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 61
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Among the younger of the enterprising grocers of the city should be named Adam J. Yahn, who was born in that city June 15, 1860, the fifth of eleven children of Conrad and Catherine (Blum) Yahn. His parents, natives of Germany, came to America in the spring of 1847, and were married at Wheeling in 1851. The father is now sixty-five and the mother fifty-five years of age. Their children, all of whom are living, are as follows: Agnes, Mary, Theresa, Joseph A., Adam J., Elizabeth, William C. and John A. (twins), George E. and Emma (twins), and Edmund. The father conducted a grocery store at Wheeling, and in this, at the age of thirteen years, Adam J. Yahn began his apprenticeship in trade, and at about the same time he began the learning of cigar making, in a factory conducted by his father. He remained in the grocery business with his father until 1884, when he succeeded his father as proprietor, and has since, at No. 158 Seventeenth street, conducted one of the prosperous grocery establishments of the city. Mr. Yahn was married September 29, 1885, to Dorothea, daughter of George and Katherine (Kapitz) Werner, natives of Germany, who at the time of her birth resided at Grafton, W. Va., but now have their home at Wheeling. Mr. and Mrs. Yahn are members of the Catholic church. He is also associ- ated with the Knights of St. George, Arion Singing society and the Grocers' Protective association. Energetic in the conduct of his business, and courteous in his relations to the public, Mr. Yahn is meeting with well-deserved success in his line of trade.
Well-known among those engaged in that popular Wheeling indus- try, the manufacture of cigars, is Joseph Yahn, a native of Ohio
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county, born March 10, 1858. He is a son of Conrad Yahn, who was born in Germany, and emigrated thence in about the year 1849, and soon afterward settled at Wheeling, where he has since resided. His wife also survives and they have a family of eleven children, all of whom are living. Parents and children are members of St. Alphonsus Catholic church. Joseph Yahn was reared in Wheeling and received his education in the Catholic schools. When about thirteen years of age he began to learn the trade of cigar making, at which he has ever since been engaged. He embarked in the manufacture inde- pendently in 1879, and in April, 1888, removed to his present advan- tageous place of business, at the corner of Eighteenth and Jacob streets, where he manufactures a general line of cigars, making a specialty of the stogies. He is one of the popular citizens of the Fourth ward, and was chosen some four years ago to fill an unexpired term in the city council. In January, 1889, he was elected as the rep- resentative in the council of the Fourth ward. Mr. Yahn was married in 1880 to Louisa Heimiller, of Wheeling, and they have four chil- dren. He and wife are members of the St. Alphonsus Catholic church.
Alexander T. Young, a leading druggist of Wheeling, was born at that city, July 3, 1853. Hle is the son of John Young, who emigrated to America from England, his native land, at an early day, with his father, William Young, one of the pioneer glass blowers of Wheel- ing. In the family of William Young were three children: William, John and Caroline, the latter of whom became the wife of John Laughey. John Young was reared and educated at Wheeling, and learned the trade of pattern-maker. He is now the manager of the Centre foundry, of Wheeling, an extensive institution. He was mar- ried to Hannah Gillogly, a native of Greene county, Penn., daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Callahan) Gillogly, of Scotch-Irish descent. Their only son, Alexander T. Young, received his early education at Wheeling, and then entered the University of Michigan, where he was graduated in pharmacy, in 1875. He then embarked in business for himself, opening a drug-store at his present location, and though starting with little, he has built up a lucrative business, which has steadily increased from year to year. Thoroughly imbued with that spirit of enterprise which is so rapidly advancing the city, he has con- tributed to many manufacturing undertakings, and is a stockholder in the leading iron mills and glass works of Wheeling and the Ohio valley, is one of the directors of the Centre foundry, is a director of the Warwick China company, and is also largely interested in real estate. Taking an active interest in municipal affairs, he has been twice elected to the city council by the democratic party. He is a member of the Masonic order and a Knight Templar. Mr. Young was married in 1880, to Mary E., daughter of William and Elizabeth (Tantum) Odbert, of Wheeling, by whom he has three children: Delphia, Harold and Nellie.
One of the early German residents and pioneer brewers of Wheel- ing, was Fred E. Zeigler, who was born in the fatherland about the year 1821. In that country he became a millwright by occupation,
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and on coming to this country and settling at Wheeling in 1854, he continued to work at his trade for some time. He subsequently was engaged, in succession, in flour-milling at Portland, Ohio, then in the hotel business on Main street, at Wheeling, and in the bottling busi- ness. He then founded what was the beginning of the Schmulbach brewery at the head of Thirty-third street, and was engaged in brewing until he sold out to the Nail City Brewing company, and re- tired from active life. He died in 1886. He came to Wheeling pos- sessed of but little means, but his career was characterized by such persistent and effective industry that he became one of the substan- tial citizens of the city, respected by the entire community. He was a member of the German Lutheran church. His wife, Hannah Schwert- feger, who survives, gave to him the following children, Lizzie, Annie, Emma, Mary and Frederick E. The latter is now a well-known busi- ness man of Wheeling, a member of the firm of Kyle & Zeigler, plumbers. He was born September 20, 1864, at Wheeling, and was there reared and educated, completing his studies at the Commercial college. In April, 1888, he engaged in plumbing and gas-fitting busi- ness with Robert Kyle, having previously learned the trade, and the firm of Kyle & Zeigler are now doing a profitable and extensive business. Mr. Zeigler is a member of the Lutheran church.
Rev. Paul Ziegelmeyer, pastor of Zion's German Evangelical Luth- eran church, of Wheeling, is a native of Europe, but has been a resi- dent of America since June, 1885. He was born at Strasburg, Alsace, September 23, 1861, and remained at his native city, pursuing his studies until he had reached his nineteenth year, when he enlisted in the German army and served one year. He studied at the universi- ties at Strasbourg and Leipzig, then entered the German Lutheran seminary at Kropp, where he remained three years. At the end of that period he came to the United States, and at Leechburgh, Penn., in the latter part of August, 1885, he was ordained by Prof. Herman Gilbert, of the Pittsburgh, synod at the meeting of that body. In the meantime he had, immediately after his arrival in this country, become pastor of the congregation he is now serving, and he was duly called in the following September. He has since remained with this church, and his earnest and devoted efforts have contributed to its prosperity. On March 1, 1886, the Rev. Ziegelmeyer was married by Rev. William Berkemeier, to Alma Wettern, also a native of Germany, and they have one child, Elizabeth Mary Sophia, who was born December 9, 1886. During the summer of 1889, the pastor and his wife and daughter visited Europe, and passed several months with relatives and friends in Germany and France.
The following sketches came too late to appear in their proper alphabetical order:
Of the many old and prominent families of the upper Ohio valley probably not one is more widely known and respected than the List family, members of which have been conspicuously identified with the commercial and banking interests of Wheeling for over half a
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century. . The first of the family to locate in Wheeling was John List, Sr., who was a native of England, where he was born in the year 1757. He came to the United States about 1806, bringing his family with him, and after a brief residence in New York came direct to Wheeling, where he died in 1828. John List, Jr., his son, was born near the city of London, England, about the year 1790, and was be- tween sixteen and seventeen years of age when he accompanied his father to Wheeling. In the year 1809 he entered the store of Joseph Caldwell, one of the pioneer merchants of Wheeling, with whom he remained as a clerk until January 1, 1814. At this time he was taken into partnership with Mr. Caldwell for a period of three years, and at the expiration of that time the partnership was renewed on Janu- ary 1, 1817. When the Pioneer bank of Wheeling was organized in 1819 Mr. List retired from the mercantile business to accept the posi- tion of book-keeper for the bank. Subsequently, when this institu- tion was succeeded by the Northwestern Bank of Virginia, he became the teller of the same. Upon the death of Thomas Woods, brother of Archibald Woods, the president of the bank, in 1832, Mr. List became the cashier of the bank, and held that position until his death in May, 1848. Mr. List was cashier of this bank at the time it was robbed of $70,000 in 1832, the particulars of which robbery, and the subsequent recovery of a considerable portion of the money by Mr. List, is still fresh in the minds of the older citizens of to-day. Mr. List was twice married, the first time to Miss Hannah Carter, to which union three sons and one daughter were born. His second marriage was to the widow of William Pallister, an Englishman. Though of a retiring disposition, caring nothing for official position or political preferment, Mr. List was in every sense a public spirited man, and took a deep interest in the public affairs of both his city and state, and could have entered public life at his pleasure. But it was as a financier and a man of sound judgment and conservative ideas that he was recognized and appreciated, and his influence both in banking and commercial circles was great. He is remembered to-day not as a public man and politician, but rather as one of the safest financiers that Wheeling has ever produced. Mr. List was very active in religious matters, and was a pillar, sound and true, of the Methodist Episcopal church, rendering much aid in progressive church work. Both as a Christian gentleman and a good citizen Mr. List left a name which survives him, serving as a monument to his exemplary life, and as a model for the men of future generations to pattern after. The children born to the first marriage of John List were as follows: John, who was accidentally killed in Wheeling by a provost guard, on July 6, 1865; Mary, now the widow of Robert Mor- rison, formerly of Wheeling, now of Delaware, Ohio; Daniel C., president of the Bank of Wheeling; and Henry K., president of the City Bank of Wheeling.
James Maxwell, a well-known citizen of Wheeling, who during a long and successful career was closely identified with the commercial and banking interests and public affairs of the city, and contributed
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much to its growth, development and general prosperity, was a native of the county and a son of one of its early settlers. He was born on the farm of his father, John Maxwell, at Roney's Point, February 25, 1821, and his boyhood was passed at his birthplace. Early in youth, how- ever, he came to Wheeling, and became engaged in the boot and shoe business, with the late Ephraim Pollock. Subsequently he was for many years a wholesale dealer in groceries, at the head of the old and well-known houses of Maxwell, Paxton & Donlon, Maxwell, Camp- bell & Tingle, and Maxwell, Tingle & Isham. In 1881 he retired from mercantile pursuits. Aside from the business associations named, Mr. Maxwell was identified with banking as president of the National bank of West Virginia, and with another very important enterprise as vice president of the Wheeling and Belmont Bridge company. With characteristic public spirit, he sought to advance the interests of the municipality, and rendered valuable service as a member of the common council, the board of education, and the board of county commissioners. In more private channels, also, the influence of Mr. Maxwell was felt for good. With true Christian charity, he never failed to respond to the promptings of a generous heart, where there was poverty to be relieved or distress to be alleviated. He was un- ostentatious and retiring by nature, and his life was an exemplary one, though without austerity, as his friends found him open and frank, and those in need found him warm hearted and generous. The death of Mr. Maxwell occurred suddenly from failure of the heart on the evening of May 21, 1881. His wife and two daughters survive him. His only son, a bright and promising youth, was drowned Sep- tember 10, 1881, at Lexington, Va., where he had gone four days be- fore to become a cadet in the Virginia Military institute.
LIBERTY DISTRICT.
Prof. Robert A. Armstrong, the able principal of the West Liberty Normal school, was born at Frenchton, Upshur Co., Va., September 23, 1860, the son of Jared M. and Eliza (Bennett) Armstrong, who were natives of Virginia. His father was the eldest son of John Arm- strong and was born June 10, 1814. John Armstrong was born in Highland county, Va., the son of William Armstrong, who emigrated from Scotland at an early date. Eliza, the mother of Prof. Armstrong, was a daughter of David and Jane G. (Stuart) Bennett, the former of whom was a son of William Bennett, and he a son of Joseph Bennett. This family was prominently identified with the politics of Virginia, a great uncle of Prof. Armstrong, being at one time auditor of the state of Virginia, and his brother a member of the assembly. Prof. Armstrong was educated in the common schools of Frenchton, and subsequently attended the French Creek academy. When he was eighteen years of age he began to teach, and continued until 1882, when he was appointed a cadet in the state university of West Vir- ginia at Morgantown. He was graduated at this institution June, 1886, and in the meantime had served a short time as county superin-
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tendent of the schools of Upshur county, and for two years had charge of the French Creek academy. In July, 1886, he was elected princi- pal of the West Liberty State Normal school, a prominent position which he has since held, evidently filling the place with ability and credit, as the attendance has doubled during his principalship. Prof. Arm- strong has taken a considerable interest in military affairs, having been graduated as captain of the cadets of the university, and during his residence at West Liberty, he has served as captain of the Light Guards. In August, 1889, he was elected major of the Eighteenth regiment West Virginia National Guard.
Samuel Bell, a leading merchant for many years at West Liberty, Ohio county, is a son of Andrew Bell, a native of this state, and a prominent farmer of Ohio county in an early day. He was born in 1783, and died October 13, 1849. His wife, Barbara Wade, the mother of the subject of this mention, died when the latter was a small boy. Samuel Bell was born in Ohio county, October 3, 1828, he was edu- cated in the private schools of his native county, and then engaged in farming, at which he was occupied until 1853, when he embarked in general merchandise at Roney's Point. He did business there two years and then came to West Liberty, of which he has been one of the prominent tradesmen ever since. His long and honorable career has made him one of the conspicuous and highly esteemed men of the town. He has served his fellow-citizens as overseer of the poor one term and as school commissioner. On November 4, 1857, Mr. Bell was married to Mary Bosman, of Brooke county, who was born March 17, 1833. They have two children: Mrs. Emma F. Glass, born December 27, 1858, and Arthur S., born March 20, 1865.
M. L. Connelly, a prosperous farmer of Liberty district, Ohio Co., was born in this county, September 29, 1842, the son of Elisha and and Lorena (Edmunds) Connoly. His father was born in Mary- land, November 6, 1812, and was married to Miss Edmunds Decem- ber 22, 1834. By this union they had four sons and two daughters, one son of whom died in Montana. The father is a prominent farmer of Richland district. M. L. Connolly received his education in the school of this county, and also attended two terms at the West Lib- erty academy, after which he engaged in farming, which has been his vocation since. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church, at Roney's Point. He is influential in public affairs, and has been on the board of education of his district for two terms, and was candi- date for the house of representatives on the first prohibition ticket in the county, in 1886. On March 29, 1870, he was married to Mary E. Giffen, who was born in Ohio county, April 1, 1843, a daughter of Robert and Mary J. (Arthur) Giffen. To this union have been born four children: Lena, born January 20, 1871; Frank, born April 20, 1874; Laura, born March 24, 1876; Luther, born February 23, 1879. Mrs. Connelly died October 27, 1885.
Among the earliest settlers of the upper Ohio valley, was Michael Cox, who was born in 1752, and was prominent in this region in the days of border warfare. He died January 14, 1832. Jeruthea, his
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wife, survived him until October 28, 1863, dying in the nineteenth year of her age. Their son, Abraham Cox, prominent in the next gener- ation of the settlement, was born September 20, 1809. In 1843, April 13, he was married to Eliza A. Foster, by whom he had the following children: Annie, born February 13, 1844, died April 24, 1878; Archi- bald, born July 2, 1845, died January 1I, 1851; Wylie, born March 20, 1847; Mary, born August 19, 1848, died January 10, 1851; Elinor, born February 11, 1852; Abraham, born May 19, 1854; Jane E., born July II, 1855; Linda, born January 6, 1857; Zach Cox, born June 4, 1858; Susan, born October 31, 1859. The father died August 14, 1889. Zach Cox, the youngest son, is now one of the enterprising young men of Liberty district. He was married May 11, 1882, to Mary J. Smith, who was born March 21, 1861, to Theodore and Sarah (Whit- nah) Smith, the former of whom was born in Maryland, and the lat- ter in Berkeley county, Va. Mrs. Cox's father died in the Union army in 1865, and her mother died April 20, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have two children: Lester W., born March 21, 1883, and Harry V., born July 9, 1885. Mrs. Cox is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of West Liberty.
Will F. Crow, teacher of the public school of West Liberty, was born in Marshall county, W. Va., November 23, 1865, the son of Martin and Eveline (Davis) Crow, both natives of Marshall county. Martin is the son of Jacob Crow, a well-known early settler of Mar- shall county, who was born in that county February 11, 1797, and died in 1884. He was married October 16, 1824, to Damaris Terrill, who was born at Fairfield, Conn., August 23, 1800, and died October 25, 1886. Her parents removed to West Virginia in 1804. He had nine sons and three daughters. Martin Crow, who was born September 3, 1831, was a farmer in early manhood, and until 1850, when he learned the blacksmith's trade, He then purchased a farm near Glen Easton, where he followed his trade. He was married November 27, 1856, to Eveline Davis, who was born December 8, 1831. She lost her mother before she was a year old, and was then taken to Ohio, where she lived until near the time of her marriage. By this union she had one son, Will F., born November 23, 1865, and two daughters, Josephine, born March 9, 1859, and Nora, born December 29, 1862. Will F. was educated in the common schools of Marshall county, spending one term at Moundsville, and completed his studies at the state nor- mal school at West Liberty. He was then, in the fall of 1889, ten- dered a position in the West Liberty school, which he is filling with credit. His family is among the oldest and worthiest in the upper Ohio valley.
James Curtis, one of the earliest settlers of the valley of the upper Ohio river, first came to the territory now known as Ohio county in about 1780, and located a settler's claim for the Morgans, other early settlers, and one for himself, but in a short time, being a minor, he was driven from his claim. He then returned to his old home in the east, and there remained until 1786, when he came back to West Vir- ginia with Edward Morgan. He brought his family with him, and in
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1787, made his home on the land which has since belonged to his descendants. James Curtis reared a family of ten children, nine of whom lived to be over eighty years of age. He himself lived to the age of ninety-one years. Salathiel Curtis, one of the sons of the above, was born in 1782. He became one of the prominent lawyers of Ohio and adjoining counties. Forty years before his death he retired from the practice of law, and devoted much leisure to poetry, composing some very interesting poems, notable among which is one of considerable length, entitled, "The Colonists." The wife of this well-known gentleman was Mary Foreman, whose father, Reuben Foreman, owned originally all the site of West Liberty, west of Main street.
Gen. W. B. Curtis was born at Sharpsburg, Md., on the Antietam battle ground, April 18, 1821. He was the oldest son of Josiah and Hester Curtis. His great-grandfather, upon his father's, side immi- grated from Wales in the seventeenth century, and settled in Mary- land. His grandfather, John Curtis, was a soldier in the revolution, and was wounded in battle, for which he was pensioned during his lifetime. His mother, Hester Curtis, was of German descent. In the year 1832 his family moved to West Liberty, W. Va., at which place his mother died. The year following, W. B. Curtis indentured to Jere- miah Clemens, in the city of Wheeling, for the term of four years to learn the cabinet-making trade, after which he returned to West Liberty and continued in that business. In 1840 he connected him- self with the Methodist Episcopal church, and in February, 1844, was married to Hannah M. Montgomery. In the year 1848 he entered into the mercantile business, and was elected justice of the peace, and continued as such until 1862. In the year 1861, when public opinion was so much divided in West Virginia, in reference to the right of se- cession, he remained a firm supporter of the general government, and was a member of the convention that met in the city of Wheeling, in the month of May, 1861, to organize the state government. After the state of Virginia had passed the ordinance of secession he re- cruited a company of home guards, and had them uniformed, armed and equipped, and was commissioned as their captain, August 21, 1861, and tendered their services for home protection to F. H. Pier- point, who had been elected governor of the restored state of Vir- ginia. In the year 1862, when Lincoln called for 300,000 more troops he enlisted a company, took them to Camp Willey, on Wheeling Island, elected as their captain, and they were mustered into the ser- vice as Company D, Twelfth West Virginia Volunteer infantry. He commanded his company until June 17, 1863, when he was promoted to major, and put in command of the regiment. As major he con- tinued in command of the regiment, being the only field officer with it, and on the 26th day of January, 1864, he was promoted to colonel of his regiment. He continued in command of his regiment until October, 1864, when he was given command of a brigade consisting of the First, Fourth and Twelfth regiments West Virginia Volunteer infantry, doing duty in the valley of Virginia. In the month of De-
OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. 495
cember, 1864, while in command of the post at Stephen's depot, his brigade was re-organized by withdrawing the First and Fourth regi- ments, their time having expired and their places filled with the Fifty- fourth Pennsylvania and the Twenty-third Illinois regiments. On the 20th of December he was transferred to the army of the James, and his brigade was consolidated with the Twenty-fourth Army corps, as Second Brigade Independent division of that corps. His brigade participated in the assault upon the rebel works in front of Richmond, in the spring campaign of 1865, and on Sunday, April 2, had the honor of capturing Fort Gregg, near Petersburgh, for which the Twelfth regiment received a bronze eagle, presented to them with the following inscription: " Presented to the Twelfth Regiment, West Virginia Volunteer infantry, by the their corps commander, Gen. John Gibbon, for gallant conduct in the assault upon Ft. Gregg, near Petersburgh, Va., April 2, 1865." In this assault there were 715 men and officers killed and wounded. The Twelfth regiment had three color bearers killed in planting their flag upon the parapet. Three of its members, Lieut. J. M. Curtis, Andrew Apple, and Joseph McCauslin, had medals presented them by congress, and Gen. Curtis received his general's commission from the president for gallant con- duct in this assault. Richmond was immediately evacuated when this fort surrendered. His brigade followed in the pursuit of Lee, and marched thirty-five miles on the 8th of April to get support of Sheridan, who was in front of Lee with cavalry, and were present and witnessed the surrender, and had the honor of receiving the army and colors the first day, after which he returned to Richmond with the command, and was discharged June 20, 1865. He was afterward elected as a dele- gate for Ohio county to the legislature in 1866, and served one term; was superintendent of the West Virginia penitentiary in 1870 and '71; was aide to the department commander of the G. A. R., of West Virginia, in 1887 and '88, and aide on the grand commander's staff of the G. A. R., in 1888 and '89, and is now retired.
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