U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Brandfass, Charles F. (1851-1922) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 736-737 CHARLES F. BRANDFASS, a well known business man of Wheeling, West Virginia, is president and general manager of the Brandfass Tobacco Company, which occupies a three-story building at No. 1316 Water street. He has been a resident of Wheeling since 1863, and is a man who has achieved success in business, wholly through his own efforts. Mr. Brandfass was born in Europe in 1851, and was but a child when his father died. In 1860 his mother moved to Wheeling. Ohio County, Virginia, now West Virginia, where two of his brothers also live at the present time, namely: Henry, a carpenter; and William, an engineer. A third brother, August, was a farmer and is now living in retirement at Brilliant, Ohio. Charles F. Brandfass worked as a farm hand until 1863, in Ohio County, and also in Jefferson County, Ohio, and afterward served as bell boy at the McLure House for a year. He then returned to the country for a short time, and later commenced to learn the trade of a cigar maker. He spent seven years on the cigar bench, a part of the time being spent in the employ of Mr. Seamon. In 1874, he entered the cigar manufacturing business as a member of the firm of Muhn & Brandfass, at the corner of Main and 14th streets. This partnership was dissolved in 1897, a nephew succeeding Charles F. as a member of the firm. Mr. Brandfass then organized the Brandfass Tobacco Company, which deals exclusively in leaf tobacco. The company was at once incorporated as a stock company with Charles F. Brandfass as president and general manager, and Ed. Muhn as secretary. They do a packing and jobbing business, buying mainly from the growers of Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, Wisconsin, Ohio and Kentucky, for the cigar trade. They are also distributors for Cuban and Sumatra tobacco which they buy of importers. The traveling representatives of the firm cover the usual jobbing territory of Wheeling wholesale houses, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and a part of Maryland. Under the efficient management of Mr. Brandfass, the business of the firm has flourished and is one of the leaders in this line. He is also a director of the Wheeling Title & Trust Company and the West Virginia Tobacco Company. Mr. Brandfass was united in marriage with Mary Wiedebusch, and has eight children, as follows: Lottie; Sophia; Carrie; Minnie; Alma; Adelia; Marie; and Carl. They reside at No. 108-1/2 14th street, where he owns a very comfortable home. From 1870 to 1887, he was actively interested in music, and was instrumental in organizing the Opera House Orchestra, of which he was manager for three years. He is a member of the Arion Association, and has been a member of the Turner Gymnastic Association since he was 21 years of age. He was elected one of three members of the City Water Board in 1900-1901, the other members being Messrs. Butts and Lindsay. He is a Democrat, and served in the City Council one term in the "eighties." Fraternally, he is a member of Ohio Valley Lodge, No. 31, K. of P., and has been for six years. He has been a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen for 10 years, served through the chairs of the subordinate lodge, and was then elected grand receiver of the Grand Lodge. During several years past, he has been a member of the finance committee of the Grand Lodge. He was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. ------------------------------------------------------------------- DEATH CERTIFICATE, Ohio County WV, #11245 FULL-NAME: Charles F. Brandfass BIRTH-DATE: June 5, 1851 BIRTH-PLACE: W.Va. DEATH-DATE: September 27, 1922 AGE-AT-DEATH: 71y-3m-22d DEATH-PLACE: Ohio Valley General Hosp., Whheeling, Ohio County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: President of Tobacco Co. FATHER: Chas. Brandfass (born in Germany) MOTHER: Not known CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Automobile accident, fracture of petomes portions of temporal bone infections / Pyaemia INFORMANT: C. F. Brandfass, Jr. (of 529 Main, Wheeling, W.Va.) BURIAL: Greenwood Cemetery ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ohio County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/ohio/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------