The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-12-11
VIII. BLOCK SR.
DIES SUDDENLY
AT HIS HOME
End Comes Unexpectedly
for Department Store
Owner; Aged "a.
FUNERAL ON THURSDAY
Immigrant Youth Rose to
Proud Position of
Merchant Prince.
FUNERAL ON THURSDAY

William H. Block Sr., "a, head
of the William H. Block Company
department store, died suddenly at
his home, 1918 North Delaware
street, at this morning.
Mr. Block had been Ill for two
years, following stroke of paraly-
sis, but his death this morning came
Unexpectedly. He became slightly
i'll Monday night and death occurred
shortly after he had risen from his
bed, seeking temporary relief after
spell of coughing.
Heart disease, resulting from an
gina pectoris, was given as the cause
of death. He had had mild attacks
before. He had been at the store
as usual Monday afternoon.
Funeral services will be held at
the residence at 10 a. m. Thursday,
with Rabbi Morris M. Feuerlicht in
charge. The store will be closed all
day Thursday.
From the lowly role of an immi :
grant, itinerant merchandise ped
dler, knowing little English, to the
position of merchant prince" on
one of Americas greatest cities,
spans the rise of Mr.. Block.
Born in Austria
Born in VERONA, Austria, in 1855.
Mr.. Block, as boy, was mentally
alert, awake to the worlds oppor-
tunities very early in life. He was
g teacher in the schools of his homf
village by the time he was is. He
taught for several years.
Attracted by broad opportunities
in America which he read about
he landed in New York, ambitious
but penniless, when 10. He made
his way to Cleveland, and though,
without relatives or friends, OBJ
tanned credit for a small pack of
clothing.
Block lived frugally and invoked
a remarkably keen merchandising
mind to great advantage. After a
year he went to Cincinnati and
Travelled out of there with his wares.
On his route, he worked in Eaton,
O., and Richmond and Newcastle,
Ind.
At the latter place he met Abe
Thalman and they formed the only
recalled "peddling partnership" IL
three years, they had amassed Is.
900. The Block and Thalman
Wholesale and Retail Department
store was then established at
Kokomo.
Through foreclosure, they ac-
quired stores at Anderson and Co.
lumbuS, Ind.
Returns to Indiana
Mr.. Block sold out in 1895 and
manufactured clothing in New York
for a year. He prospered, but re-
turned to Indiana.
Leasing a twenty-flve-foot front
building on Washington ST., where
the Woolworth 5-and-10 cent store
is located, he established a depart
ment store, individually. Later he
enlarged it into a fifty-foot-front
multiple story store. Business de-
preston came and passed. Mr..
Block, courageously, weathered the
storm by keen merchandising.
He Incorporated the william H.
Block Company in 1907, taking two
sons, M. S. and r. G. Block, into
partnership. Edward A. Block en-
tered the firm following his gradua-
ton from the University of Michi-
gan.
Besides his three sons in the firm
Mr.. Block is survived by the widow,
Mrs. Amelia Block, and two other
sons, William H. Block Jr. of New
York and Harry G. Block of New
ark, N. j., and three sisters. One
of the sisters, Mrs. A. Weslow, lives
in Anderson and two live in Cleve-
land.
Builds Business House
Mr. Block, individually, built his
stores eight-f1oor and basement
building at Illinois and Market
streets in 1910 and leased it to the
company.
He was president and genera!
manager Of the company and was
ION the job" suggesting and super
vising, daily, until Jan. Is, 1925,
when illness forced him to leavs
early. For some time he kept III
touch with his business by telephone
and through reports of his sons
Then with returning strength he
resumed close supervision.
Mr.. Block was benevolent with
employees and former employees in
need. In addition to many unher-
aided donations and acts of kind
ness in mitigation of suffering, Mr..
Block founded the Employees Mu-
tual Benefit Association, which aid
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