Mr Abraham Lincoln Salomon

Who was Abraham Lincoln Salomon?

Abraham Lincoln Salomon was a 43-year-old (forty-three) American businessman and first-class passenger who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born on October 1, 1868, in Manhattan, New York, Salomon’s life was profoundly impacted by his Titanic experience, shaping his personality and leaving an enduring legacy.

Early Life and Family

Abraham was born into a diverse family with roots spanning multiple continents:

• Parents: Judah Salomon (cloth dealer from Prussia) and Caroline Mathilda Leman (New York-born with English and Dutch heritage)
• Siblings:
  • Sarah (b. 1863)
  • Frances (b. 1866)
  • Marie (b. 1869)
  • Angelo
  • Caroline (died young)

Tragically, Abraham’s mother passed away on June 26, 1874, when he was just 5 years old. His father later remarried a younger German woman named Louise.

Education and Career

While specific details about Abraham’s education are not provided, we know that he established himself as a successful businessman in New York City. By 1910, he was:

• Head of Salomon & Co, located at 345 Broadway
• Described as a wholesale stationer
• Residing at 344 West 72nd Street, Manhattan

Personal Life and Family

On March 17, 1898, Abraham married Hattie Wolff, born on September 24, 1876. Hattie came from an interesting background:

• Daughter of German immigrant Baruch Wolff
• Her mother was Julia Frances Stieglitz, cousin of the renowned photographer Alfred Stieglitz
• Alfred Stieglitz was married to the famous artist Georgia O’Keeffe

The couple had one child:

• Helen Carrie Salomon, born on November 15, 1900

What was Abraham Salomon’s connection to the Titanic?

Abraham Salomon boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton as a first-class passenger on April 10, 1912. His ticket (number 111163) cost £26, equivalent to about £3,100 or $3,900 in 2023.

The Fateful Journey

• Salomon was traveling alone, having left his daughter in Europe after a business trip
• He survived the sinking by escaping in the controversial Lifeboat 1, which held only 12 occupants despite a capacity for 40
• Salomon and his fellow lifeboat occupants were photographed aboard the rescue ship Carpathia

Artifacts and Memorabilia

Salomon managed to save several items from his Titanic journey:

1. A luncheon menu from April 14, 1912 (the last full day before the sinking)
2. A receipt from the Turkish Bath, signed by Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon and his wife

These artifacts provide a tangible link to the luxury and grandeur of the Titanic’s first-class accommodations.

How did the Titanic experience affect Abraham Salomon?

The sinking of the Titanic had a profound and lasting impact on Abraham Salomon’s life and personality:

• He never spoke about his Titanic experience
• Family members described him as peculiar and almost reclusive
• He would attend family gatherings but kept to himself, rarely speaking
• His niece, Katherine Levin, recalled: “Uncle Abram always acted like a man who was hiding something”

This change in demeanor suggests that Salomon may have suffered from what we now recognize as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a common affliction among Titanic survivors.

What was Abraham Salomon’s later life and legacy?

After the Titanic disaster, Salomon:

• Continued to own and operate his wholesale stationery business
• Traveled across the Atlantic for years, suggesting he did not develop a fear of sea travel
• Lived with his family at various Manhattan addresses, including 601 West End Avenue and 211 Central Park

Family Milestones

• Hattie Salomon (wife) died on November 15, 1943
• Helen Cassie Salomon (daughter) never married and cared for her father in his old age
• Abraham Lincoln Salomon passed away on May 21, 1959, at the age of 90 (ninety)

Financial Legacy

• Salomon left an estate estimated at $117,000 (equivalent to about $1.1 million in 2023)
• His daughter invested the inheritance wisely, leaving an estate of nearly $250,000 at the time of her death in 1971

What physical characteristics defined Abraham Salomon?

According to his 1906 passport application, Abraham Salomon was described as:

• Height: 5 feet 9½ inches tall
• Hair color: Sandy
• Complexion: Light
• Eye color: Hazel

These details help us visualize the man who survived one of history’s most famous maritime disasters.

Abraham Lincoln Salomon’s life story serves as a poignant reminder of the long-lasting effects of the Titanic tragedy on its survivors. His silence about the event and subsequent reclusiveness speak volumes about the psychological impact of that fateful night in April 1912. As one of the few to escape in Lifeboat 1, Salomon’s experience offers a unique perspective on the controversial aspects of the Titanic’s evacuation and the complex emotions that survivors carried with them for the rest of their lives.