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LEVI, ABRAHAM
Abraham Levi, at whose death on November 30, 1902, all the business houses of Victoria were closed to mark the respect and honor in which the banker-merchant was held, was without doubt one of the strongest personalities in the business life of Texas during the last century. The rugged standards of business honesty and fair dealing which he exemplified were of themselves among the best influences that modified and regulated commercial dealings. While his ability in building up large and permanent business enterprises las still a monument in the private banking house of A. Levi & Company, the oldest bank of Victoria, and one of the few private banks which have increased their reputation for stability with each recurring trial of financial panic.
The life of Abraham Levi is an instructive story, beginning with the hard circumstances of an old-world family and the struggles of a dutiful son who sacrifices himself for the support of others, and then passing to the happier achievements of a career on this side of the Atlantic.
He was born June 24, 1822, in the village of Hatten, Alsace, which at that time was one of the departments of the French Empire, and the family was French rather than German in its national allegiance in that frontier province. The parents were poor, but honorable and respected people of the town and had six children, three sons and three daughters, Abraham being the youngest son and next to the youngest child. They were unable to give their children regular school advantages, and when the father died in 1833, the two older brothers, having been apprenticed to tradesmen, Abraham, then eleven, had to give up all hope of further schooling and was practically the only help of his widowed mother in supporting the family still at home. For many years after that his days were of toil and privation, and though always fighting against heavy odds he passed through the trials of that time without becoming either hard or cunning. At the age of thirteen, with a few francs, which he had been able to save, he bought a small stock of ribbons, buttons, tapes, etc., and carrying it all on his back went from house to house in the adjacent country offering his wares for sale. Enduring cold and hunger, he passed from village to village endeavoring to be in each on market days. He continued this life for several years, but as his profits were contributed to the family he could not increase his business beyond the narrow range of the peddler.
Then his sisters married, and it seemed that he would be in a position to render his mother comfortable in her declining years. But L'homme propose et Dieu dispose, and his mother died before she could enjoy the devotion of her son. After that loss Abraham found himself a weakly youth, penniless, and alone in the world, his brothers having gone to unknown locations. His struggles continued until he reached majority, when he became liable for military service. But he drew a lucky number and was exempt. Before his turn came again he had seized an offered opportunity to enjoy the much heralded liberties and prosperity of the new world. It was his intention to work himself far enough ahead to pay off a debt which he owed for goods in Paris to the amount of 100 francs, and then embark for America. But he was making slow progress, and when he was offered the privilege of working his way to New Orleans aboard a sailing vessel, he resolved to go to the land of promise and remit the amount of his debt as soon as he had earned it.
A voyage of fourteen weeks brought him to New Orleans, and he had to overcome the difficulties of every foreigner in learning language and customs before he could make much advancement. His first work was on the levee, among the coarse and motley crowd that characterize such a locality. From this uncongenial atmosphere he escaped to a brickyard, at eight dollars a month, and a little later hired to a butcher for ten dollars a month and board.
He went up the river as far at Natchez, where he invested his small savings in some merchandise, and took the road to follow his old vocation in this new land. He had a good singing voice, which he accompanied on a guitar, and also possessed the attractive qualities of the Frenchman, advantages which regularly gained him hospitality if they did not foster his financial success. At the beginning he failed often because he frankly avowed the quality of his goods and held them at a just value. But honest representations eventually bear good fruit, and along the route of his regular travel he acquired a reputation for reliability which enabled him to sell goods to the families of the large planters. He acquired what then seemed quite a fortune, though in reality but a few hundred dollars. The old debt in Paris was still an ever present obligation, but he had lost the name and address of the firm and had no means of discharging the debt. In 1873 he visited France, and after considerable search in the old locality found the sign board with the same name as it had borne many years before. He called, gave his name and stated that he owed the house a debt which he would have paid sooner, but at first was not able and after wards had lost the address, but that he was now fully able to pay it off, with interest, hoping they would forgive the unwilful tardiness in his offering to liquidate it. They referred to old books stored away and found the account, which had been contracted with the then proprietor's deceased father. It was such an unusual occurrence that the gentleman insisted on entertaining Mr. Levi at his hospitable board, and in so liberal a style that the expense of entertainment more than balanced the amount of the old debt.
These experiences of his early career require much more space to relate than the successes to which they were introductory. In 1848, when he was twenty-six years old, he came to Victoria and started a small store, and, with the liberality, fairness and strict integrity which characterized his business relations, his fortunes grew until he was ranked among the Wealthiest and most honored of the citizens of Victoria. He passed through the crises of 1854 and of 1857 intact, though during the latter he was really reduced to insolvency and was upheld by his creditors. It was his belief, which he taught his sons, that if a man will act squarely and openly with his creditors, there is no necessity for going into bankruptcy, as creditors will endeavor to assist an honest man to retrieve his losses.
While living in Mississippi Mr. Levi met Miss Mina Halfin, and their attachment resulted in marriage about the time he established his business in Texas. Mrs. Levi died in 1867, much loved for her benevolence and kindness. Her husband was in Europe for his health at the time.
The practical benevolence of Abraham Levi's character was commemorated and continued by the generous action of his six children, after his death, when they set aside a fund from his estate, to be managed by trustees, who devote the proceeds to the support and care of the poor and indigent of Victoria. Historical Review of South-East Texas and the Founders, Leaders and Representative Men, Vol 2, by Dermot Hardy and Maj. Ingham S. Robert, by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1910
Abraham Levi, at whose death on November 30, 1902, all the business houses of Victoria were closed to mark the respect and honor in which the banker-merchant was held, was without doubt one of the strongest personalities in the business life of Texas during the last century. The rugged standards of business honesty and fair dealing which he exemplified were of themselves among the best influences that modified and regulated commercial dealings. While his ability in building up large and permanent business enterprises las still a monument in the private banking house of A. Levi & Company, the oldest bank of Victoria, and one of the few private banks which have increased their reputation for stability with each recurring trial of financial panic.
The life of Abraham Levi is an instructive story, beginning with the hard circumstances of an old-world family and the struggles of a dutiful son who sacrifices himself for the support of others, and then passing to the happier achievements of a career on this side of the Atlantic.
He was born June 24, 1822, in the village of Hatten, Alsace, which at that time was one of the departments of the French Empire, and the family was French rather than German in its national allegiance in that frontier province. The parents were poor, but honorable and respected people of the town and had six children, three sons and three daughters, Abraham being the youngest son and next to the youngest child. They were unable to give their children regular school advantages, and when the father died in 1833, the two older brothers, having been apprenticed to tradesmen, Abraham, then eleven, had to give up all hope of further schooling and was practically the only help of his widowed mother in supporting the family still at home. For many years after that his days were of toil and privation, and though always fighting against heavy odds he passed through the trials of that time without becoming either hard or cunning. At the age of thirteen, with a few francs, which he had been able to save, he bought a small stock of ribbons, buttons, tapes, etc., and carrying it all on his back went from house to house in the adjacent country offering his wares for sale. Enduring cold and hunger, he passed from village to village endeavoring to be in each on market days. He continued this life for several years, but as his profits were contributed to the family he could not increase his business beyond the narrow range of the peddler.
Then his sisters married, and it seemed that he would be in a position to render his mother comfortable in her declining years. But L'homme propose et Dieu dispose, and his mother died before she could enjoy the devotion of her son. After that loss Abraham found himself a weakly youth, penniless, and alone in the world, his brothers having gone to unknown locations. His struggles continued until he reached majority, when he became liable for military service. But he drew a lucky number and was exempt. Before his turn came again he had seized an offered opportunity to enjoy the much heralded liberties and prosperity of the new world. It was his intention to work himself far enough ahead to pay off a debt which he owed for goods in Paris to the amount of 100 francs, and then embark for America. But he was making slow progress, and when he was offered the privilege of working his way to New Orleans aboard a sailing vessel, he resolved to go to the land of promise and remit the amount of his debt as soon as he had earned it.
A voyage of fourteen weeks brought him to New Orleans, and he had to overcome the difficulties of every foreigner in learning language and customs before he could make much advancement. His first work was on the levee, among the coarse and motley crowd that characterize such a locality. From this uncongenial atmosphere he escaped to a brickyard, at eight dollars a month, and a little later hired to a butcher for ten dollars a month and board.
He went up the river as far at Natchez, where he invested his small savings in some merchandise, and took the road to follow his old vocation in this new land. He had a good singing voice, which he accompanied on a guitar, and also possessed the attractive qualities of the Frenchman, advantages which regularly gained him hospitality if they did not foster his financial success. At the beginning he failed often because he frankly avowed the quality of his goods and held them at a just value. But honest representations eventually bear good fruit, and along the route of his regular travel he acquired a reputation for reliability which enabled him to sell goods to the families of the large planters. He acquired what then seemed quite a fortune, though in reality but a few hundred dollars. The old debt in Paris was still an ever present obligation, but he had lost the name and address of the firm and had no means of discharging the debt. In 1873 he visited France, and after considerable search in the old locality found the sign board with the same name as it had borne many years before. He called, gave his name and stated that he owed the house a debt which he would have paid sooner, but at first was not able and after wards had lost the address, but that he was now fully able to pay it off, with interest, hoping they would forgive the unwilful tardiness in his offering to liquidate it. They referred to old books stored away and found the account, which had been contracted with the then proprietor's deceased father. It was such an unusual occurrence that the gentleman insisted on entertaining Mr. Levi at his hospitable board, and in so liberal a style that the expense of entertainment more than balanced the amount of the old debt.
These experiences of his early career require much more space to relate than the successes to which they were introductory. In 1848, when he was twenty-six years old, he came to Victoria and started a small store, and, with the liberality, fairness and strict integrity which characterized his business relations, his fortunes grew until he was ranked among the Wealthiest and most honored of the citizens of Victoria. He passed through the crises of 1854 and of 1857 intact, though during the latter he was really reduced to insolvency and was upheld by his creditors. It was his belief, which he taught his sons, that if a man will act squarely and openly with his creditors, there is no necessity for going into bankruptcy, as creditors will endeavor to assist an honest man to retrieve his losses.
While living in Mississippi Mr. Levi met Miss Mina Halfin, and their attachment resulted in marriage about the time he established his business in Texas. Mrs. Levi died in 1867, much loved for her benevolence and kindness. Her husband was in Europe for his health at the time.
The practical benevolence of Abraham Levi's character was commemorated and continued by the generous action of his six children, after his death, when they set aside a fund from his estate, to be managed by trustees, who devote the proceeds to the support and care of the poor and indigent of Victoria. Historical Review of South-East Texas and the Founders, Leaders and Representative Men, Vol 2, by Dermot Hardy and Maj. Ingham S. Robert, by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1910
LEVI, ABRAHAM
Abraham Levi, at whose death on November 30, 1902, all the business houses of Victoria were closed to mark the respect and honor in which the banker-merchant was held, was without doubt one of the strongest personalities in the business life of Texas during the last century. The rugged standards of business honesty and fair dealing which he exemplified were of themselves among the best influences that modified and regulated commercial dealings. While his ability in building up large and permanent business enterprises las still a monument in the private banking house of A. Levi & Company, the oldest bank of Victoria, and one of the few private banks which have increased their reputation for stability with each recurring trial of financial panic.
The life of Abraham Levi is an instructive story, beginning with the hard circumstances of an old-world family and the struggles of a dutiful son who sacrifices himself for the support of others, and then passing to the happier achievements of a career on this side of the Atlantic.
He was born June 24, 1822, in the village of Hatten, Alsace, which at that time was one of the departments of the French Empire, and the family was French rather than German in its national allegiance in that frontier province. The parents were poor, but honorable and respected people of the town and had six children, three sons and three daughters, Abraham being the youngest son and next to the youngest child. They were unable to give their children regular school advantages, and when the father died in 1833, the two older brothers, having been apprenticed to tradesmen, Abraham, then eleven, had to give up all hope of further schooling and was practically the only help of his widowed mother in supporting the family still at home. For many years after that his days were of toil and privation, and though always fighting against heavy odds he passed through the trials of that time without becoming either hard or cunning. At the age of thirteen, with a few francs, which he had been able to save, he bought a small stock of ribbons, buttons, tapes, etc., and carrying it all on his back went from house to house in the adjacent country offering his wares for sale. Enduring cold and hunger, he passed from village to village endeavoring to be in each on market days. He continued this life for several years, but as his profits were contributed to the family he could not increase his business beyond the narrow range of the peddler.
Then his sisters married, and it seemed that he would be in a position to render his mother comfortable in her declining years. But L'homme propose et Dieu dispose, and his mother died before she could enjoy the devotion of her son. After that loss Abraham found himself a weakly youth, penniless, and alone in the world, his brothers having gone to unknown locations. His struggles continued until he reached majority, when he became liable for military service. But he drew a lucky number and was exempt. Before his turn came again he had seized an offered opportunity to enjoy the much heralded liberties and prosperity of the new world. It was his intention to work himself far enough ahead to pay off a debt which he owed for goods in Paris to the amount of 100 francs, and then embark for America. But he was making slow progress, and when he was offered the privilege of working his way to New Orleans aboard a sailing vessel, he resolved to go to the land of promise and remit the amount of his debt as soon as he had earned it.
A voyage of fourteen weeks brought him to New Orleans, and he had to overcome the difficulties of every foreigner in learning language and customs before he could make much advancement. His first work was on the levee, among the coarse and motley crowd that characterize such a locality. From this uncongenial atmosphere he escaped to a brickyard, at eight dollars a month, and a little later hired to a butcher for ten dollars a month and board.
He went up the river as far at Natchez, where he invested his small savings in some merchandise, and took the road to follow his old vocation in this new land. He had a good singing voice, which he accompanied on a guitar, and also possessed the attractive qualities of the Frenchman, advantages which regularly gained him hospitality if they did not foster his financial success. At the beginning he failed often because he frankly avowed the quality of his goods and held them at a just value. But honest representations eventually bear good fruit, and along the route of his regular travel he acquired a reputation for reliability which enabled him to sell goods to the families of the large planters. He acquired what then seemed quite a fortune, though in reality but a few hundred dollars. The old debt in Paris was still an ever present obligation, but he had lost the name and address of the firm and had no means of discharging the debt. In 1873 he visited France, and after considerable search in the old locality found the sign board with the same name as it had borne many years before. He called, gave his name and stated that he owed the house a debt which he would have paid sooner, but at first was not able and after wards had lost the address, but that he was now fully able to pay it off, with interest, hoping they would forgive the unwilful tardiness in his offering to liquidate it. They referred to old books stored away and found the account, which had been contracted with the then proprietor's deceased father. It was such an unusual occurrence that the gentleman insisted on entertaining Mr. Levi at his hospitable board, and in so liberal a style that the expense of entertainment more than balanced the amount of the old debt.
These experiences of his early career require much more space to relate than the successes to which they were introductory. In 1848, when he was twenty-six years old, he came to Victoria and started a small store, and, with the liberality, fairness and strict integrity which characterized his business relations, his fortunes grew until he was ranked among the Wealthiest and most honored of the citizens of Victoria. He passed through the crises of 1854 and of 1857 intact, though during the latter he was really reduced to insolvency and was upheld by his creditors. It was his belief, which he taught his sons, that if a man will act squarely and openly with his creditors, there is no necessity for going into bankruptcy, as creditors will endeavor to assist an honest man to retrieve his losses.
While living in Mississippi Mr. Levi met Miss Mina Halfin, and their attachment resulted in marriage about the time he established his business in Texas. Mrs. Levi died in 1867, much loved for her benevolence and kindness. Her husband was in Europe for his health at the time.
The practical benevolence of Abraham Levi's character was commemorated and continued by the generous action of his six children, after his death, when they set aside a fund from his estate, to be managed by trustees, who devote the proceeds to the support and care of the poor and indigent of Victoria. Historical Review of South-East Texas and the Founders, Leaders and Representative Men, Vol 2, by Dermot Hardy and Maj. Ingham S. Robert, by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1910
Abraham Levi, at whose death on November 30, 1902, all the business houses of Victoria were closed to mark the respect and honor in which the banker-merchant was held, was without doubt one of the strongest personalities in the business life of Texas during the last century. The rugged standards of business honesty and fair dealing which he exemplified were of themselves among the best influences that modified and regulated commercial dealings. While his ability in building up large and permanent business enterprises las still a monument in the private banking house of A. Levi & Company, the oldest bank of Victoria, and one of the few private banks which have increased their reputation for stability with each recurring trial of financial panic.
The life of Abraham Levi is an instructive story, beginning with the hard circumstances of an old-world family and the struggles of a dutiful son who sacrifices himself for the support of others, and then passing to the happier achievements of a career on this side of the Atlantic.
He was born June 24, 1822, in the village of Hatten, Alsace, which at that time was one of the departments of the French Empire, and the family was French rather than German in its national allegiance in that frontier province. The parents were poor, but honorable and respected people of the town and had six children, three sons and three daughters, Abraham being the youngest son and next to the youngest child. They were unable to give their children regular school advantages, and when the father died in 1833, the two older brothers, having been apprenticed to tradesmen, Abraham, then eleven, had to give up all hope of further schooling and was practically the only help of his widowed mother in supporting the family still at home. For many years after that his days were of toil and privation, and though always fighting against heavy odds he passed through the trials of that time without becoming either hard or cunning. At the age of thirteen, with a few francs, which he had been able to save, he bought a small stock of ribbons, buttons, tapes, etc., and carrying it all on his back went from house to house in the adjacent country offering his wares for sale. Enduring cold and hunger, he passed from village to village endeavoring to be in each on market days. He continued this life for several years, but as his profits were contributed to the family he could not increase his business beyond the narrow range of the peddler.
Then his sisters married, and it seemed that he would be in a position to render his mother comfortable in her declining years. But L'homme propose et Dieu dispose, and his mother died before she could enjoy the devotion of her son. After that loss Abraham found himself a weakly youth, penniless, and alone in the world, his brothers having gone to unknown locations. His struggles continued until he reached majority, when he became liable for military service. But he drew a lucky number and was exempt. Before his turn came again he had seized an offered opportunity to enjoy the much heralded liberties and prosperity of the new world. It was his intention to work himself far enough ahead to pay off a debt which he owed for goods in Paris to the amount of 100 francs, and then embark for America. But he was making slow progress, and when he was offered the privilege of working his way to New Orleans aboard a sailing vessel, he resolved to go to the land of promise and remit the amount of his debt as soon as he had earned it.
A voyage of fourteen weeks brought him to New Orleans, and he had to overcome the difficulties of every foreigner in learning language and customs before he could make much advancement. His first work was on the levee, among the coarse and motley crowd that characterize such a locality. From this uncongenial atmosphere he escaped to a brickyard, at eight dollars a month, and a little later hired to a butcher for ten dollars a month and board.
He went up the river as far at Natchez, where he invested his small savings in some merchandise, and took the road to follow his old vocation in this new land. He had a good singing voice, which he accompanied on a guitar, and also possessed the attractive qualities of the Frenchman, advantages which regularly gained him hospitality if they did not foster his financial success. At the beginning he failed often because he frankly avowed the quality of his goods and held them at a just value. But honest representations eventually bear good fruit, and along the route of his regular travel he acquired a reputation for reliability which enabled him to sell goods to the families of the large planters. He acquired what then seemed quite a fortune, though in reality but a few hundred dollars. The old debt in Paris was still an ever present obligation, but he had lost the name and address of the firm and had no means of discharging the debt. In 1873 he visited France, and after considerable search in the old locality found the sign board with the same name as it had borne many years before. He called, gave his name and stated that he owed the house a debt which he would have paid sooner, but at first was not able and after wards had lost the address, but that he was now fully able to pay it off, with interest, hoping they would forgive the unwilful tardiness in his offering to liquidate it. They referred to old books stored away and found the account, which had been contracted with the then proprietor's deceased father. It was such an unusual occurrence that the gentleman insisted on entertaining Mr. Levi at his hospitable board, and in so liberal a style that the expense of entertainment more than balanced the amount of the old debt.
These experiences of his early career require much more space to relate than the successes to which they were introductory. In 1848, when he was twenty-six years old, he came to Victoria and started a small store, and, with the liberality, fairness and strict integrity which characterized his business relations, his fortunes grew until he was ranked among the Wealthiest and most honored of the citizens of Victoria. He passed through the crises of 1854 and of 1857 intact, though during the latter he was really reduced to insolvency and was upheld by his creditors. It was his belief, which he taught his sons, that if a man will act squarely and openly with his creditors, there is no necessity for going into bankruptcy, as creditors will endeavor to assist an honest man to retrieve his losses.
While living in Mississippi Mr. Levi met Miss Mina Halfin, and their attachment resulted in marriage about the time he established his business in Texas. Mrs. Levi died in 1867, much loved for her benevolence and kindness. Her husband was in Europe for his health at the time.
The practical benevolence of Abraham Levi's character was commemorated and continued by the generous action of his six children, after his death, when they set aside a fund from his estate, to be managed by trustees, who devote the proceeds to the support and care of the poor and indigent of Victoria. Historical Review of South-East Texas and the Founders, Leaders and Representative Men, Vol 2, by Dermot Hardy and Maj. Ingham S. Robert, by The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1910
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