Meyer Kaufman was born April 14, 1844 in Dramsfeld or Darmstadt, Hanover.

His military service record states that his age was 18 at the time of enlistment as a private, May 18, 1861, in Rome, Georgia. He was five foot seven feet tall. He was present at the Battle of First Manassas, and was discharged Sept. 13, 1862 by reason of physical disability.

His rate of pay was eleven dollars per month, but he was overdrawn for twelve dollars worth of clothing.  He received $25 for travel costs to return to Georgia from Richmond, based on ten cents per mile, plus one dollar for four rations.  He hadn't been paid for four and a half months previously.  So he walked away with $62.03, but had to find his own way back to Georgia.  Who knows if he did! [Deb Freedman states that Kaufman's signature on his disability discharge form matches well the signature she has on cemetery papers in Tacoma, Wa.]

Meyer Kaufman ended up in Tacoma, Washington, where he was a Jewish pioneer merchant.  He came to Seattle in 1884 and Tacoma in 1885. An article in the local paper tells that he decorated his store in Confederate bunting on Decoration Day. His 1889 Veterans' Census says that he served in Company A of the 8th Georgia Infantry and suffered three flesh wounds. (In a later interview he says that he enlisted from Tennessee[?]).  He was one of the famous "Committee of Fifteen" that illegally evicted Tacoma's Chinese residents that Fall (1885). 27 citizens were indicted (see photo below), but none were convicted. Meyer then was considered a local hero and became active in politics. His influence helped get Governor Semple appointed, who in turn made Kaufman a Colonel on his staff. There were two gentlemen in town at the time with the same name, so Meyer Kaufman became "The Colonel" while the other became "Old Meyer." When Washington became a state in 1889 and elected her first officials, Kaufman Meyer was the Democratic candidate for state treasurer. However, Republicans swept the election.

Meyer became active in Jewish affairs and was elected the first president of the Hebrew Benevolent Society. He died on Feb. 15, 1891 and was buried in the cemetery he helped create. He left a widow Minnie, a daughter Martha, and two step-sons: Arthur and Max Berliner. His children may have moved to Guatemala.. 

[Biographical information generously provided by Deb Freedman, Tacoma, Washington.
Please view Deb's webpage at: www.drygoodsandwetgoods.com which lists Tacoma
merchants and the dry goods (clothing, fabric, boots, shoes, etc. - and liquor!)
 they sold during this very important time in Tacoma, Wa. history.]

The "Committee of Twenty-Seven," including Tacoma's mayor and judge, are shown in the above photograph. Confederate veteran "Colonel" Meyer Kaufman is sitting, with legs crossed, and is also pictured at above right.

[Photo provided by Deb Freedman]