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 49
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OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
Year by year their trade steadily increased. In 1877 they moved to the McLain's block and opened up business in one of those large store rooms. Here they continued to make custom work and laid the foundations of an extensive trade in eastern work. This large store room was found too small for their rapidly increasing business, and they moved to more commodious quarters on Main street. Af- ter doing business on Main street some years, the partnership was, in 1887, dissolved and Mr. O'Kane opened up his present large and handsome establishment at No. 1113 Main street, where, besides do- ing an extensive retail business and carrying somewhat of a wholesale trade he gives special attention to custom work and repairing. This establishment ranks among the largest and finest fitted up retail boot and shoe establishments in the city. Boots and shoes of every style and fashion and at the lowest figures are to be found there. Mr. O'Kane, while conducting his large shoe establishment, has not allowed his mind be wholly engrossed by it, but has ever given due attention to public affairs and is one of the foremost, active and in- fluential citizens of the "Nail city." He is connected with several charitable institutions of the city, and is at present one of the direc- tors of the city hospital. His uprightness, kindness, and other ster- ling qualities have won him hosts of friends. In 1888 he was elected as a democratic candidate to represent that stronly republican ward, the second, in the city council, a position he now fills. An intense lover of his city, state, and of the country at large, he has a deep af- fection for the place of his birth, the Emerald Isle, too. He is ever active in his sympathy for her and in promoting her welfare. Mr. O'Kane was married at Philadelphia in 1853, to Honora Welsh, a native of county Waterford, Ireland, and to their union nine children have been born, six of whom are living. He, his wife and family are members of the Catholic church, and their oldest son, Robert E., was ordained a priest of that church, February 3, 1890, and is at present stationed at Clarksburg, W. Va.
Samuel Ott, one of the pioneer merchants of Wheeling, was born at Woodstock, Va., in 1793, and in 1837, came to Wheeling and formed a partnership with Joseph Pollock in the hardware trade. On Mr. Pollock's retirement three years later, he associated himself with Jacob R. Grier, and the firm thus formed continued for ten or fifteen years. He was also associated for about ten years with John E. Boyd in the wholesale dry goods business. In about the year 1854 he ad- mitted his son, M. L. Ott'and Samuel J. Boyd, to a partnership in the hardware business, and when four years later Boyd retired, Henry Ott was admitted to the firm, which became known as S. Ott, Son & Co. Samuel Ott died in 1868, and subsequently two sons and Will- iam P. Heiskell became partners in the hardware business, which is still continued under the old firm name, and is one of the prominent and widely known houses of Wheeling. Samuel Ott did not confine his enterprise to his mercantile transactions, but was also president of the Wheeling cotton mill, president of the Merchants' and Mechanics' bank, and a director of the Wheeling Savings institution. His wife
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
Sidney I., was born in Winchester, Va., a daughter of John Heiskell, a well-known journalist of that place. She died in ISSI at the age of seventy-three years. Of the seven children born to these parents six are living.
Thomas F. Owens, who has for many years been a well-known cit- izen of Wheeling, was born in county Mayo, Ireland, June 22, 1828, the son of Thomas and Margaret (Foy) Owens, natives of county Mayo, who passed their lives in that country. He was the third born of the ten children of these parents, and the only survivor, beside himself, is a sister, now Sister Mary Joseph, of Parkersburg, W. Va. Three other of the children came to America, but are now deceased, and one of these left a child named Margaret Gallagher. Mr. Owens at the age of nineteen, in 1847, embarked at Liverpool, and landing at Boston, went directly to New Hampshire, whence after something over a year's residence he went to Sheboygan, Wis., where he was married to Rose Lynch. Subsequently he resided at Sheboygan Falls, Wis., until 1850, when he came to Wheeling, which has since been his home. He was first employed here in the construction of the McLure House, in which he subsequently secured the position of second engineer, and six months later was promoted to first engineer. This position he held nearly eighteen years, and then for two years was in the transportation business. He became in 1868 the propri- etor of a bottling establisnment, which he conducted until 1870. In the latter year he erected the three-story brick residence at No. 30 Sixteenth street, which he has since occupied. For two years after 1883 Mr. Owens was engaged in the dry goods business, and he sub- sequently embarked in the grocery business, making a specialty of teas, and this trade he has since continued, with noteworthy success. He and wife are members of the Roman Catholic church, and he is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and present state treas- urer of the order. By his first marriage Mr. Owens had nine chil- dren: Mary, Peter, Thomas, Catherine, Edward and Margaret, who are deceased, and Margaret J., Anna and James Joseph, who survive. The mother of these children died March 10, 1872, and on Decem- ber 29, 1883, he was married to Anna O'Connell, his present wife, who was born December 17, 1848, in Galway, Ireland, by whom he has these children: Mary C., born November 1, 1874; Thomas B., Janu- ary 15, 1877; Vincent L., July 13, 1879; Agnes Loretta, April 21, 1882; Rose Clare, September 25, 1884, and John Joseph, May 15, 1887, of whom all survive.
Archibald W. Paull, president of the Nail City Lantern company, is a son of Judge James Paull, elsewhere mentioned, and was born at Wheeling, November 26, 1845. 'He was reared in his native city, and received his early education at the Linsly institute and the select school of Prof. Wilson Harding. In 1861 he entered Washington and Jefferson college, of Pennsylvania, and was graduated there in 1865. Two years later he embarked in the book, stationery and no- tion trade at Wheeling, and was so engaged until 1878, when he or- ganized the Nail City Lantern company, of which he has since been
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OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
president. Beginning with a modest plant and a few hands, this en- terprise has had a wonderful development in a few years, and now gives employment to 200 men. This company manufactures kerosene and railroad lanters of improved construction, and Mason fruit jars, and various other minor products. The establishment now occupies four floors of a building 110x35. In 1885 a glass house was estab- lished in connection with the business. Mr. Paull, who is an enter- prising and popular citizen, has evinced in the management and building up of this institution, rare ability as an organizer and busi- ness man. He was married October, 1868, to Caroline B., daughter of Samuel and Sidney (Heiskell) Ott, of Wheeling, by whom he has two children, Archibald W., Jr., and Irwin.
George Paull, of the well-known wholesale houses of Hubbard & Paull, of Wheeling, W. Va., was born in that city July 10, 1837. He is the son of Thomas Paull, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Wheeling at an early period of the city's history, and became one of its leading citizens and pioneer merchants. His career, an honorable and busy one, was ended by death in 1858. The subject of this sketch was: reared at Wheeling, receiving his education at the Linsly insti- tute. In 1852 he embarked in mercantile life as a clerk for Jacob Senseny, one of the early merchants, with whom he remained seven years. He was afterward in the retail grocery trade a year and a half, after which he removed to Vevay, Ind., and remained there seven years, conducting a general store. Returning to Wheeling in 1868, he became a member of the firm of Howell, Bloomfield & Co., which continued under this style until three years later, when Mr. Bloom- field retired, and Josiah St. Clair was admitted, the firm title becom- ing Howell, Paull & St. Claire. Two years later the firm was dis- solved and for over a year and a half Mr. Paull conducted the business alone. In 1880 the firm of Hubbard, Paull & Co., was formed, which continued for two years, Messrs. Hubbard and Paull becoming at the end of that time the sole proprietors. The house is one of the leading wholesale grocery establishments of the city, and is well-known through- out the region, covered by the wholesale trade of Wheeling. Mr. Paull, as a citizen and neighbor, is highly esteemed. He is a mem- ber of the Fourth Street Methodist church. In 1860 he was married to Lizzie C., daughter of Barnet Zook, of Wheeling. This lady died in 1888, leaving two daughters. Mr. Paull was married a second time, in 1876, to Lizzie M. Parker, who died February 5, 1887.
The late Judge James Paull was one of the most prominent mem- bers of the old Wheeling bar, and enjoyed a widespread reputation as one of the profound jurists and able public men of West Virginia. He was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1818, the son of George and Elizabeth Paull. He was thoroughly educated in childhood and youth, and after completing preparatory studies in Cross Creek, Penn., he entered Washington college, in that state, at which he was graduated in June, 1835. He then came to Wheeling, and choosing law as his profession, read in the office of Z. Jacob, and finished his legal studies in the law department of the University of Virginia. Nearly
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
the whole of his career as a lawyer and public man was spent at Wheel- ing, where he was locally esteemed as an estimable citizen. In 1872 he was elected a judge of supreme court of appeals of West Virginia, a high position which he filled with honor and credit, performing its labor- ious duties with an industry and application that fatally impaired his health. His decisions rank with the permanent and valuable contri- butions to the law of the state. Judge Paull also represented Ohio county during two terms in the state legislature of Virginia. He died May 11, 1875, being at that time a resident of Wellsburg, Brooke county, to which place he had removed eighteen months before. Judge Paull was twice married, first, to Jane A., daughter of the late Judge Joseph L. Fry. To this union were born three sons: Archi- bald W., Joseph F. and Alfred, all citizens of Wheeling. By his sec- ond wife, Eliza J., daughter of Samuel Ott, deceased, of Wheeling, Judge Paull had five children, and his widow is now living at Wells- burg. Alfred Paull, son of the above, is now prominently associated with the business interests of Wheeling. He, was born at that city October 14, 1854. He was given a liberal education, preparing for, college at the Wheeling schools, and then entering Washington col- lege, Pennsylvania, where he was a student for over two years. Be- ginning his active career at Wheeling, he becaine secretary of the Nail City Glass company, a position he held for several years, leav- ing it in ISSI to enter the insurance business as secretary of the Manufacturers' Insurance company. In January, 1885, he was elected secretary of the Underwriter's Insurance company, of Wheeling, a position he has since held. He is associated with other well-known enterprises also, being a director in the Nail City Lantern company, the American Insurance company, and the Dollar Savings bank. Mr. Paull is a member of Bates lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M., of Wheel- ing, of Union chapter, No. I, of Cyrene commandery, No. 7, K. T., and is a member of Osiris temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.
Joseph R. Paull, a prominent member of the bar of Wheeling, was nominated in ISS8, by the republican party for the office of judge of the circuit court, for the first judicial district of West Virginia, and was elected, and this position of honorable distinction he now fills in a worthy and creditable manner. Judge Paull was born in Fayette county, Penn., December 9, 1848. His collegiate education was received at Washington and Jefferson college, where he attended two years, and in Lafayette college, where he was graduated in 1871. Select- ing the profession of law as his vocation, he began the study with Daniel Kane, of Uniontown, Penn., and a year later he entered Columbia law college, where he pursued his studies for one year. In September, 1875, he was admitted to the bar at Uniontown, Penn., and in the following December, he removed to Wheeling, and was ad- mitted to the bar. He then began the practice of his profession in that city, where he has ever since resided.
Theodore W. Phinney, a well-known business man of Wheeling, who as secretary and treasurer of the Standard Axle Manufacturing company, is prominently associated with the manufacturing enter-
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OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
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prises of the city, was born at Barnstable, Mass., in 1847. He is a son of S. B. Phinney, a native of New England, who is now in his eighty- third year, a retired citizen of Barnstable. He is a well-known man, through his connection with the editorial profession and politics, was proprietor of the Barnstable Patriot from its foundation in 1839, until about ten years ago, and among other honorable public positions has held that of collector of the port. His son, Theodore, was reared at Barnstable, and given a liberal education. When only sixteen years of age he associated himself with his father in the newspaper business, and so continued for five years. He then, in 1867, went to Chicago, and thence in January, 1870, came to Wheeling and engaged in the manufacture of tacks and nails, a business which occupied his atten- tion for a number of years. In 1887, he sold his interest in that busi- ness and organized the Standard Axle Manufacturing company, for the production of wagon, carriage and buggy axles, of an improved pattern. Of this company he holds the position of secretary and treasurer, John H. Hobbs, is president and A. D. Howe, manager. The factory is one of the successful institutions of the city. Mr. Phin- ney is a Master Mason of Bates lodge. He was married in 1873 to Helen Frances Hobbs, daughter of John H. Hobbs, of Wheeling, and they have one daughter, Mary H.
Daniel Z. Phillips, justice of the peace of Wheeling, was born in that city June 11, 1850. He is a grandson of A. M. Phillips, a native of Pennsylvania. Prior to 1820 he removed to Steubenville, Ohio, and in 1828 or 1829 settled at Wheeling. He was a blacksmith by trade, and soon after his arrival started a machine shop, which he con- ducted up to 1844. Subsequently he served as inspector of hulls by appointment of President Buchanan, and was removed by President Lincoln. He had the following children: Arthur M., James W., George, Samuel, Hans W., John, Andrew J .; Jane, wife of Junius Beebe; Hannah M., wife of A. Y. Smith; Isabel, wife of Daniel Dunbar; Mary, wife. of Lucius Hoge, and Margaret. Hans W. Phillips was a book-keeper in his father's shop and succeeded to the business and conducted it un- til 1872 or 1873, when he sold out. He was an enterprising man, took an active part in municipal and county affairs, and held the office of justice of the peace for twelve or fourteen years. He married Ann E., daughter of Daniel Zane, who was the son of Ebenezer Zane, one of the original settlers of the present site of Wheeling. By his marriage there were eleven children born, four of whom who grew to maturity: Daniel Z., Robert H .; Ella, wife of W. O. McCloskey, and Marrie L. W., wife of H. L. Robertson. Daniel Z., the subject of this mention, was reared in Wheeling and given a common school education, after which he entered upon a business career, which continued until August, 1882, when he was appointed justice of the peace to fill an un- expired term. Filling the office to the entire satisfaction of the pub- lic, he was elected in 1883 and again in 1887. Mr. Phillips was mar- ried April 27, 1879, to Emma, daughter of John Burgett, of Monroe county, Ohio, and they have three children: Harold H., Daniel Z., Jr., and Aura W. Mr. Phillips is a member of the North Street Metho-
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
dist Episcopal church, and of the order of Knights of Pythias and A. O. U. W.
John H. Pipes, M. D., a prominent citizen of Wheeling, distin- guished in the medical profession, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born in Greene county, May 22, 1839. He secured his literary education at the Greene aacdemy and at Waynesburg (Penn.) col- lege. He first devoted himself to teaching, and beginning the profes- sion in Pennsylvania in the fall of 1858, he taught there until the breaking out of the rebellion, when he came to West Virginia, and located at Cameron. He there resumed teaching and also took up the study of medicine, In 1864 he entered the medical college at. Cleveland, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1866. He then practiced for a time at Cameron, and continued his studies, graduating in 1873 at the Bellevue Medical college at New York. In the following May he made his home at Wheeling, where he has since resided, and has gained a successful practice, and the confidence of the community. He is a member of the board of censors of the Western Reserve Medical college, at Cleveland, a position to which he was appointed in 1888; a member of the medical societies of the city of Wheeling, and of the county of Ohio, the latter of which he has served as presi- dent. He is a member of the state medical society, in which he has held various official positions, and is a member of the American med- ical association. Dr. Pipes retains that interest in educational mat- ters which characterized his younger years, and is now serving the city for the thirteenth year as a member of the board of education, to the presidency of which he was elected in 1887. In 1889 he was ap- pointed a member of the local board of United States pension exam- iners, and was chosen president.
John R. Pipes, M. D., a prominent young member of the medical profession of Wheeling, was born at Cameron, Marshall county, W. Va., July 6, 1865, a son of J. H. Pipes, M. D., a sketch of whom appears in this work. Dr. Pipes came to Wheeling with his parents in 1873, and was there educated. After graduating in the public schools of the city he entered Linsly institute, where he took a pre- paratory course of four terms. In October, 1884, he entered the medical department of the Western Reserve college of Ohio, and there received his degree after an exhaustive course of study in March, 1888. While in college he gave especial attention to surgery and the diseases of women, and was assistant to Dr. G. C. E. Weber, one of the most celebrated surgeons of the west, and to Dr. C. B. Parker, professor of diseases of women. Also during the summer of 1886 he held the position of house physician of the Cleveland city hospital. Returning to Wheeling after graduation, Dr. Pipes began his practice there April 25, 1888, and in the comparatively brief time that has since elapsed has built up a practice in general medicine, and has gained repute as a surgeon, to an extent that highly commends his ability. The doctor is a member of the State Medical Society of West Virginia.
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2 Augustin Folhack
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OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
* Work wins. From early in the morning until late at night, "day in and day out," a notable figure in the business circles of Wheeling may be seen seated at his desk in his office on Water street of that city. No man in that thrifty, driving locality is more regular in his business habits or more attentive to his own and the general interests of the community in which he lives. Not tall, but compactly and well proportioned; a full round head thickly covered with slightly gray hair and moustache to correspond; a strong nose; a large and finely developed forehead; pleasant countenance, and in personal inter- course a courteous and dignified gentleman. His bearing is that of a man of resolute action, able to carry through important undertakings and impress his individuality upon those with whom he associates. Al- though possessed of wealth, his life is as unostentatious as that of the humblest citizen of his adopted state. This man is Augustus Pollack. He was born in the country home of his parents, Joseph and Bertha Pollack, on the outskirts of Bunde in the beautiful Weser valley of Westphalia, July 5, 1830. His father, who was chifly devoted to agri- cultural pursuits and the importation and sale of horses and Holstein cattle, entered Augustus, at the age of fourteen, at the Bunde Gym- nasium (college) ; and after a three-years' course of study, he was apprenticed at the commercial house of Edward Gerson at Soest. While there, during the revolutionary and unsettled condition of 1848, he was offered and accepted a position with Hambleton & Sons, Baltimore, Md. Accordingly, April 5, 1849, he sailed from Bremen- haven in the London bark " Margaret," arriving at Baltimore, May 18, of that year. He started business for himself in the sale of notions and fancy goods in Baltimore; in 1852. Upon the solicitations of friends he removed his business in 1854 to Wheeling, Va. March 31, 1855, he married Miss Rosalie Weinberg, at Baltimore. Six daugh- ters and two sons were born to them. In 1858-9, when the North- western Virginia railroad was completed, Mr. Pollack purchased property at Grafton, erected a dwelling and store house, and in con- nection with the business of the Adams Express company, conducted a general store. In 1860, he established a wholesale notion house at Wheeling, which he continued until 1871, when he founded the Cigar and Tobacco Factory on Water street, where he still remains, and where he has employed over 100 hands regularly in the production of "Crown Stogie " cigars. His Grafton buildings were tendered to the government at the outbreak of the rebellion and acknowledged by the secretary of war in the following letter:
" WAR DEPARTMENT, " WASHINGTON, June 7, 1861. 5
" Augustus Pollack, Esq., Wheeling, Virginia:
" DEAR SIR :- I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th ult., addressed to the President and by him referred to this department, tendering the use of your property to the service of the Government; and in reply beg leave to return to you the thanks of the Department for the patriotic and liberal offer, and
.* By Hon. George W. Atkinson.
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
would respectfully refer you to the officer in command at or near Grafton.
" Very Respectfully,
"SIMON CAMERON,
" Secretary of War."
Impressed with the spirit of loyalty to his adopted government, he encouraged the organization of the first German company of Wheel- ing volunteers in the Union army; enlisted himself in the Home Guards; contributed liberally of his means to establish a German newspaper in Wheeling, called The Patriot; was elected president of the company that published it, and did much to encourage loyalty to the government in those dark days in the history of the Republic. He never sought office at the hands of the people and the only public official position he ever held was that of a member of the board of education of the Third ward of Wheeling. He has for years been a leader in every movement that had for its object the development of the business interests of his adopted city. He has been president of the German bank and director of the AEtna Iron and Nail company, and is now director of the German Insurance company; trustee of the Wheeling Female college; trustee of the Linsly institute, and president of the West Virginia Tobacco company. Mr. Pollack is thoroughly public-spirited. He officiated as chairman of the Aid movement in behalf of the widows and orphans of German soldiers who were slain during the Franco-Prussian war, and the large contri- bution forwarded by him November 5, 1870, was acknowledged by Minister George Bancroft at Berlin, in which, among other things, he said, " all honor is given here to the generous efforts of the people of Weeling." He was elected president of the German Peace celebra- tion held at Wheeling in 1871. In 1875-6 he fostered the movement to aid the establishment of the German seminary at Milwaukee, and was elected president of the Wheeling organization. He presided at the Garfield ratification meeting at the Wheeling Opera House, July 30, 1880, and was president of, and the leading spirit in, the movement that resulted in the mass meeting at the opera house, November 20, 1880, when the Hon. A. W. Campbell was presented with a massive oil painting commemorative of the independent position he took in the Chicago convention of that year. He was elected president of the first Saengerfest celebrated at Wheeling, July 20, 21, 22, 23, 1885, and also president of the great trades display of Wheeling, held August 25, 1887. He presided at the German Memorial services, in. Wheeling, commemorative of the death of Emperor William, held at the opera house, March 22, 1888, and transmitted an engrossed copy of the resolutions adopted, to the court at Berlin. He was chosen umpire to adjust the differences between the Central Glass company and its employes, and as such rendered a decision that attracted general attention and gave satisfaction to all the interests involved by reason of his large and liberal views as to the just understandings that should govern the relation of employers and employes in all in- dustrial establishments. These views were greatly strengthened by the fact that Mr. Pollack's administration of his own business affairs
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