Isidor Straus
| Isidor Straus | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 15th district |
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In office January 30, 1894 – March 3, 1895 |
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| Preceded by | Ashbel P. Fitch |
| Succeeded by | Philip B. Low |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 6, 1845 Otterberg, Palatinate, then ruled by the Kingdom of Bavaria |
| Died | April 15, 1912 (aged 67) Sinking of the RMS Titanic, Atlantic Ocean |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Rosalie Ida Blun (m. 1871–1912) |
| Children | Jesse Isidor Straus Clarence Elias Straus Percy Seldon Straus Sara (Straus) Hess Minnie (Straus) Weil Hebert Nathan Straus Vivian (Straus) Dixon |
| Occupation | Co-owner of Macy's department store |
Isidor Straus (February 6, 1845 – April 15, 1912) was a Palatinate-born American businessman and co-owner of Macy's department store with his brother Nathan. He also served briefly as a member of the United States House of Representatives. He died with his wife, Ida, in the sinking of the passenger ship RMS Titanic.
Isidor Straus was born into a Jewish family in Otterberg in the former Palatinate, then ruled by the Kingdom of Bavaria. He was the first of five children of Lazarus Straus (1809–1898) and his second wife Sara (1823–1876). His siblings were Hermine (1846–1922), Nathan (1848–1931), Jakob Otto (1849–1851) and Oscar Solomon Straus (1850–1925). In 1854 he and his family immigrated to the United States, following his father Lazarus, who immigrated two years before. They settled first in Columbus, Georgia and then lived in Talbotton Georgia, where their house still exists today. After the Civil War, they moved to New York City, where Lazarus convinced Rowland Hussey Macy, founder of Macy's to allow L. Straus & Sons to open a crockery department in the basement of his store.
Isidor Straus worked at L. Straus & Sons, which became the glass and china department at Macy's. In 1888, he and Nathan Straus became partners of Macy's. By 1896, Isidor and his brother Nathan had gained full ownership of R. H. Macy & Co.
In 1871, Isidor Straus married Rosalie Ida Blun (1849–1912). They were parents to seven children (one of whom died in infancy):
Isidor and Ida were a devoted couple, writing to each other every day when they were apart.
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