Simon F. Rothschild

Rothschild was born on June 14, 1861, in Eufaula, Alabama, the son of Amanda (née Blun / Blün) and Frank Rothschild. He spent most of his childhood in Columbus, Georgia. In 1878, he went to work at his grandfather's manufacturing business and in 1887, he founded S.F. & A. Rothschild with his brother. The Straus' family provided most of the financing for the transaction as they were flush with cash after their acquisition of a general partnership with Macy's department stores in 1888. Abraham's son, Lawrence Abraham, and son-in-law, Edward Charles Blum, also joined the partnership. Rothschild become vice president in 1920, president in 1925, and chairman of the board in 1930. Also in 1929, Rothschild presided over the merger of Abraham & Straus with Filene's, Lazarus, and Bloomingdale's to form Federated Department Stores. In order to preserve jobs during the Depression, all Abraham & Straus employees took a 10% pay cut; as a result, no employees were laid off. Abraham served as chairman until his death in 1936. == Philanthropy and board memberships ==

Rothschild served as president of the Hebrew Educational Society from 1903 to 1908, head of the Hebrew Orphan Asylum of New York from 1908 to 1912, vice-president of the Brooklyn Federation of Jewish Charities He was a member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and the New York State Chamber of Commerce. He served as director of the Associated Merchandising Corporation and the Retail Research Association, and chairman of the New York Retail Drygoods Association. He was a member of the Harmonie Club. == Personal life ==

In 1890, he married Lillian Abraham, daughter of Abraham Abraham. He was interred at the Salem Fields Cemetery. His great-grandson (through his son Walter) is Peter A. Bradford, the husband of Katherine Bradford and father of Arthur Bradford. == References ==