Joshua Cohen was born into one of Baltimore’spreeminent Jewish families. She was the great-granddaughter of JudithSolomon Cohen, who had settled in thecity in 1808, following the death of her husband, Israel, and whosechildren—including David, Mendes,and Joshua’s grandfather, Benjamin—would be recognized for their accomplishments in business and financeas well as for their contributions to Jewish and civic life ofBaltimore.

IsraelI. Cohen, Georgie’s father, ran a successful brokerage firm and wasa founder of the second Baltimore Stock Exchange. In 1850 he marriedCecilia Eliza Levy,and among their children Benjamin,Joshua,Eleanor Septima,and Anna Maria.

Pictured here at a year-or-so-old, Joshua iswearing a dress—a not uncommon traditional practice for young boys,who, it was said, were the preferred target of the evil eye.