MANDELBAUM, MAURICE J. (MOSES) (1863-16 July 1938), philanthropist, Jewish community leader, banker, and a powerful interurban-railway magnate, was born in Cleveland to Jacob and Amelia (Lehman) Mandelbaum. After graduating from CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL (1880), he worked for his father, a wealthy retail clothier. Mandelbaum was involved in several businesses. He founded Fisher Book Typewriter Co., which later became the Underwood Elliot Fisher Co.; and was a founder of Western Reserve Trust Co., which merged with Cleveland Trust Co., of which Mandelbaum was on the board of directors. In 1896, Mandelbaum began in the interurban railway business when he and his brother-in-law, Leopold Wolf, formed the Western Ohio lines. They also were interested in the Aurora-Chicago-Elgin line. Mandelbaum later became the principal owner of Southern Ohio Traction Co.
Mandelbaum was a consummate fundraiser and active in community-wide organizations, as well as being a leader in Jewish communal affairs. He chaired the Cleveland chapter of the Red Cross for 2 years, and was on the board of directors of the CITIZENS LEAGUE. Following his father's death in 1916, Mandelbaum became president of the board of the MONTEFIORE HOME, serving as director, treasurer, or president for 25 years. He was also on the board of trustees of the TEMPLE and was vice-president of the Educational League, an organization established by Rabbi MOSES GRIES to ensure that alumni of the Jewish Orphan Home had the opportunity to receive college educations. Mandelbaum married three times. His first marriage was on 22 March 1893 to Amanda Mayer. After divorcing, he married Florence S. Levy on 10 Oct. 1905; she died on 13 Feb. 1920. His third marriage was to Florence Burnet Beck on 9 Dec. 1922. Mandelbaum had no children. He was buried in Mayfield Cemetery.