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 43
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H. F. Jones, of Wheeling, W. Va., was born in Brooke county, that state, March 10, 1843, the son of Isaac and Eliza (Faulk) Jones. The subject of this mention left Brooke county in 1852, the family remov- ing to Martin's Ferry, Ohio. There he passed the remainder of his - childhood and his youth until he had attained the age of nineteen years, when he enlisted in Battery D, First West Virginia light artil- lery, with which he served from 1862 until the close of the war. After the restoration of peace he came to Wheeling and found employment with the firm of Chapman & Co., founders, as salesman in their ware- house, and later for six months as traveling salesman. In the latter capacity he served with D. Lynn & Co., successors of the former firm, until about 1871, after which, until 1879, he was engaged with Joseph Bell & Co., in the same work. In 1872 in partnership with his brother,
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J. H., Mr. Jones established the business which is still conducted un- der the firm style of Jones Brothers, and since leaving the road he has given this his personal attention. The firm manufactures and deals in tinware, and has an extensive trade in stoves, cutlery, etc., ranking among the successful and prosperous business concerns of the city. Mr. Jones possesses an extensive business acquaintance, on account of his former commercial occupation, and is everywhere highly esteemed. At home he possesses the confidence and regard of the community. He has taken part in municipal affairs asa member of the water board since 1887, being elected in that year and re-elected in January, 1889. Mr. Jones is a member of Virginius lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F., and Ab- rams encampment, No. I, of the same order, of Alpha lodge, Knights of Honor, and of Sheridan post, No. 86, G. A. R. In 1872 Mr. Jones was married to Anna P., daughter of E. J. Stone, deceased, formerly a prominent business man of Wheeling and member of the dry goods house of Stone & Thomas. To this union three children have been born.
One of the most prominent financiers of Wheeling is Mr. John J. Jones, cashier of the Exchange bank. Mr. Jones is a native of Bel- mont county, Ohio, and came to Wheeling in 1863, three years later he entered the First National bank, now the Bank of the Ohio Valley. He continued with this institution until 1871, when be became con- nected with the Exchange bank as its cashier, a position he has since held. Aside from the banking business Mr. Jones is prominently identified with several other extensive manufacturing concerns of Wheeling and vicinity, being a large stockholder in the same. In his relations to the community through this the largest banking house in the state, Mr. Jones has always held the reputation of being a finan- cier of great ability and of strict integrity. Few men can hope, at his age, to attain to such a desirable position, and to such a lofty place in the esteem of the citizens of as large a city as Wheeling. Nothing but ability and probity could have placed him where he is.
Henry Juergens, a respected citizen of Wheeling, has been en- gaged there in the retail grocery business since 1875, and occupies a high rank among the business men of the city. Mr. Juergens was born in Fuerstenberg, Germany, July 12, 1832, and is the son of Leo- pold and Sophia Juergens, the former of whom died in Germany in 1851. In the next year the mother, with seven children, Leopold, William, Henry, Louisa, Charlotte, Charles and Arnold, came to America, whither the eldest son, Bernard, had preceded them in 1848, and the eldest daughter, Sophia, with her husband, Frederick Knabe, in 1855. The mother and the children, who accompanied her, settled at Wheeling, where she died in May, 1869. Mr. Juergens had learned the trade of carpentry in his native land, and he followed that in his new home, until November 6, 1874, when, while employed in a plan- ing-mill, he lost his left arm. In the following April he embarked in the grocery business, to which he has since given his undivided at- tention. He was married October 23, 1859, to Bernardine Regina Ritter, a native of Germany, and daughter of Andrew and Mary Do-
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rothea Ritter, the latter of whom died in 1849. In 1853 Mrs. Ritter, with her father and the other children, Theresa A., Ernestina, Ernst E. and Albert M., came to America, and settled in Wetzel county, W. Va .. where the father died November 7, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Juergens have had eleven children, Ernest L., Louisa M., Henry F., Sophia, Charles A., William F. (deceased), Anna, Emma, Albert (de- deased), Charlotte and Clara. Mr. Juergens and wife are members of the German Lutheran church, and he is affiliated with the German Benevolent society, and the order of Druids.
The Right Reverend John Joseph Kain, D. D., at present bishop of the diocese of Wheeling, was born at Martinsburg, Va., May 31, 1841. At an early age he was sent to St. Charles college, near Elli- cott City, Howard county, Md., and made his collegiate course in that noted school, On the completion of the course of study in that institution he passed to the department of philosophy and theology in St. Mary's university, Baltimore, Md. Throughout the collegiate, philosophical and theological studies, he evinced rare talent, and was regarded as one of the most gifted, if not the most gifted, students in those large schools. He was ordained priest, July 2, 1866, and assigned to the mission of Harper's Ferry and Martinsburg, W. Va. When the See of Wheeling became vacant in 1874, the bishops of the province of Baltimore convened to provide a successor to the Right Reverend Richard V. Whelan, D. D. Among the three names sub- mitted to Rome for that exalted office was that of the Rev. J. J. Kain. In February of 1875, the anouncement came that Rome had appointed the Rev. J. J. Kain, and on the 23d of the following May, the new bishop was solemny consecrated in the Wheeling cathedral, honored by the presence of a large number of his brother priests and several Right Rev. Bishops from various parts of the country. Those of the clergy of the diocese of Wheeling who knew the incoming bishop rejoiced, because it was apparent to them that the choice was an excellent one. In a very brief time all realized the grateful fact that Rome had placed at the helm in the diocese a man of extraordinary fitness; a man thoroughly equipped as a scholar, possessed of a very high order of administrative ability, and withal having few peers as a pulpit orator. The episcopate of the Right Reverend Bishop Kain for fourteen or fifteen years has more than confirmed these anticipations. Time has proved that in the present bishop the clergy has found a ruler as kind as a father, the church a model prelate, and the people a chief pastor whose zeal, influence and devotedness guarantee their their spiritual well-being as long as it may please God to spare their bishop. Socially, as well as intellectually, the subject of this sketch is a most worthy successor of the illustrious and revered Bishop Whelan, Truly Rome seems to have been partial to Virginia before the division into two states, and afterward in the character of the men placed over the Catholic church,- Bishops Whelan, McGill, Gibbons and Keane at Richmond, and Whelan and Kain at Weeeling. It is doubtful if any two Catholics Sees in the United States have had abler and more efficient bishops than Richmond and Wheeling. Bishop Kain is yet
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a young man. He is studious, industrious, attentive to his duties, able in pulpit and on platform, ever watchful of the interests of his church, and is highly esteemed by all who knew him.
Isaac Kelley, one of the earliest settlers of Ohio county, came to the valley from the east at a very early date in the opening of the country, and being a man of much force of character and ability, was chosen sheriff of Ohio county, at a time when the county embraced all of the territory now divided between Brooke, Ohio, Marshall and Hancock counties. His vocation was farming, and he was a man of considerable property. His son, John Kelley, was born in this county, April 7, 1784. He followed farming, and also held the office of deputy sheriff of Ohio county, under his father. He married Eliza- beth Wilson, a daughter of Adam Wilson, one of the early settlers. She was born at the forks of Yough, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1785, and died December 23, 1859. John Kelley had just passed his fortieth year when he died, May 1, 1824. Seven children were born to them, of whom two are living: John Kelley, who resides near Mansfield, Ohio, and Adam Wilson Kelley, who has for over a third of a century been prominently interested in manufacturing at Wheeling and vicinity. He was born six miles east of this city on January 21, 1815, was reared as a farmer and followed that vocation until about 1847. In about 1853, he removed to Benwood and engaged in the manufac- ture of nails, as a member of the firm of Gill, Kelley & Co. In 1855 he returned to the farm where he remained until 1858, during which period the firm of Gill, Kelley' & Co., at Benwood, failed in business, and in the fall of the year last named, Mr. Kelley leased the nail works and again removed to Benwood, and a few months later, when the property was sold on a deed of trust, he became the purchaser and operated the works on his own account, until July, 1864, when he sold the business and removed to Wheeling. Mr. Kelley was then for a considerable period not actively engaged in any enterprise, until the failure of the Belmont Nail company, in 1879, when he joined with the other bond-holders, and purchased the works in August of that year. Upon the re-organization of the company he was chosen presi- dent, a position he has since held. Though particularly connected with the branch of manufacture just mentioned his enterprise and in- vestments have by no means been confined to that channel, and among his other interests it may be mentioned that he is a director of the Exchange bank and of the Belmont Bridge company. Mr. Kelley was married October 23, 1855, to Anna D. Musser, daughter of Joseph Musser, late of Washington, Penn., and to this union five children have been born, two of whom are living: Alice V., now the wife of Dr. A. F. Hustead, of Morgantown, W. Va., now of Wheel- ing; and Wilson I. Kelley, of Wheeling. Those deceased were: Kate, died three weeks old; Cora, died thirteen months old, and an infant not named. Mr. Kelley and family are members of the First Presbyterian church.
John W. Kennen, of Wheeling, well-known as an enterprising re- tail grocer of that city, was born at Wheeling, November 25, 1854,
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the son of Samuel and Fannie M. (Surghnor) Kennen. The parents, the former of whom was born in county Antrim, Ireland, and the latter in Scotland, were married in county Antrim about 1848, and in 1850 came to America, and made their home at Wheeling, where the father died, March 12, 1885, and where the mother still resides. Mr. Kennen received a good early education in his native city, and then at the age of fourteen years became a clerk in a grocery store, where he continued to be occupied until he reached the age of twenty- three. During seven years of that period he was in the employment of the late K. J. Smyth. He embarked in business independently in 1877, and in the time that has since elapsed has met with flattering success, building up a prosperous business, and gaining the esteem of the community. Mr. Kennen was married May 27, 1888, to Ida M. Armstrong, daughter of John S. Armstrong, of Wheeling, and they have one child, John A., who was born March 9, 1889. Mr. Kennen is a member of Nelson lodge, No. 30, A. F. & A. M., and socially is highly regarded.
John J. Kenney, a well-known citizen of Wheeling, was born in that city March 27, 1854, the son of Patrick Kenney, a worthy gentleman who has served the city for several years as market-master. The lat- ter is a native of Ireland. He came to America about 1846, and after serving an apprenticeship as a moulder at Pittsburgh, came to Wheel- ing in about 1852, and there has since made his home. He followed his vocation until 1884, when he was appointed market-master of the Second ward market, and held under that appointment until 1886. In January, 1889, he was again appointed to the same position for a term of two years, and he filled the place to the general satisfaction, and with much credit to himself. His management of the office during his first term resulted in larger receipts from the market than had ever accrued before in the history of the city. He has also served a term in the city council, and is in every way regarded as one of the valuable citizens. John J. Kenney was reared at Wheeling and edu- cated in the city schools and at St. Vincent's academy. When about fourteen years of age he found employment in the nail mills, and after working there for about ten years, he engaged in the retail liquor trade for something over nine years. In 1887 he embarked in the brewery business, purchasing the large establishment of Kilian Kress, on the corner of Seventh and Market streets, at the same time associating with himself in the ownership of this brewery Christ- ian Blum. This establishment was built about thirty years ago by Henry Daub, and is a building of four stories, 66x120 feet in dimen- sions. An extensive business is carried on by the firm of Kenney & Blum in the production of ale and porter, and there is a great demand for their product which is increasing in quality as rapidly as in quan- tity produced. Mr. Kenney is one of the prominent young men of the city, and has served the city with notable efficiency as a member of the city council, to the first branch of which he was elected in 1884, for the term of four years, from the First ward. In 1889 he was elec- ted to the first branch for a term of two years Mr. Kenney was mar-
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ried in November, 1877, to Mary, daughter of Wendel Schafer, and to them two children have been born, one of whom is living.
Thomas W. Killeen, a successful grocer of Wheeling, is a native of that city, born July 26, 1854. His parents, John and Bridget (Degan) Killeen, both natives of county Kings, Ireland, came to America, and met for the first time at Wheeling, where they were married in the spring of 1853. A few years later they removed to Benwood, where the father died August 10, 1861. Subsequently the mother was mar- ried to Anthony Loftes, whom she survives, now making her home at Wheeling. Mr. Killeen, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest of four children of his parents. He received a good common school education in childhood, and in early manhood was employed as a boiler in different iron works, at Wheeling, an occupation which he began in childhood, and pursued until 1884. On January 27, 1885, he became a member of the police force of Wheeling, and continued in that capacity until February 12, 1889. In the meantime he had opened a grocery store in June 1883, at No. 2901 McCulloch- street, which until he retired from the police force was conducted by his wife. Mr. Killeen is a courteous and wide-awake business man, and has a large custom. He is a member of the Grocers' Protective asso- ciation, is a democrat in politics, and is active in the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He and wife are members of the Catholic church. He was married May 18, 1880, to Elizabeth Rafferty, and they have five children: William, Mary, Anna, John J., and Regina, of whom the eldest is deceased. Mrs. Killeen was born at Wheeling in 1856, the daughter of James and Maria (Casey) Rafferty. They were born respectively in county Longfield and county Limerick, Ireland, and coming to this country, met and were married at New York, in 1854. In the next year they settled at Wheeling, where the father died September 19, 1888. Of their ten children, Mrs. Killeen is the eldest.
Michael Kirchner, a well-known citizen of Wheeling, is a member of the firm of G. Mendel & Co., the leading furniture dealers and un- dertakers of that city. He was born in Bavaria, March 21, 1847, and remained in his native land until he was about twenty years of age, learning and working at the trades of paper-hanging, painting, etc., working mostly at painting and frescoing. In 1867 he came to America and landing at New York came directly to Wheeling, where he found employment in Arbenz's furniture factory in March, 1868. He re- mained in that employment until January, 1870, after which he worked three months with Bodley & Fraby, but the factory of the latter burn- ing down, he entered the employment of G. Mendel & Co. After he had been engaged with that firm ten years, he was given charge of the furniture department, and in 1886 he was admitted to partnership in the firm. He continues to have charge of the furniture depart- ment. Mr. Kirchner is a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic church, and is associated with the pioneer society. He is held in high esteem throughout the city. In 1869 he was married to Catherine Colman, of Wheeling, and to them have been born nine children, of whom six are living.
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Charles Klein, a grocer of Wheeling, who has been quite success- ful in business, was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 7, 1849, the son of Christian and Barbara Klein. His father is deceased, having died in Germany in 1858, but the mother is still a resident of that country. Mr. Klein was reared and educated in his native land and instructed in the trade of carpentry, which he followed in Ger- many from his fourteenth to his twentieth year. In 1869, he embarked at Havre de Gras, and on the second day of May, reached New York, whence he came directly to Wheeling. He subsequently resided at Sharon, Penn., from March, 1870, to July of that year, when he went to Pittsburgh. Returning from the latter city in March, 1871, he has since that time made his home at Wheeling. During the first three years of his abode in the United States, he followed his trade, but at the end of that time he embarked in the grocery business, still follow- ing his trade two years, and then giving his entire attention to busi- ness. In this he has been notably prosperous, and now occupies a two-story brick business building which he erected on the corner of Eighth and Market streets, in 1887. He is regarded as an enterpris- ing business man and worthy citizen. May 1, 1872, Mr. Klein was married to Barbara Bentz, who was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, January 3, 1847. She came to this country as did her husband, in May, 1869. They have eight children: Edward, Francis; Charles, deceased; George, Eleanor; Mary, deceased; Frank and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Klein are members of the Catholic church. In 1885, Mr. Klein visited his native country and renewed his acquaintance with the friends and scenes of childhood.
Bernhard Klieves, of Wheeling, is well known as one of the men who has taken an active and prominent part in the advancement of the city. He was born in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, March 2, 1836, one of eleven children of Philip Klieves and wife. The father was a cabinet-maker and carpenter by trade. The mother died in 1839, and a year later three of the children came to the United States. In 1852 two others came, and in 1858 the father and five chil- dren, including Bernhard; removed to the United States, coming di- rectly to Wheeling. Here his two brothers were then engaged in contracting, and he found employment with them until about 1862, when he went to Preston county, W. Va. He remained at the latter place about two years, and upon his return to Wheeling formed a partnership with William and Theodore Klieves, his brothers, and engaged in the planing-mill business, they founding the Central plan- ing-mills, with the firm name of Klieves, Kraft & Co. In 1877 Will- iam Klieves retired from the business, and it was carried on by the three remaining partners until 18So, when E. W. Wells was admitted as a partner. The firm name remains as at first, Klieves, Kraft & Co. This is one of the leading establishments in the department of manufacture, and the firm does also an extensive business in con- tracting and building, and is widely known as one of the most pros- perous and enterprising firms of the city. The outside business of the firm and the buying of materials is under the charge of the sub-
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ject of this mention. Mr. Klieves has also devoted much time to other enterprises calculated to advance the interests of the city. He is a director of the Dollar Savings bank, of Virginia, a stockholder in the German bank, a director of the Elson Glass works, of Martin's Ferry, and a stockholder in the Wheeling and Belmont Bridge com- pany. His career, the importance of which may be inferred from these brief statements of facts, was begun without capital and assist- ance from others, and his success has been achieved by his own efforts and talent for affairs. Mr. Klieves was married in 1864 to Melosena Kenamond, a native of Hanover, Germany, who came to the United States in 1852. They have two sons, Frank and Archie.
Klieves, Kraft & Co., proprietors of the Central Planing-mills, is one of the most enterprising firms of the city, and has been in suc- cessful existence for about a quarter of a century. The works cover an area of about 250x160 feet, and an extensive lumber business is done. The firm also stands at the head of the contracting and build- ing business of Wheeling; and Washington hall, the Reilly. block, among many other business buildings, and such residences as those of A. W. Kelly, G. E. Stifel, Dr. Hazlett, A. W. Paull and other ele- gant structures, testify to the efficiency of the firm in that particular. The firm is composed of Theodore Klieves, Bernhard Klieves, C. C. Kraft and E. W. Wells.
Theodore C. Klieves one of the above named firm, was born in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, November 16, 1827. When in his nineteenth year he decided to seek his fortune in the new world, and on June 22, 1846, he and a sister, reached Wheeling, having come here directly from their native land. Subsequently his father and the re- mainder of the family, except the mother, who died in Germany, came to the United States, stopped for a time at Wheeling, afterward went to Washington, Penn., where he resided with his daughter until his death. Before leaving the old country, Theodore Klieves learned the trade of carpentry and cabinet-making, and upon his arrival at Wheel- iug he found employment with John Kraft and his cousin William Klieves, who were then in partnership. About the year 1855 he be- gan business for himself and carried on carpentry, contracting and building until 1868 independently, at the latter date becoming a mem- ber of the firm of Klieves, Kraft & Co., as above stated, and he has since been connected with this firm. Mr. Klieves is a public-spirited and valuable citizen of Wheeling, and possesses the esteem of the community. He is a stockholder in various enterprises outside of the well-known firm with which he is connected, among which may be mentioned the German bank, the German insurance company of Wheeling, and the Elson Glass works, of Martin's Ferry. He was married in 1854, to Emma Koch, who is a native of Hanover, but came to America with her parents when only one year of age. They have four children.
Charles C. Kraft, of the above named firm, was born in the king- dom of Hanover, Germany, May 30, 1826. In 1834 his father, . George F. Kraft, came to the United States with his family, and
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landing at Baltimore came directly to Wheeling. A year later, how- ever, he removed to Ohio, and settled on a farm in the western part of Hardin county, which was his place of residence until his death in 1858, in his eightieth year. When he went to provide a home in Ohio, he left his wife at Wheeling until the house was prepared for the family, but it was destined that she should never join him, and she died at Wheeling in 1836. To those parents four sons and two daughters were born, but two of whom are now living, Charles C., and Mrs. Caroline Schrader, of Hardin county, Ohio. Mr. Charles C. Kraft remained on the Ohio farm until 1840, and then returned to Wheeling. Thereafter attending school for a time he began apprenticeship at the trade of cabinet-making, with Jeremiah Clemens, one of the pioneers at Wheeling in that branch of indus- try. Mr. Kraft worked at his trade until 1864, when he formed a partnership with Bernhard Klieves, the two opening a shop of their own. In 1868 a partnership was formed in which William Klieves and Theodore Klieves were additional members, and this firm en- gaged in the planing-mill business, under the firm title above referred to. In 1877 William Klieves retired and three years later E. W. Wells entered the firm. Mr. Kraft has had in Wheeling an honora- ble and successful career, which, beginning in adversity, has, thanks to his perseverance and industry, been crowned with success financially, and the esteem of his fellow citizens. When he came to Wheel- ing in 1840 he trudged the distance of 200 miles on foot, his posses- sions in a bundle on his back. Now, in addition to the interest above named, he is a stockholder in various enterprises, among which are the German bank, the Dollar Savings bank, the Wheeling & Bel- mont Bridge company, and the Elson Glass works, of Martin's Ferry. Mr. Kraft was married in 1849 to Caroline Smith, of Wheeling, and they have had four sons and four daughters, of whom survive the daughters and one son.
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