What is a stogie and how does it differ from a cigar? Generally speaking, a stogie differs from a cigar in that it is considerably longer and thinner. Also, it is composed of different blends of cigar leaf resulting in a product in which the smoking qualities are different and the flavor is unique. The word "stogie" is a contraction of the word "conestoga" which was derived from the conestoga wagon. In the pioneer days the drivers of these wagons, which plied the National Road, smoked this long, thin type of product and this product consequently became known as a "stogie."

In 1840 Miflin M. Marsh founded the company and the Marsh Wheeling brand, which today is a monument to his memory. It was the oldest cigar manufacturer in the United States still operating under its original name in the same city and it had a reputation for quality from coast to coast. The first Marsh Wheeling stogies were made in the Marsh home. They were sold to passengers and crews of the steamboats plying the Ohio River, which docked at the Wheeling wharf, and also to the drivers of the conestoga wagons following the National Road. Mr. Marsh made his sales from a market basket over his arms.

There is a vast difference between the crude, rough stogie of years gone by and the Marsh stogie produced today. You will discover that the Marsh product compares favorably in workmanship and quality to products which are selling at considerably higher prices.

The sales representatives of National Cigar worked to distribute Marsh Stogies in a relationship similar to the old R. G. Dun/National Cigar relationship before 1991.

At year end 2001, M. Marsh and Son closed their plant in Wheeling, West Virginia and National Cigar Corporation purchased all the Marsh Wheeling brands from M. Marsh & Son.  All Marsh Wheeling stogies and cigars are now manufactured and sold from Frankfort, Indiana.

Marsh Wooden Indian
Mid to late 1800's hand carved

Donated by National Cigar Corporation to:
WHEELING NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA FOUNDATION
1400 Main Street
Wheeling, WV 26003

where it stands for public viewing
in the Wheeling Artisan Center
along with other M. Marsh & Son artifacts
in the "Made In Wheeling Industrial Heritage Exhibit"

Marsh Wheeling was managed by Samuel S. Clark, President.   The original Marsh Wheeling website was developed by Susan Clark and her work has been transferred onto this site with only a few minor layout changes to adapt to what we already had written on our site about Marsh.