Appel, Jacob S.

Biography

Jacob S Appel was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1851 to Simon and Anna Greenwald Appel. Simon Appel was a successful tailor in Philadelphia. In 1871, Jacob’s younger brother David settled in Denver. David Appel had worked for his father to learn the tailoring trade and began “The Clothing House” when he moved to Denver. Simon and his eldest son Jacob came to Denver in 1873 and joined the business. In 1874, the name changed to "S. Appel and Sons," also called the "Star Clothing House." In 1892, they built a building at 16th and Larimer, called the Appel Building, for their expanding business. The clothing business had become one of the largest family-owned stores in Colorado. Jacob Appel moved his wife and children to Denver in 1879. His wife Bertha Appel died three weeks following the birth of their fifth child in 1883. The following year, Jacob married Amelia Arkush who was active in the charitable Children’s Hospital Association. Jacob Appel filled various offices at Congregation Emanuel for many years. Jacob helped found and served on Colorado’s Board of Charities and Corrections. President Cleveland appointed Jacob Appel as one of the few U.S. delgates to the International Prison Congress held in Paris in 1895. He was president of B'nai B'rith from 1881-1882. In 1903, Jacob Appel opened the large department store "JS Appel Suit and Cloak Co.," which featured ready-to-wear clothing from Paris. But in 1911, Jacob went bankrupt and was arrested for fraud for business dealings after his company failed. While awaiting trial, he and Amelia went to San Francisco to try to recoop $400,000 in losses. Jacob Appel was struck and killed by an automobile in California in 1913.

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