LEVI STRAUSS & CO. BILL OF SALE ON PRINTED ON BUSINESS LETTERHEAD OF THE SAN FRANCISCO FLAGSHIP STORE 16 OCTOBER 16 1869 GOODS SOLD TO S.A. COHN & CO. OF DOWNIEVILLE CA. FOR $183.93
186937299San Francisco: Winterburn & Co.'s Print 417 Clay Street 1869. Broadside 7" x 8-1/2". Receipt letterhead printed in green. Columns and Lines printed in blue and red. "PAYABLE IN U.S. GOLD COIN" The letterhead describes the Company as "Importers of Clothing Domestics Rubber Boots Duck Etc." and gives its location as "14 and 16 Battery Street between Bush and Pine." A small fox mark at head of receipt otherwise Fine.<br/><br/> Levi Strauss 1829-1902 a Jewish immigrant from Bavaria founded the iconic Levi Strauss & Company. He immigrated to New York in 1846 to join his two older brothers at their wholesale dry goods business. He moved to San Francisco in 1853 attracted by the Gold Rush. He established a wholesale business and was the west coast representative of the New York family business. He later renamed the company Levi Strauss & Co. Originally a dry goods business it became famous for its blue jeans. Levi's customer Jacob Davis a Nevada tailor invented a way to make pants with rivets at points of strain to extend their life. Levi partnered with Davis and they were granted a patent on May 20 1873 from which the now famous blue jeans were born. <br/> In addition to his clothing company Levi was a charter member and treasurer of the San Francisco Board of Trade; director of the Nevada Bank; director of the Liverpool London and Globe Insurance Company; director of the San Francisco Gas and Electric Company; and part owner of the Mission and Pacific Woolen Mills. In addition to his many business pursuits Levi was a philanthropist who contributed to the Pacific Hebrew Orphan Asylum and Home; the Eureka Benevolent Society and the Hebrew Board of Relief. "The Story of Levi Strauss" website of Levi Strauss & Co. <br/> Jewish brothers Adolph Cohn 1833-1906 and Simon Cohn 1834-1926 worked together as dry good merchants in Downieville California at the time of this receipt. Their business is cited as A. Cohn & Co. and also as S. & A. Cohn or Cohn Brothers. All are listed in the 1870 & 1880 U.S. Federal Censuses Adolph living with his wife Sarah 1849-1937 and Simon living with a roommate. Adolph Cohn was at one time secretary of the Mountain Torrent No. 2 Company of the Downieville Volunteer Fire Department a member of the Mountain Shade Lodge No. 18 of Free and Accepted Masons; and an officer with the Blue Range Encampment No. 8 Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Simon was also a member of the Masons. "A. Cohn & Co. receipts 1866-1877 Univ. California Berkeley Bancroft Library BANC MSS 2006/324; Fariss & Smith: ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF PLUMAS LASSEN & SIERRA COUNTIES. . . San Francisco: 1882 pp. 240 281 461-464. Winterburn & Co.'s Print, 417 Clay Street unknown books
