08/24/2026
In 1857, brothers Lazarus and David Kohns were living in New York City, where they operated an embroidery business at 55 John Street. At some point, Lazarus moved to Georgia, where his life became closely connected with the Straus family.
On November 18, 1863, Lazarus Kohns married Hermine Straus in Muscogee County, Georgia. Hermine was the daughter of Lazarus and Sara Straus, who had emigrated from Otterberg, Germany. Lazarus was the son of Louis and Clara Kohns of Giebelstadt, Germany.
The marriage was performed by Minister James K. Gutheim, an intriguing figure in the history of Southern Jewry. Gutheim was associated with Jewish congregations in New Orleans, Columbus, and Montgomery during the Civil War era. According to Dr. Stuart Rockoff of the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, Gutheim supported the Confederacy and left New Orleans after the city came under Union control. He later served congregations in Montgomery and Columbus before eventually becoming associated with Temple Emanu-El in New York City and returning to New Orleans after the war.
The Columbus Jewish community was itself well established by this time: B'nai Israel was founded in 1854.
After the Civil War, Lazarus Kohns and Hermine returned to New York with the Straus family. Lazarus later worked at L. Straus & Sons on Warren Street, bringing his story full circle—from an embroidery business on John Street, to Civil War–era Georgia, and ultimately back to the Straus family business in New York.
