Today in Wheeling History: October 2—Samuel S. Bloch, co-founder of Bloch Brothers Tobacco and civic leader, dies in Wheeling (1937).
Samuel Simon Bloch was born on February 6, 1850, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Solomon Bloch and Helen Rose, early members of Wheeling’s Jewish community. Raised in North Wheeling, Samuel attended local schools and began his career as a court reporter and retail merchant. In the 1870s, he and his brother Aaron founded Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company, pioneering the concept of loose chewing tobacco packaged in paper pouches. Their flagship product, Mail Pouch Tobacco, became a national brand, famously advertised on barns across rural America. By the turn of the century, the company employed hundreds and was one of Wheeling’s largest industrial employers.
Samuel married Bertha Prager in 1879, and together they raised a family that remained deeply involved in Wheeling’s civic life. He served for over 30 years as a trustee of City Hospital and its successor, Ohio Valley General Hospital, and in 1929 donated $20,000 to establish a pediatric division. His children later donated the family home, Elmhurst, to become “The House of Friendship,” a senior residence. Samuel’s legacy includes industrial innovation, philanthropy, and enduring contributions to Wheeling’s healthcare and Jewish heritage. He died on October 2, 1937, at age 87 and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library – Samuel S. Bloch (http://bit.ly/3VJ5j9y) (http://bit.ly/4pMm7Ko), Find a Grave – Samuel Simon Bloch (https://tinyurl.com/yssuuc36), Weelunk – The Lasting Legacy of Samuel S. Bloch (https://tinyurl.com/45vpfj8h), WVU Libraries – The Bloch Family (https://tinyurl.com/cb97rk95)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave, Weelunk, West Virginia & Regional History Center
Samuel Simon Bloch was born on February 6, 1850, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Solomon Bloch and Helen Rose, early members of Wheeling’s Jewish community. Raised in North Wheeling, Samuel attended local schools and began his career as a court reporter and retail merchant. In the 1870s, he and his brother Aaron founded Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company, pioneering the concept of loose chewing tobacco packaged in paper pouches. Their flagship product, Mail Pouch Tobacco, became a national brand, famously advertised on barns across rural America. By the turn of the century, the company employed hundreds and was one of Wheeling’s largest industrial employers.
Samuel married Bertha Prager in 1879, and together they raised a family that remained deeply involved in Wheeling’s civic life. He served for over 30 years as a trustee of City Hospital and its successor, Ohio Valley General Hospital, and in 1929 donated $20,000 to establish a pediatric division. His children later donated the family home, Elmhurst, to become “The House of Friendship,” a senior residence. Samuel’s legacy includes industrial innovation, philanthropy, and enduring contributions to Wheeling’s healthcare and Jewish heritage. He died on October 2, 1937, at age 87 and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library – Samuel S. Bloch (http://bit.ly/3VJ5j9y) (http://bit.ly/4pMm7Ko), Find a Grave – Samuel Simon Bloch (https://tinyurl.com/yssuuc36), Weelunk – The Lasting Legacy of Samuel S. Bloch (https://tinyurl.com/45vpfj8h), WVU Libraries – The Bloch Family (https://tinyurl.com/cb97rk95)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave, Weelunk, West Virginia & Regional History Center
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