Alfred M. Cohen

Alfred Morton Cohen
Born	Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Died	9 March 1949(1949-03-09) (aged 89) Avondale, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Attorney, politician
Years active	1880–1949
Known for	Ohio Senate member, Jewish-American community leader

Alfred Morton Cohen (October 19, 1859 – March 9, 1949) was a Jewish-American attorney and political figure from Ohio who held office in the Ohio Senate.

Early life

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Morton S. Cohen and Phebe Phillips, Cohen was raised in an Orthodox household but developed an early affinity for the Reform movement. He attended local public schools and a school established by Isaac M. Wise, which later evolved into Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. At the age of twelve, Wise selected him among the inaugural five students admitted to Hebrew Union College. When he was seventeen, Cohen founded a local branch of the YMHA.

Turning his attention to law, Cohen graduated with an LL.B. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1880. Among his classmates was William Howard Taft, who became both a lifelong friend and political adversary and later served as President and Supreme Court Justice. He was admitted to the bar six months post-graduation after reaching legal adulthood.

Career

Cohen built a distinguished legal career in Cincinnati, becoming the senior partner at Cohen & Mack and subsequently at Cohen, Mack & Hurtig by 1917. His expertise lay in corporate, commercial, and negligence law. Beyond his legal practice, he held presidential roles at Peoples Bank & Savings Co. and Bay Poplar Lumber Co.

His political career began early; Cohen served multiple terms on the Cincinnati City Council starting at age 25. As a Democrat, he led the convention that nominated Gustav Tafel for mayor and won election to the Ohio Senate representing Hamilton County in 1897, securing re-election in 1899 as Senate Minority Leader on a Fusion ticket. In 1900, with backing from both Democratic and Independent Republican factions, he ran unsuccessfully for Cincinnati mayor.

Dedicated to social reform, Cohen chaired the Negro division of the Community Chest and later led the Urban League. Even at 85 years old, he actively campaigned against Jim Crow practices in Cincinnati businesses, using his influence to promote equitable treatment.

Between 1912 and 1948, Cohen served as a presidential elector six times and presided over Ohio’s electoral college on five occasions. Despite this involvement, he considered the electoral college system antiquated and advocated for its modernization. He played a key role in nominating Judson Harmon for Ohio governor and was appointed by Harmon to represent Ohio on the Uniform Law Commission.

Honors

In recognition of his contributions, Hebrew Union College awarded Cohen an honorary Doctor of Hebrew Law degree in 1929. Furthermore, B'nai B'rith honored him by establishing a colony named Moledet B'nai B'rith in Mandatory Palestine in 1936.

Personal life

Cohen married Millie Phillips in 1889; they had three children: Ruth, Hannah, and Phillip.

He was instrumental in founding a national YMHA organization in 1890 and served as its president for several years. A B'nai B'rith member for over six decades, he led the Cincinnati Lodge in 1906 and held the position of international president from 1925 until 1938. In 1933, he co-established the Joint Consultive Council aimed at uniting Jewish organizations against Nazism and represented B'nai B'rith at the World Conference of Jews held in London. He supported the creation of the Hillel Foundation in 1925 to foster Jewish cultural identity on university campuses and endorsed Aleph Zadik Aleph, a youth branch of B'nai B'rith. Under his leadership, the Anti-Defamation League emerged as one of B'nai B'rith's most influential divisions.

Cohen served on Hebrew Union College’s board of governors from 1901 until his passing, chairing it between 1918 and 1937 before becoming its honorary chairman. His community involvement extended to membership in the Freemasons, Odd Fellows, and Chamber of Commerce. A committed member of Rockdale Avenue Temple since 1883, he was its sole honorary member starting in 1937 and also held honorary membership at the neighboring Protestant First United Church.

He passed away at his Avondale residence on March 9, 1949, and was laid to rest at United Jewish Cemetery.

External links

• Political Graveyard Resource