Mendes Cohen

Background

Mendes Cohen was born on May 04, 1831 in Baltimore, Pennsylvania, United States, his home throughout his life. His first American ancestor settled in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1773. The close of the Revolution found the family in Richmond, Virginia, and it was from that city that David I. Cohen went to Baltimore to enter the banking business. He was one of seven persons who founded in 1844 the (second) Baltimore Stock Board, which later became the Baltimore Stock Exchange. He married Harriet Rahmah Cohen, of Swansea, Wales, and Mendes was their eldest son.

Career

Upon the death of his father in 1847, Mendes, who had been under the instruction of a private tutor, entered the works of Ross Winans, builder of locomotives. In 1851 he was made assistant to the engineer of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. While there, he was assigned to the task of studying the alteration of wood-burning locomotives to coal-burning, and on August 29, 1854, he presented a most comprehensive report on that subject.

When only twenty-four years old, he had already become known as an especially capable railroad official, and was appointed assistant superintendent of the Hudson River Railroad. He was with that company until 1861, when he succeeded General George B. McClellan as operating head of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, first as superintendent and later as president and superintendent. Soon after the close of the Civil War he was engaged for a short time on special work for the Philadelphia & Reading Railway.

From 1868 to 1871 he was comptroller and assistant to the president of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, and from 1872 to 1875 was president of the Pittsburgh & Connellsville Railroad, which was subsequently consolidated with the Baltimore & Ohio system. He retired in 1875 from official connections with any companies, but continued his practise in Baltimore as consulting engineer.

The standard of ethics which he maintained in all his work is illustrated by his resignation from the presidency of one road when figures which he had furnished were altered before being presented to the stockholders of the company. He was a member of the board appointed in 1894 by President Cleveland to report on a route for the Chesapeake and Delaware Ship Canal. From 1893 to 1904 he was chairman of the Baltimore Sewerage Commission. He was a member of the Municipal Art Commission of Baltimore for thirty-three years, and for many years also an active member of the board of trustees of the Peabody Institute.

Achievements

• Mendes Cohen became a prominent figure among civil engineers and devoted most of his time to the welfare of the City of Baltimore. Through his ability and persistence the modern system of sewerage in Baltimore was put into effect. While in Baltimore & Ohio Railroad he also made a remarkable achievement in railroad operation and adopted the method for handling traffic on the ten percent temporary grade over the Kingwood Tunnel.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Report of the Sewerage commission of the city of Baltimore

    (Report of the Sewerage commission of the city of Baltimor...)

Membership

Cohen was elected president of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1881, an honor which he greatly appreciated. For twenty-one years he was secretary of the Maryland Historical Society, serving for nine years as its president. He was also vice-president of the American Jewish Historical Society from 1897 to 1902.

Personality

Cohen was a serious, religious man, and a strong and influential citizen in Baltimore. He was consulted in all matters of great importance, and his judgment, always given after deliberate consideration, had great weight.

Connections

Cohen was married to Justina Nathan Cohen, who died in 1918.

Father:

David I. Cohen

Mother:

Harriet Rahmah Cohen

Spouse:

Justina Nathan Cohen

References

• The Hebrews in America: A Series of Historical and Biographical Sketches (Classic Reprint)
• The Ancient and Honorable Mechanical Company of Baltimore: Organized, September 22D, 1763, Provincial Charter, June 26Th, 1764, Incorporated by Act of Assembly, No. 127, 1827 : Historical Sketch