Fred Fleishman
Values Codes I – E – L – P
Fred Fleishman was born in Arcata, California, north of Eureka, in 1857.
His parents were from Bavaria and had a mercantile business Arcata.
Fleishman graduated from Los Angeles High School in 1873 and then studied Pharmacy, possibly at St. Vincent Hospital, also in Los Angeles.
After a three year apprenticeship Fleishman traveled to Tucson, Arizona Territory, arriving in 1881.
Tucson, Arizona Territory
In Tucson, Fred Fleishman rapidly became a very successful druggist.
Fleishman’s Tucson Drug Store, 1890’s,
#WS1266
In 1900, the 2-story Fleishman Building went up at site of his previous business.
Fred Fleishman & Co., Druggists remained there until 1935. The building no longer stands.
“A Handsome Arizona Pharmacy: The photograph from which this engraving was made was unfortunately not very good; but the pharmacy depicted is certainly one of uncommon beauty and simplicity of design. It is situated in Tucson, Arizona and is owned by Mr. Fred Fleisher. In the rear is a laboratory which is nearly as large as the sales room shown in the illustration. As everybody knows, Tucson is a great health resort; hundreds of invalids are visiting the place constantly; and it is quite likely that Mr. Fleishman and his Tucson confreres in pharmacy all do an excellent business.”
— Bulletin of Pharmacy, Volume 17, January to December 1903
Civic
Fleishman was Vice-President of the Arizona National Bank and on its Board of Directors, and Chairman of the Loan Committee of the Citizens Building Association, and a member of the Board of Trade.
He was one of the organizers and a board member of Tucson’s Electric Light & Power Company.
Fleishman was the first President of the Territory Board of Pharmacists.
Tucson Downtown turn of the century, vintage postcard
Fraternal
Fred Fleishman belonged to the Knights of Pythias and the Elks.
He was a Mason and a stockholder in the Masonic Hall Association.
Fleishman also belonged to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and was a stockholder in their Hall Association.
Family
Fred Fleishman married Carlotta Meyer of Tucson, in 1882.
He had worked in Charles Meyer’s La Botica Pharmacy on E. Congress Street when he first arrived in Tucson.
Meyer gave the business to Fred Fleishman as a wedding gift.
Fred and Carlotta had one son, Herman Fleishman.
Fred Fleishman passed away in 1924 — a solid citizen of Tucson.
Source
- “Portrait and Biographical Record of Arizona,” originally published in 1901, Western States Jewish History 21/4.
- Lyons Bettina O’neil, Zeckendorfs and Steinfelds, Merchant Princes of the American Southwest, Arizona Historical Society 2008, available at the Tucson Jewish Museum.
Regina Merwin is curator of this Fred Fleishman exhibit.
