From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 229-230.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


CHARLES F. BRANDFASS

Charles F. Brandfass, one of the leading tobacconists of Wheeling, is 
prominent as a citizen, and in January, 1889, was elected to 
represent the Third ward in the second branch of the city council.  
Mr. Brandfass was born in Hesse, Germany, June 5, 1851.  In August, 
1860, he accompanied his mother to the United States, his father 
having died in the old country.  They landed at Baltimore and came 
directly to Wheeling, where he had an uncle and an older brother and 
sister residing.  Charles F. lived and worked on a farm for several 
years, and at the age of fourteen came to Wheeling, and was employed 
at the McLure house for about a year.  He next served an 
apprenticeship at the trade of cigarmaker, and during the same period 
devoted much time to the study of music.  To this art he gave much 
attention, and was one of the organizers of the Opera House 
orchestra, in which he played the trombone.  In 1873 Mr. Brandfass 
first went into business as a partner of Peter Muhn, with whom he has 
ever since been associated, and they opened a cigar store and factory 
at 1321 Main street, whence they removed in 1873, to the corner of 
Main and Fourteenth streets, their present place of business.  They 
manufacture a full line of cigars from stogies up to the finer 
grades, and their brands are widely popular.  The establishment 
occupies three floors of the building and some thirty-five 
cigarmakers are employed in the factory.  The firm does an almost 
exclusive wholesale business.  In 1882 they added leaf tobacco to 
their stock, and do an extensive trade in that department.  In 1886 
Mr. Brandfass formed a partnership with H. L. Loos, in the 
manufacture of chewing and smoking tobacco, which they continued 
until April, 1889, when in connection with Augustus Pollock, they 
organized the West Virginia Tobacco company, of which Mr. Brandfass 
is treasurer.  He was married in 1873 to Mary Wiedenbusch, of 
Wheeling, by whom he has six children.  He is a member of the St. 
John's Protestant church. 


(Linda Fluharty)