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 58
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92
Ira B. Van Fossen, proprietor of a popular retail grocery at No. 700 Main street, Wheeling, is a native of Perry county, Penn., born Octo-
*Dirck and Herman Up den Graeff left no descendants.
464
HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
ber 28, 1846. He is the son of Nathan Van Fossen, a native of the same county, who died September 17, 1883. The latter married Mary C. Cougher, who was born at Carlisle, Penn., and eight children were born to them, seven sons and one daughter, the sixth of whom is the subject of this sketch. The mother is still living at Duncannon, Perry Co., Penn. At that place Ira B. Van Fossen passed his early years, receiving his education in the public schools. On November 23, 1863, being nineteen years of age, he bade his parents farewell and removed to Wheeling, where he found employment as an ap- prentice to the trade of a nailer, which has since been his occupation except when engaged in business. He followed his trade mainly at Wheeling, but also at other places, St. Louis, Mo .; Pittsburgh, Sharon and Harrisburg, Penn .; Latonia, Ohio, and Pueblo, Col. Nobember 12, 1883, he embarked in business as a coal dealer, and is now one of the leaders in that branch of trade in the city, owning both the Fulton and Slacktown mines, among the best and most convenient near the city. In March, 1888, he also engaged in the grocery business, which is successfully managed under the immediate attention of his wife. He is well-known and highly respected, is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics is republican. Mr. Van Fossen was married December 24, 1879, to Catherine Capitola Marshall, who was born at Fulton, near Wheeling, the youngest of ten children of Walter and Catherine (Bauersach) Marshall, who now reside five miles north- east of the city. Mrs. Van Fossen's father was born at Fulton, her mother in Noble county, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Van Fossen have three children: Lydia Catherine, Edna Masters, and Walter LeRoy.
Charles E. VanKeuren, proprietor of the Dairy restaurant, at No. 40 Twelfth street. Is one of the well-known young business men of Wheeling. He was born at Montrose, Penn., on March 19, 1856, the son of J. W. VanKeuren, a native of Orange county, N. Y. The father left home when quite young and went to sea, and was a sailor before the mast for a number of years. Leaving the sea he settled in Pennsylvania, and in 1861 removed to Michigan. In 1869 he came to Wheeling, where he has since resided, and is engaged in the painting trade. Charles VanKeuren started out for himself in 1870, by learn- ing the confectionery trade with Peter Zinn, but soon afterward left that employment and finished his trade with Charles Schwartz. In the fall of 1874 he began steamboating in the Parkersburgh traffic, as pastry cook on one of the Ohio river steamers. During 1878, 1879, 1880 and 1881, he was in the employment of the government, steam- boating in the northwest during the summer seasons, and was in that part of the country during the Sitting Bull Indian campaigns. Dur- ing the winter of 1879, he was engaged in the restaurant business at Deadwood, Dak., and in the following winter he carried on the same business at Bismarck. In the fall of 1881 he returned to Wheel- ing, and opened a restaurant, but in 1885 sold out and went to Minne- apolis, Minn., and there opened an establishment. In the fall of 1886, he again returned to Wheeling, and opened a restaurant in the base- ment of the chamber of commerce building, on the corner of Main
465
OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
and Fourteenth streets. His business increased to such an extent that in the following June he had to seek larger and more convenient quarters, and therefore removed to his present place of business on Twelfth street. Even this location as he took it, was soon found inade- quate, and in the spring of 1889 an addition was made to the room. Mr. VanKeuren is one of the successful young business men of the city, and deserves much credit for his success. Beginning on a capital of only $50, he has succeeded in building up a lucrative business, and at the same time deserves much credit for supplying Wheeling with a first class restaurant. He was married at Wheeling, in 1883, to Eliza McGee, of this city, and they have two children. Mr. VanKeuren is also a stockholder and director of the Provident Insurance company, of Wheeling. Asa member of the order of Odd Fellows, he is a past grand, and is chief patriarch of the encampment, and captain of the patriarch militant. He is also a member of the A. O. U. IV., and the Junior Order of American Mechanics.
Hanson E. Waddell, manager of the Hobbs Glass works of Wheel- ing, was born April 13, 1846, at Wheeling, of which city his ancestors were prominent settlers in earlier days. His grandfather, Joseph Waddell, a native of Scotland, came to America when a young man and made his home at Wheeling, becoming one of the pioneers of Ohio county. His son, Elijah Waddell, was born in this county in 1820, and was occupied during life, as was his father, in farming. He died in 1854, but his widow, Bethan Boggs, a member of the Boggs family, so prominent in the history of the valley, is still living about nine miles from the city, in the sixty-fifth year of her age. Hanson E. Waddell, son of the above, left Wheeling when about six years of age, accompanying his father to Illinois, where the latter had pur- chased a farm. After his father's death he returned to Wheeling and made his home with his grandfather William Boggs. When about fifteen years of age he attended the academy at West Liberty, and subsequently the West Alexander academy, in Pennsylvania. He then entered the Iron City Commercial college, at Pittsburgh, and completed his studies there in about 1865. On leaving school he obtained a posi- tion as book-keeper and salesman for A. Sheets. The elder Sheets soon afterward removing to Bellaire, Mr. Waddell accompanied him, and remained there four years. At that city he became interested in the glass industry, and became secretary of the National Glass manu- factory of Bellaire, going from there to the Bellaire Window Glass company as assistant secretary and salesman. He then traveled for two years for Rodefer Bros., successors to the National company, and subsequently became the eastern salesman for the Belmont Glass works. This position he resigned in 1879 to accept that of secretary and salesman of the Central Glass company, of Wheeling, and the lat- ter he resigned in August, 1888, at which date he accepted his present position. He is one of the notably able business men of the city. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, the Masonic order, and the I. O. O. F. On June 1, 1871, he was married to Emma, daughter of Dr. Isaac Hoover, of Barnesville, and they have four children.
30-A.
.
466
HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
John Walford, a worthy citizen of Wheeling, who has achieved sub- stantial success in business as a retail grocer, was born at Tipton, South Staffordshire, England, September 27, 1843. In that country his parents John and Mary (Hayward) Walford, passed their lives, the father dying when John was sixteen years of age. The latter is the third of the six children born, and is the only one of the family that came to America. In youth he was occupied as an iron worker, and continued in such employment until the fall of 1870, when he emigrated to the United States. He reached Wheeling October 5, 1870, and for fifteen years thereafter he was employed as an iron worker in various mills, during all but one year in the Riverside works. In 1884 he engaged in the grocery business, and is now in possession of a valuable property and an extensive trade, the result of his un- aided industry and sagacity. He is a member of the Wesley Metho- dist Episcopal church, and is active in church work, having been sup- erintendent of the Sunday-school for nineteen consecutive years. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., the A. O. U. W., and the Knights of the Golden Eagle. Mr. Walford was married before leaving Eng- land, on February 20, 1870, to Sarah Jennings, a native of Tipton, also, born May 12, 1845, the daughter of Charles W. and Hannah (Squire) Jennings. Her mother died in that country, of which her father is still a resident. She is the fifth of twelve children, and one of the three who emigrated to America. Mr. and Mrs. Walford have two children: Annie Elizabeth and Annie Helena, the first of whom died, aged seven months.
August Warneke, Jr., of Wheeling, member of the city council from the Fifth ward, is a native of that city, born April 6, 1857. His pa- rents, August and Caroline (Yeager) Warneke, were both of German birth, but were married in this country, to which the father immigrated about the year 1855. The wife died in November, 1880. Five chil- dren were born to them. Of these, two daughters, beside the subject of this sketch, reside at Wheeling, also Louis, who is assistant secre- tary of the Peabody Insurance company, and one son is in Sedalia, Mo. The senior August Warneke followed the trade of blacksmithing in his native land, and on coming to Wheeling opened a shop, which he conducted until about 1871, when he purchased and removed to a farm on the Bethany pike, where he now lives. He is a prominent member of the German Lutheran church. August Warneke, Jr., after receiving his education in the public schools, began an apprentice- ship as a blacksmith at Fulton. After working at various places for several years, he purchased a shop on Twenty-third street, between Main and Market, where he has since continued in business, having a large and profitable custom. He resides at No. 48 Twenty-second street. Mr. Warneke is an active member of the democratic party, and has always taken considerable interest in municipal affairs. In the fall of 1889 he was elected by the council to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Edward Miller, of the second branch, and Mr. Warneke has since that time been a useful member of the council. He is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias; of Black Prince
467
OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
lodge, No. 19, and Coeur de Lion division, No. 1, U. R. Mr. War- neke was married in 1880, to Anna Teichman, of Cincinnati, and they have two children, Samuel and Clara. Both he and wife are mem- bers of the German Lutheran church.
Isaiah Warren, a notable manufacturer of Wheeling, is a son of Matthew Warren, who occupied a creditable place during forty years in the mercantile and manufacturing life of Wheeling. The latter was born in the north of Ireland, a member of one of the oldest Scotch-Irish families in that region. In the early part of 1831 he immigrated, and after a few months' stay at Baltimore, came to Wheeling September II. He brought with him his wife, Ann, daughter of William Doran, a native of Ireland. From 1831 to 1844, Matthew Warren was engaged in the boot and shoe business on the corner of Tenth and Main streets, but at the latter date he embarked in the manufacture of lard oil, the firm being Warren & List. And in 1852, having formed the firm of Warren, Dunlap & Co., erected the main part of the building now occupied by the " Central Glass company." There he engaged in pork packing and in the provision trade, and continued to manufacture lard oil. In 1862, the firm of Warren & Son began the manufacture of carbon oil, then known as coal oil. The refinery erected here was amongst the first in the country, carbon oil selling at that time for $1 per gallon. At once the new illuminant took the place it has so well held ever since its advent. Mr. Matthew Warren retired from business in 1871. He and his wife were members of the Fourth Street Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a trustee and class leader. With other leading citizens at that period he was a member of the old volunteer fire department. He was also a county magistrate appointed in 1853, under the old re- geme. Mr. Warren died September 8, 1875, his wife preceded him, hav- ing passed away in 1873. Two sons and one daughter were born to them : Isaiah; Archibald, of Memphis, Tenn., and Mrs. William Vanpelt, of Winfield, Kas. Isaiah Warren was reared at Wheeling, and attended a private school taught by Rev. William McKay, a Methodist minister, and he was also for several years with A. W. Reuter, of Wheeling, and at Brooks' academy at St. Clairsville. In 1851, he visited Europe and remained a year. Upon his return to Wheeling he purchased the interest of Thomas H. List, in the firm of Warren & List, and the fırın then became Warren & Sons. In this business he continued with his father, and in his subsequent enterprises, until the retirement of the latter in 1871, when William Berger was admitted into the business, under the style of Warren & Berger. Upon the death of Mr. Berger two years later, Mr. Warren succeeded to the entire business, which has since been conducted in his name. He does an extensive busi- ness, manufacturing and dealing in carbon and lubricating oils. In 1882, he added the manufacture of sulphate of ammonia, which he conducts on a large scale, and he also renders and deals in tallow. Mr. Warren is an earnest worker for the best interests of the community in municipal affairs was formerly a member of the council from the Third ward. He is a prominent member of the Fourth Street Meth-
468
HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
odist church, which he joined in 1838, and of which he is secretary of the board of trustees. He was married May 1, 1855, to Virginia, daughter of Dr. Charles McLane, a graduate of the university of Pennsylvania, and also the well-known inventor of a proprietary med- icine, which has a world-wide fame. To this union seven children have been born, of whom three survive: Nellie T., wife of C. C. Hol- loway, of Ohio; Alan I., a student at the Boston university law school, and Eugene L., a student of medicine.
Stanton Bundy Warrick, a member of the large dry goods firm of Egger, Warrick & Co., is a son of James and Eleanor Warrick. He was born at Somerton, Belmont county, Ohio, in the year 1854. Until his twenty-fourth year he remained on the paternal farm, his boyhood having been occupied between attending the district schools and the ordinary farm work of a farmer's son. In April, 1878, he entered Eastman's National Business college at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and graduated from this institution October 7, of the same year. He first began work as a salesman in the dry goods house of Hogue & Shot- well, at Freeport, Harrison county, Ohio. Mr. Warrick remained with this firm until January, 1883, at which time they removed their stock of goods to Somerton, Ohio, where S. Hogue, the senior partner of the firm, was engaged in the dry goods business. Here they com- bined the two stocks, and having a sufficient number of employes they were obliged to dispense with Mr. Warrick's services. After having been engaged in various capacities, he entered into partnership with J. H. Egger and R. B. Roberts, the style of the firm name being Egger, Warrick & Co. This house has by energy and fair dealing built up one of the largest trades in the city. James Warrrick, father of the above, was born in 1818 in South Hampton county, N. C. He came to Ohio with his parents in 1826 and settled in Belmont county, near Barnesville, Ohio, where he still resides.
The wholesale grocery house of Waterhouse Brothers, recently formed, is one of the important ones in that field of trade. The mem- bers of the firm, John and Stephen Waterhouse, are sons of Stephen Waterhouse, an esteemed retired citizen of Wheeling, who came to that city in 1839, from Yorkshire, England, where he was born in ISII, the son of John and Margaret Waterhouse. Stephen Waterhouse engaged in brick manufacturing at Wheeling for twelve years, but since 1881 has lived a retired life. He was married in 1841 to Char- lotte Simpson, of Yorkshire, England, and six sons and four daugh- ters were born to them, of whom three daughters and two sons named above are now living. John Waterhouse, senior member of the house of Waterhouse Bros., was born in Wheeling, February 5, 1842. At the age of fourteen years he sought independent employment and be- came a clerk in the glass house of Hobbs, Brockunier & Co., where he remained for thirteen years, during a portion of that time keeping the books of that company. In 1869 he embarked in the business in which he has since been engaged as a partner in the wholesale gro- cery trade with Joseph Speidell, and continued to be a member of that firm until January 1, 1889. Then withdrawing from the old firm, he
OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. 469
formed a partnership with his brother, Stephen Waterhouse, and on April 1, 1889, they opened their wholesale grocery house, which met with success from the start, and is doing a large and constantly in- creasing business. Though a comparatively new house, it has the ad- vantage of the experience of the senior member of the wholesale trade, which is as extensive as that of any other man now engaged in that business at Wheeling. Mr. Waterhouse, in addition to meeting the demands of business, has given much time and careful attention to municipal affairs. He was elected to the second branch of the city council from the Eighth ward in 1867, and was subsequently elected from the Sixth and Fifth wards, retiring from the council in 1883, after a continuous service of sixteen years, probably the longest con- secutive service in the history of the council. On November 24, 1864, Mr. Waterhouse was married to Ellen Shields, daughter of Michael Shields. of Wheeling, and they have had eight children, seven of whom are now living.
Stephen Waterhouse, junior member of the above named firm, was born at Wheeling, January 3, 1844. At about the age of twenty-two years he entered the glass house of Hobbs, Brockunier & Co., as shipping clerk, but six months later engaged with his father in the manufacture of bricks, and continued to be so occupied until 1888. In the spring of 1889 he became a member of the firm of Waterhouse Bros. He has rendered efficient service to the city as a member of the council, to the second branch of which he was first elected from the Eighth ward, in 1881. He served two years, and in January, 1889, was re-elected and held the office until December of that year, when he resigned. Mr. Waterhouse was married in 1866, to Mary F., daugh- ter of William Coombs, of Wheeling. She died in 1869, and the two children born to her died, one before and one after her death. In 1877 he was married to Annie E., daughter of James E. Bryson, of Wheeling, formerly of Baltimore. To this union four children have been born, two of whom survive.
E. W. Wells, of the firm of Klieves, Kraft & Co., Wheeling, is one of the leading architects of the city, and consequently intimately as- sociated with the architectural development of the place. Mr. Wells was born in Brooke county, W. Va., October 21, 1850. His father, James Wells, was a native of Washington county, Penn., but while quite young removed with his parents to Brooke county, where he has since resided, and has for many years been occupied as a carpenter, though residing on a farm near Bethany. The subject of this men- tion, after attending the common schools, entered the West Liberty academy, where he attracted the attention of Prof. W. K. Pendleton, who persuaded the father to send him to Bethany college a short time for the development of his talent for evident designing. Consequently. he received six months' training at Bethany college in drawing and civil engineering. Subsequently he worked with his father three years, and in May, 1874, he removed to Wheeling. He was first as- sociated with Charles P. Hamilton in stair building, and then as a journeyman with Klieves, Kraft & Co., to whom in their first work,
4
470
HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
the building of the Morgantown university, he demonstrated his ability as a mechanic. After four years' service with the firm he became a partner, and having in the meantime given much study during leisure hours to architecture, the demand for his services soon became so pro- nounced that he was compelled to open an office and employ assist- ants, and this is now a regular part of the business of the firm, under his management. Among the many buildings for which he has fur- nished the designs and superintended the erection, may be mentioned the North Wheeling public school building, the Island, and the Eighth ward school buildings, the Y. M. C. A. building, and Rogers building, the Peter Welty building, L. C. Stifel's block, Schenck's building, the Female college at Buckhannon, and the Ravenswood school, the resi- dences of Dr. Hazlett, George E. Stifel, Alfred Paull, Dr. Ackermann, Lawrence Sands and R. K. Giffens. He has also given particular at- tention to the designing of ornamental work for the interior of bank buildings and the like, and in this connection has displayed notable talent. Mr. Wells is also interested in the Standard Insurance com- pany as director. He was married June 13, 1876, to Jennie E., daugh- ter of Robert Wells, of Brooke county, and they have five children. He and family are members of the Disciple church.
Rev. Albert William Werder, who has, for more than a quarter of a century, acted as pastor of St. James' German Evangelical Lutheran church, Wheeling, was born in the kingdom of Wurtemburg, Ger- many, January 17, 1839. At the age of thirteen years he came to America with his parents, John B. and Christina Werder, who settled in Sullivan county, N. Y. The father died there December 19, 1854, and the mother and son then removed to Honesdale, Penn., where they resided nearly eight years, the son finding employment as a book- keeper. In 1862 he and his mother removed to Columbus, Ohio, where he entered the Theological seminary of the church to which he has since devoted his talents. He was graduated there in June, 1864, and having in the previous month received a call from the St. James church, of Wheeling, he entered upon his work here in the following July. During the many years that have elapsed he has ever sought to promote the interests of his sacred cause, and has won the affection of his congregation, and the esteem of the community. On April 14, 1868, Mr. Werder was married to Mary E. Bayha, daughter of Jacob Bayha, of Wheeling, and she gave him one child, Albert Paul, who died at an early age. The mother died in Feb- ruary, 1870. On September 10, 1874, Mr. Werder was married to Mary Ella, daughter of Frederick Miller, of Wheeling, and they have five children, Mary Ann, Albert Henry, Emma Louisa, Ida Caro- line and Charles Frederick William, of whom the eldest died, aged five years.
The founder of the American branch of the Wheat family came to the United States sometime in the latter part of the eighteenth cen- tury and settled at Alexandria, Va. James M. Wheat, the father of the subject of this biographical sketch, was born in Alexandria in 1800, which was also the birthplace of his father. For many years
47I
OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
the family were merchants at Alexandria, where they were promi- nently identified with the business and social interests of the com- munity. In 1832 James M. Wheat came to Wheeling, Va. (now West Virginia), and became the manufacturer of windowg glass. He mar- ried Martha Brewer, at Berkeley Springs, Berkeley county (now Mor- gan county), Va. Their children were: Joseph Edward, George K., Eliza Selena, Hanson Bradley, Jesse S., Mary Virginia, Adaline Lam- bert, James Muliken and Lydia Hart. George K. Wheat, the second son, was born at Berkeley Springs, January 25, 1825, and came to Wheeling with his parents in July, 1832. He was educated in several different schools of the city, among which may be mentioned the Lancasterian academy, taught by Prof. McBurney. The academy occupied the ground south of the Fourth Street Methodist Episcopal church, and the school taught by Professors Rutter and Smith, which was conducted in the building on the corner of Fourteenth and Chap- line streets. In 1837 Mr. Wheat's father removed to Ritchietown, now South Wheeling, and established a tannery there, he being a tanner by trade. Until the year 1844 Mr. Wheat was engaged in vari- ous pursuits, first being employed in a ship yard, and then in a glass factory operated by H. Milton Miller; subsequently he worked in a saw-mill owned by Hughes & Martin. In March, 1844, he entered the employ of J. & T. Hornbrook, dealers in notions, and remained with them for four years. According to agreement, he was to receive the first year, $50; the second, $75; and the third, $100. The fourth year he was engaged at a salary of $500, which was a very liberal compensation in those days. About 1849 the firm dissolved partner- ship and divided the stock, and one year later, Jacob Hornbrook sold his business to Wheat & Chapline, this firm continuing until the death of Alexander C. Chapline, which occurred in 1855. Mr. Wheat pur- chased the Chapline interest in the business from the administrator of his partner's estate, and was connected with the same until Jan- uary 1, 1889. While with the Hornbrooks Mr. Wheat made several trips to Louisville on a flat-boat carrying merchandise to that point, subsequently making two trips to Cincinnati for Wheat & Chapline. The first trip was made about the year 1852. After having disposed of his stock and while making arrangements to return home, the steamer "Lake Erie," which had been used to tow canal boats from Rochester, Penn., to Pittsburgh, arrived at Cincinnati with two barges, each loaded with about 5,000 bushels of coal. This was the first coal ever towed down the Ohio river by a steamboat. Instead of selling his flat-boat, as was before necessary, Mr. Wheat paid the captain of the " Lake Erie" $75 to tow his boat back to Wheeling. To Mr. Wheat belongs the entire credit for bringing the pottery industry to Wheel- ing. This important industry now forms one of the chief manufac- turing interests of this community of factories. While passing through the town of East Liverpool, Ohio, the enterprise and pros- perity of the place struck Mr. Wheat so forcibly that he decided to look into the cause of it. As the pottery business was the business of the town almost exclusively, he naturally determined that this was
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.