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 59
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the cause, and immediately began to lay his plans for the establish- ment of a pottery at Wheeling. The Wheeling Pottery company is the immediate result of his foresight and enterprise. This concern was founded in November, 1879, and proved a great success. This ex- periment having been successful, other companies have been, from time to time, formed for the purpose of manufacturing china, porcelain and other earthenware, until, at the present writing there are four very large potteries in the city of Wheeling, besides numerous other smaller, but growing companies. Mr. Wheat is connected extensively in the West Virginia China company, the Warwick China company and the Wheeling Pottery company. His support has always been given to any enterprise which promised increased prosperity to Wheeling, and we find him prominently identified with the iron business, being a stock- holder in the Benwood Iron company, the Belmont Iron works, the Wheeling Iron and Nail company, and the Wheeling Steel plant, he being a director in last two named. In 1858, with others, he estab- lished the Citizens' Deposit bank of Wheeling. This institution was merged into the First National bank, of Wheeling, in April, 1864. Mr. Wheat was president of both banks, and now has a $io bank note in his possession bearing his signature as the president of the First National bank, of Wheeling, dated in 1864. This bill was in cir- culation until very recently, when it was discovered by a friend and presented to the one whose signature it bears. He was also one of the founders and a large stockholder in three insurance companies, the Wheeling Fire & Marine, the Franklin, and the National Insurance companies. From the early days of the oil business he has been an op- erator in the different fields, having been one of the capitalists who sunk the well on the National road, near the "S" bridge. He subse- quently operated at Smith's Ferry, and is now interested in the Belmont oil field. His marriage to Miss Fannie J. Doane was solemnized June 6, 1855. Their children are: Henry Lawson, Kate Doane, George K., Jr., Albert Allen, Archie Laurance, Frank Renick and Fannie Josephine. Mr. Wheat is recognized as one of the most progressive and successful business men of the upper Ohio valley. His enterprise and ability have been exercised for the good of the en- tire community as well as for his own interests, and long after his indi- viduality has sunk into that oblivion which comes to all, his many acts of charity and kindness will be remembered with loving tenderness. The great industry which he has planted will serve as a monument to his ability and as a reminder of his public spirit. Mr. Wheat is an at- tendant of the Methodist Episcopal church. His greatness is best attested by the great devotion which his multitude of employes bear him.
Charles H. Wheeler, a veteran merchant tailor of Wheeling, and one of the valued men of that city, was born at Smithtown, Suffolk county, Long Island, July 26, 1819. He is the son of Joshua Wheeler, also a native of that county, where the family has always resided since the original settlement in an early day by five brothers who came from England. Charles H. was reared on the farm to his sixteenth
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year, when he began an apprenticeship of four years at the tailor's trade. That being concluded, in 1841, he left his native county and removed to Orange county, N. Y., whence after two years he went to Baltimore. In 1844 he made his home at Cumberland, Md., where he remained about nine years, during the latter part of that period establishing a shop of his own. In 1853, he came to Wheeling, where he has since permanently resided, and in this city he embarked in busi- ness as a merchant tailor upon his arrival. He opened in Washing- ton hall, being the first business in that well-known establishment. In 1860 he sold out his business and returned to New York state with the intention of remaining there, but after eighteen months' absence returned to Wheeling. In the fall of 1861, he engaged in the manu- facture of clothing for various houses, and was so engaged until 1865, when he took the position of foreman for one of the leading tailoring establishments of the city, with which he remained for thirteen years. In July, 1879, he entered the establishment of Thomas Hughes, and remained there until January 1, 1889, when he and his son Charles opened their present rooms in the Reilly block. Both are practical workmen, with thorough knowledge of their art, and in the short time they have conducted their establishment have met with much success. In addition to their general business they carry a full line of suitings. Mr. Wheeler was married June 5, 1849, to Henrietta Lakin, a native of Cumberland, Md., and they have had eleven children, of whom but two survive. One of these, Charles H. Wheeler, Jr., the partner of his father, was born at Wheeling, July 21, 1866. He is a thorough master of his trade, which he has learned in all its details.
Joseph Wheeler, an active business man of Wheeling, engaged in the boot and shoe trade at 2801 Eoff street, was born at Dudley, Staf- fordshire, England, May 7, 1844. His parents, Jesse and Martha (Simons) Wheeler, were both natives of England. The father died when the subject of this sketch was quite young, and about the year 1850 the mother and her children came to the United States, and made their home at Wheeling. Here the mother died in 1859. Mr. Wheeler was reared and educated at Wheeling, completing his stud- ies in the Duff commercial college, Pittsburg, Penn. At the age of fifteen years he found employment in a nail mill and learning the trade of a nailer, followed that in different mills, beginning as a nail feeder and rising to the position of nailer and factory manager. About 1879, he removed to Chattanooga, and managed a mill there. Then he was engaged at his trade in Wheeling until the spring of 1889, when he opened the establishment above mentioned, which he is operating successfully. In war times he did honorable service to the country, as a member of Carlin's battery, or Battery D, First West Virginia light artillery. He is now one of the leading citizens of the Sixth ward, and fraternally is connected with Nelson lodge, No. 30, F. & A. M., Wheeling Union chapter, No. 1, Wheeling commandery, No. I, K. T.,-Wheeling lodge, No. 9, I. O. O. F., Alpha lodge, No. 424, K. of H., and Welcome lodge, No. 6, A. O. U. W. In 1870, Mr. Wheeler was married to Jennie McNaughton, daughter of Steenrod
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McNaughton, and granddaughter of one of the pioneers of the city, Neil McNaughton, Esq.
In close connection with the local history of the Catholic church and its associate institutions, is that of Rt. Rev. R. V. Whelan, D. D., who, in 1846, though still bishop of the diocese of Richmond, which com- prised the whole state of Virginia, came to reside for a while in Wheeling, and performed the pastoral duties almost unaided. In 1850 the diocese of Wheeling was established and the bishop of Rich- mond was translated to the new See of Wheeling. Until 1847, the little church which had been erected about 1822, was sufficient to ac- commodate the congregation, but at that time Bishop Whelan re- solved to have a more capacious and grander edifice, one that would answer for many years to come. Accordingly the corner stone of the present cathedral was laid in 1847. Rev. Whelan himself designed it, and in person superintended the construction. In less than ten years he found it necessary to erect another church to accomodate the increasing members, and the separate church for the Germans was dedicated in 1858. In 1872, he erected a third church, that of the Im- maculate Conception in the Eighth ward. Immediately after his ar- rival in Wheeling, in 1846, Bishop Whelan manifested a noteworthy zeal in the important matter of education. He was not content with establishing what are known as parish schools, but at once organized the Wheeling Female academy, and called to his assistance those famed educators, the Sisters of the Visitation, B. V. M. So exalted was his idea of education, that he, moreover, secured among them a teaching corps that has, ever since, gained for the Sisters' academy the very highest reputation. The academy continued in Wheeling until 1865, when it was removed to a point two miles east of the city, and was then called Mount De Chantel. No sooner had the Wheel- ing Female academy been removed to the country than the ever vigi- lant Bishop Whelan put St Joseph's academy in operation on the site of the old one. In 1850 he purchased an admirable property for the Wheeling hospital, on its present site, and greatly enlarged the build- ing. He soon discovered another claim of charity. A home for or- phans challenged his attention, and soon the act incorporating the Wheeling hospital was amended so as to read, "The Hospital and Orphan Asylum." The beautiful Mount Calvary cemetery was also one of the bishop's undertakings. It was laid out by the bishop him- self. After an episcopate of thirty-three years, Rt. Rev. Richard Vincent Whelan, D. D., died in the city of Baltimore, his birthplace, on the 7th of July, 1874. As a prelate his record is as bright and glorious as that of any bishop of his church from the days of the Most Rev. John Carroll, first bishop of the states, to his own day. He was a man of indomitable will, of wonderful courage and of a power of endurance that knew no bounds. As a churchman his life was so grand, so heroic, that it may be termed apostolic. His remains repose in Mount Calvary cemetery, beneath the altar of a beautiful chapel which the love and reverence and gratitude of the people erected to his saintly memory.
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Among the early residents of Wheeling deserving honorable men- tion was John White, a native of Kings county, Ireland, who was born in 1808. In 1831 he was married to Bridget Dunn, who was born in Queens county, Ireland in 1805, and immediately after their marriage they came to the United States, stopping first at Philadelphia. In the next year they proceeded over the national road to what was then the west, and arrived at Wheeling, where the husband found employment in a woolen mill, he having worked in the old country as a wool- comber. Subsequently he acquired the trade of a machinist and local engineer and became connected with the city water works at their construction, and subsequently for many years was employed there. After leaving the water works he was employed as engineer for sev- eral establishments, and at the time of his decease was engineer of the water works of the Belmont mill. He took an active interest in the affairs of the city, and during the years of its development he was a valued citizen. Of the Catholic church he was a pioneer at Wheel- ing, settling there before a church was organized. His- death oc- curred November 30, 1875. His widow is still living. Of the nine children born to them, three are living: Mary A., Ellen G., and John A. John A. White, son of the above, a well-known citizen of Wheeling, is extensively engaged in trade as a wholesale and retail dealer in leather shoe findings and specialties at No. IIJ7 Market street. He was born in this city April 18, 1843. He attended school in the base- ment of the Cathedral until his fourteenth year, after which he studied one year and a half at St. Charles college at Ellicott City, Md. Re- turning to Wheeling he took a position in a retail grocery store, and subsequently spent two years in the dry goods business as a clerk. He then took a full course at Duff's Commercial college, at Pittsburgh, from which institution he received his diploma on September 4, 1863. He then took the position of book-keeper for the wholesale grocery house of Mr. Reilly, and remained there until March, 1869, when he took a position with the firm of Berger & Hoffman, tanners and leather dealers. After that firm dissolved in 1876, he was for one year a member of the firm of Berger & White, which succeeded. This lat- ter partnership was dissolved in 1877, and Mr. White then engaged in business for himself at No, 1121 Market street, whence he removed to his present place in 1886. He began on a limited scale, but has gradually increased his business until he now has the leading estab- lishment of the kind in the city. Mr. White was married in 1869, to Margaret E., the oldest daughter of Jacob Snyder, a wholesale iron merchant of Wheeling. She is now deceased, leaving a son and two daughters. In 1883, Mr. White was married to Ellen Girvin, of Wheeling, by whom he has four children. He and family are mem- bers of the Cathedral church.
Col. Robert White, a distinguished citizen of West Virginia, form- erly attorney general of the state, is a member of a family which has been notable in the history of Virginia. His great-grandfather, Robert White, was a surgeon in the British navy, and at an early period in the settlement of the state made his home in the valley of Virginia.
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His two sons rose to distinction. Alexander, a worthy patriot, became a member of the first congress of the United States. Robert, the other son, a native of Winchester, did patriotic service in the field during the revolution, was an officer in the Continental army and re- ceived a severe wound at the battle of Monmouth, though at that time only seventeen years of age. Subsequently he became a successful lawyer; sat upon the bench some forty years, and was president of the old general court of Virginia. John Baker White, son of the lat- ter, was born at Winchester in 1794, and was clerk of the circuit and county courts of Hampshire county from the time he was twenty years until the year of his death, 1862. He married Frances Ann, daugh- ter of Rev. Christian Streit, who from his early manhood during the war of the revolution, down to 1830, the year of his death, was the minister of the Lutheran church at Winchester, Va. Mrs. White was born about 1809; was married about 1831, and her death occurred in 1879. These parent had nine children: Robert, John (deceased), Louisa (deceased), Christian, Alexander (deceased), Henry, Fannie, Lucy, and one who died in infancy. The eldest son, whose name heads this sketch, was born in the town of Romney, Hampshire county, then in the Old Dominion, February 7, 1833. He received his early education at the seminary taught by Rev. Dr. William Henry Foote, a celebrated Presbyterian divine, and subsequently entered his father's office as assistant clerk, when about fourteen years of age. There he remained, in the meantime reading law, until 1853, when he began attendance at the law school of Judge John W. Brockenbrough at Lexington, Va., where he took two courses. He obtained license to practice March 30, 1854, and opened an office at Romney on April I, following. He was prospering in his profession, when in May, 1861, being captain of an uniformed militia company, organized some time previous, he was ordered by the governor of Virginia to report at Harper's Ferry for active service. He moved to that place with his command, and joined the forces of Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson, his company being assigned to the Thirteenth infantry, under Col., after- ward Gen., A. P. Hill. Subsequently he raised a battalion of cavalry, which was increased to a regiment (the Twenty-third cavalry), of which he was commissioned colonel. He served as such until the close of the war, and then returned to Romney, May 14, 1865. Soon afterward he formed a law partnership with Judge J. J. Jacob, after- ward governor of West Virginia, and this firm existed until the elec- tion of the latter to that office. He became noted as an attorney, and also took an active part in public measures. Chiefly through his efforts the institution for the deaf, dumb and blind was located at Romney, and he was for several years one of its board of regents and its secretary. He organized and was president of the South Branch Railroad company, the railroad now connecting his native town with the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. In the summer of 1876 Col. White was nominated by the democratic party for the office of attorney gen- eral, and was elected in the following October by a majority of nearly 17,000, the largest ever given in the history of the state. Believing
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that the duties of his office demanded his removal to the then state capital, he left Romney April 1, 1877, and has ever since made his home at Wheeling. He retired from office March 4, 1881, and declin- ing a renomination, resumed the practice of law, in which his brilliant talents and integrity of character have conjoined to crown his untir- ing industry with success. Since removing to Wheeeling he has served one term in the legislature as the representative of Ohio county. He is now senior member of the law firm of White & Allen, and city so- licitor of Wheeling. He is an active member of the First Presbyter- ian church and a ruling elder, and also prominent in the Masonic or- der. He was first made a Mason in 1856, and is now a Knight Temp- lar; was master of his lodge for a number of years, and is a past grand master of West Virginia. Col. White was married May 26, 1859, to Ellen E., daughter of James C. Voss, of Richmond, Va., and they have had six children, of whom two survive, Marshall V., clerk in the offices of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and Catherine.
Daniel Whitehead was a leading business man of Wheeling for many years. His birth occurred in January, 1828, at Mount Pleasant, Lancashire, seven miles from the city of Manchester, England. He received a fair education, and then learned the painter's trade, which he followed in England until January, 1858, at which time he came to the United States. Settling in Wheeling, where George Wood, his brother-in-law lived, he worked at his trade until the breaking out of . the rebellion. April of same year his wife and two children joined him in his new home. Enlisting in Company E, of the First West Virginia regiment of infantry of the Union army, he served with them two years and eleven months, fighting valliantly for his adopted coun- try. He received an honorable discharge for physical disability and returned to Wheeling, where he resumed his old trade, continuing in this until his death, August 15, 1886. During his business career he carried on one of the largest businesses in his line, employing from ten to twelve men. The Custom house and the Mt. DeChantall college are specimens of his skill. He was a very well read man, pronounced in his views and having the courage of his convictions. He was a born republican, and his republican sentiments were the chief cause of his coming to the United States from England. He was reared in the Episcopal church and died in that faith. Mr. Whitehead was married in England to Hannah Wood, who still survives him, residing in Wheeling. Three children were born to this marriage: one son and two daughters, one of the latter dying in England; the other one was the wife of James McGranahan, a prominent contractor and builder of Wheeling, Mary H., died in November, 1871. The son is Ralph Whitehead, the subject of this biography. Ralph Whitehead was born in Staleybridge, near Manchester, England, August 1, 1851. He came to Wheeling with his parents in 1858, and has since lived here. He was educated in the public schools of the latter city, and in 1867 entered St. Vincent's college, where he remained for two years. After leaving college he entered the service of the Western Union Telegraph company as dispatch copier, and in 1871 began to learn the
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brick layer's trade with John Boring, deceased. He served two years with Boring and then entered the employ of Andrews & Kirk, fur- nace builders and bricklayers and contractors. He was connected with that firm for four years, and in 1877 started into business for him- self as a contractor. Mr. Whitehead carried on this business for some four years, at the expiration of which time he entered the Wheeling postoffice, where he remained for three years. He then returned to brick contracting and met with success in this business until 1889, when he again entered the Wheeling postoffice, this time as super- intendent of letter carriers, and he still holds this responsible position. Since 1870, Mr. Whitehead has been very prominent in political cir- cles. In 1882 he became a member of the Ohio county republican executive committee, and was its chairman in 1886, and again in 1888, and is at present writing, filling this place of honor. He attends all of the state conventions as a delegate. In 1888 he removed from the Fourth ward to a handsome new residence on the Island. Mr. White- head is a member of, and the master of Ohio lodge, No. 1, F. & A. M., Excelsior, No. 40, I. O. O. F., is also a member of the Bricklayers' Union, which organization he was a delegate to in 1889, in the interna- tional convention held at Cleveland, Ohio. He was married March 21, 1874, to Miss Lavinia Combs, of Wheeling. They are the parents of four children: Mary, George, Edmund and Stella.
Ludwig Wilhelm, a prominent citizen of Wheeling, is a native of Saxe-Weimar, Germany, born March 20, 1832. He was reared in his native land, and on June, 1852, he landed at Baltimore. He was mar- ried July 17, 1853, to Bertranda Mihm. They proceeded directly to Wheeling, where Mr. Wilhelm found employment in trimming and finally in the saddlery trade. In November, 1857, he opened a sad- dlery store on the south side, and has ever since continued to deal in harness, trunks, saddles, etc., his place being now one of the oldest and most prominent in the city. Subsequently he turned his attention to grapegrowing, and in about 1865 purchased four or five acres of land, and planted a vineyard, which he has carefully cultivated and im- proved until he now has one of the most productive vineyards of this region From the product of the vineyard he manufactures annually a large quantity of fine domestic wines, in which he deals at whole- sale. The land which he took as a vineyard was, at the time of its purchase, a wilderness, but he has made it a most attractive spot. Mr. Wilhelm is a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic church. By his mar- riage, above mentioned, he has had thirteen children, five of whom are living: Josephine, Bertrand, Magnus; Matilda, wife of William Vogler, and Louis.
Albert L. Wilkie is a member of the extensive dry goods firm of George M. Snook & Co., doing an immense business in the city of Wheeling and vicinity. Mr. Wilkie is a native of Wheeling, having been born in that city, April 8, 1859. He is the son of John and Elizabeth Wilkie. The father is deceased, but the mother still sur- vives. Mr. Wilkie received his education in the German and public schools of the city, and when but thirteen years old entered the em-
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ploy of Henry Ræmer as a cash boy and remained in his service for seven years. His aptitude for the business was soon manifested and he was gradually promoted until at the time he left the firm he was one of the best clerks in the establishment. After leaving Mr. Ræmer's employ, Mr. Wilkie became connected with the firm of George E. Stifel & Co., as a clerk, and remained in this capacity for four years, he then became a member of the firm. In 1884 he em- barked in the dry goods business with George. M. Snook and George Rentsch, the firm name being George M. Snook & Co. This house has become one of the most popular concerns in West Virginia. Its members are all self-made men, and like all men who have made a true success in life, they are energetic and of known integrity.
George E. Wilkinson, manager of the Riverside forge and bar mills, was born at Cambridge, Mass., March II, 1852. He is the son of Col. Nathan Wilkinson, deceased, a prominent citizen of Wheeling, who is mentioned elsewhere. Coming to Wheeling when about two years of age, Mr. Wilkinson has ever since made his home at this city. He received his education at the Linsly institute, and at Pleas- ant Hill seminary, West Middleton, Penn., after which, in September, 1867, he entered the employment of the Riverside Iron company, beginning as an iron worker. He perfected himself in his craft and rose gradually in position in the mill, until in 1881, he was made manager of the bar mill. In 1885 he was given charge of both the forge and bar mills, a position he has since held, having under his supervision over 180 men in the two mills and the coal mines. The duties of this responsible post he has discharged to the entire satis- faction of the corporation, and he is popular with all with whom he is associated. Mr. Wilkinson is a resident of the Sixth ward of the city, and is well-known and influential in various channels. He was married in 1872, to Frances Gregg, and six children have been born to them, but one of whom survives.
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