Jacob G. Rosenthal
Jacob G. Rosenthal, secretary of The Delaware Light, Heat & Power Company, secretary of The Electric Roller Milling Company, and secretary of The Delaware Water Power & Realty Company, has been identified with the business interests of Delaware for many years. He was born at Dayton, Ohio, September 29, 1851, and is a son of Simon and Theresa (Ullman) Rosenthal.
The grandfather of Mr. Rosenthal was Rabbi Bernhard Rosenthal, a Hebrew teacher and German scholar, who was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany. Simon Rosenthal was born also at Wurtemberg, where he grew to manhood, receiving a technical education. He was employed by the German Government as a bridge architect. Wishing to escape military service, for which he had no taste, he left his native land and came to America, throwing his fortunes in with others of 1848, who formed the revolutionary colony which included the late distinguished Gen. Carl Schurz. Mr. Rosenthal settled first at Cincinnati, went from there to Dayton and in 1851 to Cardington, Ohio, where he established himself in a hardware business. In 1859 he returned to Cincinnati and went into the wholesale fish business with a partner, under the firm name of Rosenthal & Kauffman. During the Civil War. Mr. Rosenthal returned to Cardington and embarked in a dry goods and grain business. He was elected county auditor and moved to Mt. Gilead, where he died soon after his term of public service closed. He was a member of the Odd Fellows at Cardington and of the Be Nai Beretta, at Cincinnati. He married in Germany, but all his seven children were born in America, namely: Mier, residing at Delaware; Jacob G.; Hattie, deceased, was the wife of David Mezger; Charles, residing at Cleveland; Hannah, wile of Lee Goldsmith, residing at Cleveland; and Emma, wife of William Simms, residing at Mt. Gilead. The mother of the above family died in 1905, aged 83 years. The father died in December, 1884, aged 59 years.
Jacob G. Rosenthal was educated in the public schools of Cardington and Cincinnati and remained in the latter city until 1872, employed by his father in the hardware business. He then came to Cardington and became his father's partner in the dry goods line, under the firm name of S. Rosenthal & Son, which continued until 1879, when the partnership was dissolved and Jacob G. Rosenthal came to Delaware, where he carried on a grocery business for 20 years. In 1898 he sold his grocery interests and has given practically all his time ever since to the promotion of the enterprises with which he is at present connected. He was one of the organizers of The Delaware Light, Heat & Power Company and has had charge of its business ever since. Mr. Rosenthal possesses the business acumen and the foresight and judgment which enable him to handle large affairs with ease, and his standing in the commercial life of Delaware is one of prominence.
In 1876, Mr. Rosenthal was married to Rebecca Mayer, who is a daughter of Alexander Mayer, of Cardington, and they have one daughter, Blanche. They are members of Scoville Avenue Jewish Temple, at Cleveland, and are interested in its various benevolent agencies.
In politics, Mr. Rosenthal is a Democrat and he has served as treasurer of Delaware Township. He is a member of Olentangy Lodge, Odd Fellows; of Hiram Lodge, No. 18, F. & A. M.; Lodge of Perfection at Columbus and the Consistory at Cincinnati.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908