Frohman Family Monument at Oheb Shalom Cemetery

At Sandusky’s Oheb Shalom Cemetery is a lovely monument which honors several members of the David Frohman family.
Names on the monument are:

David Frohman
b. Jan. 14, 1834; d. Jan. 1, 1888
Rachel Frohman
b. May 15, 1838;d.Jan. 1, 1893
Jacob Frohman
b. May 15, 1860; d. April 22, 1915
George Frohman, b. Dec. 16, 1862;
d. Feb. 20, 1937
Charles Frohman
b. Nov. 25, 1867; d. Jan. 7, 1894
Emma Frohman
b. Sept. 13, 1869; d. Feb. 11, 1897

An Odd Fellows symbol with three interconnecting links is found above the name of David Frohman.

An entry at Family Search’s Ancestral File indicates that David Frohman was the son of Gerson and Regina Frohman. David Frohman married Rachel Strauss in 1857. According to David Frohman’s obituary, which appeared in the January 4, 1888 issue of the Sandusky Register, he was born on June 14, 1834 at Frankfort-on-the Main, Germany. As of 1888 he had resided in Sandusky for thirty-two years.

The article continued that David Frohman “was a well known citizen, and had a wide circle of friends, being a genial, bright and active man, with a pleasant look and word for every one. He was a prominent Odd Fellow, and was repeatedly honored with official position in that order, active in promoting its interests and its good work not only here in this city but throughout the State.” Mr. Frohman died on January 2, 1888 and he left behind a wife and nine children, the youngest child being only seven years old. His funeral was held on January 4, 1888 at his residence at 219 Lawrence Street.

The youngest child of David Frohman was Sidney Frohman. Articles in the historical files at the Archives Research Center of the Sandusky Library report that Sidney Frohman was known as the “dean” of the corrugated box industry. He served as president of the Hinde and Dauch Company for 34 years, and was chairman of the board for seven years. Sidney Frohman was also a great philanthropist. The planetarium at the Sandusky High School is named for him, as is the floral clock in Sandusky’s Washington Park. The Sidney Frohman Foundation continues to provide grants to educational institutions in Ohio.

David Frohman’s grandson, Charles E. Frohman, was a lawyer, historian, and author of several local history books. Several books by Charles E. Frohman pertaining to Sandusky, Erie County, Cedar Point, and the Lake Erie Islands are available at Sandusky Library. Mr. Frohman’s collection of photographs, manuscripts, and books are housed at the library of the R. B. Hayes Presidential Center.

Also named Charles Frohman, the nephew of David Frohman was a theatrical manager who was born in Sandusky but moved to New York. Sadly he died in the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915. A biography entitled CHARLES FROHMAN: MANAGER AND MAN, by Isaac F. Marcosson and Daniel Frohman (brother to Charles the theatrical manager) is housed in the Local Authors Collection of the Archives Research Center of the Sandusky Library.

The Frohman family is well known in Sandusky as well as across the nation and beyond. Dustin Hoffman portrayed Charles Frohman, the theatrical producer, in the film “Finding Neverland.”