wrong. It was my Grandfather's home from at least the 1940s. Google it and you'll see the original Redstone. It was once a lovely home with a large fruit garden and a Byzantine basement filled with historical books and artifacts of the old west. My grandfather, Maurice Branaum also kept bees and we ate raw honeycomb as children when we visited.
ReplyDeleteUnknown: You appear to be right. Have substituted the house on Google for the earlier one. Thanks for the correction.
ReplyDelete