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 34

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Madison, Wis. : Brant & Fuller
Number of Pages: 842

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 34

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Joseph Dorsey DuBois, secretary of the Belmont Nail works, at Wheeling, was born at Dorsey's Flats, in Jefferson Co., Ohio, April 13, 1827. His father, John Du Bois, a native of Philadelphia, was the son of John Joseph DuBois, who emigrated from Strasburg, France, to the United States in 1793, and settled in Philadelphia. The mother of the subject of this mention was a granddaughter of Peter Miller, who emigrated from Manheim, Germany, and for about fifty years was a citizen of Philadelphia, being at one time employed in a print- ing office with Dr. Benjamin Franklin, and at another period he edited a newspaper of his own. He married a descendant of Lord Aubrey, of Wales. John DuBois came west to Steubenville, Ohio, early in the "twenties," and was engaged as a clerk in the drug store of his cousin, Dr. George Wilson. He was married to Nancy Dorsey, who was born at Brownsville, Penn., in 1800, and was a member of the old and well-known Dorsey family of Maryland. This marriage occurred in Jefferson county, Ohio, and soon afterward he began farming on Dorsey's flats, where he lived until 1857, when he removed to lowa. He died in that state in 1868, and his widow passed away in 1888. Joseph D. DuBois was reared on his father's farm, and attended the country schools until his twelfth year, when he entered the Grove academy at Steubenville, and he subse- quently was sent to more advanced schools. In 1847 he began the study of law with Joseph M. Mason, at Steubenville, and also spent a portion of his time in the office of Edwin M. Stanton, with a fellow law student, Robert L. McCook, with whom he was admitted to the bar of Ohio, at Cadiz, in 1848. McCook practiced law in Cincinnati,

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Ohio, and when the late war broke out, he recruited the Ninth Ohio regiment and became its colonel. He was killed while riding in an ambulance in northern Mississippi, at an early period of the war. Mr. DuBois, in September, 1849, went on the Ohio river as steamboat clerk, and in December, 1853, became clerk of the Union line packet, City of Wheeling, Capt. John McLure in command. He remained on the river as captain and clerk until May, 1864, when he resigned the captaincy of the St. Louis and New Orleans steamer, J. C. Swain, to accept the position of secretary and business manager of the Belmont Iron and Nail works, a position he still holds, continuing through changes of ownership of the works. Mr. DuBois has lent his aid to various other enterprises of the city, and was one of the projectors of the Wheeling & Elm Grove railroad, of which, when the company was organized, he became the president, a position he still holds. This company was organized in 1873 and was incorporated in 1874, with power to use horse or steam power. The use of a dummy en- gine was begun in 1884 and the line, which for several years had its terminus at Wheeling Park on the national pike, was extended to Elm Grove. It is a generally patronized and prosperous line, and owes its success to the liberal expenditure of money by one or two of the most enterprising citizens of Wheeling. Mr. DuBois was married January 27, 1857, to Ellen Zane Armstrong, a native of Wheeling, daughter of Francis R. Armstrong, an Irish gentleman of the old school, who, with his parents, emigrated from his native land to Virginia, when a lad. · Mr. DuBois and wife have had two children, both daughters, one of whom is now living, Mary P., the wife of J. J. Holloway, cashier of the First National bank of Bridgeport, Ohio. Mr. Du Bois resides in the suburban village of Leatherwood, two miles east of the city of Wheel- ing, on the line of the Wheeling & Elm Grove railroad, on grounds improved by himself.

James A. Dunning, chief of the fire department of Wheeling, has been a resident of the city since 1856. His parents were Thomas A. and Sarah (Lee) Dunning, the former of whom was a native of Scot- land and the latter of New York state. They were married at New York city, and then settled on a farm in Armstrong county, Penn. In 1836 they removed to Steubenville, Ohio, where he followed his trade of weaving, having been a silk weaver during his residence in Scot- land. He died in July, 1863, in his fifty-seventh year, and his wife died in March, 1873, aged seventy-four years. Their son, J. A. Dun- ning, was reared in Steubenville, and there learned the trade of a machinist, which he followed for a number of years after coming to Wheeling. From 1861 to 1863 he was employed at the Fort Pitt Cannon works at Pittsburgh, but with that exception he has resided continuously at Wheeling. In December, 1865, he became one of the organizers of the Wheeling Hinge company, of which he was the manager until 1882, when in December, he was elected by the council chief of the fire department, a position he has since held. He was at that time a member of the city council, to which he was first

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elected in 1872, for the Fourth ward, to the first branch, for a term of four years. At the January election of 1881 he was elected for the Fourth ward to the second branch, for two years. As chief of the fire department, he has proven to be the most efficient officer the city ever had in that post, and under his management the department has attained a degree of proficiency surpassed by but few of the large cities. His administration has given universal satisfaction. Mr. Dunning was married November 5, 1867, to Eliza Robinson, of North Wheeling. She is a daughter of Robert Robinson, deceased, formerly a well-known citizen of the First ward. To this marriage nine children have been born, seven of whom survive. Mr. Dunning is a member of Franklin lodge, I. O. O. F. and Ohio lodge, F. & A. M. He is a member of the Zane Street Methodist Episcopal church, and is now president and was for a number of years secretary of the board of trustees of that church.

William H. Dunlevy was a citizen of Wheeling, and an enterprising promoter of some of its leading industries. Previous to coming to Wheeling he and his father were engaged in ship-building at Sisters- ville, Ohio. The two came to Wheeling in an early day, and the firm of Dunlevy & McLure was then formed by the elder Dunlevy and Capt. John McLure. Afterward the firm was changed to Wilson & Dunlevy, by the admission of William P. Wilson and William H. Dun- levy, and the retirement of Capt. McLure upon the death of the older Dunlevy, the firm name continued without change until the admission of Thomas Wheeler, when the title was changed to Wilson, Dunlevy & Wheeler, and the manufacture of nail kegs was added to their busi- ness. Mr. Wheeler dying, the firm became Wilson, Dunlevy & Co., by the admission of H. H. Dunlevy. William R. Wilson died in July, 1873, and William H. Dunlevy in January, 1874, and upon the settle- ment of the estates of the decedents, the business was purchased by H. H. Dunlevy and W. A. Wilson. They abandoned steamboat building, which had been a main part of the old firm's business, and developed the capacity of the establishment for the manufacture of nail kegs. In February, 1888, they bought out the Hanes interest in the planing-mill business, and now carry on both branches under the firm name of Wilson & Dunlevy. They have added to their other enterprises the manufacture of pottery, casks, slack cooperage and fancy printed boxes, and packing cases of all kinds. As proprietors of the Union Planing-mill, they do a general contracting and building business, as well as furnishing all builders' supplies. H. H. Dunlevy was born January 24, 1849, at Belpre, Washington county, Ohio. He was reared at Wheeling and was educated in the public schools. On May 26, 1870, he was married to Anna D., daughter of Jacob Harlan, of Wheeling.

August C. F. Ebeling, a well-known business man of Wheeling, is engaged, as the head of the firm of Ebeling & Pebler, in the manu- facture of cigars at No. 2333 Chapline street. Mr. Ebeling was born in the town of Lauenforde, Hanover, Germany, in 1837, and while in his native land learned the trade of cigar making. Coming to

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America in 1859, he came directly to Wheeling, and found occupation at his trade, and was able by the time of the beginning of the war to manufacture on his own account. He continued in the business alone until 1868, when he formed a partnership with Martin Pebler and John ^ Beck. About four years later Mr. Beck retired, and the firm has smce remained as it is at present. The house employs eighteen to twenty hands in the production of cigars and stogies, and their goods have an excellent reputation. Mr. Ebeling's success in busi- ness is pronounced among the many in Wheeling who have arisen by means of native industry and business shrewdness to a comfortable position, he is deserving of mention. In political affairs he has taken an active part as a republican, he has served on the city council, and for twelve years he has served the city efficiently as a member of the school board. In 1861 Mr. Ebeling was married to A. Kate, daughter of George Miller, and they have had seven children, six of whom are living.

A. C. Egerter, an enterprising and public-spirited business man at Wheeling, is one of its notable citizens; has served upon the city council; held the office of mayor from 1880 to 1882, and was appointed by President Cleveland to the federal office of surveyor and collector of customs at that port. Mr. Egerter was born in Switzerland, De- cember 1, 1841. He is the son of Solomon Egerter, a native of Swit- zerland, born in 1800; died in 1849. The latter came to the United States with his family in 1842, and settled first at Parkersburg, W. Va., whence they moved in 1843, to Wheeling. He was, in his native land, a lawyer and notary public, but on coming to this country, en- gaged first in the dairy business at Parkersburgh and at Wheeling, but after one year of that occupation at the latter place, embarked in the book and stationery trade. By an early marriage in Switzerland he had a daughter Rosa, now the wife of M. Shaerer, a wholesale to- bacconist, of Geneva, Switzerland. He was subsequently married to Caroline Loenhart, who died in 1870, at the age of sixty-five years. To them were born the following children: Amelia, wife of Henry Zinkann, a merchant tailor of Wheeling; Wilhelmina, wife of John Youngman, a farmer of Ohio county; Mary, widow of Joseph Liston, of Belmont county, now of Willsburgh, W. Va., and A. C. The latter was reared from his third year and educated, at Wheeling. He was occupied on a farm for ten years, and then, in 1861, began clerking in a clothing store. In 1868 he embarked in the retail grocery and pro- duce trade, and meeting with success, built up one of the leading es- tablishments of the city, which was devoted to the wholesale trade in 1876, and has so continued. He has taken an interest in various enterprises of importance, and is a stockholder in the West Virginia Tobacco company, of the Windsor Mining and Manufacturing com- pany, of Brooke county; of the German bank, of which he is vice presi- dent; is stockholder and director of the German Insurance company; and is stockholder in the West Virginia Natural Gas company, the Electric Railway company, the Wheeling Park association and the State Fair association. Mr. Egerter was married in 1866 to Adelaide

OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. 277

Beck, a native of Wheeling, daughter of Peter Paul and Elizabeth Beck who were born in Germany. To them five children have been born, Elizabeth C., William H., Alice, Nellie and Eva.

John H. Egger, of Wheeling, the head of the well-known house of Egger, Warrick & Co., dry goods, was born in Monroe county, Ohio, April 25, 1853. There he was reared and attended the common schools of the county until he was seventeen years of age, when he left the farm and became a clerk in a dry goods store in his native county. Going west in 1874 he remained there two years, which he spent in the dry goods business, and returning to his native county he again entered the dry goods house in which he continued until 1879, when he came to Wheeling, where he took a position as clerk in the estab- lishment of Henry Jacobs & Co. He remained with that house eight years, and then in 1887, after serving seventeen years, at the age of thirty-four he formed the firm of Egger, Warrick & Co., the members of the firm being S. B. Warrick and R. B. Roberts. The firm is com- posed of young men, all of whom have succeeded through their own enterprise and devotion to business. Messrs. Egger and Warrick had . been clerks all their life, and Mr. Roberts had been connected with the nail works, and the capital they invested was the result of their savings from salaries. Beginning business with a full stock, they have since increased it over 100 per cent., and though a young firm, have already taken rank among the leading dry goods men of the city. Success has met their efforts half way, and their enterprise in allowing no opportunity for advancement to go on unimproved assures still greater success in the future. Mr. Egger was married in 1881, in Mon- roe county, Ohio, to Mary L. Stephen of the same county and state. He and wife are popular and highly esteemed by the community. Mr. and Mrs. Egger are both descended from families noted for physical development and longevity. Mr. Egger being the oldest son and third child of a family of thirteen children, all of whom are living. Mrs. Egger is the oldest daughter and third child of a family of thir- teen children, a coincidence rarely to be met with. Of Mrs. Egger's brothers and sisters, eleven are living at this time.

Adam Ellingham, deceased, formerly a prominent and highly es- teemed business man of Wheeling, was born in county Donegal, Ire- land, about 1803. In his native country he was married to Rebecca Williamson, who bore to him ten children, nine of whom were born in Ireland and one at Wheeling. In 1848, he emigrated to America, and after a brief residence in the vicinity of Zanesville, Ohio, he removed to Wheeling, where he was joined about 1851, by his wife and seven children, two of the latter having died in Ireland. His wife died at Wheeling, January 27, 1886. He passed away April 18, 1868. Eight of their children are now living: Barbara, Jane, William, Rebecca, Bessie, Ellen, Maria and Robert H. Barbara resides in Knox county, Ohio, and Jane, in New York city. The other children make their home at Wheeling, where all are highly esteemed. Robert, with two of the sisters, Bessie and Maria, are engaged in the grocery business at Nos. 70 and 72 Sixteenth street, occupying a three-story brick

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building, erected in 1889, which is one of the handsome business buildings of the city. Their grocery establishment is completely stocked and well managed and has a large patronage. Robert H. Ellingham, the business manager of this establishment, also discharges the duties of city assessor, an office to which he wasappointed by the city council, in February, 1889. He is active as a business man, influential in politics as a democrat, and is a member of the Patriotic Sons of America.

· William Ellingham, a prominent citizen of Wheeling and a member of the well-known wholesale grocery house of Neill & Ellingham, of Wheeling, is a native of Ireland, where he was born in 1839. In 1845 he came to this country, with his mother, his father having immi- grated some time before, and located at Wheeling, where he was joined by his family. In that city Mr. Ellingham was reared, and re- ceived his education in the city schools. He began his business career as a boy in the glass house of Sweeney & Co., where he was engaged for one year, finding employment then with Dalzell. His next engagement was with the grocery house of Alexander .Turner, on Market square, and continued with him as a clerk during the war, on Main street, where the store of W. T. Burt now is. In 1869 Mr. Ellingham and James Neill succeeded Mr. Turner in the wholesale grocery business, and in 1876 they further enlarged their business by purchasing the stock of List, Davenport & Parks, and at that time removed to their present commodious quarters on the corner of Main and Fourteenth streets. Mr. Ellingham has taken a considerable in- terest, as a wide-awake citizen, in the proper administration of the affairs of the city. He is now a member of the board of education, and in 1889 was elected to the city council for two years as the repre- sentative of the Third ward. He has been a director of the Exchange bank since its organization, and is largely interested in and serves as president of the Standard Insurance company. Mr. Ellingham is an Odd Fellow, member of Wheeling lodge, No. 9, and the Encamp- ment. He was married in 1866, to Susan Chambers, of Wheeling, and they have had one child, now deceased.

Thomas Hughes, the first one of that name and family, who was prominent in the affairs of Wheeling, came to the city in 1817 or 1818, from Greene county, Penn., where he was born about 1789. He was a gunsmith by trade and followed that for some time. Subsequently he became city treasurer and served several years, and was one of the founders of the Wheeling Savings institution, of which he was the treasurer during the remainder of his life. He was also interested in steamboating, lumbering, and in various ways aided materially in the development of the city up to the time of his death in 1849. His son, Thomas Hughes, was born at Wheeling, in 1822, and was educated in the city schools and in an academy of Ohio. He began in 1837, to learn that trade in which he achieved so marked a success, with M. C. Leach, and when two years later Mr. Leach died, Mr. Hughes took charge of the business. This he carried on with such business sagacity that it became prosperous at once, and he had

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soon the leading merchant tailoring establishmest in West Virginia. After he had continued in the business until 1873, he was succeeded as manager by Elwood Hughes, Mr. Thomas Hughes removing to Balt- imore. He remained in that city until 1884, when he returned and took an active part in the business until his death, March 10, 1886. J. Ellwood Hughes and A. M. Hamilton then succeeded to the busi- ness by purchase and are now carrying it on with success. J. Ellwood Hughes was born in Fulton county (then Bedford) Penn., in 1845, and was educated at Rainsburg, at the Allegheny Male and Female seminary. In 1867 he came to Wheeling, where he has since resided. He is an active and enterprising business man. He is a member of Nelson lodge, No. 30, F. & A. M., and Cyrene commandery, K. T., and of Wheeling lodge, I. O. O. F.

John M. Emmerth, a prominent contractor of Wheeling, is a na- tive of Bavaria, Germany, born July 20, 1854, the son of John M. and Mary Ann Emmerth, with whom he came to America at the age of fifteen years. The family reached this country in the year -1870, and first settled at St. Mar'y, Elk county, Penn., but four years later re- moved to Wheeling. Here the father, who was by occupation a con- tractor, was engaged in business until his death, July 12, 1883. The mother is still living. Of the eleven children of these parents, three are living besides the subject of this sketch, who was the third born. He has been a. resident of Wheeling since 1874, and his first employ- ment here was as a stone mason with his father, and work at this trade, and contracting in that department of construction has been his life occupation. He now occupies a creditable position among the contractors of the city, and is esteemed highly as a citizen. He is a member of the Catholic church, and in politics is a democrat. In January, 1889, he was elected a member of the second branch of the city council. Mr. Emmerth was married February 26, 1878, to Rosa Menz, daughter of John and Frances Menz. She was born in Ger- many and came to the United States in 1873. She and her husband have four children: Anna Roso, Albert Philip, Rudolph Anton, and Otto Peter.

M. Emsheimer, a well-known merchant of Wheeling, was born in Alsace, France, in 1840. When a boy of seventeen years he came to the United States, landing at New York after a voyage of seventy- five days. He proceeded to Guyandotte, W. Va., and from there en- gaged in traveling through the country for three years, finally locating himself at Gallipolis, Ohio, where he engaged in merchandise, re- maining there for ten years. In 1866 he came to Wheeling, which he made his permanent home. His first business venture at that city was in the dry goods business, as a partner in the firm of Emsheimer Bros. & Co., but in 1878 he became a member of firm of E. Buck- man & Co., wholesale dealers in hats. Of that firm he remained a member until 1885, when he opened his present establishment on Twelfth street, dealing at wholesale and retail in hats, caps, and gentlemen's furnishing goods. In this branch of the city's trade, Mr. Emsheimer has won a prominent place for his handsome and well-

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furnished establishment. Mr. Emsheimer is a faithful member of the Masonic order, which he joined in 1868, and he is now associated with Wheeling lodge, No. 5, and is a past master of that lodge, and is also a member of the grand lodge of West Virginia, of which he is grand marshal. He was married in 1863 to Esther Weickersheimer, of New York, who died July 14, 1884, leaving two sons and one daughter.

William Henry Exley was born in Wheeling in 1838, the son of William H. Exley, who came to Wheeling at an early date. William Exley, Jr., was educated in the Wheeling public schools. After leav- ing school he went to work for his father, who was an extensive con- tractor and builder. He remained with his father until his death, after which he carried on the business for a number of years in his own name. Having been successful in his business enterprises Mr. Exley a few years since retired from the active affairs of life, and is now enjoying the results of his energy and integrity. He married Miss Elizabeth Chambers, in 1867. Col. Exley has for many years been actively engaged in politics, having always supported the repub- lican party.

Richard S. Fair, of Wheeling, who is well known as a carpenter and builder, and also as a manufacturer of the celebrated Wheeling Roof- ing paint, was born in that city August 22, 1856. He is a son of John H. and Catherine (Longing) Fair, natives of Fort Erie county, W. Va., and Washington county, Penn., respectively. They came to Wheeling in 1845, where the father was engaged at his trade as a car- penter and builder until 1886, the year of his decease. He died June 19, at the age of sixty-three years. He was a worthy and respected citi- zen, well-known throughout this region. Four of his children were reared to maturity, Mary F., wife of Asahel McCulley; Henry W .; Richard S., and William A. Richard S. was reared in Wheeling, and after he had received his education in the public schools he began work with his father, learning the trade of the latter, in the practice of which he embarked on his own account in 1880. In 1886 he pat- ented what is widely known as the Wheeling Roofing paint, for tin, iron and felt roofs, which he manufactures extensively, and finds a great demand for it. In his business as a builder he also is prosper- ing, and occupies a leading position in his business. Mr. Fair is a member of the Fourth Street Methodist Episcopal church, and is a charter member of the Y. M. C. A. He devotes much time to relig- ious work, and is highly esteemed by all. He was married, in 1879, to Virginia G., daughter of Alexander and Martha E. (Davis) Dakan, of Wheeling, and by this union has three children: Richard K., Mary E, add Eva L.

David Francis Falloure, of Wheeling, who has been prominent both in the river traffic and the local business of the city, but is now retired from active affairs, was born at Wheeling, December 17, 1829. He is of French descent, his grandfather being the first in the paternal line to become an American citizen. His father, Brittain Falloure, was born at Manchester, near Pittsburgh, about 1799, was married to

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Louisa Young, who was born at Philadelphia about 1800, and settled at Wheeling about 1827. Brittain Falloure died September 13, 1844, and his wife March 13, 1887. Of their eight children, the fourth is David Francis, the subject of this mention. He was educated at Wheeling, finding employment at intervals upon a farm, and in the glass and rolling mills. Between the ages of sixteen and thirty-three he worked as a riverman, in various capacities, boating on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and their tributaries. In 1853 he crossed the Gulf of Mexico on the old steamer " Fort Henry." Abandoning this life he engaged in the fall of 1861, in the restaurant business at Wheeling, and a year later made a trip to Pike's Peak, Col., whence after four month's stay he returned to his business at Wheeling. For five years he conducted a restaurant and confectionery store on Twelfth street, near the McClure House, and for three years after- ward managed a similar establishment on Market street. For four years, from 1872, he was in the grocery business on the Island, and then opened the Opera House dining-room, on Market street, which under his management for three years was reputed the finest the city ever had. Mr. Falloure now resides on the Island, where he has valu- able property. He was married March 16, 1862, to Sarah E., daugh- ter of John and Sarah (Scroggins) Smoot, both natives of Virginia, who were married in Noble county, Ohio, where Mrs. Falloure was born February 9, 1830. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Falloure are Edwin R., John B. and Etta M.

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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 34

Author: Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Madison, Wis. : Brant & Fuller Number of Pages: 842

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Madison, Wis. : Brant & Fuller
Number of Pages: 842