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 32
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private and public career are free from any attainting calumny. As a lawyer he has accomplished much; as a citizen and Christian gentle- man he has accomplished more.
John Crockard, wharf-master of Wheeling and steamboat agent, was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, July 15, 1847. He is the son of Hugh Crockard, Sr., a native of Ireland, and his wife, Mary A. Hun- ter, who, after their marriage, removed to Edinburgh. The parents and their children came to the United States in 1848, and made their home at Wheeling, where they have ever since resided. John Crock- ard, coming to Wheeling in infancy, was reared and educated in the city, and at an early age was ready to assume a business position. An opening presenting itself, he became receiving and discharging clerk on the wharf-boat, and from that time to this he has been con- nected with that work. Since the death of Capt. C. H. Booth, Mr. Crockard has been the representative agent of all the different lines of steamboats plying the upper Ohio river, and also has charge of the Frank Booth wharf-boat, where he has the office of wharf-master of the city. To the latter position he was appointed in 1884 to fill the unexpired term of Joseph Forsyth, deceased, and he was elected to the office in 1886 by popular vote, and re-elected in 1889, for a further term of two years. Mr. Crockard is a member of the Knights of Honor; socially he is highly regarded. In 1881 he was married to Mary Gardner, of Wheeling, and they have two daughters.
Matthew Crosby, of Wheeling, who has for many years been promi- nently identified with the mining industry of the valley, though re- tired from an active career, was born in county Durham, England, November, 1819. His parents were James Crosby, of Scotland, and his wife, Margaret Courtman, a native of England. These par- ents had six children, of whom Matthew is the youngest. He wa's married in England April 16, 1845, to Hannah Gray, also a native of county Durham, England, who was born August 22, 1825, the daugh- ter of John and Jane (Sheldon) Gray, of county Durham. In 1849 Mr. Crosby and his family came to America, reaching New York May 29, after more than a month's voyage, and they proceeded to Bellaire, Ohio, which was their home for a year. He subsequently resided at Wegee, Belmont Co., Ohio, then at Nate Rock, Marshall county, W. Va., at Wegee again, and afterward in Greenup county, Ky., and then in Lawrence county, Ohio, first at Hanging Rock, and for six years at Ironton Tunnel. After a short residence at Wegee again, he removed to West Virginia, and after making his home at Benwood from 1869 to 1874, he removed to Wheeling, which has since been his home., He and wife have seven children living: John, James, William, Joseph, Margaret Jane, Matthew and Mark. In pol- itics, Mr. Crosby is a republican.
Nicholas Crawley, a venerable citizen of Wheeling, formerly active in business but now retired, was born at Pittsburgh, Penn., the son of Patrick and Margaret Crawley. The parents were born and reared in county Westmeath, Ireland, and were married there. They emi- grated about the year 1820, and after a brief residence at New York,
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traveled in a wagon drawn by six horses to Pittsburgh, and from there they soon afterward proceeded to Wheeling, where they made their home. While they were on a visit to Pittsburgh, Nicholas, the eldest of their four children, the others of whom were daughters, and are now deceased, was born, and while he was yet a small boy, his mother died. The father subsequently married Winifred Mc- Greuder, who bore him two children, a son, now deceased, and a daughter, now the wife of Thomas Mong, of Hagerstown, Md. The father survived his second wife several years and died at the age of seventy-three years. Nicholas Crawley, the subject of this notice, has been a life-long resident of Wheeling, and one of its substantial and influential citizens. At that city he received his education, prepara- tory to his academical studies during one year at Fayetteville, Ohio, and three years at St. Mary's college, at Lebanon, Ky., and from col- lege he returned to Wheeling to engage in business. Many years ago he completed a very successful business career which enabled him to accumulate considerable property in the city of Wheeling. He also owns thirty acres of land and seventy-five acres of coal land three miles north of the city. In his business relations he was thor- oughly reliable and straightforward, and he is highly esteemed as a citizen.
James Cummins, who was born at Wheeling, W. Va., in 1852, is now a well-known citizen, and is engaged in business as a merchandise broker, at 1415 Main street, in his native city. He is a son of Dr. R. H. Cummins, deceased, who was one of the prominent physicians of Wheeling, and is mentioned in connection with the medical profes- sion. James Cummins was reared and educated at Wheeling, attend- ing the city schools and the Linsly institute, and he then entered Washington college, where he attended four years. He embarked in a mercantile career as a clerk in the glass house of Hobbs, Brocku- nier & Co., where he remained about three years. He was then en- gaged for about four years in the retail and wholesale glass and china ware business as a member of the firm of Cummins & Wood. In ISSo he engaged in merchandise brokerage on his own account, and has since continued in the business with marked success. He is a member of the chamber of commerce, and active in business circles. He is also a member of the First Preshyterian church. Mr. Cummins was married in 1879 to the daughter of Dr. Thomas McKennan, of Washington, Penn., and they have two children.
John W. Cummings, superintendent of the city water works of Wheeling, has been a resident of that city for many years, and is in- timately connected with its river commerce. He was born at a coast village of Scotland, near Inverness, September 12, 1816. When about twelve years of age he came to America to join his uncles, John, Andrew, George and Charles White, pioneers of Wheeling, who were, however, at that time, all deceased except Andrew White. With him Mr. Cummings made his home, and found employment in stores, and attended school at intervals. In 1833 he set in to learn the trade of engine building with Cuthbert, Smith & Wallace, and
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was with them when they built the first water works of Wheeling. The firm failing, he finished his apprenticeship with A. M. Phillips, and remained with him until in the spring of 1836, he became second engineer of "Robert Emmet," under his cousin, William White. Subsequently he held the same position for some time on the "Will- iam We .. " and the "Reserve," and then became head engineer of the " Harrisburgh," Capt. Joseph Smith. Two years later he formed a partnership with Knox & Loyd and Capt. Hicks, and they ran the " Ohio Valley," between Wheeling and New Orleans, for three years, after which the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Cummings was after- ward engaged on the steamer "Tioga," with Capt. Henry Mason; and "St. Cloud," with Capt. Sam Mason; the "Atlanta," with Capt. Asa Johnson; the " Baltimore," and for seven years was en- gineer of the " Altamont," Capt. Johnson. He was engaged on the Clipper" and others until 1861, when he retired for one year to be- come superintendent of the Wheeling water works. Returning to steamboat life then, he was again called to the water works in 1863, and remained superintendent for fourteen years. For ten years from 1877 he was engaged in his trade at various places, and in January, 1889, he was again elected superintendent of the water works, a posi- tion he fills, it is needless to add, to the satisfaction of all. Mr. Cum- mings was married in 1838 to Naomi White, who died in 1871, leaving three daughters and one son. George A., the latter, is inspector of hydrants for the water board, and the daughters are married respec- tively to James Rhodes, George Carnahan and S. Hamilton.
Rev. David Ayres Cunningham, D. D., the eloquent pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Wheeling, is a native of Wayne county, Ohio, of which his grandparents were among the earliest settlers. The ancestors referred to were David Cunningham, son of a native of Scotland, who emigrated to Ireland, and his wife, Mary Henry. They came from Ireland in 1800, and after residing in Westmoreland county, Penn., six years, and at Canton, Ohio, when it was a hamlet, they settled in 1815 in Wayne county, near Wooster, where the wife died in 1848, aged eighty-six years, and the husband in 1850, at the age of eighty-eight. He was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church, as afterward was his son, Thomas, who was two years old at the time of the immigration. The latter became a prosperous farmer of Wayne county. He was married in 1829, to Mary Ayres, who was born near Cumberland, Md., in 1808, the daughter of James and Elizabeth Ayres, of English descent. Thomas Cunningham died in May, 1881, his wife having passed away in September, 1875. Of the ten children born to them, the oldest is David Ayres, the subject of our sketch. He was born near Wooster and was reared at the farm home until his seventeenth year, gaining the rudiments of an educa- tion in the district school. He taught school two winters, and then at the age just mentioned, entered an academy at Ashland, Ohio. He attended there one year, then three at the Vermillion institute, Hays- ville, Ohio, and in 1852 he began a classical course at Jefferson col- lege, Va .. where he graduated in August, 1854. Entering the Western
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Theological seminary, at Allegheny city, in the following month he graduated in that institution May, 1857. In September, 1856, he was licensed to preach, by the presbytery of Wooster, and in October, 1857, he was ordained by the presbytery of Allegheny City, and on the same day installed as pastor at Bridgewater, Penn. He remained there until 1864, when he became pastor of Scott's church, Philadel- phia, and from that charge he was called in May, 1866, to Spring Garden church of the same city, where he remained until September, 1876. In October, following, he was installed pastor of his present charge, to which he has since ministered, a period of fourteen years, in which the church has greatly prospered. During his pastorate in Philadelphia, Dr. Cunningham was a director of the Presbyterian hospital, and a member of the boards of Education, Hoine Missions and Publication, of the Presbyterian church, and is now a director of the Western Theological seminary, and one of the trustees of Wash- ington and Jefferson college, from which latter institution he received the degree of D. D. in 1873. In 1874 he was a commissioner from the Presbyterian church of the United States to the General Assembly of the Free church in Scotland, and a member of the Presbyterian alliance which met at Edinburgh in July, 1877. In 1885 he was mod- erator of the synod of Pennsylvania. Dr. Cunningham was married August 26, 1858, to Annie C. F., eldest daughter of the late Rev. J. C. Sinclair, a Scotch clergyman who spent the greater part of his public life in this country.
Charles Wesley Cushing, D. D., was born at Burke, Vermont, June 6, 1825. His preliminary education was obtained in the district schools of his native town. Subsequently he was graduated from Derby sem- inary and from Newbury seminary. Like the majority of Vermont farmers' sons he was obliged to gain a livelihood at an early age. When but sixteen years of age he taught a district school at North Danville, Vt., the school consisting of sixty pupils, many of whom were several years his senior. While teaching he took an advanced college course, and in 1855 was graduated from Wesley university at Middletown, Conn., being honored with the degree of A. M. He is one of the very limited number who have been graduated Honoris Causa from any of the eastern colleges. Doctor Cushing joined the Meth- odist Episcopal church in 1844, and was licensed to exhort at New- bury, Vt., September 28, 1848. He preached his first sermon at Plainfield, Vt., December 10, 1848. He was licensed as a local preacher February 27, 1849, and admitted to conference on trial at Putney, Vt., in June, 1854, was admitted to conference in full in June, 1856, and was ordained as a local deacon by Bishop Waugh, at St. Johnsbury, Vt., in June, 1855. His first charge was Garrison church, Albany, N. Y., he having been transferred to the Troy conference by Bishop Baker after having been ordained a local elder at Montpelier, Vt., in May, 1858. From 1855 to 1858 he was principal of the New- bury seminary at Newbury, Vt., and president of the female college at the same place. From 1862 to 1864 he was principal of the New Hampshire Conference seminary and female collegiate institute, also
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serving as pastor of the State Street Methodist Episcopal church at Troy, N. Y., during the same time. After serving a pastorate of two years at Lansingburgh, N. Y., Doctor Cushing, in 1864, purchased the Lasell seminary property at Auburndale, Mass., and after having placed the institution on a firm basis in finances and educational ad- vantages, he turned it over to the keeping of a board of trustees to be operated in the interests of the Methodist Episcopal church. This seminary has now become one of the leading educational institutions for young ladies in this country, and it stands as a lasting and magnifi- cent monument to the man who made its existence possible through his generosity. After ten years spent in establishing the Lasell semi- nary, Mr. Cushing again returned to his chosen work and assumed the pastoral charge of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Cleve- land, Ohio. After remaining in that capacity for some time, he was appointed to fill the pulpit of the Christ church in the same city. In 1878 he was elected corresponding secretary of the Italian Bible and Sabbath school mission, with headquarters at Rome, Italy. Resign- ing from this office after months of toil and danger which left him broken in health, he was sent to Bradford, Penn., as the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church there, and remained there for three years, after which he occupied the pulpit of the First Methodist church at Rochester, N. Y. Having remained there the time allotted, he was appointed to the First church at Lockport, N. Y. From 1887 to 1888, he was presiding elder of the Genesee district of the Genesee confer- ence. At the expiration of this time he was transferred to the Fourth Street church, of Wheeling. Although his life has been filled with flattering inducements to leave the ministry, he has never swerved from the path of his duty. In 1860 he was offered the presidency of the Wisconsin State university, and the presidency of Wesleyan col- lege at Cincinnati was twice open to him. In 1859 he was strongly urged to fill the presiding chair at Allegheny college, and in 1887 was offered the presidency of two leading southern colleges. In 1887 the presidency of the New York state institution for the blind was ten- dered him, and his nomination was ratified by the state legislative committee, but this he also refused. The subject of this biographical sketch was one of the pioneer members of the prohibition party, and in 1882 organized the American Reformer, of New York city, for which he raised all the money, secured the editors and assisted in editing until it was combined with the New York Voice in 1885. Doctor Cush- ing is a charter member of the commandery of Knights Templar of Newton, Mass., also a member of the Oriental commandery, No. 12, of Cleveland, Ohio, and of the Albany lodge, of Albany, N. Y., and also of the Psi Upsilon college fraternity, Xi chapter of Wesleyan university. His marriage to Miss Thirza Dyer was solemnized Au- gust 14, 1850. The children are: Ciara, wife of Lee Phillips, secre- tary and chief of the New York civil service board; Carlos, general passenger and ticket agent of the Florida Midland railroad; Charles, deceased; Celia, deceased; Mary, wife of Ralph Ely; Emma, Kate, and Alfred Darling.
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Samuel M. Darrah, superintendent of the city gas works of Wheel- ing, is a member of one of the well-known early families of the upper valley. His father, Robert Darrah, a native of Ireland, emigrated to the United States when a young man and settled in Belmont county, Ohio, where he was married to Mary A. Milligan, also a native of the Emerald Isle. The father died in 1876 in his eighty-second year, and the mother about 1886, aged eighty-two. Their son, Samuel M., was born in Belmont county, August 24, 1836, and was reared on the farm until 1854, when he went to Bridgeport, and served an apprenticeship in the blacksmith and wagon shop of Henry Wells. In May, 1858, he came to Wheeling and took a position in the foundry of William Mil- ler, one of the old iron works of the city, and remained with that es- tablishment for a considerable period. Subsequently, with W. W. Miller, Thomas Morehead, John Scott and Philip Bail, he opened a machine and blacksmith and boiler shop, in which enterprise he was engaged for several years. Withdrawing from that company he was connected with the Hinge works four or five years, and then, the city having taken charge of the gas works he became connected with the same, and has so continued in various positions. He served for some time as inspector of the gas works, and in October, 1887, was elected superintendent and re-elected in 1889. Mr. Darrah is prominent so- cially as well as in business, and is a member of the United Presby- terian church, and has fraternal connections with several lodges. Of Wheeling lodge, No. 9, I. O. O. F., he has been a member about thirty years, has passed through all the chairs, and is a member of Encamp- ment No. 11. Of Alpha lodge, No. 424, K. of H., he has been treas- urer and is now financial reporter, and he is treasurer of the Fort Henry council, No. 97, N. U. On October 2, 1860, he was married to Margaret J. Robinson, a native of Ireland, and they have had five sons, of whom one is deceased, and four living, one in San Francisco, Cal., and one in Cortez, Col., and two at home.
Cephas G. Davis, of the firm of Kimberly & Davis, in the flour and feed business at Wheeling, was born in that city November 29, 1865. He is the son of Cephas and Dorothy (Arkle) Davis, both natives of Ohio county, W. Va. The father died shortly before the birth of his son (July 4, 1865) and the mother did not survive longer than May 14, 1870. Mr. Davis was then reared in the family of Philo L. Kimberly. He was a student for two winters in the Linsly institute and Frasher's business college, and then was employed one year by the Manchester coal company as weighmaster. Subsequently he held for fifteen months the position of mailing clerk in the Wheeling postoffice, after which he engaged in his present business.
Philo L. Kimberly, an old and esteemed citizen of Wheeling, above referred to, was born September 4, 1829, at New Lisbon, Ohio, in the same house in which the well-known C. L. Vallandingham was born. The father of the latter, a Presbyterian minister, baptized the young Philo. He is the son of William C. and Mary (Sharp) Kimberly, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former born April, 1803, and the lat- ter February 29, 1808. They were married in 1824 and had ten child-
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ren, of whom Philo was the fourth. The family settled in Columbi- ana county in 1829, but shortly after the birth of Philo, they removed from New Lisbon to Cincinnati, and thence to Portsmouth, Ohio, and from there to Wheeling in 1832. With the exception of about two years, 1833-35, spent in Washington, Penn., they continued to be resi- dents of Ohio county and of Wheeling until their deaths, which oc- curred, the mother's September 29, 1857, and the father's December 29, 1859. Philo Kimberly learned the trade of shoemaking with his father, but at the age of twenty-four became shipping clerk of the Belmont Iron works, after which he conducted a coal yard a short time. In the fall of 1857 he secured a position in the Wheeling post- office, and continued in various capacities for eleven years, retiring as superintendent of nails. In the fall of 1868 he engaged in the coal business and conducted it successfully, accumulating considerable property. At present he is-manager of the flour and feed business conducted by the firm of Kimberly & Davis. As a citizen he is es- teemed and valued, and he has served six years as a member of the city council. Mr. Kimberly was married June 16, 1852, to Isabel Arkle, daughter of George and Dorothea Arkle, natives of England.
William H. Davis, justice of the peace of Wheeling, is a native of Woodstock, Va., born October 25, 1825. His father was Robert Davis, who was a native of Rockbrige county, Va., a descendant of a Welsh family who were among the original settlers of Virginia, who took to wife Amelia Bowman, who was born in Shenandoah county, Va., of a family, whose ancestors were among the first German settlers of the Shenandoah valley. In March, 1828, Robert Davis moved with his wife and three children, from the Shenandoah valley, to the South Branch valley, Hardy county, Va., and settled in the western part of that county, where he continued to reside until his death in 1861. William, his oldest son, was brought up by his father at the wagon- making business. After he had passed his twenty-second year, he commenced business for himself in January, 1848, at Moorefield, the county seat of Hardy county. He continued in business here until July, 1851, when he moved to Ramsey, some twenty-seven miles down the South Branch river, the county seat of Hampshire county, W. Va. In September, 1851, he married Miss Margaret A. Leps, of Ronney, and carried on his trade in that town until March, 1861, when he moved with his family up to the old homestead, on Luney's creek, near Petersburg, then Hardy county, Va., now Grant county, W. Va. In the war he took no part, remaining home with his family until April, 1867, when he crossed the mountains and settled down in Bel- laire, Ohio. While there he was employed by the B. & O. R. R. Co., for four years as a carpenter. In March, 1871, he moved up to Wheeling, W. Va. He then was again employed by the same rail- road company for some four years, at Wheeling, and out at Chicago Junction, Ohio. Subsequently he was variously employed, as a police- man for a time, as deputy sheriff for two years, and otherwise until July, 1885, when he was appointed justice of the peace to fill a vacancy. To this position he was elected in 1886, for two years, and in 1888, for
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a term of four years, and the duties of the office have been discharged by him quite to the satisfaction of the public. Mr. Davis is a mem- ber of the First Presbyterian church, and in politics is a democrat. There being no free schools in Virginia at that time, Mr. Davis' means of education were limited to reading, writing and simple arithmetic. He was a student, and has been a writer for a large number of country newspapers, dating as far back as 1849.
Louis Delbrugge, chief of police of Wheeling, has long been honor- ably connected with the business interests of the city. He is a son of F. A. Delbrugge, a native of Prussia and a tailor by trade, who came to America about 1845, and on reaching Baltimore, made his way to Wheeling on foot. A short time after his arrival he was married to Hannah Wessel, a native of the same country and town as her hus- band. He had employment at his trade at Wheeling for about twenty years, and then opened a shop of his own, in partnership with H. Dailer. After this partnership had continued for about twelve years Mr. Delbrugge purchased the business and conducted it as sole pro- prietor until April 1, 1888, when he sold to his son Louis, and is now leading a retired life. He is now in his sixty-sixth year. His wife died June 23 1884, in her sixty-fifth year. Eight children were born to these parents, three sons and five daughters, of whom one son is deceased. Louis Delbrugge, the youngest of the sons, was born at Wheeling, January 9, 1852. He was educated at the Zion German Lutheran school, and then was engaged for a time with the Riverside Rolling mill. Subsequently he entered the drug business, with Mc- Cabe, Kraft & Co., with whom he was engaged for about five years. He then entered the employ of his father, and was engaged so until April 1, 1888, when, as has been stated, he succeeded to the owner- ship of the establishment, one of the finest and most popular of the kind in the city. Mr. Delbrugge has taken an active part in public affairs, with credit to himself and good service to the public. He was a member of the board of commissioners of Ohio county for two con- secutive teri.s, 1884-86, he was a member of the second branch of the city council in 1886-87, and of the first branch in 1887-89, resigning in 1889 to accept the responsible position of chief of police. He as- sumed the duties of this office February 1, 1889. Mr. Delbrugge is a stockholder in the Standard Insurance company, and is a member of Black Prince lodge, No. 19, K. of P., and of several singing societies. He was married June 22, 1874, to Louisa, daughter of Frederick Schaefer, of Wheeling, and they have five daughters and three sons.
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