The Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Representative Men of Chicago, Milwaukee and the World's Columbian Exposition

              BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
847
of six hundred acres near Milwaukee. There he raises highly bred trotting horses and Jersey cattle. He also raises vast quantities of hops, and in 1891 his farm produced about fifty per cent, of the hop crop of Wisconsin.
Politically Mr. Bradley is a staunch Republi¬ can.
On August 7. 1888, he married Miss Braun. He is domestic in his habits and tastes, and in the home circle finds his highest enjoyment.
In appearance he does not appear more than sixty years of age, and his kindly, generous hearted, whole-souled manner of conversation en¬
dears him to all with  whom  he becomes  associ¬ ated.
Such is the biography of one of Milwaukee's successful men who, through his own unaided efforts, has risen to his present commanding posi¬ tion. During his residence in Mihvaukee of half a century, he has occupied the highest positions of trust in the community without the least word of reproach against his name. His record places him on history's pages as one of the most illus¬ trious prototypes of the self-made man, while in the hearts of those who know him best, he is esteemed " one of nature's noblemen."
MARCUS   COHEN,
MILWAUKEE, WIS.
IT is the privilege of every American citizen to rise to a position of influence and power, and he who does this is by common consent a leader. This sketch is intended briefly to outline the life and character of Mr. Marcus Cohen, a man whose demonstrated abilities, sterling integrity and be¬ nevolence, accords to him the right to be named a leader.
He was a native of Germany, and was born in March, 1835, and there received a good common school education. His father was a merchant, and early instilled the principles of merchandising into the minds of his boys. The fatherland had been crowded for centuries, and the future pre¬ sented few bright prospects for. a young merchant. Young Cohen was ambitious, and, although he re¬ gretted to leave his native land, he said good-bye to home and friends in the spring of 1855, and with his possessions sailed for New York.
The West seemed to him to offer greater oppor¬ tunity than New York, so he went thence to Mil¬ waukee, Wisconsin, and soon afterAvards settled at Wautoma, Wisconsin, where he formed a part¬ nership and began general merchandising un¬ der the firm-name of Cohen & Markwell. The business was conducted successfully for seven years, when the firm sold out, and removed to Mih waukee, and entered into the boot and shoe busi¬ ness, that offering a broader field for their capital and industry. The new venture, while notably successful, was not satisfactory to Mr. Cohen, and
he sold his interest at the end of tw^o years, and removed to Berlin, Wisconsin, and again entered into general merchandising, this time on his own account. He built up a flourishing business, and after three years sold out at a handsome profit, and returned to Milwaukee and engaged in the tobacco trade. While being profitable, this busi¬ ness was not of a nature to satisfy his ambition, and accordingly, in 1870, he made a change, be¬ coming a member of the firm of Strass, Cohen and Company, wholesale furnishers. Mr. Strass retired two years later, and the business was con¬ tinued under the firm-name of Cohen Brothers and Company, the brother being Mr. Jonas Cohen who is now (1892) the head of the firm, the busi¬ ness now being located at Nos. 338-340 Broadway, Milwaukee. In twenty-one years the firm estab¬ lished themselves, through fair and liberal deal¬ ing, as one of the leading houses in the north¬ west. To the business of buying and selling, they added that of manufacturing upon a large scale, and now make nearly all of the goods which they handle so extensively.
In 1871 Mr. Cohen married Miss Gertrude Walter, of Baltimore, Maryland. Mrs. Cohen is a lady of rare abilities and attainments, and while she holds a high social position, presides with dignity and grace over the affairs of her home.
In the month of November, 1890, Mr. Marcus Cohen was taken ill with a severe cold, which soon developed into pneumonia, and after   a short ill-