Bloch Brothers
In the general mercantile field there is no question of the precedence held by the firm of Bloch Brothers in Gas City and Upland. The firm consists of Edward and Benjamin Bloch, who are proprietors of the Golden Eagle store in Gas City and and Upland, and are the chief owners in the corporation known as Gas City Mercantile Company of Gas City, Edward Bloch being president and Benjamin Bloch a director. They took the leading part in the organization of the latter concern, which was established in 1909, to carry everything in the line of dry goods, with special attention to women's wear, including apparel and dress goods for both old and young, shoes and the other lines usually found in up-to-date and metropolitan stores of that character.
The Gas City Mercantile Company has its establishment in a very eligible location on East Main Street in Gas City. Just opposite and on the same street is the Bloch Brothers Golden Eagle store, which as a men's furnishing establishment has no superior in the county. It is a large, commodious and well lighted store building, and the shelves and counters are stocked with all the staple goods required by a well dressed community. The brothers opened a branch of their men's furnishing goods store at Upland in 1902. The Golden Eagle store has had a record of continuous and growing business success since it was started in 1896 by these brothers. Their store adjoins the post office building, and is a large building on a basis of forty-four by one hundred feet, while the Upland branch house occupies a building eighteen by fifty-five feet. The mercantile company is in a store building twenty-two by one hundred feet.
These business establishments are a monument to the industrial energy and enterprise and the reliable dealing of the two brothers Edward and Benjamin Bloch. They are merchants in the best sense of the word, have made a close study of business detail and know not only how to attract trade, but how to hold it by scrupulous dealings and by furnishing goods which custom wants and is satisfied with. The brothers have been associated in business since 1896, when they started their store at Gas City.
Both brothers were born in Milan, Missouri, came to Marion in Grant County in 1888, where they were reared and educated, and received valuable business training under their father, Simon Bloch, who was also for many years in the Men's furnishing goods business. He was a merchant of Marion some years before his death, in 1895. At that time he was forty-five years of age. His birth occurred in Germany, and he was of Hebrew family. He grew up in his native land, and in 1866 came to the United States, living in Chicago until 1877, and then went to Missouri, where he married Celia Brede, who was also born in Germany and of Hebrew family. She is still living, being now fifty-four years of age, and makes her home with her two sons in Gas City. The Bloch Brothers are live and energetic merchants, leaders in business affairs, and their support is counted upon for all matters that affect the substantial welfare of the community. Both affiliate with Lodge No. 428, Knights of Pythias, at Gas City, and Edward is also a member of the local lodge of Red Men. In politics they maintain an independent attitude.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner