Introduction
Edward N. Cohn was born in 1832. On the 1870 Census he stated that he was born in Bohemia, in 1880 Germany. It is likely that he was born somewhere in what is now the Czech Republic. Edward Cohn appears to have served during the Civil War as a Sergeant with Company C of the 34th New Jersey Regiment from January 17, 1865 through January 16 of 1866, where he was mustered out in Mobile AL.
Edward N. Cohn appears in the 1870 census as living in Camden's North Ward. He had by then married his wife Adeline, who was Pennsylvania born. The Cohns had a three year old daughter, Adelia. Edward N. Cohn was then working in the lumber business. He was doing well in that trade, as the family employed a live-in domestic. He had also started building houses.
Edward Cohn was making his home in Bordentown NJ when the 1880 Census was taken. He was then in the retail lumber business. Business had been good to him, and the Cohn family was still employing a domestic. All through this period and into the 1880s he continued to engage in construction.
In 1886, George Reeser Prowell wrote of Edward N. Cohn, in his book History of Camden County, New Jersey:
Among the builders of Camden are several who have erected five or six hundred houses each. The heaviest operators are undoubtedly Cohn & Roberts, Wilson Ernst, and George Holl. Fine examples of the work of the firm first named are to be seen on Front and Point Streets, between Cooper and Linden. Mr. E.N. Cohn commenced building in 1866, erecting in that year 12 houses on Pearl Street. He then continued putting up blocks and separate structures, operating alone and in conjunction with Charles B. Richard and Asa R. Cox, and building not less than one hundred and fifty houses. He also erected the Pfeil and Galtz building, which was burned. In 1882 he formed a partnership with Joseph E. Roberts, who, individually, had built about two hundred houses, and as a firm they have since constructed at least four-hundred and fifty dwellings, to which line of building they devote themselves exclusively.
By 1887 Edward Cohn had moved back to Camden, and the family lived at the corner of 8th and Line Streets through 1889. In 1888 he began work on a mansion at North 8th and Cooper Streets. The 1890 Camden City Directory shows that Edward Cohn and family was living at 804 Cooper Street, then one of the most prestigious blocks in the city. Edward Cohn died on November 9, 1890.
As indicated above, Edward Cohn had partnered with Joseph E. Roberts, president of the West Jersey Railroad Company. He would later also partner with George Holl. The Roberts and Cohn real estate firm was located at 105 Market Street. Edward Cohn bought land from John F. Starr Jr. in North Camden, and with partners Roberts and Holl built many two- and three-story row and frame houses from Cooper's Point to Pearl Street, which they sold and rented out to working class people. Cohn also bought land near the Liberty Park railroad station, where he built blocks of similar homes along Liberty Street, Mechanic Street, Atlantic Avenue, and Kaighn Avenue, between Haddon Avenue and Mount Ephraim Avenues.
Cohn Alley, which runs west off Haddon Avenue between Kaighn Avenue and Liberty Street, is named for Edward N. Cohn.
Photos
Edward N. Cohn portrait
312 to 338 Point Street — 2003
These are the homes on Point Street which Prowell cites as "fine examples" of the homes built by Edward Cohn and Joseph Roberts prior to November of 1886.
E.N. Cohn's Mansion at 804 Cooper Street as seen from 9th Street — 1893
804 Cooper Street mansion detail
German Society Anniversary
Camden Daily Courier —
THE GERMAN MASS MEETING.
A PURELY DEMOCRATIC GATHERING AT THE COURT HOUSE.
Teutonic Republicans Fail to Turn Out—An Audience of Vice Presidents—Judge Wescott Expresses a Love for German Vote.
About two hundred persons, one half of whom were vice presidents and all known as Democrats, gathered at the court house last night to attend the German Democratic mass meeting. There were few Republicans present and consequently the meeting and its object—a German-Republican revolt—was a complete failure. A German band played some familiar tunes of the Fatherland. Four airs had been rendered and yet no speakers appeared, when finally Editor Alexander Schlessinger, of the Camden County Journal, Captain Stahl and Dr. Beurnt, of Philadelphia, appeared. John Heilemann then walked up to the bar and called the meeting to order. Eli Bachrach was unanimously chosen chairman, and Messrs. Pfeiffer and Goldenberg were appointed a committee to escort the gentleman to the chair. In a few words of his native language he thanked the meeting for the honor conferred. Dr. Conrad G. Hoell, Jacob Vissell, Anthony J. Oberst, H. Gausselman, were elected secretaries.
THE VICE PRESIDENTS.
The following long list of vice presidents was then announced: At large, Dr. B. J. Weyle; First ward—Francis D. Pastorius, John Scharnagl, Wilhelm Hage, Christian Killinger, David Goldenberg; Second ward—John Heilemann, John Pfeiffer, Christian Eckert, John Hausbeck, Charles E. Wentz, Ernest C. Wentz; Third ward—Solomon Seybold, Wilhelm Myers, J. Henry Sauers, Gus Weber, George Bristle, Joseph Meyer, Sr.; Fourth ward—George Holl, Theodore G. Mayer, Emanuel Schneider, Conrad Spalt, Charles Benkert; Fifth ward—Peter Dankelmann, John F. Riegen, George Horneff, Sr., Theodore Krug; Sixth ward—Anthony Kobus, George Pfeiffer, Sr., George Pfeiffer, Jr., John Welsh, Sr., Dennis Lutenbacher, Frederick Lutz, Fred George Brum, A. Tegtmeier, Michael N. Voll, George Kleinheintz, Lewis Schiemer; Seventh ward—Edward N. Cohn, Charles Helm, Anthony Vall, Dr. H. W. Miller, Edward Schuster, Sr.; Eight ward—Dr. John W. Dognes, John Heim, John Schaus, Martin J. Eno; Wrightsville—Frank Berberick, David Hess, Jacob Meyer; East Camden—Fred Spuhler; Merchantville—Jacob Moeck, Gottlieb C. Moeck; Gloucester City—Fred Geissel, John Bender; Berlin—Peter Mucker; Blackwoodtown—Christ. Ebensperger; Milford—Louis Clipper; Collingswood—John Schnutzius.
Crystal Glass Company
Trenton Evening Times —
Crystal Glass Company, Trenton Evening Times, December 29, 1887
Marring Cooper Street
Camden Post —
Marring Cooper Street. Camden Post — June 3, 1888
Roberts & Cohn Building Activity
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The building boom has extended to Camden. A large number of houses are being removed in the neighborhood of the site for the new Kaighn Avenue depot. Roberts & Kuhn, contractors, are tearing down twelve brick buildings at Locust Street and Mechanic Street, and two frame houses on Knight Street, north of Kaighn Avenue. At the northeast corner of Front Street and Chestnut Street they are building ten two-story brick dwellings, and nine three-story ones on Stevens Street, above Broadway. The German Catholic Church at St. John and Spruce streets is under contract. P. McDonald has the contract for the stone work. The Keystone Chemical Company are making four additions to their works on Viola Street. George Hall is building two three-story houses at Nos. 501 and 503 Benson Street.
James Cox has just begun six two-story brick houses on Cox Street, below Second.
William Key, of Philadelphia, has commenced a brick stable two stories in height, 18x40 feet at 509 Berkley Street.
Charles Camdull will build on the Peacock estate at Berlin.
Frank Shaw will erect a hotel at Cramer's Hill. The building will be located at the corner of Mt. Pleasant Street and Cooper Street.
Building at 8th and Cooper
Camden Post —
Building at 8th and Cooper article
Kaighn's Point Ferry Company
Philadelphia Inquirer —
CORPORATION ELECTIONS.
The Kaighn’s Point Ferry Company yesterday elected these officers and directors: President, Austin Corbin; vice president, A. A. McLeod; W. R. Taylor, secretary; W. A. Church, treasurer; directors, Austin Corbin, A. A. McLeod, George DeB. Keen, S. A. Caldwell, A. J. Antelo, W. R. Taylor, H. C. Felton. Herbert C. Felton was elected superintendent.
The West Jersey Title and Guarantee Company elected these officers and directors: President, Samuel H. Grey; secretary, William S. Cassleman; treasurer, D. Somers Risley; directors, Samuel H. Grey, Thomas E. French, William J. Sewell, Peter L. Voorhees, William S. Scull, E. N. Cohn, Franklin C. Woolman, D. Somers Risley, Peter V. Voorhees, Thomas E. French, William S. Cassleman and Peter A. B. Widener.
The stockholders of the Camden Heating and Lighting Company elected these directors: E. A. Armstrong, J. E. Roberts, George Barrett, J. Willard Morgan, William J. Sewell, J. Burleigh, David Baird, William T. Bailey, J. J. Burleigh, David Baird, Howard M. Cooper and Rene Gillon.
Real Estate Transaction
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Named: Edward N. Cohn, Charles Lederman Sr., Walnut Street, Sarah W. Grey, Samuel Grey, Ferdinand Neutze, Sarah Flick, Colonel Daniel B. Murphy, and North 6th Street.
Death Notice
Camden Post —
Edward N. Cohn Death notice