Simon F. Rothschild

Simon Frank Rothschild (June 14, 1861 – January 5, 1936) was an American merchant and philanthropist who served as president and chairman of the board at Abraham & Straus.

Biography Rothschild was born on June 14, 1861, in Eufaula, Alabama, the son of Amanda (née Blun / Blün) and Frank Rothschild. He spent most of his childhood in Columbus, Georgia. In 1878, he went to work at his grandfather's manufacturing business and in 1887, he founded S.F. & A. Rothschild with his brother. The Straus' family provided most of the financing for the transaction as they were flush with cash after their acquisition of a general partnership with Macy's department stores in 1888. Abraham's son, Lawrence Abraham, and son-in-law, Edward Charles Blum, also joined the partnership. Rothschild become vice president in 1920, president in 1925, and chairman of the board in 1930. Also in 1929, Rothschild presided over the merger of Abraham & Straus with Filene's, Lazarus, and Bloomingdale's to form Federated Department Stores. He was a member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and the New York State Chamber of Commerce. He was interred at the Salem Fields Cemetery. His great-grandson (through his son Walter) is Peter A. Bradford, the husband of Katherine Bradford and father of Arthur Bradford.