In 1879, Hungarian born Victor Wald (1861-1936) immigrated to the United States, arriving in New York City. By 1880, he had traveled south to Orangeburg, South Carolina. There, he boarded with his uncle Theodore Kohn (1840-1902) and worked as a clerk, presumably in his uncle’s business. In 1884, Wald opened his own store in Orangeburg, from which he sold choice candies, sugars, tobacco, and fruits of all kinds. By 1886, he had increased his stock to include iron and wooden axle wagons, dolls, pianos, furniture, and scrap books. According to his obituary in The State newspaper, “for many years he was engaged as a travelling salesman. Only within the last several years had he retired from the road.”1 In addition to his work as a travelling salesman, Wald served as a director for Orangeburg’s The Planters Bank from 1908 until around 1911 and operated an ice cream and soda water business during the summer of 1885.
1 “Injury Fatal to Victor Wald,” The State, October 24, 1936, 3.