History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 95

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728

USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 95
USA > Ohio > Belmont County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 95

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The Standard, published by D. W. Leet and John D. Nuzum, only continued until some time in 1872, when it couldn't Stand- ard any longer.

In 1872, Mary E. Hoover established the Belmont City Com- mercial, but after a few months suspended until January, 1873. when Hoover and Hall issued the paper. In June of the year following, Miss Hoover again assumed sole charge. employing Will S. Faris as local editor. In January, 1875, the paper was sold to J. J. Clarkson, and in May of the same year he suspend- ed publication.

In September, 1875, the first number of Bric-a- Brac, a month- ly literary magazine of eight pages, was published by Will S.

272

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

Faris and W. C. Warnock. In February of the following year, Mr. Faris sold his interest in the enterprise to his partner, and in a few months afterward Mr. Warnock discontinued its publi- cation.

Cochran & Gow purchased the printing material and press of Clarkson, and on the 5th day of February, 1876, issued a neat seven-column paper styled the Leader, which is still in success- ful' operation. They added new material and press. On the lstot July, 1876, John R. Gow purchased his partner's interest, and began the publication of a daily called the Daily Leader, which he issued just a week on trial, but Wheeling being so close with its dailies, interfered greatly, and the experiment in that enterprise was abandoned. Mr. Gow has enlarged the Weekly Leader and otherwise improved it. The subscription price is $1 50. The Leader has a very fair circulation, and is ucat in typographical appearance. In politics the Leader is Democratic.

In the year 1877, Frank M. Barnes and J. E. Strahl, two practical printers, published a tri-weekly sheet called The Free Press. It succeeded reasonably well, but was only published for a few months, when a disagreement between the proprietors made its suspension necessary.

In 1877-8, Ben. S. Cowen, a school boy, son of General B. R. Cowen, published a small literary paper called the Amateur Journal. It was very popular, on account of the novelty of its publication. The editor did his own printing in leisure hours.

In July, 1878, Will S. Faris, at that time Principal of the Pub- Isc Schools of the Fifth Ward, commenced the publication of a forty-column quarto-weekly newspaper called The Phonograph. It met with a fair share of success as a local sheet, and also be- came somewhat famous abroad for sprightliness and humor. It was continued until some time in 1879, when Mr. Faris left Bellaire to accept the position of associate editor of the Wheel- ing Daily Register and the Phonograph was consolidated with Mr. Anderson's Independent.

In 1878, Waldernar Bille, M. D., established The Bellaire Star, a Catholic weekly, local in its character. It only existed a very few weeks.

The Bellaire Tribune was started February 6, 1879, by Col. C. L. Poorman, with new material, presses, etc, It is a forty- eight column quarto paper. At the date of its first issue it had a larger bona fide list of subscribers than any paper published in Bellaire. This was largely due to the fact that the Colonel, who had edited the Belmont Chronicle for ten years, during the war and subsequent to it, was well known and respected by the people of the county, and to the further fact that there was a general desire for another newspaper to be published at Bel- laire. The list of subscribers and the advertising patronage of the Tribune have been constantly increasing since the issue of the first number, which is satisfactory evidence that the paper meets the expectation of its friends.

Since the Wheeling Daily Register has established a branch office in Bellaire, and keeps a regular member of its editorial staff constantly engaged in reporting news and writing up the industrial and other interests of this city and adjacent country, this paper may properly be classed as one of the "institutions" of the place. Its founder and present senior proprietor, Mr. Lewis Baker, is a native of Belmont county, and he has never ceased to feel a pride and exhibit the deepest interest in the wel- fare of the people of that county and state. The proprietors of the Register, Mr. Lewis Baker and Mr. W. J. Johnston, have re- cently purchased a valuable property in the city of Wheeling, nearly opposite the McLure House, which they will remodel into a most commodious and convenient printing office, into which they will remove their many steam presses, extensive job printing office, and book bindery, as well as all the departments connected with the editing and publishing of the daily, tri- weekly and weekly Register. Their Bellaire office will be cou- nected with the Wheeling office by telephone, and the citizens of Bellaire will thus be placed in immediate and personal inter- course with the chief office ; and every effort will be exerted to make the Daily Register a worthy and acceptable representative of the thriving and enterprising Ohio city. The Register circu- lates largely throughout Belmont and Monroe counties, and is an excellent medium for the use of the business men of this side of the river. It is one of the brightest and best edited daily pa- pers in this section of country.

THE COUNTY SEAT QUESTION.

One of the most important measures which has been agitated by the enterprising people of Bellaire is the proposed removal of the county seat to this city from St. Clairsville. Notable at-

tempts were made for the removal in the years 1857 and 1869, but without success. Again the subject was vigorously agitated in the beginning of the year 1879 and spread all over the county. Petitions and remonstrances were presented to the Legislature. which must have contained the names of nearly every voter and taxpayer in the county. One of the leading and mnost ac- tive managers in the interest of Bellaire was Col. C. L. Poorman, editor of the Tribune, who published an able article in his paper showing the city's resources and advantages. The object of the effort made by the friends of removal was to get the Legislature to submit the question to the voters of Belmont county. The effort failed, but the question is still an unsettled one, and bids fair to be continued to be agitated by the people of Bellaire and the other sections of the county favorable to removal. Colonel Poorman's article on Bellaire's resources and advantages con- tained the following statement of the city's increase of popula- tion and summary of its manufacturing interests :

POPULATION.

"The increase of population in Belmont county from 1860 to 1870 was 3,341. Of this increase Bellaire city had 2,516, and since 1870 the increase in Bellaire is quite 4,000, which is per- haps fully half the increase in the county.

" MANUFACTURES.

"Since 1860 there have been three rolling mills, two blast fur- naces, eight glass factories, one agricultural implement factory, and one stamped tinware factory established in Belmont county, and they have all been erected at Bellaire, or within six miles of it, on the line of the railroads.

" At Bellaire proper there is one blast furnace, making fitty tons of pig iron daily ; and in connection with it a rolling-mill with one hundred nail machines, making about 6,000 kegs of nails per week; the two having a capital stock of $500,000, and employing over 400 hands.

" There are four flint glass houses and one window glass house, with an aggregate capital stock of $250,000, and employing 475 hands.

" There is a large tin-stamping factory, with a capital stock of $60,000, and employing, when full, 125 hands.

"There are six coal works in active operation, employing 300 hands.

"The B. & O. and the C. & P. Railroads employ at Bellaire 175 hands.

"A company is now organized to erect another flint glass fac- tory, which will be constructed as soon as it can be done."

SUMMARY OF BELLAIRE.

Amusements-City Hall, corner Thirty-second and South Bel- mont streets.

Attorneys-at-Law-Anderson & Danford, D. W. Cooper, Rees & Gallaher, J. B. Smith, Tallman Brothers.

Barbers, 7; blacksmiths, 5; boot and shoe dealers, 8; butch- ers, 9; builders and contractors, 3; carpenters, 9; carpet weav- ers, 2; cigar and tobacco dealers, 8; clothing stores, 3; coal mer- chants, 5 ; confectioners, 7 ; cooper, 1 ; dentists, 2 ; dressmakers, 7 ; druggists, 7 ; dry goods dealers, 5 ; furniture dealers, 2; glass works, 4; grocers, 39; hardware stores, 4; hats and caps, 2; hotels, 7; insurance agencies, 3; jewelers, 4; livery stables, 5 ; merchant tailors, 3; ministers, 6; millinery, &c., 6; newspa- pers, 3; notaries public, 4; notions, &e., 2; painters, 2; photo- graph galleries, 2; physicians and surgeons, 9; planing mills, 2; plasterers, 3; saddle and harness dealers, 3; saloons, 25 ; shoemakers, 5; telegraph offices, 2 ; wagon makers, 2.

PATRON'S RECORD OF BELLAIRE.

M. D. REASONER, D. S., was born in Blackford county, In- diana, December, 1838. After receiving a common school edu- cation, he attended Muskingum College, where he graduated in the year 1862. . He then turned his attention to the study of dentistry under the supervision of Dr. David McBriar, of New- ark, Ohio. In 1867 he came to Bellaire and commenced the practice of his profession. In 1866, he married Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Robert Smith, of Licking county, Ohio. He is the parent of one child.

,273

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON . COUNTIES.

GEORGE H. MUTH, son of John Muth, was born in Ger- many, and migrated to America in 1834, settled in Wheeling, where George was born, May 10, 1837. Here he received a com- mon school education and learned the butehering business with his father and uncle. In 1849, he came to Bellaire and was for a number of years engaged on the river. In 1855. he commenced in the butchering and provision business, which he has carried on with success ever since. During the war he had a government contract and for three years and accumulated money rapidly. He then engaged in the pork packing business and met with some heavy losses. On the 13th of May, 1858, he was married to Miss Charlotte Ambler, daughter of Isaac and Catharine Am- bier. Their union resulted in eight children-six living.

M. M. KNIGHT, D. S., son of Thomas and Nancy Knight, of Greene county, Pa., was born in 1847. He studied dentistry in Cameron, W. Va., with Dr. S. D. Woods, and attended White's Dental College in Philadelphia, where he was taken sick a short time before he would have graduated. He commenced to prac- tice in Greene county, Pa., and after remaining a year there, went to Quaker City, where he continued for about six years. From thence he came to Bellaire, where he is now engaged in his profession. In 1874, he was married to Emma, daughter of Jesse Lingo, of Quaker City, Ohio.

O. H. HOWELL was born in Wheeling, W. Va., October 3, 1829. He lived in Washington county, Pa., until sixteen years of age. In 1846, he removed to Columbus, Ohio, where he learned har- ness making. In 1849, he returned to Wheeling and learned the tin and sheet iron business. In 1852, he married Maggie J., daughter of James Luke, of Wheeling. Their family consists of seven children. Whilst in Illinois, where he had migrated, he enlisted in the 55th regiment, I. U. S. V. I., and served near- ly two years. He was discharged on account of disability, at Columbus, Ohio, May, 1863. He returned home and followed his trade, earrying on business in Wheeling, Bridgeport and other places. He finally removed to Bellaire, where he is still doing business.

W. C. ROBERTS was born in Wellsburg, Brooke county, W. Va., July 11, 1827. In 1833, his parents removed to Steubenville, Ohio. Here he received a common school education and learn- ed the tinsmith's trade, where he worked a number of years. In 1848, he married Mary A. Kline, of Steubenville. He or- ganized White's Band, one of the best, if not the very best organ- izations of the kind that ever was in the city of Steubenville. In 1873, he came to Bellaire and located at 135 North Belmont strect and engaged in the house furnishing goods trade ; also manufactures tin, copper and sheet iron ware. Roofing and spouting made a specialty.

ZACHARIAH PUMPHREY, a son of G. W. and Mary A. Pumph- rey, was born in Wheeling, Va., in 1854. He learned the butch- ering business with his father, who carried it on in that city. In August, 1877, Mr. P. removed to Bellaire and started a meat market, which he still conducts.

FREDERICK EBERLE was born in the village of Schamhausen, Germany, October 28, 1840. What book education he obtained was received in his native village. At the age of fifteen he was brought with his parents to America, landing at Baltimore. In August, 1856, he went to Wheeling, and from there removed to Miltonsburg, Monroe county, Ohio, where he learned the blacksmith trade. After working a few years in Wheeling, W. Va., and Lonisville, Ky., he enlisted in the regular army No- vember 21, 1860, becoming a member of Company I, First U. S. Artillery, which was then commanded by G. B. McGruder, who afterwards became a noted rebel general. His army life was an active and dangerous one. He was in eighteen battles. At the first Bull Run engagement, July 21, 1861, he was wounded, and a Bristoe Station, October 14, 1863, he was also wounded and the next day taken prisoner and held in rebel cus- tody until November 18, when he was paroled at City Point. From there he was sent to the hospital in Annapolis, Md. As soon as he recovered he joined his company and served until 1867, when he was honorably discharged at Brownsville, Texas. From this point he started for Bridgeport, where he engaged in the grocery business about three years. In March, 1870, he came to Bellaire and opened ont a grocery store on Union street. In 1871 he purchased the property on Belmont street, where he is still found engaged in the general grocery and feed business. In 1869 he married Catharine, daughter of Jacob Schimp, of 35-B. & J. Cos.

Wheeling, W. Va. Mr. E.'s father was a soldier in the Wirtemberg army sixteen years, and fought against Napoleon in the years 1814-15. He is still living in Bridgeport, Ohio, in his 80th year.

CHESTER O. PHILLIPS, a native of Henderson county, Illinois, was born May 26, 1857. When only about two years of age his mother died. At the age of three years his father removed to Warren township, and our subject was placed under the care of his grandmother, who resided three miles west of Barnes- ville, and with whom he remained until he attained the age of fifteen. In 1872 he began labor in the Ohio glass works, where he continued some two years. After which he returned to Barnesville and clerked in the grocery store of G. W. Ramsey three years. Again finding his way back to Bellaire he was made salesman in Mercer & Gorrell's wholesale grocery ; re- mained at this business nearly one year, and then engaged in the framing of lanterns at the Baron Manufacturing Company, where he still continues to labor. Mr. Phillips is a skillful mechanic and an enterprising young man.

ROBERT M. VAULTENBURG was born in Washington county, Pa., August 24, 1855; was reared on a farm about one mile from Canonsburg until 1872, when he found his way to Bellaire. He learned the trade of a stone-eutter with John McMillen, of Brownsville, Pa. This he began when but fourteen years of age, and served with McMillan three seasons, since which he has worked as a journeyman. He was foreman of the stone cutting for the Children's Home of Belmont county. He married Anna Danby, April 15, 1875. Resides on Belmont street, Bellaire. His father was killed at Petersburg in the rebellion.

N. BORHAM, born in Jefferson, county, Ohio, in 1826. He was educated in the common schools and learned butchering, which business be always followed. In 1849, he married Mar- garet, daughter of Dr. William Oliver, of his native county. They are the parents of six children. In 1862, he removed to Martin's Ferry and followed his occupation until 1872, when he came to Bellaire and located where he is now engaged in the butchering and provision business. He served as marshal and constable in Martin's Ferry for a number of years.

JOHN DUBOIS, born in Colerain township, June 4, 1838; was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1861, he married Maggie J., daughter of James Frasier, of St. Clairs- ville, by whom he has become the parent of seven children. In 1876, he came to Bellaire and engaged in the lumber, hay, feed and grain business, on the corner of Guernsey and Thirty-fourth street.

T. B. LITTEN, born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1822; was educated in the common schools. He was engaged for a num- ber of years with his father in the grain trade and then in the steam boating business some ten or twelve years. In 1841, he married Nancy, daughter of Judge Barnes. Commenced in the dry goods and grocery business at Rush Run, that county. From there be removed to Wellsburg, West Va., and then to Bellaire, where he is now engaged in the grocery and provision trade. After the death of his first wife he married in 1861, Adaline Hammond.

ALBERT HORN was born in Bellaire, July 27, 1845. Educated in the schools of the city; worked with his father in the coal business and on the river a number of years. In 1875, he en- gaged in the grocery and provision trade on Noble street, where he is still carrying on. In 1872, he married Harriet, daughter of Emannel Wheeler, of Monmouthshire, South England. They have a family of two children.

JOHN H. BROWN, born in Colerain township, Belmont county, Ohio, December 27, 1844. Educated in the common schools : learned the blacksmith trade in Pleasant Grove. Ohio. Enlist- ed in Wheeling, W. Va., in the 1st Va. cavalry, February, 1863 : served three years and was honorably discharged July 15, 1865, at Wheeling. Soon after his return home he commenced work- ing at his trade on his own account at Bellaire. In 1866, ho married Missouri C., daughter of Gideon Gray, of West Wheel- ing, Ohio.

IT. C. PUMPHREY, was born in Wheeling. Va., in 1839 ; learn- ed the butcher's trade at an early day and followed the business

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

in that city for seven years. From that place he removed to Galveston, Texas; remained there but one year and then return- ed North and located in Bellaire in 1868, since which time he has been engaged in butchering. Shop on North Belmont street. He married Emaline, daughter of James Moore, of Mar- shall county, W. Va., in 1858.

PROF. HENRY C. BRANNEN Was born in Bellaire, October, 1851. Educated at home and in the Lebanon Normal School (Ohio) where he graduated in 1869. He followed school teaching a number of years. Engaged for thirty years in the book and stationery trade. He was married to Catharine, danghter of John B. MeCanley, of Bellaire, in 1871.

JAMES NICOLL .- This gentleman is one of the early pioneers of this section ; was born in the town of Berry, Worcester coun- ty, Mass., June 18, 1798; and migrated to Zanesville, Ohio, with his parents, while it yet was a wilderness, in 1812. His father died shortly after arriving at that place. His mother moved then to Newark, Ohio. The second war with Great Britain was then in progress, and at sixteen years of age James enlisted in the army, under Capt. John Spencer, in the 27th Regiment, U. S. Infan- try, and served during the war. He was in the battle up the Thames river, where Harrison captured Proctor's army; was in the expedition against the British and Indians that left De- troit in the winter of 1814; was in the engagement of Macki- naw Island in the summer of the same year. Gen. Cass was chiet in command of the American forces, in which this regiment took an active part. He was discharged in July, 1815, at De- troit, Michigar.

JOSEPH E. BLACKBURN was born in Farmington, Belmont county, Ohio, in 1858. Educated in the schools at Martin's Ferry and Bellaire, Ohio; learned his trade (that of mould maker) at Belmont Glass Works. He worked in Pittsburgh a year aud then came to Bellaire and engaged with the Bellaire Goblet Company as mould maker, where he still remains. In 1879, he married Dora Truman.

ISAAC C. AMBLER was born in Mead township, this county, in 1829. Attended the common schools and learned the engineer's trade at Wegec Coal Works, where he was engaged ten years ; from there to Pultney Coal Works, thence to Empire Works, and lastly to where he is now employed, at the Ohio Glass Works. In 1853 he was united in marriage to Eliza J. McKit- riek, of Marietta, Ohio.

JAMES H. MCFARLAND was born in Frederick county, Vir- ginia, in 1850; was reared on a farm and received a common school education. He engaged in the Sewing Machine business with the "Weed Company," remaining in their employ for sev- eral years. In 1872, he commenced selling the "Singer," but now he represents the "Howe Company" in Belmont county. His office and beadquarters are at Bellaire. In 1875 he was married to Anna, daughter of David and Casandre Malcom, of this city.

H. D. MEEK, of the firm of W. L. Hamilton & Co., Agent for Davis' Sewing Machine Company, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1847. Educated at Eastman College, Poughkeepsie, New York. In Jas8 he commenced in the mercantile business in Bellaire and continued in the trade until 1873. The year prior to this date. he married Rosa, daughter of John and Rachel Kelly, of this city. In 1873 he organized the Bellaire Gas and Coke Company, of which he was Secretary and Superintendent for nearly six years. He then connected bimself with the Davis Sewing Machine Company. W. L. Hamilton & Co. are located on Thirty-third street, and represent the Davis machine in the county of Belmont.

R. J GARRARD was born in the county of Essex, England, in 1813. What book learning he obtained was at home. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to the general dry goods and grocery business with Mr. E. Clark near London. Here he remained three years. In the fall of 1837, he migrated to America and engaged in the wholesale and retail clothing business with Digby & Hopewell, of Pittsburgh. In May, 1844, he married Elizabeth Everson. In 1852 he took charge of the dry goods store of F. Bassett, of Wheeling, W. Va. In 1853, Bassett sold ont and then he took charge of Gill, Kelley & Co.'s store in Benwood. In the spring of 1857, he removed to Bel- laire, and engaged in general dry goods and grocery trade with

M. N. Dowler, of Virginia. This partnership continued for somne four years, after which time Mr. G. carried on the trade alone till the fall of 1875. Residence 513 Union street.

ALEX. M. MCELROY, born in Washington county, Pa., in 1848, and received a common schocl education. Commenced the printing business in Columbus, Ohio, but abandoned that on ac- count of failing health, and engaged in the grocery trade in that city for two years. He then turned his attention to farming in Washington county, Pa., for awhile and then came to Belmont county and farmed until 1873. He then removed to Bellaire and engaged in the grocery trade. He is now carrying on a gener- al grocery and provision business on Belmont street.

J. T. MERCER was born in Loydsville, Belmont, county, Ohio, in 1837, and received a liberal education in the common schools. He engaged in the drug business ; studied it as a profession and graduated in Pharmacy College, in Philadelphia, in 1857. He was one of two men of the state of Ohio that had studied the busi- ness as a profession and graduated at that time. The same year he started in business in Bellaire and was the first druggist of the city. At that time he says there was less than a thousand inhabitants. When starting he was told by an old citizen he had " better turn his store into a grocery, as Dr. Birdsong's salts and pills had always effected a cure in his case and he thought they always would." He entered the United States service as quartermaster clerk in the first army corps, army of the Poto- mac. He was afterward transferred to headquarters of the army of West Virginia, then promoted to Assistant Adjutant General (rank of Colonel) on the staff of Gov. Brough, of Ohio ; reap- pointed on the staff of Gov. Anderson, of Ohio; again reappoint- ed by Gov. J. D. Cox. In May, 1866, he resigned and took charge of the settlement of claims of the state of Ohio against the general government. In 1868, he returned to Bellaire and en- gaged in the business of railroad transfer and forwarding, in which be is still occupied. In 1870, the Wheeling Towboat and Barge Company was organized. In this company he was one of the original stockholders. In 1871, when the City Bank (now the First National Bank of Bellaire) was organized, he was its founder. The same year he became one of the charter members and stockholders of the Baron Manufacturing Company. He was made its first president and has remained as such. This establishment to-day is one of the leading manufacturing es- tablishments in the county. In 1874, he married Rachel, daugh- ter of Jonathan Randolph, of Zanesville, Obio.

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History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 95

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 728

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728