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 48
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Sheriff C. P. Brown, about two years. In December, 1883, he was appointed clerk of the circuit court to fill a vacancy, and after serving four years was elected in 1887, to the same office, as the democratic candidate, for a term of six years. He is a popular official and the office has been ably conducted under his management. Mr. Mitchell was married in 1865, to H. Grace Woods, daughter of Andrew P. Woods, one of the old citizens of Wheeling, and four sons and one daughter have been born to them, of whom but one son, Elbert, survives.
David G. Morgan, manager of the Washington Insurance com- pany, Providence, R. I., and also resident agent at Wheeling of the St. Paul Fire and Marine company, Reading Insurance com- pany, Fireman's Fund Insurance company, of San Francisco, and the Metropolitan Plate Glass Accident Insurance company, was born in Wheeling, W. Va., in May, 1844. His parents landed in Richmond, Va., in 1832, and came direct to Wheeling, where the father was en- gaged in the coal business. The father was a native of Wales and the mother of Ireland. The former died in 1859, after having lived a life of probity and usefulness. Mrs. Morgan is still living. Of the nine children born to them five still survive. D. G. Morgan started life without the advantages of a liberal education, having been com- pelled to begin the active affairs of life when but nine years old. At this time he went to work in the iron mills of his native city. Mr. Morgan was employed in the old Top mill until the breaking out of the war. His life and services were offered to his country, October 22, 1861, when he enlisted in Company I, Sixth West Virginia Volun- teer infantry, and served with bravery and faithfulness until Novem- ber, 1864. His army record is unstained by any cowardly or disloyal act, ever having the interests of his country at heart. After the war he returned to his old home and employment, remaining in Wheeling for five years; at this time Mr. Morgan removed to Elmira, N. Y., where he engaged in the iron business. Returning to Wheeling in 1872, he one year later embarked in the grocery business, in which he continued until the year 1882. In the last named year he became the local agent for the Ætna Insurance company of Wheeling, and re- mained in this capacity until 1885, he then accepted the managership of the Providence Washington Insurance company of the state of West Virginia, and later became the resident agent of several prom- inent insurance companies. Miss Amelia M. Glessner, daughter of Christian Glessner, of Wheeling, became his wife in the year 1872. Their home has been brightened by the advent of four children, named as follows: David Goring, Flora May, Doretta Augusta and Alexander Hamilton, the latter deceased. Mr. Morgan is a member of the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Morgan is a communicant of the St. Johns Lutheran church. Mr. Morgan is in sympathy with the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Few men make more of life from an hum- ble beginning than has David. G. Morgan. He is widely known throughout the state, and wherever known is honored for his unbend- ing integrity and undoubted ability and enterprise. His agency is
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one of the largest in the state, and its success is entirely due to the untiring energy of its manager.
Jacob Edward Morris, an enterprising young citizen of Wheeling, was born at that city July 15, 1857, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Morris, well-known and highly esteemed residents. After receiving his education in the city schools he was engaged during three years of his youth as a clerk in a grocery store, where he gained his first acquaintance with a business in which he has since had a considera- ble degree of success. At the age of seventeen he began, however, to learn the trade of carpentry, and that occupation engaged his at- tion until 1886. On the Ist of June of the latter year he embarked in the grocery trade, in which he has since been engaged, having at No. 119 Sixteenth street one of the most attractive establishments of the kind in Wheeling. He holds a creditable rank as a business man, and is a member of the Grocers' Protective association. He is also affiliated with the order of Odd Fellows. In April, 1882, Mr. Morris was married to Mary E., daughter of John Henderson, formerly a prominent citizen of Wheeling, and to this union two children have been born: Albert Russell and Mary Elizabeth.
John W. Morris, M. D., a well-known member of the medical pro- fession at Wheeling, is a native of the city where he has been en- gaged since 1876 in the practice of medicine. Dr. Morris was born February 15, 1853, the son of Jacob Morris, one of the early residents of Wheeling, now engaged as a contractor in this city. He was reared in Wheeling and was educated in the public schools and in Linsly institute. Deciding to adopt the profession of medicine, he began the study in 1872 with Dr. R. F. Turner, as preceptor, and 1874-5, at- tended lectures at the Detroit Homeopathic college. In the fall of 1875 he entered Pulte Medical college, at Cincinnati, and was gradu- ated from there in 1876. Returning home immediately afterward, he began the practice at Wheeling, and has since met with marked suc- cess. . He is a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy. Dr. Morris is distinguished as a member of the Masonic fraternity which he joined in 1880. He is a member of Nelson lodge, No. 30, F. & A. M., of which he is past master and present secretary; is past high priest of Wheeling Union chapter, No. 1, and is serving his fourth term as eminent commander of Wheeling commandery, No. I, K. T. He also holds the positions of grand secretary of the Grand Royal Arch chapter, of West Virginia, and deputy inspector general for the state, of Thirty-third degree Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, for the southern jurisdiction of the United States. Dr. Morris was married in 1878 to Annie, daughter of G. W. Pumphrey, of Wheeling. Father Joseph Mullen, pastor of the church of the Immaculate Conception, of Wheeling, was born in county Louth, Ireland, Sep- tember 12, 1841, the son of James and Ellen Mullen, natives of that land. He was reared to manhood in his native country, and received his classical education at St. Patrick's college, in the city of Armagh. In 1867 he came to America, arrived at Baltimore March 19th, and immediately entered St. Mary's seminary at that city, where he was
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OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
a student in theology and philosophy eighteen months. At the end of that time he went to Wheeling, and in St. Vincent's college pur- sued his theological studies until August 31, 1871, when he was or- dained priest. Subsequent to his ordination he was retained at St. Vincent's four years, two years as a professor and two years as the president of the institution. He afterward engaged in the mission work of his church in southwestern Virginia, his headquarters being at Wytheville. His present work was taken up by him on the 18th of December, 1885, and in this function he has labored faithfully and devotedly.
Wesley D. Murphy, a well-known citizen of Wheeling, was born at Freeport, Harrison Co., Ohio, July 17, 1854, the son of William A. and Mary (Steadman) Murphy. His father lost his life while in the military service of the Union, May 9, 1864, and his mother died May 8, 1867. Mr. Murphy was reared in his native place, laboring upon a farm and attending the common schools. In youth he went to Fair- port, Belmont Co., Ohio, and was there employed at farm work until November, 1884, when he came to Wheeling, which has since been his home. He found employment in driving a milk wagon for John Patton until February 12, 1886, when he engaged in the milk trade on his own account, with less than $5 capital, going in debt for his first two milk-cans. He began by delivering on foot to his cus- tomers, but they increased so rapidly on account of his fair dealing and earnest attention to business, that he was soon among the fore- most in his line of work, and a popular and well-known dealer. This business he still continues, but he also, in the fall of 1888, started a grocery store, which he has since conducted quite successfully at No. 34 Zane street. He is a member of the Senior Order of Ameri- can Mechanics, and in politics is a republican. On January 14, 1879, Mr. Murphy was married to Sarah J. Huntsman, of Fairport, Ohio, and they have six children, Albert O., Ross W., Eva I., Mary M., Estella M. and Wilbur D., the eldest and youngest of whom are de- ceased.
Errett Campbell Myers, M. D., notable among the physicians of Wheeling, is a son of Andrew E. Myers, who was prominent in the religious and educational history of West Virginia. The latter was a native of middle Tennessee, born in 1822, son of John Myers, a native Virginia. In 1851 he began attendance at Bethany college, Brooke county, having been attracted there by the fame of Alexander Camp- bell. Having previously attended good schools in the south, he com- pleted the course at Bethany after a year or so, and then entered the ministry of the Christian church. About the same time he was mar- ried to Charity Ann Cox, the daughter of Isaac Cox, whose wife, Susan Brown, was a cousin of Margaret Brown, the first wife of Alexander Campbell. The father of Isaac Cox was one of the pioneers of Brooke county. After Andrew E. Myers had for a year or two performed evangelistic work in the ministry of the Christian church, traveling often with Bishop Campbell, he settled near West Liberty, Brooke county, and served for thirty years as the pastor of
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Dutch Fork church, in Pennsylvania, near the West Virginia line. He was regarded as a fine pulpit orator. Having much public spirit as well as devotion to his church, he was prominent in various ways, and for twenty years was one of the trustees of Bethany college, hold- ing the position of treasurer at his death, which occurred January 16, 1889. His grave is within a few feet of that of his famous teacher and leader, Alexander Campbell. His widow, the mother of their two sons and two daughters, passed away January 25, 1889. Of these children, three are living, mentioned below: John A. Myers, Ph. D., director of the government agricultural experiment station of West Virginia, was graduated at Bethany college, in 1865, and then taught for one year in Butler university, Indiana. He then went to Europe, and pursued his studies in Germany, also spending three years in travel. On his return he taught chemistry during one year at the University of Kentucky, at Lexington, a position he resigned to accept that of professor of chemistry in the Agricultural and Me- chanical college, of Mississippi, being also appointed to the office of state chemist. That professorship he resigned to accept his present position. Professor Myers was born in 1853. Dr. Errett Campbell Myers was born in Ohio county, January 30, 1856. He was educated at Bethany college, and studied medicine with Dr. John H. Cox, an uncle, as preceptor. In 1876 he entered the Miami college, but after one year's study there entered the University of Maryland, at Balti- more, where he was graduated in 1879. He was then appointed resi- dent physician of Bayview hospital, at Baltimore, where he remained several months. In 1880 he made his home at the Island, Wheeling, and began the practice of his profession, which has since continued, with notable success. He was the first health officer of Ohio county, under the new law, and is a member and president of the medical societies of the city of Wheeling, the county of Ohio and of the state. Dr. Myers was married in October, 1883, to Anna C. Campbell, a daughter of Thomas Campbell, ex-sheriff of Ohio county. She died in September, 1884. Miss Irene T. Myers, the third of the surviving children, was born in Louisiana, and was educated at Hamilton col- lege, at. Lexington, Ky., and at Bethany, taking the first honors in both institutions.
William Myles, for many years a resident of Wheeling, is a pioneer in photographic art at that city, and has also been prominent in pub- lic affairs, holding at present the office of city collector. He was born in county Cork, Ireland, June 10, 1835, the son of John and Mary Myles. In November, 1850, he landed at New Orleans, having made the ocean voyage unaccompanied by. friends, and he came up the river to Wheeling, where relatives resided. He found employment on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad construction, and assisted in driv- ing the spikes to connect the two parts of that line. He was then oc- cupied in a large stone quarry in Ohio, where stone was being ob- tained for railroad bridges, and after a year of that occupation, returned to Wheeling where for seven years, he was engaged in mills. His leisure hours, during this period, he devoted to the study of the
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OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
daguerreotype process, making his own experiments, and he also made himself familiar with the ambrotype. Retiring from mill work, he engaged in distilling alcohol, and was the first and the last man to successfully distill alcohol at this city. In 1862, Mr. Myles became an operator at Wylke's gallery, and some of the first photographs made in the city were of his production. He opened a gallery of his own in Center Wheeling in 1865, and continued in that business until 1889. Mr. Myles has been prominent in municipal affairs, has repre- sented the Fifth ward for twelve years in both branches of the city council, and was twice elected to the board of county commissioners, serving as president in his second term. In 1884-5, he represented the county in the state legislature. He was elected city collector in 1889. Mr. Myles' parents joined him at Wheeling in 1854, and here they died, the father in 1882, aged eighty-four, and the mother in 1885, aged ninety years. John W. Myles, son of the above, was born in Wheeling, in 1857. He received a good education in his native city, and pursued the study of art under Costiggena, the celebrated artist who is completing the art work in the national capital. He is now engaged in portrait work, at No. 2154 Main street.
Samuel G. Naylor, a retail grocer of Wheeling, W. Va., was born near Wellsburg, Brooke county, Va. (now West Virginia), March 13, 1841. His father, Joseph R. Naylor, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, December 25, 1817, was twice married, the second time May 10, 1840, to Hester C., daughter of John Kimberland, who was a pioneer of Jefferson county, Ohio. She was born in that county December 12, 1817. To this marriage were born ten children, of whom Samuel G. was the oldest. His father died October 2, 1887, and his mother Au- gust 19, of the same year. He was well educated in his youth in the Wellsburg schools, and at an early age chose teaching as a profession, which he followed for some ten years, during which time he was prin- cipal of the Brooke academy and afterward principal of the female seminary at Wellsburg, and in 1864-5 was principal of Madison school at Wheeling, which position he resigned on account of failing health. He then for several years engaged as traveling salesman for Wheel- ing wholesale houses, and in 1882 became a member of the firm of Naylor, McCammon & Co., wholesale dealers in queensware, and glassware. He severed his connection with the firm in the spring of 1886 to engage in the grocery trade. By his industry, energy and en- terprise he has buiit up a profitable business, his establishment at the corner of Virginia street and Broadway being one of the popular gro- cery houses of the city. Mr. Naylor is a member of the Christian church, of which he has been an elder for several years; his wife is also a devoted member of the same church. He isan earnest and active Sun- day-school worker, at present having charge of an interesting mission school, corner of Jacob and Thirty-first streets. Mr. Naylor was mar- ried February 13, 1862, to Addie, daughter of Henry and Alzina Melvin, of Wellsburg; W. Va., and they have had six children: Annie B., Joseph C. (deceased), Mattie M., Birdie (deceased), Carrie L., and Grafton R.
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John Niehaus, one of the oldest grocers of Wheeling, was born in Prussia, March 25, 1828, the only child reared by John and Elizabeth Niehaus. With them he came to America in 1846, embarking at Bremen June 6, and landing at Baltimore, whence they came directly to Wheeling, reaching there in the latter part of August, 1846. At that city the father died July 31, 1862, and the mother in April, 1869. Mr. Niehaus was first employed at Wheeling, in the Top rolling mill, from August, 1846, until May, 1861. During the following three years he was employed in the Belmont Iron works, after which he was in the Top mill another period of two years. Meanwhile he had established a grocery store on Main street, of which he has since been the pro- prietor. From 1862 until 1866, the business during his absence was conducted by the family. In the latter named year he retired from the mill work and has since given his whole attention to the grocery trade, doing business ever since on Main street, and occupying for the last nineteen years a two-story brick building at No. 400, which he erected in the winter of 1869-70. Mr. Niehaus was married October 18, 1857, to Elizabeth Habig, who was born at Wheeling, the daughter of Amatus and Anna Mary Habig, natives of Germany. She is the old- est of their eleven children, of whom three sons and four daughters are living. Her father died April IS, 1865, from injuries received in an explosion at the Top mill. Mr. and Mrs. Niehaus have had the fol- lowing children: Henry, John, Joseph, Mary (deceased), Dorothea, Amelia (deceased), Peter, Andrew (deceased), Edward, George and Bernard. Parents and children are members of the Catholic church.
L. H. Nowviock is one of the well-known citizens and landscape gardeners of Wheeling. For the last fourteen years he has been en- gaged in that business, carrying on a florist business also, in Wheel- ing, having an experience altogether in that line of over thirty-five years. He was born in Delaware county, Penn., May 16, 1827. The first of the Nowviock family to come to America was John God- frey Nowviock, who was a native of Prussia, but of Russian descent. He was a highly educated man and was a teacher and navigator, owning his own vessel, and June 11, 1774, he landed at Philadelphia. He was a distinguished soldier in the Revolutionary war, being aid- de-camp to Gen. Lafayette, and was with that general when they went to Washington's relief at Delaware. After the close of the war he returned to Europe, and brought over his family and the material for building a house. He built one of the first brick houses on Cherry street, Philadelphia, where he opened and taught a classical school, teaching the different languages. He also served in the war of 1812, dying about 1816. Mention of his name is made in one of the histor- ies of Pennsylvania, in connection with the Revolutionary war. He was the father of two sons and two daughters, all now deceased, of whom John Godfrey Nowviock, Jr., was the oldest, and was the father of the subject of this sketch. John Nowviock, Jr., was born in Phila- delphia in 1800. When a boy he was bound out to a Mr. Dallet, and after the death of that gentleman he learned the boot and shoe business with a Mr. Franklin, and later carried on the manufacture
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of boots and shoes quite extensively. From Philadelphia he removed to Delaware county, Penn., where, in 1844, he retired from the boot and shoe business and engaged in farming. Later he removed to Montgomery county, Penn., and engaged in farming more exten- sively. He left Montgomery county in 1851, and went to Perry county, Penn., where he entered the lumber business, carrying it on in connection with his farming. Here he died in January, 1852. He was married in Delaware county in 1825 to Eliza Hampton, who was born in Chester county, Penn., in 1805. Her ancestors were among . the earliest settlers of Pennsylvania, they being of those who settled there before William Penn made his famous treaty with the red men, and gave to that territory his name. Her death occurred in IS51 on the farm at Montgomery's Ferry, in Perry county. They were both Protestants. There were four sons and two daughters born to these parents, all of whom, with the exception of one son, are living. One son and a daughter reside in Perry county, Penn .; one daughter in Dauphin county, Penn., and one son in the state of Iowa. L. H. Nowviock was brought up in Delaware and Montgomery counties. He was educated in the common schools of the state, and at the age seventeen, began to learn the florist's business, serving his time under two different men named Sherwood and Buest. He engaged in the florist business for himself in Philadelphia, where the park is now situated, in 1847. Two years later he went to Montgomery county, where he remained until 1860, and then went to Harrisburg, Penn., where he acted in the capacity of private gardner. He spent about four years in Lancaster and the adjoining county of Dauphin, and in 1865 went to the oil regions. Afterward he spent four years in the south, but later returned to the oil country. In 1877 he came to Wheeling, and the following year established himself in the florist and landscape-gardening business. About a year and a half later he went to Moundsville where he entered into a partnership with R. B. Curtis in the same business, but in rSSo returned to Wheeling and rented the Seybold property in South Wheeling, and began the culti- vation of plants and the sale of cut flowers. In the flood of ISS4 he lost all his property, but re-rented the place and continued there until April, 1888, when he abandoned the cultivation of plants and flowers and located at No. 1063 Main street, where he is dealing in cut flow- ers, imported bulbs, trees and shrubs, also vegetable and flower seeds of all kinds. Mr. Nowviock has always been a democrat, and has always taken an interest in public affairs.
Col. Thomas O'Brien, of Wheeling, a gentleman actively and cred- itably associated with the real estate and financial interests of the city, was born in county Cavin, Ireland, in 1830. He came to the United States in 1851 and almost directly to Wheeling, where he found employment in various humble and laborious capacities for a considerable period. Finally he obtained a position in the service of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad company as laborer and clerk, and was so occupied when the war of the rebellion broke out. In that emergency he displayed true patriotism and assisted in raising the
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first company of Virginia volunteers for the Union army, whose services were tendered to the federal government for the defense of the national capital. Of this company he was made second lieuten- ant, and after a service of four months was honorably discharged. He was then given a clerkship in the Wheeling postoffice, a position he held for three years, or until discharged for voting for General McClellan in 1864. He next embarked in the real estate business and stock brokerage, in which he has since been engaged. During Johnson's administration Col. O'Brien was appointed surveyor of the port of Wheeling, a position he held during that administration. He was appointed to Gov. Jacob's staff with the rank of colonel, and oc- cupied that position for six years. In 1880 he was nominated by the democratic party for the office of treasurer of West Virginia and elected, and this responsible position was honorably filled by him until March 4, 1885. He has also held the office of councilman of the city from the Fourth and Third wards. Col. O'Brien embarked in the banking business fifteen or sixteen years ago as a director of the People's bank, and for some time was its vice-president, and upon the resignation of Mr. Peed, now deceased, Col. O'Brien was elected president of that well-known institution, a position he still holds. He is also connected with the Belmont Nail company as stockholder and director, and is in the same capacity with the Natural Gas company of West Virginia; is president of two building and loan associations, and was one of the founders and first directors of the West Virginia China company, and is now vice-president of the chamber of com- merce. Col. O'Brien was married in 1853 to Kate Gillespie, a native of Scotland, and they have had born to them fourteen children, of whom eleven are living.
Michael J. O'Kane, one of the most prominent and influential cit- zens of Ohio county, and one of the oldest manufacturers and dealers in boots and shoes in Wheeling, was born in county Derry, Ireland, August 20, 1829. He is a son of James O'Kane and Bridget Hagan, both of whom were natives of Derry. In 1834 his father left the Emerald Isle and came to the United States. Selecting Philadelphia as his future home, he sent for his family, and they joined him there in the spring of 1839. On the first of October, 1849, death visited the family and took from its midst the mother of the subject of our sketch in the fifty-sixth year of her age. Shortly after, February 17, 1850, death again visited the family and took from it the father in the fifty-eighth year of his age. Of the six children born to them, five survive. Michael J. O'Kane, the second oldest of the children, was but ten years of age when he took up his residence in Philadel- phia. There he learned the trade of a shoemaker and worked at it a number of years. In 1860 he came to Wheeling, and in 1864 opened up a shop of his own. For four years he worked alone at his trade. His skillful work and upright ways began to be appreciated by the public and he was rewarded with a very liberal patronage. In 1868 he entered into partnership with Jame Divine. For nine years they worked at custom work in a store below the Odd Fellow's hall.
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