Kasriel (Kastrel) Cohen fonds
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/cjhn101151
- Collection
- Kasriel (Kastrel) Cohen fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 item
- Fonds No.
- I0135
- Date
- 1950
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of interview with Rabbi Lifschutz, March, 1950.
- Collection
- Kasriel (Kastrel) Cohen fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 item
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of interview with Rabbi Lifschutz, March, 1950.
- Date
- 1950
- Fonds No.
- I0135
- History / Biographical
- Kasriel “Kastrel” Cohen (b. Oswei, Vitebsk, Russia, [modern day Belarus] 1878 - d. November 27, 1957, Ottawa) was an Ottawa peddler, real estate and insurance agent, and clothing store owner. Kastrel was born in Russia to Joseph and Itta Cohen, and had two siblings; Shmuel “Samuel” Cohen (b. approx. 1864, Russia - d. October 8, 1952, Ottawa) and Ada Segalowitz. While living in Russia, he married Riva “Rebecca” (nee Speyer) Cohen (b. 1882, Russia - d. January 14, 1937, Ottawa), the daughter of Myer Speyer. His brother Samuel married Sophia Merlin (d. 1937) in 1887, and had one daughter, Sarah Zelikovitz. His sister Ada married Harris Segalowitz. Kastrel’s parents operated a tavern in Russia until the late 1880s, when economic restrictions placed on Jewish businesses forced them to close. His older brother Samuel was sent to Canada as a result of this economic hardship in 1892, while Kastrel moved to Riga where he attempted to break into the trading and ink making business. Samuel settled in Ottawa, and worked in the leather industry, eventually opening his own business which he operated from 1908 until his retirement in 1940. In May of 1902, Kastrel moved to Ottawa along with his wife, mother, and sister to join his brother as a result of increasing pogroms in Russia. He was already fluent in Russian and German before moving to Canada, and quickly taught himself English as well. He tried to break into the ink manufacturing business again in Ottawa, but found it too difficult to import the necessary materials, and instead became a peddler. After making some money through peddling, he turned to real estate, and joined the firm of Murphy and Fisher Realty Co. In 1913, Kastrel had built private and commercial dwellings on Preston, Archibald, and Wellington Streets which were worth approximately $300,000 combined. However, he went bankrupt during the First World War and lost all his property, including his own house. In 1917, Kastrel opened a second hand clothing store on Wellington Street, and after two and half years he had made enough money to repurchase his home. He continued to work as an insurance and real estate broker until his retirement in 1932. Kastrel and Rebecca lived first on Somerset, and later on Chapel Street. They had no biological children, and in 1921 they adopted their son Saul Aaron (ne Ozarof) Cohen (b. September 25, 1910, East Liverpool, Ohio). Saul later enlisted during the Second World War, and worked in Chalk River, Ontario. Kasriel Cohen was secretary of Agudath Achim Congregation. Later, Kastrel and Rebecca were members of Beth Shalom Synagogue, and Rebecca was part of the Women’s Auxiliary.
- Notes
- 1. Original material with Rabbi Lifschutz fonds.
- Related Material
- Related material in Gathering rosebuds by Abraham (Abe) Lieff, p.37
- Archival / Genealogical
- Archival Descriptions
- Repository
- Ottawa Jewish Archives
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