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 45
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Michael Loftus, of Wheeling, as general manager of the Wheeling Electric and Citizen's street railways, has contributed in a consider-
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able measure to the success of well arranged and efficient system of city transportation which Wheeling enjoys. Mr. Loftus was born at Cumberland, Md., September 29, 1839, and is the son of John and Rose (McNally) Loftus, who came to America in 1835, and settled at Cumberland. They were worthy and good people and members of the Catholic church. The mother died at Fairmount, W. Va., in Jan- uary, 1849, and the father at Weston, in April, 1874. Michael Loftus spent his boyhood at Cumberland, and in 1850 came to Wheeling, where he became a student in the old St. Vincent's college, under Bishop Whalen, and remained there until 1854. He then found occu- pation in the construction of the Hempfield railroad, and in 1856 be- came an employe of the Western Stage company as a driver between Burlington and Fairfield, Iowa. He held this position until May, 1859, when he returned to Wheeling, and secured employment as a driver and conductor for Shallcross & Terry, transfer agents, with whom he remained until July, 1867. At the latter date he accepted the position of assistant superintendent of the Citizens' Street Rail- way company, and in the September following was appointed general superintendent. In February, 1880, he left this position to become the proprietor of a livery stable on the corner of Market and Nine- teenth streets, which he conducted until 1883, assuming again at that time the general superintendency of the Citizens' railway, which he still holds. After the consolidation of that company with the Elec- tric company, he became general manager of both lines. He is a stockholder in the Citizens' company, and also in the Belmont mill, and is an active and energetic citizen. Mr. Loftus was married Jan- uary 24, 1865, to Julia McGlaughlin, of Bellaire, and they have had eight children, seven of whom are living. Their names are: John B., assistant superintendent under his father; William, deceased; Mar- garet, Joseph, Michael J., Rose, Mary and Julia. Mr. Loftusand fam- ily are members of the congregation of the Cathedral.
One of the prominent early manufacturers of cigars at Wheeling, was George Loos, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, who came to the United States in 1859, with his wife and children. Landing at Baltimore, they proceeded at once to Wheeling, and here the father engaged in his trade, which he followed until it was interrupted by the civil war. In September, 1861, he went gallantly to the front in be- half of his adopted country, as a member of the Sixth West Virginia regiment, and served with honor three years and four months. Re- turning to Wheeling, he again engaged in the cigar business, in which he continued until his death in January, 1884, in his sixty-sixth year. His widow and five children survive him. His son, Hugo L. Loos, who continues in the same business. as his father, is one of the well- known and. popular citizens of Wheeling. He was born in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, June 10, 1848, and accommpanied his parents when.they came to this country. After learning the trade with his father he opened an establishment of his own in 1869, on Twelfth street, for the manufacture of cigars. In 1886 he and his brother George engaged also in the manufacture of cigars and smoking to-
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bacco. The house of H. L. Loos & Bro. is now established at I220 Market street, and does an extensive wholesale and retail busi- ness in all grades of cigars and tobacco. A considerable number of skilled workmen are employed in the manufacture. Mr. H. L. Loos is a director of the chamber of commerce of Wheeling, and a director of the West Virginia Tobacco company. For a number of years he has been connected with the building and loan business and is a di- rector of the System Citizens' associations. He takes an active part in public affairs and in 1888 was selected by the republican party as its candidate to the legislature. He is prominent in that party and for several years has occupied the position.of chairman of the city ex- ecutive committee. He is a member of the St. John's Lutheran church, and is a member of the Bates lodge, F. & A. M., of which he is past master. Mr. Loos was married in 1873 to Matilda, daughter of Philip Troll, of Wheeling, by whom he has had six children, three of whom are living.
Rev. John L. Lucas, an esteemed citizen of Wheeling, and a min- ister of the Church of God, is a son of Eli Lucas, formerly a worthy citizen of Belmont county, Ohio. The latter was born in Virginia, but removed to Belmont county, where he was married to Martha A. Barker, a resident of that county, by whom he had eight sons and five daughters, ten of whom survive. The father died in 1866; the mother still resides in Belmont county. The subject of this mention, the third of the children named, was born in Belmont county, March 1, 1836, and in his native county was reared assisting his father, from an erly age, in shoemaking, the occupation of the latter. At fifteen years of age he accompanied an uncle to Brown county, Ind., where he remained five years, being occupied during that period in carpen- try. He next made his home with an uncle in Marshall county, WV. Va., for a short time, and then returning to Belmont county, worked at his trade until 1859, when on February 24, he was married to Chloe M. Lucas, daughter of James Lucas, of Marshall county. He then engaged in farming until early in 1862, when he enlisted in Company D, First West Virginia cavalry, with which he served until the close of the war. He was a brave and efficient soldier, participat- ing in the battles of Antietam, Gettysburg, Brandy Station, Win- chester, Fairfax Court House, Moorefield, Sniggar's Gap, Fisher's Hill, Sewall Mountain, and other engagements of less importance. He was once captured but escaped on the second night of his impris- onment. After the war Mr. Lucas resided in Marshall county, and in 1867 he entered the ministry of the Church of God, to which his efforts have since been devoted with both zeal and success. He now has charge of a circuit including Gravel Street, Antioch, Blainville and East Richland, but his residence remains in Wheeling, whither he removed in 1879. He is also the proprietor of a grocery at No. 83 Thirty-third street, which is conducted by his family during his absence. Mr. Lucas is a member of the G. A. R., and in politics is a republican. By his marriage above mentioned he has had ten children: Doctor F., Elias (deceased), Isabella V., Melinda and
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Clarinda, twins, Alice V., Jeremiah C., John W., Amanda J. (de- ceased), and James B.
James Luke was one of the pioneers in the building of the city of Wheeling, both in a general sense, and in the special manner in which by reason of his occupation he was called on to contribute to the im- provement of the town. He was a native of the north of Ireland, born in 1790. Coming to America in about 1820, he located at Wheeling, where he resided until his death in 1852. He was one of the first contractors and builders, and was successful in his enterprises. He was twice married, and had one daughter by the first marriage, and seven children by the last marriage. Of his children three sons and a daughter are living. Robert Luke, son of the above, is well known as the proprietor of the leading livery establishment of Wheeling. He was born November 20, 1831, was reared in Wheeling and was educated in the private schools of the city. He first gave his atten- tion to the carpenter's trade, which he learned with his father, and worked at that until the fall of 1852, when he engaged in the livery business. He is the oldest livery man in the city. Beginning on a small scale he has continually added to his business and his facilities until his establishment is now an unusually fine and well-appointed one. After his first embarking in the business he retired from it one year, and was otherwise engaged until the spring of 1863, part of which time he spent in Minneapolis, Minn. Since 1863 he has been continuously engaged in the business. Mr. Luke was married on the Sth of September, 1863, to Agnes, daughter of F. B. Hornbrook, and to them four sons have been born.
Charles Lukens, one of the oldest in the grocery trade at Wheel- ing, is a native of Reading, Berks county, Penn. His father, Joshua Lukens, who was born at Philadelphia in 1805, the son of Nathan Lu- kens, who was married to Mary, daughter of John Bickle. She was born at Reading, Penn., in 1808. To this union nine children were born, three of whom served in the armies of the Union. John B. Lukens served as captain of Company K, Fifteenth West Virginia infantry; Abram B. Lukens served three years in Battery D, First West Vir- ginia light artillery, and Joshua B., a member of Company A, First Virginia infantry, was killed at the battle of Snicer's Ford, in July, 1864. Charles Lukens, the subject of this sketch, the third. of the children mentioned, was born December 2, 1834. Three years later the family removed to Weeeling, and in 1851 the parents made their residence on the Island, where the father died May 2, ISSI, and the mother May 10, 1871. Mr. Lukens engaged in the grocery business in Wheeling as long ago as 1860, and with the exception of five years spent in Washington county, Ohio, from 1863 to 1868, has continued in that branch of trade in the city, meeting with good success, and gain- ing an honorable rank in the community. While in Washington county he held for three years the office of postmaster at Wade post- office. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the I. O. O. F., the Senior Order of American Mechanics, Garden Spot council, No. 339, National Union, and is prominent in the Grocers' Protective associa-
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tion of the city. He was married in September, 1861, to Margaret V .. . Bedilion, third daughter of Abram Bedilion, formerly of Wheeling. She died in March, 1868, leaving three children, William J., Mary M., and Charles B. January 31, 1871, he was united to Anna E., daughter of Calvin Kasson, of Belmont county, Ohio, and they have one child, Anna H.
W. J. Lukens, a popular young business man of Wheeling, is prom- inent in the jewelry trade, conducting an establishment at 1053 Main street. He was born at Wheeling May 19, 1862, the son of Charles Lukens, who was born at Reading, Penn., December 2, 1834. The parents of the latter removed to Wheeling when Charles was a small boy, and the grandfather of the subject of this mention, Joshua Luk- ens, was for a number of years in business at Wheeling as a dealer in confectionery and mineral water, and was one of the well-known early residents. Charles Lukens was engaged in the grocery business on the Island during the war, but in 1863 removed to Washington county, Ohio, where he was engaged in general merchandise until 1868. In the latter year he returned to Wheeling, and resumed the grocery business on the Island, which he has since continued. His wife was Margaret Bedilion, daughter of Abraham Bedilion, one of the early settlers of Pleasant valley, where he was engaged in agri- culture and the manufacture of flour. Later in life he removed to Dallas, Marshall county, where he was engaged in farming during the remainder of his days. Mrs. Lukens died May 15, 1868, leaving three children, all of whom survive. W. J. Lukens received his education in the schools of Wheeling, and then in 1877 began an apprentice at the jewelry trade with John A. Lash, with whom he remained seven years. In 1885 he opened up a jewelry store of his own at 1029 Main street, beginning on a limited scale, but meeting with success has rapidly built up his business to rank with the leading establishments of the city. In April, 1887, he removed to his present place of busi- ness, where he carries a full line of watches, diamonds, plate and other goods pertaining to the trade. He is also sole agent for Wheel- ing of Edison's phonographs and graphophones. Mr. Lukens is a di- rector of the Y. M. C. A., and is a member of Fourth Street Metho- dist Episcopal church.
Sebastain Lutz, a pioneer of Wheeling (now dead), was a native of Germany, having been born in that country in 1818. His schooling was obtained in Germany, and he also learned the butcher's trade there, which he followed in the mother country until the year 1845, at which time he emigrated to the United States and located at Wheel- ing, where he followed his trade for some time. For many years pre- ceding his death he was the proprietor of the Old Home hotel, and was engaged in the hotel business at the time of his death in 1867. He had four children, all of whom are living. Of the three sons, William J. and John J. are now engaged in operating one of the largest steam laundries in the upper Ohio valley, having established this business in 1884. John J. was born in 1859. He was reared and educated in Wheeling. After completing his education he served a
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four years' apprenticeship as a carpenter, and was employed in this trade for about ten years. In 1884 he and his brother founded the Home Steam Laundry. They employ a large force in their exten- sive business, and are among the most enterprising young business men of Wheeling. John Lutz was married in 1881 to Emma D. Franz- heim, of Wheeling. Harry J. and Earl W. are the children that have been born to them. Mr. and Mrs. Lutz are members of the German Catholic church. Mr. Lutz's political belief is founded on the princi- ples of the democratic party.
James McCahon, manager of the furnace department of the Top mill, is one of the well-known citizens of Wheeling, and is prominent in various fields of activity. He was born in the north of Ireland, January 7, 1839, and in his native country received a common school education, after which for five years he was apprenticed to a dealer in groceries. In 1858 he was married to Ann J. Gilmour, and soon afterward he and wife crossed the ocean, and made their home near Philadelphia, where Mr. McCahon found employment as an iron worker. In 1860 he removed to Ohio and for ten years he was in the employment of the Cleveland Rolling Mill Co., holding, during four years of that period, the position of manager of the blast furnace. In 1872 he removed to Martin's Ferry, and until the fall of 1878 took charge of the Benwood furnace. Returning to Cleveland at the end of the period named, he resumed the management of the Cleveland rolling mill, and remained there until April, 1881, when he came to Wheeling to take charge of the Wheeling Iron and Nail company's furnace. In this capacity he has since been engaged, displaying no- table ability in the management of the interests intrusted to him. Mr. McCahon is a stockholder in the mill with which he is engaged, also in the Benwood Iron works, and has made various other judicious and profitable investments. In public affairs he has not taken an active part, though deeply interested in political matters, and a staunch republican and a friend of protection to American industry. As a Mason he is quite prominent, being grand lecturer for the state of West Virginia for the Royal Arch chapter of that jurisdiction. His membership is in Nelson lodge, No. 30, of which he is past master; Wheeling Union chapter, No. I, past high priest; Wheeling commandery, No. I, K. T., of which he is P. E. C., and Albert Pike consistory, Washington, D. C., A. A. S. R. He is also a member of Alpha lodge, K. of H. Mr. McCahon and wife have had a large family of children, four of whom are now living: Anna; Mary, wife of John H. Garrison; James A. and John A.
W. W. McConnell, of Wheeling, proprietor of the largest slack cooperage manufactory in West Virginia, was born at that city, Sep- tember 14, 1844. He is the son of a prominent early citizen of Wheel- ing, Richard McConnell, who was born at Wellsburg, in 1815, the son of Richard McConnell, a native of Ireland, who was one of the pio- neers of the valley. The junior Richard McConnell came to Wheeling when about fifteen years of age, and carried on the cooper- ing business for a considerable period. He afterward resided three
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years at Martinsville, and in 1860 removed to Indiana, whence after three years he returned to Wheeling, where he was in business as a cooper until his death, in 1887. His wife, Elizabeth Holmes, was born in eastern Virginia, and died in 1869. Of the eleven children born to them, four survive. W. W. McConnell learned the business with his father, and in 1863 he opened a shop on Market street, which in 1866, he turned over to his father. He then opened a new shop on Zane street, and conducted it until 1870, when he embarked in the retail grocery trade in East Wheeling. Returning to his former business four years later, he became a partner with his father in the manufac- ture of packages for the glass houses, the first enterprise of the kind in the city. Not long afterward the partnership was dissolved, but in 18So, Mr. McConnell purchased his father's business, which has since increased year by year, until he now has the largest slack cooperage establishment in the state. The large works at the corner of Thirty- fifth and McColloch streets were erected in 1886, and an addition in 1889, and in the fall of 1888, he added the coal business to his other enterprise. Twenty-five to forty men are employed in the works. Mr. McConnell is a stockholder in the Hobbs Glass works. His relig- ious and fraternal memberships are with the Zane Street Methodist church, the I. O. O. F., and the A. O. U. W. In 1869 he was married to Margaret, daughter of John Kinghorn, of Wheeling, and she died in 1876, her four children having also died. In 1879 he was married to Mary E., daughter of Benjamin Dillon. She died in ISSI, leaving one daughter, and he was united in 1883, to West Virginia Dillon, by whom he has two children living.
Samuel Mcclellan, prominent among the early residents and busi- ness men of Wheeling, was born in Connecticut in 1795, the son of a physician. He came to Wheeling soon after attaining his majority, and established himself in the mercantile and manufacturing busi- ness. His close application to business soon laid the foundation for his prosperity, and at the same time seriously impaired his health so much so that he was for a time compelled to quit business and spend a time in travel. In 1837 he again embarked in business, opening a large boot and shoe house, which soon became the leading house of the kind in this section. He was a man of precise habits, of the strict- est integrity and honesty. He particularly esteemed punctuality as a prime virtue of business life, and careful himself in this respect, ex- pected it in others. In social life he was popular, and in church affairs he was active as a member of the First Presbyterian church. This worthy pioneer in business died at Wheeling, in November, 1860. He was thrice married, first to Miss Griswold, of Connecticut, second to Louisa Reid, of Wheeling, and third to Mrs. Shipman, whose maiden name was Edgerton, of Marietta, Ohio.
Samuel McClellan, Jr., son of the above, and his successor in busi- ness, shared with the other children, his father's generosity in the matter of education, and was a graduate of Williams' college, Massa- chusetts, during the presidency of the famous Dr. Mark Hopkins. He graduated with second honors, his competitor being Prof. Whit-
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ney, subsequently of Yale college. Samuel McClellan, Jr., was mayor of Wheeling for two terms. He died in the latter part of the year 1875. Josiah G. McClellan, another son, was graduated at Williams college with first honors, and after many years' practice as a member of the St. Louis bar, is now retired from active life. Charles H., another son, is a graduate of Princeton college and the Princeton Theological seminary, and is now a clergyman at Lakewood, N. J. His wife is a daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Henry B. Smith, of Union Theological seminary, New York city.
Harry W. McLure, one of the proprietors of the McLure House, the leading hotel of West Virginia, was born about three miles from Wheeling, in Pleasant Valley, December 9, 1855. He is a son of Capt. John McLure, one of Wheeling's most prominent citizens. Mr. Mc- Lure was reared in Wheeling, and attended the common schools of the city, after completing which he entered the State university of West Virginia and pursued his studies at that institution about four years. On his return to Wheeling he became connected with the Peabody Insurance company, with which he remained about three years, then taking a position in the office of the Pittsburgh, Wheel- ing & Kentucky railroad company. He was in the service of that corporation three years and then engaged in the retail hat business in the McLure block. This business he subsequently sold, and he then spent several months at St. Paul, Minn. In 1886 he formed a partnership with Grant, Scott & Co., and the firm thus formed leased the McLure House for the term of six years. Mr. Grant soon retired and was followed by Mr. Scott, and Mr. Frank H. Stamm then be- came a member of the firm. Mr. McLure is also a stockholder in the Wheeling Ice & Storage company, and is one of the enterprising young men of the city. He was married November 9, 1881, to Miss Addie Ferrel, of Wheeling, and to their union one daughter has been born, Sarah.
Among the most prominent families of Wheeling is the McLure family. John McLure, Sr., came to Wheeling from Washington county, Penn., of which state he was a native, in 1806, and purchased considerable property, and also engaged in the mercantile business. He became the president of the Old North Western bank, of Virginia, the first bank to be organized in Wheeling. He was also extensively engaged in manufacturing, and was a whig member of the Virginia legislature. The McLure House, the most prominent hotel in the state, was erected by him. In his day, John McLure, was one of the leading citizens of Wheeling, his death occurred in 1874, in his ninety- first year. Abdel McLure, father of the above, was born in Pennsyl- vania, and came to Wheeling in 1806. His children were: Andrew, John, Robert and James, Anna (Carr), Jane and Mary (Wilson), all deceased. Andrew McLure was a contractor and merchant, he died in 1840, having reached his eighty-first year. . John McLure, Jr., the principal of this biography, was born in Butler county, Penn., Jan- uary 22, 1816, the son of Andrew, above mentioned, Mr. McLure came to Wheeling when but four months old, and has since made his
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residence here, and has always cast his influence on the side of mor- ality and improvement. When sixteen years of age he began an apprenticeship at engine building, and was thus engaged during the years of 1833-34-35. After completing his apprenticeship he became an engineer on the Ohio river, and soon began to acquire an interest in river navigation. In 1840 Mr. McLure became captain of a boat, and continued in this capacity until the close of the war. He has built between eighteen and twenty boats which have plied at different times on the river. After leaving the river Capt. McLure turned his attention to real estate, and in 1873, became the owner of the McLure House, and also owns considerable property on Market street and in various portions of the city, and is largely interested in different enter- prises in the Ohio valley and at Taylor, Texas. In 1841, Elizabeth Campbell, of Wheeling, became his wife. This estimable woman passed to her reward in 1881, leaving eight children to mourn their irreparable loss. The children are:
Thomas, of Taylor, Texas; Harry W., proprietor of the McLure House; McBurnie, assistant secretary of the Fire & Marine Insurance company; John, Jr., living with his parents; Pintie J., wife of Curran Mendal, of Texas; Juliet, and Bettie, of Wheeling. Capt. McLure married for his second wife Eliza Jane Cecil. Mrs. McLure was born in Wheeling, in 1833. The family are members of the Episcopal church, and is recognized as one of the oldest and best families in the state. Capt. McLure is a republican.
John H. McClure, D. D. S., a leading surgeon dentist of Wheeling, was born in that city May 26, 1863, the son of Rev. James T. and Helen W. (Wall) McClure. His parents are natives of Pennsylvania, but have resided at Wheeling since 1850, at which date the father, who is a minister of the United Presbyterian church, became minister of that denomination at Wheeling, a charge which he has ever since held. Dr. McClure was reared in his native city and there received his general education. Selecting dentistry as his profession he en- tered the office of Dr. S. B. McCormick in 1881 as a student, and in 1885 matriculated at the Pennsylvania college of dental surgery, where he was graduated in 1887, with the degree of D. D. S. In the spring of the latter year he opened an office in Wheeling, and he has since succeeded in acquiring a good practice. He is a member of the Ohio Valley Dental association. Socially Dr. McClure is one of the popular and prominent young men of the city.
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