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 55
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Hon. J. B. Sommerville; a gentleman who has represented the peo- ple in both branches of the legislature with honor, is one of the worth- iest members of the Ohio county bar. He was born in 1852 in Brooke county, W. Va., in the neighborhood of Bethany, a son of William M. and Margaret (Steele) Sommerville. His father was a native of Harri- son county, W. Va., and he was the son of a native of that county, who
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was descended from ancestors of Irish descent, who came to this country about the beginning of the Revolutionary war. One of this family, the great-grandfather of the subject, was a pioneer of Harrison county. The mother of the subject of this mention was a native of Brooke county, and died in 1872. To these parents there were seven children born, of whom five are living. J. B. Sommerville was reared in his native county, and was given the advantages of a good educa- tion. In 1873 he was graduated by the West Liberty Normal school, and he subsequently attended Bethany college. He engaged in teach- ing, and at the same time studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1878. He began the practice of his profession at Wellsburg, April I, 1879. While Mr. Sommerville was a student at Bethany college, he was nominated for the legislature by the democratic party, and was elected to the house of delegates in 1876. In 1884 he received the further honor of election to the state senate, representing the coun- ties of Brooke, Hancock and Ohio. In May, 1887, Mr. Sommerville made his home at Wheeling, where he has since had a successful practice. Mr. Sommerville was married in May, 1879, to Agnes G. Hosie, of Brooke county, a native of Baltimore, Md.
William C. Spargo, who has for several years been engaged in the retail grocery trade at Wheeling, is a native of Cornwall, England, the son of Thomas and Ann (Collins) Spargo, estimable people who passed their lives in that country. Mr. Spargo was born July 23, 1842, the third in a family of fourteen children, seven of whom, Thomas, William C., James, John, Stephen, Ann and Edwin became citizens of the United States. Thomas afterward returned to England, then resided in Chili twenty years, and is now living in England. Edwin was killed by falling iron ore at Lake Superior in 1881. Two other children, Richard and Christiana, are in Chili, Caroline is in Aus- tralia, and Thomas, Samuel and Eliza Jane are in England. Will- iam C., the subject of this mention, after he was ten years of age, was employed as a tin dresser until twenty-two years old. He then worked at mining two years, and in 1867 came to America, reaching New York February 28th. He was employed for a few months each in iron mines near Rockaway, N. J., and at the British Bend iron mines of Pennsylvania, and in January, 1868, he went to Pittsburgh, whence he removed to Mansfield, Penn., proceeding from there to Wheeling, July 7, 1868. Here, for fifteen years, he was engaged in mining, but formed five years before the end of that period a part- nership in the grocery business with A. C. Harrell. In 1883 he sold to his partner and established an independent business which he has. since conducted with creditable success. Mr. Spargo was married November 25, 1863, to Grace Treeweek, daughter of Walter and Mary Treeweek, and they have had six children: William Thomas, Mary Ann, Walter Wilson, Caroline, Elizabeth Jones and Stephen, the latter of whom is deceased. The parents and four eldest chil- dren are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Spargo is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics he is a republican.
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OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
William Spears, the pioneer axle manufacturer of Wheeling. was born in the north of England, February 3, 1816, and came to the United States in 1840. He first settled at Pittsburgh, and from there removed to Cincinnati, whence he came to Wheeling. Here he engaged in the forging industry, and in that line did considerable steamboat and car work, and furnished all the under-ground work for the Wheeling and Belmont suspension bridge, when that structure was originally built. Conceiving that the manufacture of axles would be profitable, he was the first man in the city to engage in that indus- try, erecting a factory near the La Belle Iron works, where he carried on a limited but successful business until ISSo, when he retired from active life, and was succeeded in business by his son, Ralph R. The senior Spears continued to reside in Wheeling, until 1887, when he removed to his farm on Sand Hill, Marshall county, WV. Va., where he now resides. While in England he was married, and on coming to America brought with him his wife and two children. She died at Pittsburgh, but the children, son and daughter, are still living. Sub- sequently he married at Pittsburgh, Isabel Reed, who died about 1865, leaving five children, four of whom are still living. Ralph W. Spears was born at Wheeling, July, 15, 1859. He attended the common schools of the city until his thirteenth year, and then entered the works of his father, and thoroughly mastered the manufacture of axles. As has been stated he succeeded his father in 1880, and after oper- ating the manufactory for a number of years, he associated with him- self T. W. Phinney and A. D. Howe, in 1887, but in the same year became dissatisfied and sold out his interests to those gentlemen. He then organized a stock company, and in January, 1888, began the *erection of the present works, on the corner of Main, Water and Twenty-seventh streets, covering an area of 100x200 feet. The build- ings are one story in height, and are stocked with the latest and most modern axle machinery. Over fifty men are carried on the pay rolls of the company, and an immense amount of material is turned out which finds a ready sale in all the markets of the west, northwest and south. Of the Spears Axle company, which operates this plant, Mr. Ralph R. Spears is president. He succeeded to the business at twenty-one years of age, but was well equipped, not only in mechanical skill, but in executive ability, and has won a high position among the manufacturers of Wheeling. Mr. Spears was married in 1884 to Jessie B., daughter of Marshall Ferguson, of Wheeling, by whom he has had three children, two of whom survive.
Benedict Speidel (deceased), was born in Germany in 1814, came to America in 1832, and died at Wheeling, June 30, 1876. This brief record is probably graven on his tombstone, if not in so many words, then in terms equivalent; but the history of his every-day, unostenta- tious life has left a far more elaborate entablature upon the hearts of those who knew him, and who delight at this time to recall his mem- ory. He was eighteen years of age when he arrived at Baltimore from the fatherland, possessed of a meager education, a few pieces of sil- ver and a partially learned trade, that of stone mason. During the
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
winter of 1832-3 he came on foot via the old National road to Wheel- ing, and was here at once and for some months afterward employed as a mason on the construction of the old stone bridge over Wheeling creek. During the following year he moved to New Lisbon, Ohio, and from there twelve months later to Steubenville. In 1838 or 1839 he located at Wellsburg, W. Va., and was there about ten years ex- tensively employed at contracting and building. The county court house at Wellsburg, the Carruthers building, the Kern building, and other well-known structures of that town, are lasting monuments to his skill. In 1849 Mr. Speidel returned to Wheeling, and at Ritchie- town, now the Eighth ward, associated with a Mr. Edley, engaged in the brewing of malt liquors, the style of the firm being Speidel & Edley. At the end of three years he gave up brewing and embarked in the grocery trade, an occupation that received his attention until IS74. Two years prior to his death he withdrew from all active busi- ness, and retired to the quiet enjoyment of a well-earned and ample competency. His widow is yet living at the old homestead in the Eighth ward of Wheeling. Her maiden name was Verona Meyers, and she was born in Germany in 1815. They were married at New Lisbon, Ohio, and of the ten children born to them, seven are living. Mr. Speidel was a consistent member of the Catholic church; in pol- itics, prior to the war, he was a whig, but he voted for Mr. Lincoln in 1860, and ever thereafter stood by the principles of the republican party.
Joseph Speidel, son of the late Benedict Speidel, and the head of the most extensive wholesale grocery house in West Virginia, was born in Wellsburg, this state, October 1, IS43. His early education was limited to the opportunities of the times and the circumstances that surrounded his boyhood. At the age of twelve years he became a clerk in his father's grocery house and remained in that position five years. He was next employed by Hobbs & Barnes, glass manufac turers, as shipping clerk. Having arrived now at young manhood, he took a course of training at Duff's Commercial college, Pittsburgh; returned to Wheeling, and for the ensuing year was book-keeper and salesman for the grocery firm of George W. Reessing & Co. June I, 1863, the firm of Speidel & Inderreider, composed of Joseph Speidel and August Inderreider, was formed and launched into the jobbing of fancy groceries and tobaccos, in the building now occupied by the Franklin Insurance company on Twelfth street. In 1865 they removed to 51 Main street, and in 1867 sold out to Burke & Irwin. Mr. Speidel was next for a brief period associated with Alexander Turner in the wholesale grocery trade, and in the spring of 1868 embarked in that line for himself near the corner of Fourteenth and Main streets. In 1872 he admitted to partnership in his business his brother John and a Mr. John Waterhouse, and in 1876 they erected the elegant iron front building, comprising Nos. 1416 Main street, and 1414 South street. Mr. Archie T. Hupp succeeded John Speidel in the firm in 1878, and the real estate of the old firm passed by purchase to the subject of this sketch. The present magnificent buildings occupied
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by the firm, to-wit, 1412 and 1414 Main street, and 1410 and 1412 South street, were completed in 1884. The structure is 44x160 feet, four stories and a basement, and has a total floorage of 42,240 square feet. The business of the firm extends throughout West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the great south and west, and their aggregate annual sales amount to over $1,000,000. In addition to his mercantile interest, Mr. Speidel is prominently connected with the Electric Railway company of Wheeling, the Fire and Marine In- surance company of Wheeling, the Savings bank of Wheeling, the Savings bank of Bellaire, the National bank of Taylor, Texas (of which he is president), the Mccullough (Texas) Land and Cattle company, the Hobbs Glass company of Wheeling, and the Pittsburgh, Wheeling & Kentucky Railroad company. From 1876 to 1888, minus the term of 1878-So, he served as a member of the board of county commissioners from Madison district (one term as president of the board), and at the end of the last term declined further election. Though frequently solicited to accept various offices of trust and profit, he has steadily declined, preferring to devote his attention to business. He was married August 15, 1867, to Miss Lydia H., the accomplished daughter of James K. Wheat, Esq., and the children born to him are named respectively, John (deceased), Hall, Joseph W., and Eliza. Mr. and Mrs. Speidel are communicants of the Episcopal church.
Henry Speyer, one of the representative business men of Wheel- ing, is the proprietor of the extensive wholesale millinery and notions and furnishing goods house, which operates under the name of Speyer Bros. Mr. Speyer was born at Hartford, Conn., January 3, 1849, a son of Louis Speyer, who was born in Hesse, Germany, but has for forty-five years been a citizen of the United States. The latter was engaged in the grocery business at Hartford for many years, but has retired from active trade, and is at the present time visiting with his sons at Wheeling. Henry Speyer was reared at Hartford and re- mained there until 1870, when he came to Wheeling to take a posi- tion as clerk in a millinery store. Three years later he engaged in the business for himself, opening a retail millinery and furnishing goods store, and soon succeeding in the retail line in doing the largest business in the city. In 1874, James Speyer, a brother, became a part- ner in the store, and in 1881 they added the wholesale department to their trade, and this house is one of the most popular jobbing houses of the city, doing an extensive business throughout a considerable territory. On December 26, 1884, James Speyer died, and since then Henry Speyer has continued the business as sole proprietor, but with the old firm name. He is prominent in trade and financial circles, and is a director of the bank of the Ohio valley, and a stockholder in various other enterprises. He is a member of the Masonic order of the degree of Royal Arch.
Randolph Stalnaker, ex-secretary of state of West Virginia, now a prominent citizen of Wheeling, is a native of Green Brier, Va., born June 8, 1847, a son of Randolph Stalnaker, a native of Randolph
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
county, Va. The boyhood days of Mr. Stalnaker were passed at Lewisburgh, Va., where he began his education in the common schools, finishing the same at the high school in Monroe county. In 1861, he left home to join the Confederate army, enlisting in the Greenbrier rifles, Company E, Twenty-seventh Virginia regiment, but his military service at that time was cut short by his colonel, who sent him home, judging that his age was too tender for such duty. After remaining at home about a year, Gen. A. W. Reynolds appointed him an aid on the staff, and in that capacity he served until 1864, when he was made adjutant of Hounsell's cavalry, a position he held until the surrender. After the close of the war he went into the oil regions of Wirt county, and became interested in the oil wells there, but subsequently returned to Lewisburgh, and embarked in the mercantile business. While a resident of that place, he was in 1876 appointed private secretary to Gov. Matthews, and at the close of that service, in 1880, he was ap- pointed by Gov. Jackson, secretary of state, an office which he held for four years. At the close of his official life at the capital, Mr. Stalnaker made his home permanently at Wheeling, and engaged in the manufacture of hardwood, etc., as a member of the firm of Hale & Stalnaker. About a year later, the works at Wheeling were de- stroyed by fire, and the seat of the business was then removed to Wirt county, and a company was incorporated, of which Mr. Stalnaker is a stockholder, which is doing business under the style of the West Vir- ginia Bung company. This was recently consolidated with the Inde- pendent Bung company, of New York. Mr. Stalnaker is thoroughly devoted to the advancement of the manufacturing interests of Wheel- ing, and in August, 1887, he became one of the incorporators of the West Virginia China company, of which, in January, 1888, he was elected secretary, a position he holds at present. Mr. Stalnaker is a member of the Masonic order, of Greenbrier lodge.
Frank H. Stamm, member of the firm of McLure & Stamm, pro- prietors of the McLure House, was born in Wheeling, February 27, 1859. He is a son of Henry Stamm, a native of Germany, one of the pioneer hotel men of the city. He was given a liberal education, at- tending first the public schools of the city, subsequently spending one .. year at the university of Notre Dame, Ind., and a year at the state university of West Virginia, at Morgantown. He also took a course of one year in the Wheeling commercial college. He then entered the hotel business with his father, but left this temporarily to spend seven years in the wholesale grocery business, as traveling salesman and in office work. For four years after this he engaged in the whole- sale produce and grain business on his own account, with much suc- cess. On June 1, 1887, he returned to the hotel business, purchasing the interest of Grant & Scott, in the firm of Grant, Scott & Co., pro- prietors of the McLure House. The firm then became known as Stamm & McLure, his partner being H. W. McLure. The house which they conduct is one of the famous ones of the country. It was built by John McLure, and opened to the public on the day that the Baltimore & Ohio railroad brought its first train to the city, Janu-
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OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
ary 13, 1853. The hotel has 135 rooms, and is furnished throughout with all the latest conveniences. The table is widely famed for the excellence of its service. Of this house, in its way one of the most prominent institutions of Wheeling, Mr. Stamm is general manager. Mr. Stamm was married June 3, 1884, to M. V., daughter of Peter Cassel, of Wheeling.
George W. Steenrod, one of the venerable citizens of Ohio county, who has been spared to witness the wonderful development of the valley from its condition in the early years of this country to the present, was born in this county in 1813, the son of Daniel Steenrod. The latter was one of the pioneers of this region, and was one of the contractors of the National road. George W. lost his hearing when two years old, and was educated at the deaf and dumb asylum at Philadelphia. He followed farming as a vocation for many years, and is now living in retirement from activity, in the suburbs of Wheeling, his home still shared by his faithful wife. She, whose maiden name was Elizabeth A. McClurg, was born at Pitts- burgh. Penn., and educated at the deaf and dumb school at Phila- delphia. To them four children were born, two of whom are living. Their son, Louis Steenrod, now sheriff of Ohio county, was born in this county in 1854. In youth he attended the Linsly institute and finished his education at the Chester (Penn.) military school in 1869. He then engaged in farming and dairying, and still manages his ex- tensive agricultural interests. Always taking a great interest in political affairs, he has been an active worker in the interests of the democratic party, and has for some years wielded a considerable in- fluence. He did not, however, aspire to any office until 1888, when he became a candidate for the office of sheriff, to which he was elected in the fall of that year, and assumed the duties of the office in Janu- ary, 1889. Mr. Steenrod was married in December, 1879, to Ella Updegraff, and they have four children. He is a member of the Episcopal church.
Hugh Sterling, member of the extensive furniture firm of G. Men- del & Co., of Wheeling, was born at Steubenville, Ohio, December 30, 1842. His grandfather, Hugh Sterling, a native of the north of Ireland, was one of the pioneers of Steubenville, and was a merchant there until his death. His son, James Sterling, who was born in Steu- benville, in 1818, continuing the business of his father, became the leading merchant of that place, and is so engaged at the present. He married Martha Jane Mills, who was born in Ireland in 1817, and died in the fall of 1880. Their son, Hugh Sterling, the subject of this notice, at fourteen years of age, began an apprenticeship in a print- ing office, and was there engaged until the outbreak of the war. On April 18,1861, he enlisted in Company I, of the Twelfth Pennsylvania regiment, as a private, and served the period of his enlistment, three months. In September, 1861, he re-enlisted in the Twenty-third Pennsylvania infantry, and served until September 6, 1864, when he was mustered out. He then returned to Steubenville, but on Sep- tember 23, he was appointed by Col. John Ely, provost marshal gen-
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
eral, chief clerk of the inspection division of that department, with headquarters at Wheeling. He served in that capacity until the office was abolished in 1866, when he was transferred to the office of the superintendent of the volunteer recruiting service, at Wheeling, under Major McGown, and remained in that position until the office was closed by order of the war department. He was then appointed assistant health officer of Wheeling, under Dr. Richard Blum. In 1866 he was appointed to a clerkship in the state legislature, and clerk to the committees of claims and grievances, elections and privi- leges, and education and military affairs. Upon the opening of the lines of the Citizens' Street Railway company he was the first active secretary, and held that position six months, then resigning to accept the position of general delivery clerk in the postoffice at Wheeling, where he served one year. He was then engaged fifteen months as book-keeper for William Sumner & Co., general agents for the Wheeler & Wilson sewing machine company, after which he was appointed money order, stamp and registry clerk in the Wheeling postoffice and was so connected with the postoffice until his appoint- ment as postmaster at Wheeling, February 10, 1879, by President Hayes. He held that important position for six years and nine months. On January 1, 1887, he became engaged in his present business. In the Masonic fraternity Mr. Sterling is prominent, being amember of Ohio lodge, No. I, Wheeling Union chapter, No. 1, Wheeling commandery, No. I, has attained the thirty-third degree of Cerneau Scottish Rite, is a member of Osiris Temple, Mystic Shrine, and is past master, past high priest, past commander, past grand junior warden, past grand king, past grand lecturer, past grand commander and present grand treas- urer of both the grand chapter and the grand lodge of West Virginia. Mr. Sterling was married June 22, 1865, to Matilda H., daughter of George W. Sights, of Wheeling, and they have one son, George S., who is in business with his father.
A. F. Stifel, M. D., a son of John Louis Stifel, named elsewhere, was born at Wheeling, July 22, 1855. He received his early education in the public schools of this city, and then determining to prepare him- self for the business of a druggist, he attended, during the years 1871, 1872 and 1873, the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, where he was graduated in that profession. He was subsequently engaged in the drug business at New York city until 1875, when he concluded to enter the medical profession, and to that end, went to Germany and entered the University of Wuerzburg, later to Leipsic, where for four years he pursued the study of medicine, and was graduated in 1879. After spending three months of practice in the hospitals of Vienna, he returned to his native land, and at Wheeling embarked in the gen- eral practice. His thorough preparation and scientific devotion to his profession has given him a creditable rank among the physicians of the city. He is a member of the Medical society, of Wheeling, and of the county of Ohio, of which he was president one year, and he is a member of the Medical society, of West Virginia, and the American Medical association.
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OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
George E. Stifel, a son of John Louis Stifel, elsewhere mentioned, is among the foremost business men of Wheeling, and senior member of the well-known firm of George E. Stifel & Co., which stands at the front of the retail dry goods business in this city. Mr. Stifel was born at Wheeling, May 5, 1849, and was educated in the public schools of his native city. On leaving school, in 1863. he entered the dry goods business in the employment of Stone & Thomas, with whom he re- mained until 1868, then becoming engaged with Brues & Sanders, afterward C. T. Brues, a house with which he was associated until the year 1878. He then formed his present partnership with Frederick Schwertfeger, and embarked on a business career which has been re- markably successful and in every way creditable. At 1158 Main street the firm occupies a double store, four floors in heighth, and 42X132 feet in area, and the perfect management of this institution and its remarkable variety and completeness in stock, make it one of the notable places of the city.
John Louis Stifel, prominent among the early German residents of Wheeling, was born at Neuffen, Wurtemberg, Germany, March 13, 1807. In his native land he learned and followed the trade of a dyer, and while traveling and following that occupation he acquired the art of calico printing, in which he became proficient. In September, 1833, he emigrated to the United States, and first made his home at Phila- delphia, going from there to Bethlehem, Penn., where he was engaged in the woolen mills about six months. He arrived at Wheeling in the fall of 1834, traveling on foot, and worked for his board on a farm during winter, and the next spring he opened a small establishment for dying clothing, on the limited capital of $10 dollars. Soon after- ward he changed his place of business to a log house opposite Turner hall, on Market street. It was in this year, June 18, 1835, that he was married to Barbara Becht, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, then a resident of Steubenville, where the ceremony was performed by Rev. Charles C. Beatty, then president of the Steubenville semin- ary. Mr. Stifel soon enlarged his business and began printing by hand calico that he bought of local merchants, and his was the first establishment for the printing of yard-wide indigo blue calico in the United States. In 1844 he removed his factory to its present lo- cation, and enlisted the assistance of his sons, Louis C. and William F. In 1857, when a hand printing machine was put in, the capacity of the works was about ten pieces per day, but there were gradual improve- ments and enlargements, steam was introduced in 1867, and in 1870, when the senior Stifel retired from the business, the daily capacity had reached forty-five to fifty pieces. The founder of this business was prominent in the affairs of the young city, took an active part in politics, attending many state conventions, and served the county both as a justice and as one of the first supervisors. His death oc- curred in 1881, six years after the decease of his wife. Of the eleven children born to them, seven were reared, five sons and two daugh- ters. Upon the retirement from business of John Louis Stifel, the factory went into the hands of two of his sons, Louis C. Stifel, who
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