admin SIMON FLEISCHMANN, an eminent lawyer of Buffalo, has also won distinction in public and social life. Emanuel Fleischmann, son of Ezekiel, and father of Simon Fleischmann, was born in Aufsess, Bavaria, August 14, 1825, and educated at Bayreuth, and Bamberg. In 1849 he came to America, and after a short stay in New York, went to Columbus Miss., and thence to Perryville, Mobile, and New Orleans, respectively for short periods of time. In 1850 he went to San Francisco, where he engaged in the cigar business. In 1855 he married Eliza Dessauer. Their children were: Samuel, who died in infancy; Simon, and Bianca. In 1871 he came to Buffalo, where in 1872 he was appointed Chief Clerk of the Department of Education. In 1873 he was appointed teacher of music in the public schools, continuing till 1876. The death of Mr. Fleischmann occurred April 17, 1903. His wife died December 25, 1890. Emanuel Fleischmann was a man of superior intellect and estimable character. He was a prominent Mason, being a member of Alden Lodge, No. 594; Adytum Chapter, No. 235; Buffalo Council, No. 17, and Queen City Council, No. 259. He was Recording Secretary of Montefiore Lodge, No. 70, Independent Order B’nai B’rith, and a charter member of Eagle Lodge, No. 69, Knights of Pythias.
Simon Fleischmann was born in Iowa City, Ia., September 11, 1859. When three years old he removed with the family to New York City, and afterward to Meadville, Pa., and later to Dunkirk, N. Y. In 1871 he came to Buffalo. He attended the public schools of Meadville and Buffalo, and at Grammar School No. 13 won the first Jesse Ketchum gold medal. On his graduation from Central High School in 1879 he was again awarded a Ketchum Medal. He began the study of law in 1899 with William C. Bryant. A year later he entered the law office of William H. Gurney, and in 1881 became connected with the office of Cleveland, Bissell & Sicard. In 1882 he was admitted to the bar, and during 1883 was Managing Clerk for Cleveland, Bissell & Sicard. In 1884 Mr. Fleischmann opened a law office for himself. For several years he was in partnership with the late Emory P. Close, and latterly he has had for his associate William R. Pooley. The legal practice of Mr. Fleischmann has been confined entirely to high-grade civil litigation in the courts of this and other States, as well as before the Federal tribunals, and he has acted to a considerable extent as counsel for other lawyers in the trial of cases and the argument of appeals.
Mr. Fleischmann is a Republican. In 1897 he was elected Supervisor from the old 21st Ward on the Good Government ticket, being indorsed, by the Democrats. In 1899 he was elected Councilman on the Republican ticket by 5,000 majority. He served for two years as President of the Board of Councilmen, and made an excellent record.
Mr. Fleischmann possesses great musical talent, and for more than twenty years was organist in a number of Buffalo’s principal churches, retiring from church organ work in 1898. In 1904 he was appointed official organist of Buffalo, and in 1905 inaugurated at Convention Hall a service of free Sunday afternoon organ recitals. From 1882 to 1889 he was dramatic and musical critic and editor for the Buffalo Courier.
Mr. Fleischmann has been a trustee of the Erie County Bar Association, served as its President in 1903, and for some years was Chairman of its Laws and Legislation Committee. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, and is on its most important committee, that of Law Reform. He is also a member of the American Bar Association. In 1904 he was designated by the New York State Bar Association as a delegate to the Universal Congress of Lawyers and Jurists held in St. Louis. He is a member of the Buffalo Club, of Temple Beth-Zion, and of the Society of Natural Sciences, and a life member of the Buffalo Library.
June 29, 1898, Mr. Fleischmann married Laura Justice, daughter of William G. and Anna (Gillam) Justice of Buffalo. Their children are: Edwin, born in August, 1899; Justice, born in August, 1902, and Dudley, born in May, 1905.
SOURCE: Memorial and Family History of Erie County New York; Volume I