1876 ad
Michael Herman Coffee (c.1850 – December 27, 1916) was the father of Rabbi Rudolph Coffee, and ran a "dry and fancy goods" store at 875 Broadway.
1880-1881 directory
Coffee was born about 1850 in Germany. He came to the U.S. in 1868, and was naturalized in 1875. On June 12, 1877, he married Rosa Abrahamson (Coffee), who had also been born in Germany, and they had 5 children: Rudolph Isaac Coffee, Harry Coffee, Ada Joel Coffee (Spiro), Miriam Coffee (Newburgh), and Jesse Coffee.
Before April 1875, Coffee was in partnership with a Mr. Kohn. After that, Coffee was in partnership with H. Furst, at Coffee & Furst at 837 Broadway (between 6th and 7th before renumbering), but they dissolved their partnership in 1879. 2
The Coffee's son, Harry, went into the retail business, too, and eventually opened clothing stores in Fresno and Bakersfield. 1
Rosa died in 1922 after being struck by an automobile in San Francisco. 4
Links and References
- Michael Herman Coffee obituary San Francisco Examiner December 29, 1916
- M.H. Coffee & Co. ad Oakland Tribune November 9, 1875
- Harry Coffee on FindAGrave.com
- Dissolution Notice Oakland Tribune August 5, 1879
- Change of Firms Oakland Tribune April 7, 1875
- Mrs. Rosa Coffee Is Victim of Accident Modesto Herald May 4, 1922
