USA > Ohio > History of the Upper Ohio Valley, with family history and biographical sketches, a statement of its resources, industrial growth and commercial advantages, Vol. I > Part 26
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William H. Anderson, superintendent of the public schools of the city of Wheeling, was born near West Liberty, Ohio county, where his grandfather, James Anderson, settled at an early day. The lat- ter, a native of Strabane, county Tyrone, Ireland, was an officer in the ranks of the United Irish in the insurrection against England in 1798, and in the following year fled to America to escape arrest. He landed in New York and a year later his family landed at Norfolk, Va., and they were united through the efforts of the Masonic fraternity. They settled on a farm between West Liberty and Short creek, on the
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Brooke and Ohio county line, a part of which he improved and on it made his home. He died there, leaving three children: Thomas, Lydia (afterward Mrs. John Creighton), and Jane (afterward Mrs. William Henderson). The latter removed to Morgan county, Ohio, and reared a large family. Thomas, who was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, was a cooper by trade, and also, in connection with his father, carried on a brewery for many years on the old homestead, manufact- uring his own barrels and kegs. Later in life he engaged in farming until his death July 10, 1869. He married Catherine Wheatley, daughter of Isaac Wheatley, formerly of New Jersey, a blacksmith by trade, a pioneer of Westown, Penn., and later a resident of Buffalo creek, in Brooke county, and finally of the vicinity of Bellaire, Ohio. Thomas Anderson reared eight children: Mary, wife of James Brown; James; Robert, killed at battle of Piedmont, Va., July 5, 1864, being a member of Company K, Twelfth West Virginia; Jane A., now wife of James Brown; William H .; Anna E., wife of Mordecai Nelson; Re- becca, wife of John Richardson, and Emma S. All of these, except James, were teachers in early life. William H. Anderson was edu- cated at the West Liberty academy, and then taught for six years in a country school. From 1868 to 1870 he had charge of the public schools of Bethany as principal. In January of the latter year he had charge of the Wellsburg schools, but resigned, and in August engaged in merchandise at Bethany, and followed that business for three years. At the end of that period he sold out and returned to his profession, taking charge of the schools at Bethany for two years, and then of the Wellsburg schools for three years. In 1879 he removed to Wheeling and became principal of the Union school, a position he held for six years. On July 17, 1885, he was elected superintendent of the Wheel- ing schools, to fill an unexpired term, and his services in this capacity have been so satisfactory that he has since been twice re-elected for terms of two years each. Mr. Anderson was married at Chicago, Au- gust 20, 1874, to Mattie C., daughter of John Carle, of Wellsburg, W. Va., and they have three children: John Carle, Frank Ray, and Marie Virginia. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Christian church, and of the Masonic order, and in politics is a republican.
Jacob Arbenz, head of the firm of Arbenz & Co., extensive furni- ture dealers and undertakers at No. 1115 Main street, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, February 22, 1828. He was given a good education and served a three years' apprenticeship at cabinet-making, before coming to the United States in 1849. He came from New York, directly to Wheeling, and soon afterward went to work at his trade with Ebbert & Ritter, with whom he remained about three months. He subsequently was engaged with John Clemmens, and then, in 1851, opened a small shop of his own on Main street, for the repairing and manufacturing of furniture. He has continued in busi- ness from that time to this, increasing his business and stock each year, until he now has one of the largest furniture houses of the city, and a well-equipped undertaking department. In 1863, he took into partnership, his brother-in-law, Henry Zimmerman, the firm becom-
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ing known as Arbenz & Co. This partner died in 1879. In 1863, they started a large furniture factory, which was operated until Janu- ary 1, 1888, when they removed the same to Chillicothe, Ohio, and formed the Arbenz Furniture company, a joint stock concern, of which Mr. Arbenz is president. He is also a stockholder in the Ger- man bank, in the Jefferson Insurance company and the Dollar Sav- ings bank. The church to which he belongs is the German Lutheran. Mr. Arbenz, than whom no one is more widely or favorably known in the city, came here a poor man, but by close application to business, and honest and fair dealing, has succeeded in building up a large busi- ness, as well as achieving an honorable reputation. In church he as been active nearly all his life, and has filled numerous official church positions. He was married in 1853, to Catherine Zimmerman, who was born in Wurtemberg, and they have had eight children, four of whom are living: Fred C., general manager and secretary of the Arbenz Furniture company, of Chillicothe; Henry J., professor of music at Wheeling; John P., in business with his father; and Herman.
George Arkle, a justice of the peace of Wheeling, was born at that city, January 28, 1846. His parents, George and Dorothea (Dodds) Arkle, natives of England, came to Wheeling more than fifty years ago, and here the father did business as a coal operator for several years. He reared a family of six children: Isabel, wife of Philo Kimberly; Thomas, deceased; Mary, wife of John W. Lowe; Ralph; Dorothea J., deceased, wife of Cepheus Davis, and George. The lat- ter was reared and educated in his native city, and began his business career as a clerk in a grocery store. At the age of seventeen years he embarked in business on his own account, in connection with the coal trade, and was so occupied for four years. He then accepted the position of superintendent with the Wheeling Omnibus company, and was engaged in that capacity for several years. Then, entering the business of general contracting, he followed that pursuit for a consid- erable period, up to 1886. In the meantime, in 1883, he had been appointed justice of the peace for Clay district, and has held that office continuously since that date, being elected in 1884, and re- elected in 1888 for a term of four years. The duties of this office Mr. Arkle has discharged with fidelity and discretion, and he is highly es- teemed, both as an official and a private citizen. He is a member of the First Presbyterian church, of the Knights of Honor, and of the A. O. U. W. and National Union. In politics he is a democrat. Mr. Arkle was married in 1867 to Mary R. Smith, a native of Missouri, and daughter of John Smith, formerly of Washington county, Penn. To this union two children have been born, Harry G., and May Dodds.
Joseph A. Arkle, a member of the city council of Wheeling, and justice of the peace, and a well-known citizen, was born in Burling- ton, Belmont county, Ohio, June 28, 1841. He is the son of Robert A. Arkle, a native of England, who came to America in 1833, and was married February 7, 1837, to Anastasia Scott, who was born in Ire- land. They settled in Wheeling, in 1845, and here the father still
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lives, having been in the grocery business for many years, but now retired. He had six children: Mary J. V., wife of John Cook; Joseph A .; Anna, wife of Oliver Morris; Robert V., Martha, wife of Edward Plues, and Ellen. Joseph A. Arkle was reared in Wheeling, and received his education in public and private schools of the city. On March 2, 1863, he enlisted in Company I, Third United States cavalry, and remained in active service during the war in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventh army corps. After the war, serv- ing in New Mexico, he was wounded in the shoulder July 9, 1867, in an engagement with the Navajoe Indians, near Ft. Sumner, N. M. After his discharge March 2, 1867, he returned to Wheeling and em- barked in the grocery business in 1877, in which he is still engaged. In 1887 he also became identified with the pension and real estate business, in which he is prominent. Mr. Arkle is a leading member of the G. A. R., and at present is commander of post No. 53, of Wheeling. On September 19, 1869, at Parkersburg, W. Va., Mr. Arkle was married to Mary E., daughter of William and Anna (Heck) Hawkins, of Marion county, W. Va., and by this union has six children living: Mary, wife of John Monahan; Ellen, Albert, Rose, Regina and John. He and family are members of the Catholic church, of the Immaculate Conception in the Eighth ward, of which he has been financial secretary and treasurer constantly since January, 1879.
The Hon. W. W. Arnett, the distinguished criminal lawyer of West Virginia, was born in Marion county, W. Va., October 26, 1843. He is the son of Ulysses N. Arnett, who was a native of Monongahela county, W. Va. The latter was a member of the Virginia legislature from 1846 to 1856, and was a member of the constitutional convention in 1872; was a member, and president of the state senate immediately following the organization of the state in 1872. This eminent man's death occurred in 1880, in his sixty-first year. His wife was Elizabeth (Cunningham) Arnett, who was born in Monongahela county, W. Va. To thése parents two sons and two daughters were born, one of the daughters is now deceased. The Arnett family is of French-English descent, the family name being French. The Hon. W. W. Arnett was reared in Fairmont, W. Va., and was graduated from Allegheny college with the degrees of A. B. and A. M., in the class of 1860. He began the study of law with Judge Haymond when but thirteen years of age. December 12, 1860, he was admitted to the bar. In April, 1861, he entered the Thirty-first Virginia infantry as a private. Sub- sequently he was appointed lieutenant-colonel, with the command of a battalion of seven companies, which afterward formed the principal part of the Twenty-fifth regiment of Virginia. Shortly after he was assigned to the command of Col. Talliren's regiment (Twenty-third Virginia infantry), consisting of 1,300 men, as lieutenant-colonel. The valiant soldier was made colonel of the Twentieth cavalry regiment in June, 1863, and served in this distinguished position until the close of the war. Col. Arnett fought in the Second Battle of Manassas, was engaged in the defense of Richmond, and also participated in the battles of Winchester, Cross Keys, Malvern Hill, and many other
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noted engagements too numerous to mention. After the close of the war he returned to Fairmont and began the practice of his chosen profession, but was cut off by the Lawyer's Test Oath. In the early part of 1866 he went to Shenandoah valley, locating at Berryville, the county seat of Clark county, and while there gained an enviable rep- utation as a lawyer. One of the great cases which helped to make him famous as a criminal lawyer was one in which he was assistant counsel for a man who had killed a Union soldier, and the man was cleared by Col. Arnett's remarkable ability and eloquence. Col. Ar- nett was nominated by acclamation in 1868, for the Virginia legisla- ture, and was easily elected. He was present in the state house when it collapsed, causing the death of 170 people. He had been elected to the legislature while in the army but refused to serve, preferring to fight, rather than to legislate for his cause. In 1872 he went to St. Louis, Mo., and practiced in that city for three years, at the expira- tion of which time he came to Wheeling, W. Va. While in St. Louis Col. Arnett won many notable cases, among which was the celebrated case of the State vs. Julia Fort Meyer, who was on trial for her life, charged with arson and murder. His removal from Missouri, where he was rapidly rising to the very front ranks of the bar, was caused by his desire to be near his aged father. Miss Sallie Stephenson be- came his wife in the year 1867. Four sons have been born to this union. Mrs. Arnett is the daughter of the Hon. Adam Stephenson, who was at one time one of the most eminent men of Virginia, hav- ing been a member of the Virginia constitutional convention of 1850, and for twenty-eight years clerk of the circuit and county courts of Highland county. Col. Arnett has ever been actuated by the loftiest motives, both in his private and public life. Despite the honors that have come to him, few men bear themselves with more dignity and modesty than he. A brave soldier, a wise statesman, a great lawyer and a Christian gentleman.
Among the prominent self-made men of West Virginia, is the Hon. George W. Atkinson, the subject of this sketch. His parents - both Virginians- were of German-English origin, their ancestors having come to this country and settled in Pennsylvania before the begin- ning of the present century. From there they drifted over into the Old Dominion, and became residents of the Great Kanawha valley. In that historic fertile valley, the subject of this sketch was born June 29, 1846. The first sixteen years of his life were spent upon a farm, and in attending the public and private schools of the neighbor- hood near Charleston; Kanawha county, where he resided. After the breaking out of the late civil war, his father abandoned farm- ing, removed to Charleston, and became a merchant, and for a year or two the son was a salesman in his father's dry goods establish- ment. During this period he studied book-keeping and became an expert in that line of work. Being naturally ambitious, and always an earnest student, he was sent to the Ohio Wesleyan university, at Delaware, Ohio, from which institution he was graduated B. A. with the class of 1870. Subsequently he received the degree of M. A. in
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cursu from his alma mater. Indiana Asbury university, in 1876, also confferred upon him the same degree pro merito. He took the pre- scribed course of study for post graduates at Mt. Union college, Ohio, and received the degree of Ph. D., pro merito, and in May, 1890, he received the degree of LL D., from the university of Nashville, also from U. S. Grant university, Chattanooga, Tenn. After his return from college, he taught school for some time; studied law for two years; attended law lectures at Columbian university, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1875. He was six years postmaster at Charles- ton; was several years editor of the West Virginia Journal, a large and influential weekly newspaper; was four years a special agent of the United States treasury, which necessitated his traveling all over the United States; was one full term United States marshal for the district of West Virginia. In 1877 he moved to Wheeling, and after his term as marshal expired in 1885, he resumed the practice of his profession, and was not long in building up a large and profitable clientage. Mr. Atkinson has always been a republican, and for many years has been quite active in his party's councils. He was eight years chairman of the state executive committee; is a superior plat- form speaker, and possesses many elements of solid popularity. He was elected to the Fifty-first congress, where he is now serving. He is also an author of considerable celebrity, having written several miscellaneous books, which have received merited praise, and have had a large sale.
P. J. Altmeyer, of Wheeling, now in the furniture and undertaking business at No. 5505 Jacob street, has been occupied during the greater part of his life in the nail industry, being one of the most skillful of the artisans to whom the prosperity of the city is so largely indebted. Mr. Altmeyer was born .in Pennsylvania in 1847, the son of John Altmeyer, a native of France, and his wife, Lizzie, who was born in Germany. During the infancy of the subject of this sketch the par- ents removed to Wheeling, and the father found employment at the Belmont mill, rising to the position of shipper of nails at that estab- lishment. Subsequently the family removed to Benwood, having their home where the Riverside iron plant now stands, and thence they moved to Steubenville, where their home was for five years. Returning subsequently to Benwood, they removed thence to Wheel- ing, resided in the Fifth ward some time, and then removed to the vineyard on Chapline hill, where the father died in 1873. The mother died in Benwood two years later. These parents had a large family of children, ten of whom survive. They were devout Catholics, and members of the cathedral, and later of St. Alphonsus church. The subject of this mention at the age of six years began work in nail mills, and from that time until 1889, followed nailing as his occupation. Such was the efficiency that he soon acquired that he was for ten years continuously employed at the Top mill, and subsequently for ten consecutive years at the Benwood mill, working up to the most important job in the establishment, the charge of the big spike mill. During the strike he ran the spike job at Brilliant, Ohio. Subsequently
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Mr. Altmeyer took a well-earned vacation, and devoted it to a visit to California, where he spent about six weeks in the Pacific Nail works at Oakland, giving an illustration there of the way work was done in West Virginia. While there he cut the first steel nail cut in Califor- nia, and operated a spike and four self-feeders at the same time. Few nail men have a more successful career than Mr. Altmeyer, and he has the additional distinction of never having been discharged, not ever having an unpleasant word with any of his superintendents. From this business Mr. Altmeyer retired in September, 1889, and embarked in the undertaking and furniture, where he is having good success. Mr. Altmeyer was married in 1874, to Mary Dimmy, by whom he has three children, and he and family are members of the Catholic church.
Henry Milton Babcock, of Wheeling, has been connected with the iron industry of the city for many years, and enjoys the distinction of being the oldest nail factory manager in this vicinity. Mr. Babcock was born at Taunton, Mass., April 28, 1834, the son of Milton Bab- cock, a native of Attleborogh, Mass., and his wife, Lydia Bowen, of the same place. The father is now a resident of New Bedford, Mass., but the mother is deceased. Mr. Babcock first became con- nected with the iron industry in 1849, when he became an employe of the Parker mills iron and nail works, at Wareham, Mass., and learned the trade of nailer. He was in the employment of the same company at Providence, R. I., until 1867, when he removed to Wheeling, and entered the Riverside Iron works. Two years later he was selected by O. C. Dewey, general manager of the nail department, and from that date, now a period of twenty-one years, he has filled that posi- tion with rare fidelity and efficiency. Mr. Babcock was married in 1856, to Marietta S. King, of Massachusetts, who died at Wheeling, in 18SI. In the following year he was united to Susan Fisher, of Wheeling, and to this union five children have been born, of whom three survive. He and wife are members of the North Street Metho- dist Episcopal church.
Conrad Bachman, of Wheeling, has since 1869 been engaged in the retail grocery trade at that city, and has been prosperous in busi- ness. He was born in Baden, Germany, November 17, 1835, the son of Jacob and Susanna (Ganzhorn) Bachman, both of whom died at his native place in 1852. In the spring of the following year Conrad accompanied his brother, Peter Bachman, who is also a resident of Wheeling, to America, and made his home during the first year after his arrival at Pittsburgh. During the next year he began his residence at Wheeling. From the fall of 1853 until the summer of 1863, he was occupied on the river boats, holding the position of cook when he abandoned that occupation. He then went into the employ- ment of Anderson & Maier, proprietors of a boat store, and he con- tinued with their successors, Booth, Battelle & Co., until 1867. He then decided to go into business for himself, and first opened a store at Tiltonville, Ohio, which he conducted for two years, after which he returned to Wheeling and continued the grocery trade in which he had embarked at No. 2127 Chapline street. In 1871 he removed to
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2201 Eoff street, his present place of business. He is active and en- terprising and has a large, and profitable trade. Mr. Bachman was married January 29, 1860, to Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Benjamin Valentine, of Washington county, Ohio. They have had eleven chil- dren: Abigail, Tena (died, aged nineteen years), Philip, Henry, Frank, Anna, Elizabeth, Susannah, Howard W., Chester A., and Walter C. Mrs. Bachman is a devout member of the Chapline Street Methodist Episcopal church.
Simon Baer, deceased, the subject of this sketch, was one of Wheel- ing's most prominent and extensive wholesalers, and was the founder of the mammoth house of Simon Baer's Sons, which is decidedly the largest wholesale grocery and coffee-roasting establishment in West Virginia, doing a larger volume of business than any grocery house in the state and equaling that of the larger houses of Pittsburgh and other cities west of the Allegheney mountains. Simon Baer was born in Stebbach, Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, in 1813, emigrated to the United States in 1866, and died in Wheeling in 1884. Upon his arrival in this city in 1866, Mr. Baer at once engaged in business, pur- chasing the wholesale grocery house of Simon Harkheimer, his brother-in-law. He continued in business by himself, meeting with success, until 1876, when he admitted his son Benjamin into the busi- ness, the firm name becoming that of Simon Baer & Son. In 1880, Marcus and Bernhart, two other sons, were admitted, and the firm name became Simon Baer & Sons. Upon the death of Benjamin Baer in 1884, the above firm was dissolved, Mr. Simon Baer retiring from business, immediately the firm of Simon Baer's Sons was formed by Henry, Marcus and Bernhard Baer, and to this firm Ernest Baer was admitted in 1889. During all the years this house has been be- fore the public it has prospered, and the business has increased in volume from year to year, until it is now the acme of success. Their business extends all over West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, Mary- land and eastern Ohio, and the annual amount of business reaches $1,500,000. They are the proprietors of the celebrated " Pan Handle " house for the roasting of coffee, having a large establishment for that exclusive purpose. Simon Baer was married at Freudenthal, Wurtemberg, Germany, to Caroline Horkheimer, who was a sister to Simon Horkheimer, deceased, one of Wheeling's leading merchants and manufacturers. Her death occurred in this city in 1876. To their union six sons and six daughters were born, nine of whom sur- vive. All members of the firm of Simom Baer's Sons were born in Stebbach, Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, as follows: Henry Baer was born in 1843, and was married at Wheeling in 1867, to Miss Henri- etta Horkheimer, sister to Henry, Morris and Bernhard Horkheimer, well-known business men of this city, they composing the firm of Horkheimer Bros., wood dealers. Mr. Baer is prominent in business affairs, as vice president of Standard Insurance company, director in Mutual Savings bank, stockholder in Hobbs Glass house, stockholder in Central Oil company, and director and one of the vice presidents of the Chamber of Commerce. Marcus Baer was born in 1854, and
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was married at Wheeling on January 9, 1889, to Miss Serelda Swa- bacher, a daughter of William Swabacher., Bernhard Baer was born in 1857, and was married at Wheeling in 1881, to Miss Sallie Levy, daughter of David Levy. Ernest Baer was born in 1862, and was married at Wheeling in 1887, to Miss Lillian Gutman, daughter of David Gutman, of the firm of M. Gutman & Co., extensive wholesale and retail clothiers of this city.
Jacob Beiswanger-Among the old and well-known German citizens of the Eighth ward of Wheeling is Jacob Beiswanger, who for about thirty years was engaged in the butcher business. Mr. Beiswanger was born in the kingdom of Wurtemberg, July 12, 1824. He was raised by a butcher in his native town and learned that trade, which he fol- lowed until coming to America. He escaped going into the army by drawing the lucky number when the time came for recruiting from his neighborhood. He was married in the old country in 1849 to Rosina Harpfer, and to them several children were born while in Germany. In 1854 he emigrated to the United States, bringing his family with him. He came direct to Wheeling when he got into this country, and has since resided here. Being without much money he was unable to go at once at butchering, and so worked around for several years at one thing and another, and then began butchering, opening a shop and butchering on a very small scale. About 1860 he began operations on a larger scale, getting a wagon and supplying customers at their doors. From that time on he was regularly in the business until about 1886, when he quit business and retired from active life. He met with success and accumulated considerable money and real estate. He is a member of Stephonis Lutheran church. His first wife died April 15, 1870. Eight children were born to this union, all of whom are living. In May, 1871, he was again married, to Elizabeth Boedke, and to this union seven children have been born, six of whom survive.
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