Mary Ann Magnin (1850–1943) was a Dutch-American businesswoman. She was the co-founder of I. Magnin, an upscale "specialty store" in San Francisco, California.
Mary Ann Magnin | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mary Ann Cohen 1850 |
| Died | December 15, 1943 (aged 93)[1] |
| Resting place | Hills of Eternity Memorial Park, Colma, California, US |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
| Spouse | Isaac Magnin |
| Children | 8 |
| Relatives | Edgar Magnin (grandson) Cyril Magnin (grandson) Mae Brussell (great granddaughter) |
Early life
Mary Ann Cohen was born in 1850 in Scheveningen, The Hague, the Netherlands.[1][2][3] Her father was a rabbi.[1] She immigrated to England with her parents, settling in London, where she grew up.[1][2]
Career
In the wake of the California Gold Rush, she decided to immigrate to the West coast of the United States with her husband and children.[4] They arrived in San Francisco in 1875, traveling via Cape Horn.[1][3] She established a clothing store in Oakland, where she sold baby clothes, lingerie, and bridal trousseaux.[2][5][6] Two years later, in 1877, she moved the business to a larger store in San Francisco, and it became known as I. Magnin.[1][6][7]
Even though she retired in 1900, she kept visiting her store daily until her death.[3][5]
Personal life
She married Isaac Magnin on October 8, 1865, at the Great Synagogue of London.[1][3] She was only fifteen years old.[2][3] They had eight children: Samuel, Henrietta, Joseph, Emanuel John, Victor, Lucille, Flora, and Grover.[1] They resided at the Saint Francis Hotel on Union Square.[5] San Francisco artist May Slessinger painted miniature portraits of Mary Ann Magnin and her son Grover.[8]
Death
She died on December 15, 1943, in San Francisco, California.[1] She was ninety-three years old.[1] She is buried at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park in Colma, California.