OBITUARY
BEAUFORT GAZETTE
BEAUFORT, BEAUFORT COUNTY, SC
25 JUNE 1931 PAGE 2
Mrs. W. S. Gay Loses Brother
Mrs. W. S. Gay and her daughter, Mrs. E. B. Rodgers, left Tuesday for Charleston to attend the funeral of Mr. Norman Blitch, who died suddenly at his home. He was a brother of Mrs. Gay and uncle of Mrs. Rodgers. The funeral and interment was held Wednesday.
BIOGRAPHY
"History of Charleston County SC"
page 333
Norman H. Blitch
Since December 28, 1883, when he became foreman on the truck farm of Geraty, Towles and Blitch at Yonge's Island, Norman Horace Blitch has been identified with the market gardens of the Charleston section. After a few years he purchased several plantations at Meggett and began to plant for himself. His successful operations are widely known. Mr Blitch was one of the principal leaders in developing the industry in South Carolina. All the range of vegetables is familiar to him albeit he has concentrated on cabbages and white potatoes. He operates on a great scale and in the harvesting seasons field stuffs are moved by him in carload lots, going to the principal markets of the East. His wide interests in truck farming led to his presidency of the Combahee Fertilizer Company and the Standard Truck Package Company, manufacturer of crates, hampers, barrels and other package containers especially adapted to the uses of the market gardeners of the Southeast. Before coming to SC, Mr. Blitch had worked on his father's farm, in Georgia, overseeing the hands. He had also worked in naval stores business and was superintendent of a turpentine plant.
Norman Horace Blitch was born at Ellabelle, GA, January 15, 1865, a son of Henry J. and Lavinia (English) Blitch. His father was born in Screven County, GA, and his mother at Mauldin Branch, now Ellabelle, GA. His paternal ancestors came from Germany and were members of the original colony settling in GA under the leadership of Gen. James Edward Oglethorpe, who passed through Charleston nearly two hundred year ago. Thomas Blitch served the Colonies in the Revolutionary Army and was killed at the Battle of Brandywine. Henry J. Blitch, grandson of the patriot, spent his life as farmer and during the 1850s was the sheriff of his county in GA. His maternal grandfather, Reuben English, was a prosperous merchant near Ellabelle, GA. The Blitch family lived nine miles from the nearest railroad, three miles from the nearest school house. In the years of his schooling, Norman H. Blitch walked to and from the classes. Nowadays, of course, modern highways have brought the section into contact with the "outside world." The conditions of Reconstruction were serious in the years when Mr. Blitch was a school-boy. The South was valiantly striving to lift itself out of the plight ensuing after the lost War for Southern Independence.
Mr. Blitch has maintained a city residence since 1902, using automobiles in keeping in touch with his market gardening operations. His business interests in Charleston are important. He has succeeded in business enterprises as he has succeeded in the sphere of practical intensive agriculture. Probably no man knows more about lands in Charleston County than Mr. Blitch does, nor more about raising field stuffs for the markets.
Mr. Blitch has been twice married, first to Emily A. Commins, daughter of John Commins of Charleston; after her death, to Barry O' Driscoll, daughter of the late Daniel M. O' Driscoll, of Charleston. Children of the first marriage are: Melvin St. John, Lillian (Mrs. C. R. Innes Brown), of St. Petersburg, FL, and Norman H. Jr. and of the second marriage: Daniel Barry and James Hamilton. Mr Blitch is a communicant of the Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.
Additional information:
One of fifteen children, Norman Blitch (whose middle name was changed from Horace to Henry when converted to Roman Catholicism by his wife Emilie, who taught him to read and write) had immence land holdings in SC where he was known as the 'Cabbage King', lost everything in the 1929 Crash and subsequent Depression." Millionaire SC farmer-broker
OBITUARY
BEAUFORT GAZETTE
BEAUFORT, BEAUFORT COUNTY, SC
25 JUNE 1931 PAGE 2
Mrs. W. S. Gay Loses Brother
Mrs. W. S. Gay and her daughter, Mrs. E. B. Rodgers, left Tuesday for Charleston to attend the funeral of Mr. Norman Blitch, who died suddenly at his home. He was a brother of Mrs. Gay and uncle of Mrs. Rodgers. The funeral and interment was held Wednesday.
BIOGRAPHY
"History of Charleston County SC"
page 333
Norman H. Blitch
Since December 28, 1883, when he became foreman on the truck farm of Geraty, Towles and Blitch at Yonge's Island, Norman Horace Blitch has been identified with the market gardens of the Charleston section. After a few years he purchased several plantations at Meggett and began to plant for himself. His successful operations are widely known. Mr Blitch was one of the principal leaders in developing the industry in South Carolina. All the range of vegetables is familiar to him albeit he has concentrated on cabbages and white potatoes. He operates on a great scale and in the harvesting seasons field stuffs are moved by him in carload lots, going to the principal markets of the East. His wide interests in truck farming led to his presidency of the Combahee Fertilizer Company and the Standard Truck Package Company, manufacturer of crates, hampers, barrels and other package containers especially adapted to the uses of the market gardeners of the Southeast. Before coming to SC, Mr. Blitch had worked on his father's farm, in Georgia, overseeing the hands. He had also worked in naval stores business and was superintendent of a turpentine plant.
Norman Horace Blitch was born at Ellabelle, GA, January 15, 1865, a son of Henry J. and Lavinia (English) Blitch. His father was born in Screven County, GA, and his mother at Mauldin Branch, now Ellabelle, GA. His paternal ancestors came from Germany and were members of the original colony settling in GA under the leadership of Gen. James Edward Oglethorpe, who passed through Charleston nearly two hundred year ago. Thomas Blitch served the Colonies in the Revolutionary Army and was killed at the Battle of Brandywine. Henry J. Blitch, grandson of the patriot, spent his life as farmer and during the 1850s was the sheriff of his county in GA. His maternal grandfather, Reuben English, was a prosperous merchant near Ellabelle, GA. The Blitch family lived nine miles from the nearest railroad, three miles from the nearest school house. In the years of his schooling, Norman H. Blitch walked to and from the classes. Nowadays, of course, modern highways have brought the section into contact with the "outside world." The conditions of Reconstruction were serious in the years when Mr. Blitch was a school-boy. The South was valiantly striving to lift itself out of the plight ensuing after the lost War for Southern Independence.
Mr. Blitch has maintained a city residence since 1902, using automobiles in keeping in touch with his market gardening operations. His business interests in Charleston are important. He has succeeded in business enterprises as he has succeeded in the sphere of practical intensive agriculture. Probably no man knows more about lands in Charleston County than Mr. Blitch does, nor more about raising field stuffs for the markets.
Mr. Blitch has been twice married, first to Emily A. Commins, daughter of John Commins of Charleston; after her death, to Barry O' Driscoll, daughter of the late Daniel M. O' Driscoll, of Charleston. Children of the first marriage are: Melvin St. John, Lillian (Mrs. C. R. Innes Brown), of St. Petersburg, FL, and Norman H. Jr. and of the second marriage: Daniel Barry and James Hamilton. Mr Blitch is a communicant of the Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.
Additional information:
One of fifteen children, Norman Blitch (whose middle name was changed from Horace to Henry when converted to Roman Catholicism by his wife Emilie, who taught him to read and write) had immence land holdings in SC where he was known as the 'Cabbage King', lost everything in the 1929 Crash and subsequent Depression." Millionaire SC farmer-broker
Gravesite Details
GPS coordinates: N 32 48.902 W 079 56.552 Thanks to Bill Blitch, Grandson
Family Members
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Martha Penelope Blitch Blitch
1851–1925
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George W Blitch
1852–1939
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John Meyers Blitch
1854–1933
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Thomas William Blitch Sr
1856–1913
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Dr James Rueben "J R" Blitch
1860–1949
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Ida Ann Blitch Brewer
1861–1921
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Susan Lavinia "Livie" Blitch Freeman
1866–1927
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Dr Joseph Jackson Blitch
1868–1947
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Janie Elizabeth Blitch Commins
1869–1950
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Henry Wilson Blitch
1871–1903
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Willie Melvin Blitch
1873–1904
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Mary Ella Blitch Moore
1875–1947
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Naomi Blitch Gay
1877–1945
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