In 1793, a fur trader named Jacob Franks built an outpost in the tiny settlement of Green Bay. Franks established business and personal relationships with the Native American residents, commencing more than 200 years of Wisconsin Jewish history.
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Community Snapshot
A peddler, Elias Weinberg stopped in the Bakertown saloon and met a man, Charles Kippert, who told Weinberg that he could buy the farm across the road for 25 cents per acre. Just then, "a very angry, drunken man came into the saloon, yelling for everyone to hear: 'Have you heard there is a g--d---- Jewish peddler around who is going to buy some land here? We don't want no g-d--- Jews around here!'
"Charles K. reached over and quietly asked Pa to give him a dollar as a deposit for the land. Pa said he didn't have a dollar. All he had was a refund check for about 50 cents from Sears Roebuck, where he bought the goods that he sold.
"Mr. Kipper grabbed the check from him, held it up for everyone in the saloon to see, and said, 'You're too late. I've already accepted Mr. Weinberg's check. And I never go back on my word.' After that, Pa and Mr. Kippert always remained the closest of friends." -Told by Ruth Weinberg