Morris Schlossberg – Russian Who Made Missoula His Home
Schlossberg Quits Merchandising Game – 1922
Will Make the Garden City His Home After Closing Out Business.
At Uraga, Russia in the year 1862 a boy was born in a Jewish family. The father was a merchant, likewise the older brothers. The Jewish boy worked with his father until 17 years of age, when he obtained a passport from his native country which enabled him to leave for America, the land of promise.
That boy was Morris Schlossberg, who is now closing a business career here, retiring from merchandising. He landed in New York City in the fall of 1879, where he found employment and later operated a shoe store, a member of the firm of Cohen and Schlossberg.
The west offered inducements to him and left for Butte, arriving in that city in 1888. Hearing of a business opening, he came to the Garden city, opening a small store near where the Rogers hotel stood, which was then one of the prominent hotels in the city. Later, a fire which swept a business block across the street spread to the Schlossberg establishment, which was totally destroyed, there being no insurance.
Not disheartened, Morris Schlossberg again entered the business and in 1891 purchased the Chicago Bee Hive from Jacob Sabotsky, which was located on the site now occupied by Donovan & Hickey. Then came the Milwaukee railroad boom. Rents soared skyward, and Schlossberg was forced to leave his place of business, being underbidden by another merchant. The present home of the Schlossberg store, was built, and has been used by this firm since the fall of 1908.
Morris Schlossberg has been prominent in Odd Fellow circles, has been honored with a jewel which indicates 25 years of service with the fraternity. He is also a member of the B.P.O.E. and the Foresters.
When asked as to his future plans, Mr. Schlossberg said: “I don’t know that I have many friends, but I know I have no enemies. I came to Missoula when it was but a village when there were spikes sticking up in the sidewalk to tear my shoes. Now it is a modern city, with cement walks, paved streets, fine homes and business houses. I am going to make Missoula my home. It is here I have raised my six children and educated them. I love the city and I love the people.
“I have donated to the high school the first piano they had and have still in use. I gave to the University of Montana the first American flag it had, and also gave flags to the courthouse and city hall. I have helped build many of the churches of the city and have tried to do my part. When I close out my business I am through with the big store, but I am going to make Missoula my home.
Morris Schlossberg has been a leader among the Jewish people of this city in their observances.
The above article appeared in the Missoulian on March 13, 1922.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/352046877/
Morris Schlossberg Old-Time Resident Summoned By Death
Pioneer Missoula Merchant Passes Following Stroke.
Morris Schlossberg for 40 years a resident of Missoula and for 36 years of that period a business man of the city, died at a local hospital last night following a brief illness. Although Mr. Schlossberg had been in failing health for a number of years, his condition was apparently improving until he suffered a stroke of paralysis Tuesday that brought on his death.
Two years ago he suffered a stroke and for a long time was quite ill, but of recent months seemed to be improving until the second paralytic stroke of a week ago.
Mr. Schlossberg was a well-known character in Missoula’s history. He was always known as a public-spirited business man and a patriotic citizen. During the days he was in business he donated flags for the schools and gave the first piano to the high school. At one time he was president of the fair board and was at one time president of the chamber of commerce.
According to an old resident of the city, who last night commented upon Mr. Schlossberg’s life in Missoula, he was a charitable business man “too much so for his own good,” who supplied needy people with articles of merchandise when there was no absolute assurance that the goods would be paid for.
Born in Russia 67 years ago, Mr. Schlossberg came to America when he was 17 years of age and settled in New York, where he went into the shoe business. He came west in 1886, located at Butte and in 1888 he came to Missoula.
Here he operated the Bee Hive store, located on the corner of Higgins avenue and Main street, now occupied by Donovan & Hickey, and for more than 20 years was in business on the corner. Then his store went to the corner of Higgins avenue and Pine street where it was located in the building now occupied by Worden’s grocery. He was continuously in business until four years ago, when failing health hastened his retirement.
During his residence here he built his home [illegible] East Cedar street, which, when built was one of the most substantial homes on that street.
Mr. Schlossberg is survived by his wife and seven children. The latter are all residents of New York. There are five daughters and two sons; Mrs. Percy Cohn, Miss Evelyn and Miss Jeannette, Miss Neta, Miss Leonora Schlossberg and Joseph and Herman Schlossberg. A brother, David Schlossberg, resides at Portsmouth Va. Herman Whitelaw and Paul Whitelaw, both of Missoula, are brothers-in-law.
The two sons, Joseph and Herman are on their way to Missoula to attend the funeral. They left New York Saturday night when advised by wire of the critical condition of their father.
Mr. Schlossberg was a member of the Elks and the Odd Fellows lodges, both of which will participate in the funeral services.
The funeral arrangements are not completed, but the funeral will be held Wednesday. A Jewish rabbi will come to Missoula to conduct the Jewish funeral. Mr. Schlossberg during his residence in Missoula was the leader among the Jewish people and conducted the services and ceremonials of that denomination.
The body is at the Marsh & Powell undertaking place.
The obituary above appeared in the Missoulian on October 1, 1928.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/348704635
Clerks Banqueted By Schlossberg
Proprietor Gives a Feast After Last Christmas Rush Is Over.
According to his yearly practice, Morris Schlossberg last evening gave a sumptuous banquet to his employees immediately after the doors of the store had closed on the last Christmas shopper. The banquet table was spread in the rear of the store, and it was a gay, though tired, crowd that partook of Mr. Schlossberg’s generous and bountiful repast. There was nothing lacking that could have added to the festivity of the occasion, and it was early in the morning when the banquet concluded. The following were present:
Misses Young, Batts, Malloy, Steeples, O’Neil, Mariln, Hutchinson, Chatin, Gizella, Jeanette, Evelyn, and Neta Schlossberg, Messrs, Levy, Viskniski, Fagin, Hammer, Langton, Shunk, A. Porgens of Chicago, P. E. Bates of Denver, Harry Sterret, Joe and Herman Schlossberg.
The above article appeared in the Missoulian on December 25, 1912.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83025316/1912-12-25/ed-1/seq-5.pdf
From Deane Jones’ Missoulian column on December 15, 1967
POTPOURRI. From Harry W. Sayer, in New York City, comes a copy of the New York Times carrying Tom Wicker’s article on Montana politics that appeared in The Missoulian a few days ago. Sayer, who will be better remembered by old-timers as Herman Schlossberg, sent along this memo: “Always thought Missoula was on ‘the Main Line.’ I’ve been isolated in this one-horse town 50 years.” He signs it “An Old Native.”