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 60
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Will J. Willis, one of the most successful and enterprising young business men of Wheeling, was born October 1, 1868. His parents are Robert and Fannie (Smythe) Willis, of Canadian and Irish birth, respectively. Robert Willis is a descendant of a very old and dis- tinguished Canadian family, and is at present one of the most exten- sive agriculturists in his native country. William Willis received his scholastic training in the schools of Stewarttown, Canada, his birth- place, and afterwards graduated from the college at that place. His first business experience was obtained in Toronto, Canada, where he learned the grocery business. In 1883 Mr. Willis came to Wheeling and at once entered the employ of his uncle, R. J. Smythe, with whom he remained until Mr. Smythe's death in 1887. The business was purchased by Conner & Snedeker at that time and operated by them until April 1, 1890. Mr. Willis continued in the employ of Conner & Snedeker until the retirement of Mr. Snedeker when he purchased his interest in the establishment and is now the managing partner. This firm is probably the largest retail grocery house doing business in West Virginia, and Mr. Willis's position in the firm speaks more
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than any words could for his great ability and enterprise. It is seldom that so young a man attains such a marked success. At a time when the average man is but entering on his business career Mr. Willis has placed himself in a position for speedily becoming one of the most prominent commercial men in the upper Ohio valley, and it is safe to say that should he continue as he has begun it is but a question of a few years before he will take his stand in the very front ranks of the business men of Wheeling. He is a communicant of the Episcopal church, and a staunch supporter of the republican party.
Andrew Wilson came of old pioneer stock. His grandfather was Alexander Wilson, who was Scotch-Irish, and came to what is now Brooke county, W. Va., prior to the Revolutionary war. Samuel Wilson, son of Alexander, was the father of - Andrew. He was a farmer and slaveholder, but manumitted his slaves before his death. He was married three times. His second wife was Mary Patterson of Brooke county. She was the mother of Andrew, who was born at the old homestead, May, 1810. The early life of Andrew was passed on the farm with but limited educational advantages. He served an apprenticeship as a millwright, but never worked at the trade. On attaining his majority he commenced taking cargoes of flour to New Orleans, and found it very remunerative. He was afterward engaged in the steamboat business. In 1837 he moved to Jackson county and engaged in the saw- and flour-mill business. In 1838 he married his cousin, Mary Patterson, daughter of Robert Patterson, of Jefferson county, Ohio,who was a member of the Ohio legislature for many years. She died in 1843, leaving two children, one of whom died in childhood. Her son, Robert P. Wilson, was educated in Wheeling, and in 1861 was appointed second lieutenant of the Seventeenth United States infantry. He served through the war with the " Army of the Potomac," and in January, 1865, was promoted to a captaincy, and the following March was brevetted Major in the Tenth United States infantry for "gallant and meritorious service during the war." His military reputation was that of a " brave and skillful officer, with great coolness and self-possession under fire." In his private life he was genial, quiet and gentle in his manners, and a great favorite with his family and friends. After the war he was transferred to the In- dian frontier, and was in command at Fort Richardson, Texas, at the time of his death, which was caused by the accidental discharge of a shotgun in an ambulance while returning from a hunting expedition. His remains were brought to Wheeling and interred in Greenwood cemetery with military and Masonic honors. He never married, and was in his thirty-ninth year when he died, March, 1878. Andrew Wilson came to Wheeling in 1847, and engaged in the lumber busi- ness, and continued in that occupation until within a few years of his death. He was much interested in the public schools, and was a member of the board of education from its organization until his death, and for several years previous to his death he was president of that body. He was prominent in city affairs, and guarded faith- fully every public trust. The following extract on his death is from
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the Wheeling Intelligencer: "He was a man of vigorous intellect, strong convictions, and great moral courage, which made him a pub- lic leader time and again. He was one of the delegates to the con- vention of Union men of West Virginia, which met in Wheeling, June 11, 1861, which took the first step in the foundation of the state of West Virginia. Before that time he had held several positions of trust and honor. He was repeatedly elected to both houses of the legislature, and was prominent in many of the most important meas- ures which have agitated the state. His memory was remarkable, and when he made an assertion, was always prepared to substantiate it. He was a life-long democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson in 1832, and his last for Gen. Hancock, in 1880. He was for many years president of the Citizen's Railway company, was also president of the Fire and Marine Insurance com- pany, and a director of the Belmont Nail mill, and of the People's bank. Andrew Wilson was married the second time, October, 1854, to Elizabeth C. Updegraff, daughter of Israel Updegraff, Sr. They had six children, four of whom survived him. He was noted for his generous hospitality and indulgence to his family. His friends were always welcomed to his house. He died April 2, 1883, and is buried in Greenwood cemetery.
Andrew U. Wilson, the secretary and treasurer of the Wheeling Steel works, was born in Wheeling, June 20, 1857. His preliminary education was obtained in his native city. For some time he was a student at Morgantown university, but did not graduate owing to cir- cumstances beyond his control. His first business venture was made in 1873, when he entered the lumber business. Continuing in this for three years he then became connected with the People's bank as a clerk. His first knowledge of the iron business was obtained while in the employ of the Belmont Nail company. In May, 1886, he accepted the position of general secretary and treasurer of the Wheel- ing Steel works, in which capacity he is still engaged, having risen to this responsible position by strenuous effort and the strictest integrity in all his dealings with men. His marriage to Miss Virginia C. Pen- dleton, daughter of the late Joseph Pendleton, was solemnized in the year 1888. One child is the result of this marriage: J. Pendleton Wilson, born June 2, 1890. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Epis- copal church, and is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he is prominent. He is a staunch democrat, and for some time served as a member of the board of education, but resigned while serving his second term. Mr. Wilson is regarded as one of the most success- ful iron men in the upper Ohio valley, and doubtless has a bright business career open before him.
William P. Wilson, born in Delaware, 1800, died at Wheeling, 1873, was during the period of his active career prominent as a citizen, and efficient as a civic officer, of Wheeling, to which city he came in 1822. After being there a short time he learned the trade of carpenter with George Vennum, and subsequently was engaged in contracting and building in his own name until 1852, when he entered the firm of 31-A.
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McLure, Dunlevy & Co., boat builders. He served for a consider- able period on the city council, and also one of the board of super- visors or commissioners of the county. He was a member of Ohio lodge, No. 1, F. & A. M., of Wheeling commandery, and was treas- urer of the Grand lodge of West Virginia from its organization until his death. He was a director of the old National Insurance company and of the Savings' Insurance institution. His wife, Sarah, to whom he was married November 10, 1832, was born at Wheeling, in 1803, the daughter of George Pannell, an early citizen. These parents had seven children, two of whom are living, Mrs. G. W. Martin, of Brook- field, Mo., and William A. Wilson. The latter, who was born in this city July 3, 1842, began when fourteen years of age to learn the trade of ship chandler, which he subsequently worked at until 1864. In that year he took a position as clerk on a boat running on the Ohio and Cumberland rivers between Pittsburgh and Nashville. He then sev- ered his connection with the river business in 1865 and became book- keeper for Hanes & Blair, of the Union planing-mills, from which position he rose in July of the following year to that of a partner, purchasing the interest of Mr. Blair. The new firm, known as Hanes & Wilson, continued until 1875. Then J. E. Hanes, son of the senior partner was added, the firm becoming Hanes, Wilson & Co., and adding paint and oil totheir trade. In 1881 Mr. Hanes withdrew from the paint business, which went into the hands of Mr. Wilson, and the mill into the hands of C. Hanes & Co., although Mr. Wilson retained his interest in the latter. In 1883 Mr. W. H. Chapman became a partner in the paint store, and the firm of Wilson & Chapman, then formed, is still a leader in the paint and oil trade. The old firm of Wilson and Dunlevy, in 1867, added to its boat yard business the man- ufacture of nail kegs. In 1873, the elder Wilson died, and six months later W. H. Dunlevy also, and the business thus fell to W. A. Wilson and H. H. Dunlevy, who wound up the old branch of the business and continued the manufacture of kegs until 1887, when Mr. Wilson bought out the Hanes planing-mill business and consolidated the two, which are now conducted by the firm of Wilson & Dunlevy. Mr. . Wilson is also a stockholder in the Benwood Iron mill, the Wheeling Iron and Nail company, the Fire and Marine Insurance company and the Commercial bank: As evidence of his public activity it may also be stated that he is and has been for a number of years a member of the city council for the First ward, has served ten years on the board of education for the Washington district, is president of the Young Men's democratic club, was first president of the Y. M. C. A., and is president of the Builders' Exchange of West Virginia. He is a mem- ber of the North Street Methodist Episcopal church; his Masonic membership is with Nelson lodge, No. 30, of which he was a charter member, Cyrene commandery, K. T., and Osiris temple, Mystic Shrine. Mr. Wilson was married June 11, 1867, to Texana, daughter of Jacab Arndt, of Wheeling, and they have three children.
A. G. Wincher, a leading retailer of boots and shoes at Wheeling, has been for fifty years a resident of this city, and is prominent in its
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business circles. He was born at Eckhartsberga, Prussia, June 29, 1830, one of seven children of Christian and Dorothea (Kobe) Wincher. The father and mother and their four children then born, immigrated to the United States in 1839, in the spring, and after a voyage of forty-five days landed at Baltimore. Thence they came to Wheeling in wagons over the national road, a fourteen days' trip, and here Christian Wincher, who was a cooper by trade, endeavored to find work, but was compelled for some time to take odd jobs. Finally engaging in his trade, he for years made cooperage quite extensively, and sold it all over the adjacent country, on several occasions also, mak- ings trips with his goods as far as St. Louis. He and wife were mem- bers of the German Methodist church, and were highly esteemed. He died in 1874, at the age of seventy-two years, and his wife in 1886, at the age of seventy-eight. From his ninth year A. G. Wincher was reared at Wheeling. His educational advantages were very limited, as his parents were too poor then to send him to school and pay the expenses, and the school law of Virginia at that time denied the privi- leges of free schools to children of those who possessed a trade. Learning the cooper's trade with his father, he worked with him until 1852, when he entered the wholesale grocery store of Pollock & Don- lon. He remained with one wholesale grocery house or another until 1860, when he found employment with the shoe house of Mcclellan & Knox, and remained with that firm and its successors until 1885. In the latter year he opened his well-known retail establishment at No. 1123 Main street, one of the leading stores of the city. In 1885 Mr. Wincher made a visit to his native land, and re-visiting his native town after an absence of forty-six years, was able without assistance to find the' house in which he was born, and recognize many once familiar faces and places. He spent three months in Germany and Switzerland. Mr. Wincher was married in 1852, to Fredericka Beis- ser, of Monroe county, Ohio, a native of Germany, and they have had ten children, five of whom survive. He and wife are members of the German Methodist church. He is one of the self-made men of the city, and his rise to prominence in business, unaided by aught save his industry and integrity, have won for him the esteem of all.
Frank A. Woeber, Jr., city receiver of Wheeling, is a son of Frank A. Woeber, one of the veteran business men of that city. The latter, a native of Bavaria, came to the United States about 1849, and pro- ceeded directly to Wheeling, where in a few years he embarked in the grocery business, in which he has been prominently engaged for thirty-four years, now doing business at No. 2311 Market street. He is now in his sixty-fourth year. He was married after coming to this city to Rose Snyder, who was born in Hesse, Germany, but came to this country with her parents when three months old. She is now fifty-three years of age. She and her husband are members of the St. Alphonsus Catholic church. Of the nine children born to them four sons and three daughters survive. Their son, with mention of whom this article begins, was born in Wheeling, May 15, 1858. He attended the St. Alphonsus school until he was thirteen years of age,
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and subsequently until he was eighteen years of age he assisted his father in his store. He then entered Frasher's Business college, and completed his education. Taking then a position as city salesman with the wholesale grocery house of Joseph Speidel & Co., he remained in that capacity six years, and at the end of that period accepted a similar position with Simon Barer's Sons, in the same business and continued with them three years. With Kraft Bros., and Rosenberg he then occupied a like position until February, 1889. Previous to this date he had been a candidate before the city council for the re- ceivership, as the caucus nominee of the democratic party, but had failed of election. In February, 1889, however, the council being democratic, he was elected for a term of two years from February 13, ~ 1889. He was married May 16, 1888, to Caroline Vierballer, of Wheeling, by whom he has one son. He and wife are members of the St. Alphonsus church, and he is a member of the Knights of St. George, and vice-president of the Arion singing society.
John William Wolvington, a prominent flour and grain merchant, of Wheeling, was born in Jefferson county, W. Va., the son of David R. and Mary T. Burkett Wolvington. The father was born in Shenan- doah county, Va., in 1798, and the mother in Jefferson county, W. Va., about 1800. They were married in 1818, and had seven children: Eliza Margaret, John William, James Washington, Ann Elizabeth, Sarah Jane, David Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. James W. is a real estate agent at Baltimore, where he was formerly, for many years in the wholesale tobacco trade with his brother-in-law, Gerard S. Watts. The latter married Ann Elizabeth Wolvington, and he is now exten- sively interested in mining and manufacturing. Sarah Jane is the wife of James Morrison, a carpenter of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. David H., a painter, was twice married, and died about 1873. Thomas Jefferson, a machinist, was married at Lafayette, Ind., and died February 28, 1885. John William Wolvington, the subject of this mention, when a child, accompanied his parents to Morgan county, W. Va., and thence after the death of his father, he removed with the remainder of the family, to Cumberland, Md., where he learned the occupation of a lo- comotive engineer, which he followed until 1864. December 29, 1851, he was married to Mary L., daughter of Alpheus B. Beall, of Alle- gheny county, Md., and in 1853, he removed to Wheeling. His wife died January 7, 1860, leaving four children: Alvin Alpheus, deceased; Virginia Ann, Minerva Beall and John William. On May 12, 1861, Mr. Wolvington wedded Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Loudenslager, of Marshall county, W. Va., by whom he had five children: Alpharetta, Loudenslager, Mary Cecilia (deceased), Thomas Jefferson and Ger- ard Watts (deceased). With his wife's father, Joseph Loudenslager, Mr. Wolvington was engaged in milling at Loudensville, Marshall county, from 1864, until 1870, when they removed to Baltimore, near where Mr. Wolvington farmed for a year. They returned to Wheel- ing in 1871, and the next year, Mr. Wolvington embarked in the whole- sale tobacco trade, which occupied him until the spring of 1883, when he established his present business at No. 37 Thirty-third street. Mr.
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Wolvington is prominent in business and influential in municipal af- fairs. He served as a member of the first branch of the city council from 1879 to 1883.
Joseph J. Woods, attorney, of Wheeling, W. Va., well-known through- out the state as speaker of the house of delegates during two sessions of the legislature, is of a family prominent in the history of Ohio county from a very early day. His great-grandfather, Andrew Woods, was sheriff of Botetourt county, Va., under a commission bearing date, October 18, 1777, signed by Patrick Henry, an interest- ing document now in the possession of Mr. J. J. Woods. His grand- father, Col. Archibald Woods, a native of Botetourt county, Va., entered the Continental army when a mere boy, near the close of the Revolutionary war, and served until peace was gained, being wounded at the decisive engagement at Yorktown. About the year 1790, he, with two brothers, came to the Ohio valley, then the western frontier, and the colonel settled on land two miles east of the site of the pres- ent city of Wheeling, the brothers also settling within the present bounds of Ohio county. Col. Woods was a man of much force and integrity and was a member of the Richmond convention, which rati- fied the constitution of the United States, and for many years was president of the old county court of Ohio county. His death occurred in 1847, when he was aged eighty-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Ann Pogue, lived until 1856. Of the large number of chil- dren born to them, not more than four or five reached maturity. One of the younger of these, John Woods, was born in 1807. He was raised as a farmer and followed that occupation during life. He was married to Ruth H., daughter of Dr. Joseph Jacob, an early physi- cian of the county. She is still living, and has her home on the farm that Col. Woods purchased a century ago. In the spring of 1888 her husband died. Six children were born to them, of whom four sur- vive: Archie, Joseph J., George W. and Hamilton, all residents of Ohio county. Joseph J. Woods was born December 15, 1851. He re- ceived an academic education while a boy, and then entered Prince- ton college, where he was graduated in 1872. Choosing the profession of law as his vocation, he entered the office of Judge James Paull, of Wheeling, and after the election of the latter to the court of appeals, he went into the office of J. H. Good, with whom he read law until 1874, when he was admitted to the bar. He then began the practice of law with Mr. Good, and after that gentleman's death, continued in the practice alone, and has achieved success and an honorable posi- tion in the bar of the county. Mr. Woods is distinguished for his long and valuable service in the legislature of the state, to which he was first elected in 1878, as a member of the senate, for a term of four years. Upon the expiration of this term he declined a renomination, and became the candidate of his party for the house of delegates, as a representative of Ohio county, and was elected for a term of two years. Upon the organization of the chamber in 1883, he was elected speaker, an office that he filled with notable tact and ability. In 1886 he was again nominated and elected to the house of delegates, and
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was again elected in 1888, and for a second time in 1889, presided as speaker of the house. He has represented faithfully and efficiently the interests of his county and his admirable discharge of the duties of presiding officer, have earned for him many friends throughout the state.
Alfred D. Work, of Wheeling, prominent among the retail grocers of . that city, was born in Perry county, Penn., October 27, 1842. He is a son of Washington and Sarah Work, both natives of Pennsylvania, the latter of whom died when Alfred was about twelve years old. The father died in 1863 from disease contracted in the service of the Union army. Mr. Work was reared on the farm home of his parents until 1860, when at the age of eighteen years he went to Pittsburgh and worked for six months in a rolling mill. He then came to Wheeling, which has been his home since March 20, 1861. He found employ- ment in the LaBelle Iron works for a time, but on May 11, 1861, en- listed in Company B, First Virginia infantry, U. S. A., with which he served three months. At the battle of Phillippi he was wounded by a ball just above the right knee, and this confined him in the hospital one month. This wound was the first received by a private soldier in battle in the war of the rebellion. After his recovery Mr. Work re- turned to Wheeling, and soon re-entered the LaBelle Iron works, and there and in the Belmont works was engaged until March 13, 1865, when he re-enlisted in the Union army as a private in Company C, First West Virginia cavalry, with which he served until the close of the war. Subsequently he was engaged as a huckster a few months, and he then again became associated with the La Belle mills, where he has ever since been employed. By continuous industry he amassed considerable means, and in 1889 he erected a handsome brick busi- ness block at No. 3114 Eoff street, in which he now conducts a com- pletely equipped grocery store, owned by Mr. Work and his son, H. H. Mr. Work is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and of the G. A. R. and the A. O. U. W., and politically is a republican. He has sat upon the city council one term and has served as a member of the board of education six years. October 27, 1861, he was married to Mrs. Margaret Culp, by whom he had six children: Ida M., Francis M., Harry H., Edward W., George E., and Minnie E., the latter de- ceased. Mrs. Work, whose maiden name was Malia, by her first hus- band, Joseph Culp, who died in 1859, had two children, Mary A. and Anna L.
John Wright, for many years prominently identified with the iron and nail manufacture of the city of Wheeling, was born in Pitts- burgh, Penn., September 19, 1824. His parents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Ward) Wright, natives of England, who came to America in the early part of the present century, and were subsequently mar- ried at Pittsburgh. The father was a skilled mechanic, and assisted in building Sonneberger's Iron works at Pittsburgh, in 1824, and was engineer of those works during a period of forty-five or fifty years. Subsequently removing to a farm a few miles from Pittsburgh, he died there a few years later, and that is now the home of his widow,
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who is in her ninety-second year. The subject of this mention, when a small boy, was employed as an assistant engineer of the Juniata works, and remained there until the fall of 1849, when he came to Wheeling, and took charge of the engine of the Belmont Nail works. This po- sition he held until 1852, when he became one of the organizers of the company which established the La Belle Iron works. When the insti- tution was started he took the position of engineer, and so continued until 1876, when he retired from active life. Mr. Wright has been a director of the La Belle Iron works since it was changed to a stock company, and for several years he served as a director of the Jeffer- son Iron works, of Steubenville, Ohio, owned by the La Belle com- pany. He is also a stockholder of the Street Railway company and the Wheeling & Belmont Bridge company. Since his retirement from business Mr. Wright has enjoyed the fruits of his active career at his home, a large and handsome residence, formerly the home of George Caldwell, deceased, and situated on the old Caldwell estate on Caldwell run. He was married in April, 1852, to Eleanor Mad- den, of Wheeling, and seven children have been born to their union, six of whom are now living. Mrs. Wright is a member of the United Presbyterian church. In political affairs Mr. Wright has never taken a prominent part, but has been since its organization a staunch member of the republican party, and during the war period he was an active supporter of the Union.
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