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 37

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 37

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OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.

ing business and then in show management, with his headquarters at Wheeling. Two years later he embarked in the wholesale toy and fancy goods business at Wheeling, to which he gave his exclusive at- tention until 1883. In the latter year he added to his business the wholesaling of jewelry and American watches, putting traveling sales- men on the road. This new departure met with such success that in 1890 Mr. Genther turned his attention entirely to this branch of wholesale trade, and is now the only wholesale dealer in his line in the state. Aside from his business operations Mr. Genther is justly famed for his successful management of the opera house, . which, when he assumed control under a lease in 1885, was known as the Academy of Music. Before that time the house was used as a variety theatre of a low order, and its management did not bring re- pute to the city, nor attract the patronage of respectable people. Mr. Genther determined to redeem the reputation of the house, and from the start so rapidly elevated its character that it was determined to re- model the house and afford it in every way an opportunity for a new career. Accordingly the house was remodeled, the stage accessories were increased and improved, the seating capacity enlarged, and the theatre was then christened the Grand Opera House. In its manage- ment since that date Mr. Genther has displayed notable executive ability and shrewd discernment of the wants of the public, and has been able at the same time to present performances of an elevated character, pleasing to all classes of theatre goers, and make the house a financial success. This excellent management has been not only a matter of personal congratulation , due to Mr. Genther, but it has re- sulted in the increased value of the property in which the house is situated, and has added to the good name of the city. It is hoped by all good citizens that the stockholders of the Grand will continue Mr. Genther in the management for as long a term as he may desire, for he has justly earned the good will of the public. Mr. Genther's career, it may be said in closing, is eminently that of a self-made man. Start- ing out in the world at eleven years of age, without resources, and as- suming entirely the responsibility of his future, he has steadily fought his way upward until he has won an incontestible position in the com- munity which is now his home, and as has been mentioned, occupies a unique and leading position in the jewelry trade of the state. Mr. Genther is a member of Nelson lodge, No. 30, F. & A. M., Wheeling Union chapter, No. 1, and Wheeling commandery, No. I, K. T., and is a member of Wheeling lodge, No. 28, B. P. O. Elks. He was mar- ried in 1873, and has one son, Oliver Cromwell Genther, Jr.

Greason D. Gillelen, general local agent of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad company, at Wheeling, W. Va., is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born at Carlisle, Cumberland county, June 5, 1846. His parents were Frank and Rebecca (Greason) Gillelen, both of whom were natives of Cumberland county, Penn. Frank Gillelen graduated from Dickinson college, at Carlisle, and adopted the profesion of teaching, in which he was engaged during his active life. His death occurred at Wooster, Ohio, in 1875. His widow survives him, and

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resides at Los Angeles, Cal. Three sons were born to these parents, all of whom are living. Greason Gillelen lived at Carlisle until his eighteenth year, and was educated principally under the tutelage of his gifted father. In 1865, he began his railroad career at Pittsburgh, in the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad company, as a passenger brakeman, remaining with that company for about three years, in the meantime having been made yard clerk. He then went west and was engaged in farming until about 1872, when he returned to Pittsburgh, where, for four years, he filled a position as civil engineer in the en- gineer department of that city. He then returned to railroading by entering the service of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad company, as yard brakeman. Later he was made yard master, which position he filled until 1880, when he joined the engineer corps of the Denver & Rio Grand Railroad company, in Arizona, and was absent for seven- teen months, during which time he was a civil engineer in Arizona, Idaho and Kansas City. In 1881 he entered the service of the Balti- more & Ohio company, as agent, and has since been with the com- pany, filling the position of agent at different stations, until November 22, 1888, when he came to Wheeling and took charge of the B. & O.'s business, as general local agent of Wheeling and Bellaire. Mr. Gillelen is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Braddock lodge, No. 510, of Pennsylvania, Plymouth chapter, No. 118, Plymouth, Ohio, and Wheeling commandery, No. 1, K. T. of Wheeling. Mr. Gillelson was married at Brinton, Penn., May 9, 1867, to Miss Sadie, daughter of John Black, a prominent farmer of Brinton. To this union one son-George Francis - has been born.

P. J. Gilligin, a prominent contractor in masonry, of Wheeling, is a native of Ireland, and son of Thomas and Sarah (Whyte) Gilligin, of that land. He was born at Sligo, in the county of the same name, March 17, 1847, and was there reared and received his education. He served an apprenticeship of five years as a mason and brick-layer in England and Scotland, and then, in June, 1869, came to America. He made his home at Wheeling, but worked during the winter in the Washington Iron works, and in 1870 worked upon the Baltimore & Ohio railroad bridge over the Ohio. In 1872 he began business as a contractor in brick and stone construction, at which he has met with notable success. In 1875 he was occupied as foreman of masonry in the construction of the Wheeling & Pittsburgh & St. Louis railroad and held that position six months. Then locating at Pittsburgh he worked as a journeyman on the house of refuge at Morganza, and built the bridge across the Chartiers creek. He was subsequently employed as under boss in the Pittsburgh water works, and after finishing that engagement took charge as foreman of the construction of the Brownsville avenue wall, South Pittsburgh, and remained there until the work was completed. In 1877 he returned to Wheeling and resumed his business as contractor. He has been engaged in many important buildings, and is highly esteemed not only as proficient in his business, but as a valuable citizen. Mr. Gilli-

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gin was married in 1877, to Catherine, daughter of Peter Riley, of Wheeling, and they have the following children: Thomas P., Mar- garet F., Sarah M., Charles P., William, Mary S. and Francis D. Mr. Gilligin is a member of the Catholic church, and in politics is independent.

W. G. E. Goering, treasurer of the Central Glass works, of Wheel- ing, was born at Gotha, Germany, in 1840. Before coming to Amer- ica, he received his education in the schools of his native land, taking a four years' course in the commercial college. In 1859, he arrived at Baltimore, where he obtained employment as a book-keeper and cashier in a dry goods establishment. There he remained until 1862, when, seeking wider opportunities in the west, he came to Wheeling, and took a position as book-keeper for Augustus Pollock, in the notion business, and was engaged with the latter until 1868, when he accepted a similar position with Neill & Ellingham, whole- sale grocers. In 1871 he became cashier and book-keeper of the Cen- tral Glass company, of which John Oesterling was then president, and. he has since then remained with this institution, holding both the po- sition of book-keeper and treasurer. As an enterprising citizen, he is active in various channels, is secretary of two building and loan as- .sociations, the Eagle and the Economy, and has served his fellow citi- zens on the board of education, and on the city council, as a represen- tative of the First ward. Mr. Goering was married in 1863, to Augusta Glaesner, a native of Germany, and he and wife are members of the St. John's German Independent Protestant church.

Charles R. Goetze, proprietor of a popular drug establishment of Wheeling, was born in that city November 10, 1859. He is of German descent, his grandfathers being both natives of that country. Charles W. Goetze, his paternal grandfather, settled in Wheeling about 1832, and soon afterward engaged in farming and the manufacture of char- coal on an extensive scale. He is still living in Wheeling in his nine- tieth year. Six of his children are living: Augustus, Charles, Will- iam F., Henry, Herman and Augusta (Mrs. Charles Kettler). Will- iam F., the father of the subject of this mention, married Christiana Otto, daughter of George Otto, who came to Wheeling from Germany in an early day and followed his trade as a carpenter. ' William F. was born in Germany, and after coming with his parents to Wheeling, learned the shoemaker's trade. For twenty-five years he carried on a boot and shoe store, and subsequently conducted a saloon. He died in March, 1887. He had six children who grew to maturity: Charles R., William C., Mary L., Tina, Lillie and Laura. Charles R. was reared in Wheeling, and educated in the city schools. For four years, 1875 to 1879, he was employed in the wholesale drug house of John L. Smith & Co., and he then entered a retail store at Alle- gheny, Penn., where he remained three years, in the meantime attend- ing the Pittsburgh college of pharmacy of which he was the only graduate in the class of 1881. In April, 1882, he opened his present establishment at 117 Sixteenth street, where he has built up a trade of much importance. Mr. Goetze was married October 27, 1885, to

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Jessie, daughter of George and Sarah McConnell, of Triadelphia, and has one son, Charles W. He also has the agency for West Virginia, for Columbia bicycles and tricycles, in which he does quite a large business.

Benjamin F. Goodwin, of Wheeling, a prominent citizen, holding the federal office of local inspector of steam vessels, has been a resi- dent of that city since 1829. He was born November 29, 1828, in Fayette county, Penn., the son of Benjamin Goodwin, who removed with his family to Wheeling in the following year. The father was one of the early brick and stone masons of the city, but after follow- ing that trade there for a number of years, removed to Mckeesport, Penn., where he died a few years subsequent to 1850. The subject of this mention, after he had reached the age of about fifteen years, be- gan boating upon the river, engaging also in ship carpentry, and fol- lowed the two occupations alternately until .1851. He then purchased a steamboat, and during all the time that has sine elapsed up to 1888, he has been engaged in steamboating, with the exception of two years spent in New Jersey. As carpenter, assistant engineer, pilot and finally master, his experience as a river man has been very ex- tensive, and he has navigated on the Monongahela, Ohio, Mississippi, Red and Wachita rivers, gaining an experience which makes him one . of the ablest as well as one of the oldest river men of Wheeling. His appointment to take his present federal position occurred on April 26, 1888, during the administration of President Cleveland. Mr. Good- win is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is connected with Ohio lodge, No. 1, F. & A. M. He was married in 1854, at Wheeling Island, to Anna, daughter of William Greer, and they have had nine children, seven of whom are now living.

William S. Goshorn, a venerable and prominent citizen of Wheeling, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, January 19, 1814. He is the son of John Goshorn, born near the mouth of the Juniata river, November 28, 1790, who came to Belmont county in 1810, and farmed there until 1815, upon a quarter section of land he had purchased, and at the end of that period removed to Wheeling. In that city he. engaged at once on a modest scale in general merchandise, and in- creasing his business from year to year, embarked in 1830 in an ex- clusively wholesale business, in dry goods, boots, shoes, hats, caps, etc. He pursued this business successfully until 1844, when he re-

tired from trade, and making his home upon a farm four miles from the city, lived a life of quiet and ease until the time of his death, June 13, 1869. He was a member of the city council, was a director of the old Northwestern bank, of Virginia, and again of the Manu- facturers' & Farmers' bank, of Wheeling, also in Fire & Marine In- surance Co., and was a prominent Mason. The partner of his domestic life was Mary Farrier, who was born in Pennsylvania in August, 1790, and died in Wheeling, July 16, 1854. Three children were born to them: Jane, who died at the age of seven years; William S .; Isabella, who married B. F. Kelly, a general in the late war, and died April 23, 1860. Mrs. Goshorn's mother was a Scott, one of the family distin-

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guished in the early history of Wheeling for their heroic conduct during the time of Indian warfare. Mollie Scott was one of the inmates of Col. Zane's block-house during the memorable siege of Fort Henry in 1782. Subject's great-grandfather, Joseph Scott, came here from Pennsylvania. He and son served through the Revolutionary war. His sons, John and Joseph, were killed by Indians on Scott's fork of Will's creek, near where Cambridge, Ohio, now stands. After peace was declared an Indian and his squaw came to Marietta, Ohio, where Alexander Scott, a brother of the two deceased, was living, and under the influence of fire-water, and not knowing of Scott's presence, boasted of having killed the two Scott brothers. That night Alexander Scott got the Indian out of the village and cut his throat, subsequently throwing the body in the river. William S. Goshorn, above-named, has made his home at Wheeling since he was brought here at the age of one year, by his father. He entered the business of his father, the style being first, John Goshorn & Co., then Goshorn & Kelley, and afterward Goshorn & Co., William being a member of the latter firm. Since 1844 he has been virtually retired from regular business. He has served as a member of the council several times, was once a director of the Merchants' & Mechanics' bank, and of the Fire & Marine Insurance company. Mr. Goshorn was married in January, 1838, to Priscilla Jane Zinn, of Martinsburg, W. Va., who died in 1878, after forty years of married life, leaving six children: Mary, wife of James C. Hervey, of Ohio county; Isabella, widow of Joseph S. Irwin; John, farmer of Ohio county; Amanda Virginia, widow of Joseph S. Hamilton; Adelia A., wife of Richard P. Staub, of Baltimore; Laura E., wife of Alfred Caldwell, Esq., attor- ney-general.

Herman B. Grimm, secretary of the Reymann Brewing company, is one of the well-known young business men of Wheeling. He was born in Saxony, Germany, July 23, 1853, and is the son of Charles W. Grimm, a dry goods merchant of Zeulenroda, Germany. The father died at Wheeling in 1884, in the sixty-third year of his age, and his widow survives, at the age of sixty-nine. Herman B. was their only child. The latter was reared and educated in Germany, and received a thorough training in various schools and from private tutelage. After leaving school he entered his father's establishment, but subsequently he was employed in the office of the recorder of deeds of the county or district in which he resided, as accountant and deputy, and he held that place about three years. At the end of that period he resigned what was to have been a life position, and in the fall of 1880 came to America with his parents. They proceeded directly to Wheeling, and there in April, 1881, he entered the office of the Reymann Brewing company as a clerk. In January, 1882, he was given charge of the books, and from that position, in 1883, he was promoted to the position of secretary of the company, a position he still fills with notable ability. Mr. Grimm is also secretary of the opera house orchestra.

John Grosscurth, a well-known German citizen of Wheeling, and

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a leading wholesale and retail dealer in furniture at No. 1116 Main street, was born in the city of Meckelsdorf, Hesse-Cassel, Germany, January 15, 1826. In his youth he learned the trade of cabinet-mak- ing and house carpentry, and then served three years in the Prince's guard, of the Hessian army. Upon the revolution of the Hes- sian legislature against the prince in 1850, he left the army and came to America, leaving Bremen on November 17, and reaching New York January 23, 1851, after a voyage of fifty-eight days. After re- maining in New York about four months he went to Newark, N. J., where he lived four or five months, and then went to Rochester, N. Y., where he remained until September, 1852, in the meantime wedding Theresa Wilhelm, a native of Saxony. Proceeding further west, his wife was attacked with cholera at Cleveland, and then upon her recovery, they came to Wheeling, reaching here on the night of September 11, 1852. This city has been his permanent home since. He worked at his trade until 1863, and then opened a shop on Market street, opposite the postoffice building, and carried a stock of furnit- ure in addition to working at his trade. In March, 1868, he pur- chased a lot on Main street and erected his present business house, a three-story brick building, which he occupied with a largely increased stock of furniture. He continued the cabinet-making and undertak- ing business until about 1887, when he confined himself exclusively to the wholesale and retail furniture trade. Mr. Grosscurth is one of the substantial and influential citizens of Wheeling. He takes an ac- tive interest in public affairs, but is not a political partisan, being in favor of good government, which he is ready to applaud whatever party is responsible therefor. For the last thirty-eight or forty years he has been a member of the Reform church. Mr. and Mrs. Gross- curth have had twelve children, of whom there survive four sons and two daughters.

Jacob W. Grubb, a prominent citizen and ex-mayor of Wheeling, is notable in a business way as a leading jeweler, maintaining a well- known and popular establishment at the corner of Market and Twelfth streets. Mr. Grubb's family is among the oldest in the upper Ohio valley, his grandfather, Jacob Grubb, having settled where Bridgeport now is, near the beginning of the present century. This ancestor subsequently removed to St. Clairsville, where he was for some time engaged as a cabinet maker. At that place his son, Andrew, the father of Jacob W., was born in 1814. The latter also followed the trade of cabinet-making, and was so occupied at St. Clairsville and at Bridgeport. Of the latter town he served as mayor for a time. In 1877 he removed to Wheeling, where he died in 1889. His wife was Trissa Turk, a native of St. Clairsville, and daughter of John Turk, an old resident of that place. Of their four children, the eldest, Jacob W. Grubb, the subject of this sketch, was born at Bridgeport, in August, 1850. He spent his boyhood days at Bridge- port, and in 1867 came to Wheeling, and embarked in the jewelry business as an employe of Henegen, Bates & Co., whom he succeeded ten years later. In 1872 he removed to his present commodious and

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centrally located store-room, which is the home of one of the most extensive jewelry establishments of the state. Mr. Grubb is also identified with numerous other enterprises and industries in Wheeling and vicinity. In public affairs as well as in business, Mr. Grubb has been active and prominent, and in addition to other honors conferred at the hands of his fellow citizens, he has served one term to the general satisfaction as mayor of Wheeling. Socially also, he is prominent, and in the Masonic fraternity he has attained high honors, being a member of Bates lodge, No. 33, an past officer of the grand lodge, and a member of Wheeling Union chapter, No. I, and Cyrene commandery, No. 7, K. T. In 1876 Mr. Grubb was married to Lizzie, daughter of L. S. Delaplaine, and they have three children.

Frank Gruse, one of the prominent young men of Wheeling who is active in politics and public affairs, now holds the position of presi- dent of the second branch of the city council, and is a member of the board of commissioners of Ohio county. He was born in Hesse, Germany, November 8, 1852, the son of Henry and -Elizabeth (Schaub) Gruse. The family came to America in 1854, and proceeded directly to Wheeling, where they located, and have since resided. The father is now in his seventy-second year, and the mother in her seventy-fifth. Two children of these parents are living, the subject of this mention, and Mary, wife of Louis Bonenberger, of Wheeling. Frank Gruse was reared in Wheeling from the second year of his age, and was educated in the common schools and the Wheeling business college. under Samuel McCoy in 1872. For over one year he was employed in the dry goods business with George R. Taylor & Co. In In 1873 he took charge of the books for the large tailoring establish- ment of C. W. Seabright. Mr. Gruse is an enterprising citizen, is largely interested in real estate, and has unbounded faith in the future of the city. In 1884 he was elected a member of the city council from the Sixth ward, and he is now serving on his third term, having been re-elected in 1886 and ISSS. In 1886 he was elected a member of the board of commissioners of the county, for Webster district, and was chosen president of the board. During this term of office on account of the famous political contests of ISS8, the proceedings of the board became a matter of national interest. In the fall of 1888 he was re-elected and became the chairman of the finance committee. He was a candidate of his party for the presidency of the board, but the body being equally divided in membership politically, an arrange- ment was made whereby his party secured all the offices in the bestowal of the board except the superintendent of the infirmary and the coroner, and he withdrew from the contest, and P. B. Dobbins was elected president of the board. Mr. Gruse was married April 15, 1880, to Emma, daughter of Benedict Speidel, who died eighteen months later, leaving one daughter, E. V. He is a member of the Catholic church.

David Gundling, a prominent retail dealer in clothing and furnish- ing goods, of Wheeling, is a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, born February 22, 1839. In 1855 he came to the United States, and resided

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for several years in the state of North Carolina. He came to Wheel- ing in 1862, and embarked in the retail business, dealing in boots and shoes, and then for nine years subsequently was engaged with an east- ern house as traveling salesman. He engaged in his present business in this city about the year 1876, and now has the largest retail estab- lishment in the city, at 34 and 36 Twelfth street, the trade of which extends throughout the suburban towns and adjacent country. The stock is large and varied, but especial attention is paid to the finer lines of goods, of which the supply is always of a character to satisfy all demands without recourse to metropolitan retail establishments. Mr. Gundling has built up this extensive establishment and trade by the exercise of rare business qualities, which has made him one of the leaders in trade circles of West Virginia. Mr. Gundling was married in 1866 to Adeline Kline, by whom he has four children. His fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic order, the Knights of Honor, the A. O. U. W. and the National Union.

William H. Haller, for many years a resident of Wheeling, and an · honored member of the city council, was born in that city Febru- ary 15, 1834. He is the son of Joseph Haller, a native of Frederick, Md., of German descent, and his wife Eliza, a native of Marshall county, W. Va., and daughter of Thomas and Caroline Clark. These parents settled at Wheeling about 1813, and there the father was en- gaged as a contractor and builder until his death in 1862. His wife died five years later. They had thirteen children of whom the third is the subject of this sketch. The latter at the age of eighteen began the trades of painting and paperhanging, and he followed those ten years afterward in favorable seasons, also being employed as steward of Ohio river steamers, among which were the "Air Line," the " Alle- gheny Clipper," the "Cinderella," and the "Talisman." In the spring of 1861, Mr. Haller enlisted in the Union army as a member of Bat- tery D, First West Virginia light artillery, and he served until 1862, when on account of physical disability he was honorably discharged. He has since that time been engaged in the business of auctioneer and as a real estate dealer. In these lines of business he has gained a wide reputation for energy and integrity. Mr. Haller is a member of Sheridan post, G. A. R., and Wheeling lodge, No. 9, I. O. O. F., and he and wife are members of the English Lutheran church. In politics he is an ardent republican, and he takes much interest in municipal affairs. In January, 1879, he was elected to the second branch of the city council, and being re-elected served four years. Then in January, 1883, he was elected to the first branch, in which he is now serving his second term of four years, which when completed will end twelve years of faithful service in the council. During the years of 1887 and 1888 he also held the position of market master. In 1859 Mr. Haller was married to Martha A. Williams, a native of Wheeling, and daughter of Benjamin Williams, deceased, a venerable steamboat pilot. Mr. and Mrs. Haller have had fourteen children: Benjamin J .; Harry; Theodore, deceased; Florence; William Gil- bert; Georgiana, deceased; Sue, deceased; George; Jerry A .; Jen-

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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 37

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