The story of the Lehman brothers is rather interesting to my topic. Although most people know them for their accomplishments in business, particularly in New York City, their role in Alabama was significant and often goes unnoticed. Henry, the eldest brother, decided to leave Europe for the United States to continue his fathers business. He quickly set sail for Mobile, Alabama in 1844. Why did he choose Alabama one may ask? Well, although not confirmed, many have assumed that it was either because he knew people who had settled there or because it was a lightly populated, agrarian state. Henry decided to leave Mobile as a Peddler, and move more inland towards Montgomery (immigrantentrepreneurship.com). He quickly opened a store and lived in its back room.
Henry's mercantile store prospered, and a couple of years later one of his other brothers, Emmanuel, decided to come down and help him run the store. The store name changed from H Lehman to H Lehman and Bro. Due to the fact that business was doing so well for both of them, they decided to expand their store and as a result, moved locations to a bigger storefront. This move prompted the third brother, Mayer, to come down and help run the family business with the other two. Now, the store changed its name to Lehman Brothers (immigrantentrepreneurship.com). This family run business developed during a time where the economy in Alabama was dominated by the cotton industry.
The Lehman brothers really played an important role in the reconstruction and prosperity of the South throughout this time period. More specifically, they played a vital role in developing Alabama. Alabama appointed the brothers to be the state's fiscal agent. Although I can continue on about the long history that enveloped these brothers, the reason why I decided to shed light on this particular family is because their entrepreneurial fervor lead them to become role models and leaders not only in the Jewish community but in Alabama as a whole. Despite the fact that two out of the three brothers decided to move to New York City and continue their family business, their contribution to Alabama will be forever commemorated and engrained in everyones memories.
Henry's mercantile store prospered, and a couple of years later one of his other brothers, Emmanuel, decided to come down and help him run the store. The store name changed from H Lehman to H Lehman and Bro. Due to the fact that business was doing so well for both of them, they decided to expand their store and as a result, moved locations to a bigger storefront. This move prompted the third brother, Mayer, to come down and help run the family business with the other two. Now, the store changed its name to Lehman Brothers (immigrantentrepreneurship.com). This family run business developed during a time where the economy in Alabama was dominated by the cotton industry.
The Lehman brothers really played an important role in the reconstruction and prosperity of the South throughout this time period. More specifically, they played a vital role in developing Alabama. Alabama appointed the brothers to be the state's fiscal agent. Although I can continue on about the long history that enveloped these brothers, the reason why I decided to shed light on this particular family is because their entrepreneurial fervor lead them to become role models and leaders not only in the Jewish community but in Alabama as a whole. Despite the fact that two out of the three brothers decided to move to New York City and continue their family business, their contribution to Alabama will be forever commemorated and engrained in everyones memories.