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 35
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Capt. Joseph A. Faris, of Wheeling, was born at St. Clairsville, Ohio, March 18, 1833. He is the son of William Faris, who was born in Baltimore, Md., a son of William and Ann Faris, both natives of that city. The father of the subject of this mention was married in 1813 to Nancy Fisher, who was born near Taylor's Town, Washington county, Penn., daughter of James and Mary Fisher, who were born in Ireland. After their marriage, William and Nancy Faris settled at St. Clairsville, Ohio, where they lived during the remainder of their lives. Nine children were born to them, of whom Joseph A. is the next to the youngest. Capt. Faris was raised in his native town and there received a good education. Beginning in chilhood to assist his father in cabinet-making he became familiar with that trade, and at eighteen he began work at marble cutting, a trade he mastered at Wheeling. He followed this at Wheeling until 1861, being in busi- ness for himself four years of that time. In October, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company K, Sixth West Virginia infantry, and served three years and one month, being mustered out at Oakland, Md., on November 17, 1864. On the second day of his service he was elected first lieutenant, a rank he held one year, becoming captain Novem- ber 1, 1862. Returning to Wheeling after the war, Captain Faris accepted the superintendency of the Dutchman's Run Oil company, of New York city, for one year and a half, and during the next year he managed the photograph gallery, in New York city, of his brother, during the latter's absence in the West Indies. Subsequently he made his home again at Wheeling, where he has since devoted him-
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self to art, achieving a widespread reputation as a painter of notable power and skill. Among his most popular works is the " Last Battle of the Revolution," or the siege of Fort Henry. on the 11th day of September, 1782, which was painted by Mr. Faris in 1882, and is now exhibited in the council chamber as the property of the city of Wheel- ing. It worthily commemorates an event of great historical interest. Mr. Farris is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is a comrade of the G. A. R., Holiday post, No. 12, of which he has served as com- mander. Politically he is a republican. He is now serving as a mem- ber of the first branch of the city council, to which he was elected in 1887. On the 25th day of April, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison appointed him to the office of surveyor of customs of the port of Wheeling, W. Va. Captain Faris was married December 20, 1855, to Mary E. Pratt, daughter of Robert Pratt, formerly of Wheeling, and they have ten children.
William S. Faris is a son of William M. Faris, whose father, Will- iam Faris, is mentioned in the preceding sketch of Capt. Joseph A. Faris. The wife of William M. Faris was Betsy Cowen, daughter of the late Judge Benjamin S. Cowen, of St. Clairsville, a well-known con- gressman of Ohio. William S. was born in the city of Wheeling, W. Va., May 8, 1856, and received his educational training in the public and private schools of Bellaire and St. Clairsville. He learned the printer's trade in the office of the Belmont Chronicle, St. Clairsville, and while there started, with two other boys, a small juvenile sheet, only a few copies of which were regularly issued. He went to Bel- laire in 1872, and did the local work for Miss Mary Hoover's Bellaire City Commercial, till 1874, and in that year made a tour of West Vir- ginia as correspondent for the Wheeling Register. In the next two years, read law with Reese & Gallaher, at Bellaire, continuing liter- ary and newspaper work in the meantime. In partnership with W. C. Warnock, now editor of the Bellaire Democrat, he ran a small lit- erary paper called Bric-a-Brac, long before Scribners introduced their magazine department of that name and style. In 1876 and '77 he taught school at Jacobsburg, Ohio, and in 1877-78, was principal of the Fifth ward schools, during a part of which time he started and issued a weekly paper, the Bellaire Phonograph. In January, 1879, he accepted the position of night editor on the Wheeling Register, and remained there till April, 18So, when he accepted a position on the Intelligencer, and was city editor of that paper till August, 1889, when, with the Tucker Brothers, he established the Wheeling Graphic. De- cember 1, the firm of Tucker, Faris & Tucker, dissolved, and Mr. Faris accepted the position of associate editor of the Ohio Valley Manufacturer, but on April 13, 1890, returned to his old position as city editor of the Intelligencer. In 1877 he was married to Miss Mag- gie E. Powell, of Bellaire, a union blessed with the birth of three children.
William H. Fee, of Wheeling, at present associated in a clerical ca- pacity with the municipal government of that place, was born in Bel- mont county, Ohio, February 11, 1859. His parents, John and Eliza-
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beth Fee, natives of county Antrim, Ireland, emigrated to the United States in the year 1844, and after landing at New York, proceeded directly to Belmont county. There John Fee, who was a man of good education and scholarly mind, engaged in teaching school, besides at- tending to the duties of the farm upon which he settled. In 1862, he removed with his family to Wheeling, and then abandoned school teaching and found employment in one of the manufactories of the city. He died in August, 1888, and his wife in January of the same year. Their family was large, but of them all but four sons survive, who are residents of Wheeling .. William H., the subject of this men- tion, has passed almost his entire life, thus far, in that city, having been brought there by his parents at the age of three years. He re- ceived his education in the public schools, also from his ninth to his fourteenth year, clerking during mornings and evenings in the grocery store of William Odbert, with whom he subsequently was engaged as a clerk until he attained majority. He was then for several years en- gaged as traveling salesman for the wholesale house of Keim & Han- dal, dealers in notions, after which, in 1884, he became assistant book- keeper for the wholesale grocery house of Simon Baer's Sons. After two years' service in that capacity he was promoted principal book- keeper, a position he held for three years. In February, IS89, he was appointed assistant city clerk of Wheeling, by T. F. Thoner, and in . the following May, received from the city council, the appointment of clerk of the police court. In April, of the same year, he was appointed by the council, clerk of the fire department. In all of these capacities he has proven to be a faithful officer. Mr. Fee was married Decem- ber 29, 1881, to Lulu, daughter of L. D. Wait, of Wheeling, and they have three children: Willie, Sherwood and Cecil.
Joachim Feinler, one of the pioneer promoters of orchestra and band music at Wheeling, is a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, born in 1823, the only son of his parents. In the old country he became a shoemaker by trade, and worked at that there, and also gave much of his attention to the art of music, inheriting that taste from his father, who was also a musician of considerable merit. In 1852 he was married, and in the same year he emigrated to the United States, coming di- rectly to Wheeling, where he had relatives. He worked for about three years for others and then opened a shop of his own, which was succeeded in 1865, by a retail store. In 1875 he removed to his pres- ent place of business at 1029 Market street, and he is there still con- nected with the business. He was a member of the first band of any consequence in the city. He also was a member of the first German singing society in Wheeling and in the state of West Virginia. He furnished the first set of books, having brought them from the old country. This society was organized on August 21st, 1853, with a membership of twelve, and called Harmonie. He and wife are mem- bers of St. Alphonsus Catholic church. Of the thirteen children born to them, all but one survive. One of these, Louis Feinler, who suc- ceeded his father in business, and is prominent as a boot and shoe dealer, was born at Wheeling, March 23, 1853. He was educated at
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St. Vincent's college, one of the old Catholic schools of the city, then under the management of Bishop Whalen. In 1872 he became asso- ciated with the wholesale boot and shoe house of S. J. Boyd, and con- tinued with that establishment after the firm became Boyd & Prather, until 1878, spending the last two years as traveling salesman. In 1878 he succeeded his father at his present place of business, and has been quite successful. He is a member of the St. Alphonsus church, and is highly esteemed by all. He is one of the influential musicians of the city, is a charter member of the Opera House orchestra, and since 1884 has been manager of the orchestra, also being an active member.
Henry J. Felber, retail grocer of Wheeling, was born in Switzerland, August 4, 1842, the son of Henry J. and Maris (Schatzman) Felber, both of whom died in Switzerland, the father in 1887, and the mother in 1889. The children of these parents were Jean, Henry J., Jacob, Eliza, Casper, Anna, Verona, Amelia, and Matthias, six of whom, Henry J., Jacob, Casper, Anna, Verona, and Matthias, came to America. The subject of this mention came to America at seventeen years of age, having previously acted as book-keeper in a cotton factory. Landing at New York in September, 1859, he went to Philadelphia, where he was employed in a produce store until 1861. In April of that year he enlisted under the first call for troops, and served two years in Com- pany G, Twenty-ninth New York volunteer infantry, receiving an honorable discharge June 4, 1863. Soon afterward he visited his na- tive place, and from there went to Manchester, England, where he was employed as a clerk fifteen months. Returning to America Oc- tober 1, 1864, he went to Philadelphia and enlisted in Company I, Fifty- seventh Pennsylvania veteran volunteers, with which he served until the close of the war. He participated in the battles of the first Bull Run Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Pe- tersburg, the battle before Richmond, Cross Keys, Freeman's Ford, Rappahannock Station, Sulphur Springs and Winchester, in all sev- enteen battles. He was wounded in the right thigh at Chancellors- ville, and in the left leg at Cross Keys. 'For six years after the war, Mr. Felber was book-keeper for the firm of A. & D. H. Chambers, prominent glass manufacturers of Pittsburgh. Resigning on account of poor health, he again visited Switzerland in 1871, and on his return in September, resumed his position with A. & D. H. Chambers. In September, 1872, he engaged in the retail and wholesale glass and china trade at Pittsburgh, which he continued until August, 1875, when he came to Wheeling. He has since that time been engaged in the grocery business, at No. 1225 Eoff street, has been successful in this enterprise and is of high standing in the community. He was mar- ried November 2, 1865, to Ursula Wild, who died November 30, 1873, leaving one child, Anna. On April 8, 1875, he was united to Gertrude Becker, by whom he has three children: Lillie G., Henry W., and Albert G. Mr. Felber and wife are members of the German Metho- dist Episcopal church, and he is affiliated with the Shield of Honor, and the German Benevolent society, No. S. He served efficiently as justice of the peace from 1876 to 1880.
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January Fischer, a well-known and worthy citizen of Wheeling, was born at Baden, Germany, September 19, 1817, the son of George and Crescents (Leatherman) Fischer. In 1847 Mr. Fischer embarked at Havre de Gras and came to America. On landing at New York he went directly to Pittsburgh, and three months later went down the river to New Orleans, where he remained nine months. Return- ing to Pittsburgh, he was married October 4, 1848, to Theresa Meyer, who had come in the same year from Bavaria, her native country. She is the daughter of George and Crescents Meyer. Soon after their marriage Mr. Fischer and wife went to New Orleans, but after a stay there of six months they returned to Pitts- burgh, and in 1853 they came to Wheeling, where they have since re- sided. Mr. Fischer has followed the vocation of carpenter and mill- wright with much success. By his marriage above mentioned he has had nine children, namely: Caroline, born July 29, 1849; Bertha, born July 16, 1851, died September 6, 1852; Thomas, born March I, 1853, died November 22, 1855; Sophia, born June 27, 1855; Joseph, born October 4, 1857, died July 16, 1858; Rosa, born August 18, 1859; Edward, March 13, 1863; George, August 13, 1865, and John, Decem- ber 22, 1867. Mr. Fischer and family are members of the Catholic church.
Hon. Benjamin Fisher, born in Delaware county, Penn., in 1829, is one of the foremost of the citizens of the Ohio valley, who have by applying their business sagacity and organizing power to the iron manufacture, so rapidly and substantially developed the region. Losing his father, William Fisher, at an early age, he started out at twelve years of age, and found, successively, employment in various nail mills, learning thoroughly that trade. In 1845 he came to Wheel- ing with his half-brothers, E. M., Frederick E. and Capt. George W. Norton, who were the pioneer nail manufacturers of the place. He became a stockholder in the Belmont Nail mill when about twenty- two years of age. Becoming a thorough master of his trade, he man- aged the Benwood Nail works during the war, his half-brother, E. M. Norton, being the president and general manager. Previous to that he was the cashier of the Belfont Iron works at Ironton, in which he is still a stockholder. During the latter part of the war he sold out his interest in the Benwood mill, and for a few years subsequent he was engaged in the Riverside Iron works. In 1840, the Star foundry was established for the manufacture of stoves, and moved to its pres- ent site on Market street in 1868. Thomas G. Culbertson was the owner up to that period. In the year last named Mr. Fisher pur- chased an interest, and in 1870 became the exclusive owner of the property and business, and at once by reason of his wide experience and intelligent enterprise, a great impetus was given to this old es- tablishment, so that it soon became a representative house, unsur- passed in its specialties in a wide region. The premises occupied by the Star Stove works were formerly used by the Baltimore & Ohio railroad as a depot, and comprise an acre of floorage. The principal products of the establishment are cooking and heating stoves, well
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known throughout several states, among the former the celebrated " Valley Star." Under the close personal supervision of Mr. Fisher, these stoves approach perfection in their design and workmanship, and generally give satisfaction. Accessory to this manufacture are the production of a large variety of iron goods, such as fencing, grates, sinks, etc., machinery castings, glass moulds, and the like, which find a ready market. Mr. Fisher has found time in a busy career to also serve the public with honor in various capacities, where his talents were of greater value to the public. He has served on the board of commissioners of the county, on the board of public works, and in 1879 represented Ohio county in the state legislature. Dr. Logan and son were the first republicans elected to the legislature from this district after the war. He is a member of Cyrene com- mandery, No. 7, of Nelson lodge, No. 30, and of Wheeling Union chapter, No. I, and of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Syria Temple, Pittsburgh, Penn.
John Flading, of the firm of Beltz, Flading & Co., was born in Hesse, Germany, in 1830. He came to the United States in 1849, hav- ing previously been deprived, by death, of his parents, and was ac- companied by his brother and sister. They landed at New York July 3, and thence proceeded to Wheeling. There his brother has since died, but his sister, now Mrs. Joseph Sauers, is still living. Since his arrival at Wheeling two other brothers have come here, one of whom survives. Mr. Flading learned the trade of a millwright while in Germany, but on coming to the United States he learned carpentry, at which he worked for some time. In 1864 he formed a partnership with George Keyling, and started a planing-mill, which they operated for three years. He then took in his present partner, Mr. Beltz, and they started a planing-mill in the foundry of Culbert- son & Fisher in 1857. In 1870 they removed to Bodley's building, and in 1883 to their present establishment on the corner of Nine- teenth and Eoff streets. Mr. Flading was married in 1857, to Caroline Matcher, a native of Prussia, and to them have been born eight child- ren, six of whom are living. Mr. Flading is a member of the Catholic church.
Downard William Frame, of Wheeling, was born at Brownsville, Ohio, June 6, 1850, the son of Jacob and Margaret (Kirkpatrick) Frame, who, when he was a small child, removed to Cochraneville, Ohio, where he was reared to manhood. In his youth he was occu- pied at the trade of coopering. On September 4, 1872, he was mar- ried to Josie B., daughter of Joseph B. and Lavina (Burton) Couplin. She was born at Wheeling, October 5, 1851. Her father was born at Malaga; Monroe county, Ohio, in 1824, and her mother near Milton, Delaware county, in 1823. The father dying when Mrs. Frame was less than two years old, the mother was subsequently united to George W. Bonnell, whom she survives. Mrs. Frame was reared at Brownsville, Ohio, whither her family removed after her father's death, and where she was married. After the latter event she and her husband resided at Cochraneville, Ohio, a few months, and a
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similar period subsequently near Rockport, W. Va. From the fall of 1873 until 1880 they made their home at Parkersburg, whence they removed to Wheeling, in February of the latter year. Mr. Frame, since 1873, has been in the employment of the Consolidated Oil com- pany, and for nearly two years past he has been superintendent of the refinery of that company at Wheeling. Mrs. Frame, who pos- sesses notable business talent, embarked in 1883 in the retail grocery business, in which she has since been successfully engaged. Mr. and Mrs. Frame are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a member of the order of Odd Fellows and the Senior Order of American Mechanics. They have had four children: Ernest L., Carrie M., Guy W., deceased, and Jennie H., deceased.
Prof. J. M. Frasher, the principal proprietor of the Wheeling Business college, English training school, and typewriting school, was born near Uniontown, Fayette county, Penn., January 14, 1835. His father's ancestors, of Scotch birth, left their native land in the last century, and coming to America, settled near Winchester, Va. Prof. Frasher was reared on a farm, but his natural inclinations to study led him to enter Madison college at the age of twenty-one years, and at the same institution, which is situated not far from his home in eastern Ohio, he subsequently began a career as a teacher, which has now extended over thirty years. During this time he has taught in schools of all grades in various states of the Union. It is as a pro- fessional penman, however, and as a teacher of the art, that he has achieved his widespread fame. Becoming an expert in caligraphy at an early age, he soon devoted himself to teaching in business colleges, and held positions in such institutions at Indianapolis, Ind., Colum- bus, Ohio, Springfield, Mass., Zanesville, Ohio, and Troy, N. Y. In the latter city he spent four years with the Bryant & Stratton college, and in 1873, came to Wheeling and assumed the responsibility of as- sociate proprietor of what was then called the National Business college. At the end of two years he became sole proprietor, and through his untiring efforts, has built up a large and excellent school. He devotes himself with great singleness of purpose to his profes- sion, and imparts much of his enthusiasm and capacity for honest work to his pupils. He is plain in life and habit, consistent in char- acter, honest and upright. The Penman's Gazette, of December, 1866, speaking of him professionally, says: "Prof. Frasher is one of the wheel-horses of the profession, and has well-earned all the reputation and prosperity he enjoys. He is one of the men who have made their impress on the penmanship of the times, yet a man whose modesty impels him to avoid rather than seek notoriety." His name has been a familiar one among penmen for a long time, but the prac-' tical perfection of the professor's style keeps him still in the front rank. His son, Dr. E. F. Frasher, is also an expert in this useful ac- complishment. In 1859, he became a member of the Masonic lodge, No. 202, of Port Washington, Ohio. He served in 1860, and was re- elected in 1861 as secretary of that lodge.
A. A. Franzheim, secretary of the city board of gas trustees, of
A
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Wheeling, is a native of that city, born December 13, 1861, the son of George W. Franzheim, deceased, who was one of the leading citizens of Wheeling during his lifetime. Mr. Franzheim was reared at Wheeling and received his education in the schools of the city. His first employment was in the Wheeling pottery, where he was engaged for about one year, and at the end of that time, upon the decease of his brother, G. Will Franzheim, he succeeded him in the retail jew- elry business. From IS81, the date of his going into that trade, until 1886, he followed the jewelry business, and at the end of that time he sold out and removed to New Mexico to look after some silver min- ing interests in that territory. After remaining there during 1886 and 1887 he returned to Wheeling, and in October 16, 1889, he was ap- pointed by the board of gas trustees to his present position, for the term of two years. Mr. Franzheim has been for several years active in political matters, and is conspicuous as a campaign organizer and worker in the interests of the democratic party. He was one of the organizers of the Young Men's Democratic club, and during the cam- paign of 1888 was president of the same, He is a member of the city and county executive committees. In 1884 Mr. Franzheim was ap- pointed by Governor Wilson as a member of his staff, and subse- quently promoted to commissary general of the state. In the spring of 1889 he was appointed by the governor as a member of the com- mission to locate the state reform school. He is prominent fratern- ally, as a member of Bates lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M., Wheeling Union chapter, Cyrene commandery, K. T., Wheeling consistory, Osirus temple, Mystic Shrine; of Black Prince lodge, No. 29, K. of P .; of Wheeling lodge, No. 28, B. P. O. Elks, and of other organizations.
Alexander Frew, a well-known citizen of Wheeling, and senior member of the firm of Frew & Bertschy, extensive furniture and car- pet dealers, and undertakers, was born in Steubenville, Ohio, Decem- ber 12, 1841. His father was Alexander Frew, a native of Ireland, who came to this country at an early date and located at Pittsburgh, from here moving to Steubenville, Ohio, where he remained until 1852, when he removed to Wheeling, W. Va., where his death occurred. Alexander Frew, Jr., was reared in Wheeling, after his eleventh year, and was educated in the public schools of that city. When a lad, he carried papers for a morning journal for a time, and then started to learn the printer's trade, but did not complete his ap- prenticeship. He then entered the employ of J. C. Harbour, in his carpet store, and remained with him until the breaking out of the war of the rebellion. In 1861, he answered the first call for troops, and enlisted in the first regiment of West Virginia Infantry, Company C, for three months. He was in the first engagement at Phillipi, of the first engagement at Carricksford, and others of less importance. At the expiration of three months, he returned to Wheeling and remained for a year with his former employer. In 1862, Mr. Frew's patriotism was again evinced by his re-enlisting for three years in the Fifteenth West Virginia regiment, Company H, and serving until the close of the war. Entering as a private, he came out of the army with the
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rank of captain, having been promoted to this position for bravery. He was captain of Company H. After leaving the service he became connected with the firm of Friend & Son, furniture dealers, and re- mained with them for twenty years, the last ten years of which time he had a half-interest in the carpet department of the establishment. Withdrawing from the concern, July 1, 1885, he then formed a partner- ship with Lewis Bertschy and embarked in the furniture, carpet and undertaking business. This is one of the largest houses of the kind in the state, and has an enviable reputation for fair dealing and enter- prise. Mr. Frew is a member of the Masonic lodge, No. 5, F. & A. M., Cyrene commandery K. of T., Osirus order, Mystic Shrine; Alpha lodge, K. of H., Ft. Henry council, No. 97, National Union, and Sheri- dan post, G. A. R. In the year 1861, he espoused Miss Anna E. Hen- derson, who was born in Steubenville, Ohio, the daughter of John Henderson. Eight children have been born to this happy union, six of whom are living.
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