Plug Tobacco Sold Three for a Quarter in Shelby

Mamie Jones wrote that in the years after the Civil War, Shelby had several tobacco factories. One of them belonged to D. D. Suttle, who for many years was sheriff of the county and a man of considerable property and political importance. He lived on North Morgan Street, in the house later known as “The Old Homestead.” Directly across the street from his home was his tobacco factory, where he manufactured what Jones described as a really good quality of plug tobacco. He brought Jack Nance, an experienced tobacco man, from Virginia to manage the factory, and Nance brought with him a capable Black assistant.

Jones wrote that there were four tobacco factories operating. The first, established shortly after the war, was run by Jesse Jenkins, John Stephens, and Baxter in a building located where the George Blanton Jr. residence later stood. D. K. Humphries & Company operated a small factory, and J. F. Bland had one at Mooresboro. Bostic Bros. & Wright manufactured smoking tobacco, numerous brands of plug tobacco, and nine brands of cigars, with their best cigars rolled by hand using whole leaf tobacco.

A pamphlet published in 1884 said that some of the finest grades of leaf tobacco sold for $1.50 a pound, though Jones noted she did not know if that was accurate and that the pamphlet was written for advertising purposes. She stated that about 25 acres of tobacco were planted in the county in 1883, but 500 acres in 1884, producing about 100,000 pounds of leaf tobacco. Jones wrote that 14 cents a pound was about the average price. When manufactured into plug tobacco and sweetened with cheap licorice and molasses, it could be sold for three plugs for a quarter.

Source: Mamie Jones.