Sam Cohen, 1894-1983

Samuel Cohen (1845-?) was born in Wloclawek, Warsaw, Poland, and immigrated to New York City in 1866. In 1873, Cohen went west to Denver on the advice of a friend. He found little opportunity in Denver, and went south to Pueblo, where he stayed for a short time. Upon finding little opportunity in Pueblo as well, Cohen traveled to Fairplay, Colorado (in Park County) entirely on foot, where he finally settled. Cohen became one of Fairplay's leading merchants, and invested heavily in mining properties around Park County. He was instrumental in the altering of county lines between Jefferson and Park counties from 1907-09. A community recreation area in Fairplay is named Cohen Park in his honor.