Emanuel S. Mendels

Emanuel S. Mendels Jr. (1850–1911) was an American businessman and broker. He was a leading curbstone broker who organized the Curb Market Agency in 1908 that developed appropriate trading rules for curbstone brokers. He first became actively involved in the curb market in 1874. In 1904, Mendels began to actively attempt to organize the curb to reduce swindling and valueless stocks. In 1908, Mendels organized the Curb Market Agency that developed appropriate trading rules for curbstone brokers. On November 10, 1909, Mendels issued a notice reading, "For the protection of the public, complaints made in writing against any corporation or individual using the New York Curb market, directly or indirectly, will be investigated by the agency and referred to the proper authorities for suitable action." On March 16, 1911, the Curb Association elected its first Board of Representatives. The board corresponded to the Governing Committee of the Stock Exchange and had the "task of keeping the outside market in order." Members included E. S. Mendels and fifteen others. Upon his death on October 17, 1911, The New York Times called him the "Father of the Curb." The quotation from the Times read, "he, perhaps more than any other man, worked for the elevation of business done on the Curb." and they married on September 20, 1896. They had five children.

Mendels died on October 17, 1911 in New York City. Accounts of the illness vary; some indicate he had stomach cancer, while others that he became seriously ill from ptomaine poisoning while on a business trip to California.

Mendels was survived by his wife and children: Eugene E. Mendels, James S. Mendels, Mrs. Mary J. Betierris, William L. Mendels, and Walter A. B. Mendels. William and Walter carried on his business under the name E. S. Mendels, Jr. & Co.