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 62
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Samuel Finley, Jr., a well-known citizen of Ohio county, and one of the prominent farmers of Liberty district, was born in that district April 30, 1836, the son of Samuel Finley and his wife, Emily Stewart. His father, one of the leading early settlers, was born in May, 1807, on the farm which is his present home. Samuel Finley, the subject of this mention, after receiving his education in the schools of his youth, took up the vocation of farming, to which his life has ever since been devoted. He has been prospered in his undertakings, is now well- to-do, and is highly respected by all. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church. On February 10, 1863, Mr. Finley was married to Rachel Marling, and to this union have been born one son and four daughters.
John Gardner, a well-known blacksmith of West Liberty, was born July 10, 1839, in Washington county, Penn. He is the son of Samuel and Jane Gardner, who were born in what is now West Virginia, he in May, 1816, and she in March 27, 1817. Her family name was Noah. To this union were born four sons and six daughters, of whom eight
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are now living. The mother of these children died in 1852, and sub- sequently the father was married to Margaret Sease, by whom he had five children, two sons and one daughter of whom survive. The father now resides at New Brighton, Penn., where he is engaged in working at his trade as a blacksmith. John Gardner was educated in the public schools of Brooke county, and also in an academy of Wash- ington county, Penn., after which he went to work in a blacksmith shop with his father, and this trade he has followed ever since. On Au- gust 22, 1862, Mr. Gardner enlisted in Company C, Twenty-second Pennsylvania cavalry, and followed his trade in the army until he re- ceived an honorable discharge at the close of the war, June 1, 1865. He then came to West Liberty, which has since been his home. He is an influential citizen, was elected justice of the peace in 1876, and held the office to the general satisfaction four years, and is now the school commissioner of Liberty district. He is a member of the Masonic order and the G. A. R. By his marriage to Keziah Cunningham, of Allegheny county, Penn., he has had seven daughters and two sons, two of whom are deceased.
Melvin T. Hartley, a prominent young farmer of Liberty district, Ohio county, was born in Marshall county, W. Va., April 5, 1860, the son of Thomas and Ellen (Howard) Hartley. The father, who has been a farmer for many years in Marshall, Ohio and Brooke counties, was born in Marshall county, July 7, 1839, and his wife was born in Ohio county, February 14, 1840. They were united in marriage in November, 1858, and nine children have been born to them, six of whom are sons. Melvin T. Hartley was educated at the West Lib- erty Normal school, and after leaving school he engaged in teaching, a vocation which he followed for two years. He then engaged in farming, which is his present calling. He is a worthy and popular young man and a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge of West Alexander, No. 966, under the jurisdiction of the grand lodge of Pennsylvania. On December 24, 1884, Mr, Hartley was married to Zella R. Faris, a native of this county, and a daughter of John and Rebecca Faris.
Norman D. Jobes, M. D., a popular young physician of West Lib- erty, was born in Washington county, Penn., January 17, 1863. He is the son of Campbell Jobes, a devoted minister of the Christian church, who was born January 16, 1839, in Pennsylvania, and is now a resi- dent of his native state. His wife, Phoebe Mitchell, the mother of Dr. Jobes, is a native of Indiana, and was born May 8, 1841. Dr. Jobes received his early education in the public schools of his native county, and subsequently attended the California State Normal school. He completed his literary education by a two years' course at Bethany college, and then deciding to devote himself to the profession of medicine, attended the Eclectic Medical college, of Cincinnati, where he was graduated in January, 1888. While attending the latter col- lege, he practiced three years in the Cincinnati hospital, and after receiving his degree he removed to Claysville, where he practiced six months, thence coming to West Liberty, June 1, 1888. Here he has in a short time built up a remarkably extensive practice, and gained
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OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
the confidence of the community. He is a member of the Christian church, and is highly esteemed socially. The doctor was married February 16, 1888, to Anna, daughter of John and Nancy (Reed) Mckibben, of Lima, Ohio. To this union one child has been born: Ida Grace, March 17, 1889.
Jesse Lazaer, a well-known citizen of West Liberty, was born in Brooke county, July 17, 1845. He is the son of Jerome B. Lazaer, who was born April 12, 1813, and died in Brooke county, April 12, 1878. He was a school teacher in early manhood, but in later years devoted himself to farming. He was married to Susan J. Keach, by whom he had six sons and two daughters. Jesse Lazaer was edu- cated in the common schools of Brooke county, and then found em- ployment upon a farm. He was engaged exclusively in agriculture until recently, when he took the contract of carrying the mails from Wheeling to West Liberty. In connection with this business he runs a hack between these points. Mr. Lazaer was married November 8, 1866, to Rosanna Biggs, and to this union have been born two sons and one daughther. Mrs. Lazaer is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of West Liberty.
Robert L. Prall, a resident of West Liberty and a well-known business man of Wheeling, was born January 19, 1848, in Washing- ton county, Penn. He is the son of Benjamin Prall, a native of Maryland, who was married in 1833, to Catherine Nickerson, a daughter of one of the early inhabitants of what is known as the Dutch settlement of Pennsylvania. Benjamin Prall and wife had six sons and three daughters, of whom three sons survive, and the mother, who resides with her son, Robert L., at his home on Wheel- ing Island. The latter received his education in the schools of Washington county, and subsequently taught school for five years. He then accepted a situation as salesman for the merchant tailoring establishment of J. H. Stallman & Co., of Wheeling, with which he has been connected since 1871. Mr. Prall was married April 20, 1875, to Ella S. Paul, of Washington county, Penn .. who died March, 1876, leaving one daughter. In February, 1881, he was married to Jennie E. Stallman, of York, Penn., by whom he had one daughter. His wife, Jennie, died in December, 1884, and on September 26, 1889, he was married to Julia A. Curtis, of West Liberty. She is a daughter of John Curtis, who was born in this district, May 27, 1787, a son of James Curtis, the famous pioneer, elsewhere mentioned. He was the youngest of ten children of James, and lived until February 9, 1882. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Martin, was born in Ohio county in April, 1800, and died October 14, 1876. Her parents were natives of Maryland. John Curtis and wife were married April 15, 1824, and to their union were born four sons and four daughters. John Curtis was an intelligent and worthy man, and he and wife were among the original members of the Christian church on Long run, founded in 1829. On account of his remarkable age he was in his latter years a conspicuous figure. Mrs. Prall was born May 13, 1848. She lived with her parents until their death, and she then cared for
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her two uncles, T. C. and W. D. Martin, in their declining years. She is a member of the Christian church of West Liberty. Mr. Prall is a member of the Presbyterian church of Wheeling. He is connected with the Merchant Salesmen's association of Philadelphia.
V. H. Vanmeter, a venerable farmer and influential citizen of Lib- erty district, Ohio county, is a son of Joseph Vanmeter, who was a nephew of John and Joseph Vanmeter, who were prominent in the settlement of the upper Ohio valley. The latter named of these built Fort Vanmeter on Short creek. In 1778 he was killed by Indians or drowned in the Ohio near the village of Tiltonsville, Jefferson Co., Ohio. Forty years afterward his gun barrel was found in the river when low by some boys at play, and was identified by some of the sur- viving comrades of the pioneer. The name of the latter was given to the father of our subject, who was born in the Shenandoah valley December 3, 1778. In August, 1800, the latter was married to Mar- garet Whitnah, and nine years later they removed with their family to Wheeling. In 1810 Joseph Vanmeter moved to the farm upon which the subject of this mention now resides, which he purchased in the following year. There he lived until his death, January 14, 1822. He had four sons and one daughter, the latter of whom and two of the sons survive. V. H. was born on the farm he now owns June 7, 1817. He received such education as was available in that day, and then engaged in farming, which has been his occupation through life. Though he has lived in an age of great changes and improvement he has kept abreast of the times, and is one of the county's most esteemed citizens. He was married March 6, 1845, to Margaret A. Whitnah.
TRIADELPHIA DISTRICT.
One of the leading farmers of Ohio county, John Baird, was born on the farm where he now resides, near Elm Grove, February 6, 1836. He is the son of Josiah Baird, who was born in 1807, and was married in 1835 to Rosanna Merchant, who was born in 1812. Their union was blessed with five children, two of whom are deceased. Joseph Baird subsequently was married to Elizabeth Chambers, in 1851, and by this marriage had two sons, William C., born March 9, 1852, and Josiah W., born September 21, 1856, and a daughter, Re- becca E. Baird. The father passed away January 26, 1861, and the mother died in September, 1859. John Baird, the oldest son by the first marriage, was married October 26, 1865, to Mary L. Nicoll, of Wheeling, who died November, 1876. He is a member of the Presby- terian church, to the support of which he liberally contributes, and is esteemed by all as an enterprising and public spirited man.
William J. Brown, one of the notable men of Elm Grove, Ohio county, has held the position of justice of the peace for Triadelphia district since his first election in 1876, and has made an honorable record. He was born at West Alexandria, Washington Co., Penn., January 31, 1844, the son of George and Sarah (Chisnell) Brown.
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OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
The father was born July 4, 1801, in Washington county, and was mar- ried April 5, 1838, to Miss Chisnell, who was born January 5, 1815, in Lancaster county, Penn. They had one son and one daughter. The father died April 17, 1859; the mother is still living. William J. was reared in his native place, and was attending school there when the war broke out. He at once enlisted in the Union army as a member of Company B, First West Virginia cavalry, August 23, 1861, and served as became a brave and patriotic man, for three years and three "months. His regiment has a notable record among the bravest of the army. It served under the brave Kilpatrick and George A. Custer, and was engaged in seventy-three engagements. It lost two brigadier generals, Bayard and Farnsworth, the latter being killed while leading the right wing of the army in a charge against Hoods' division at Gettysburg. The regiment has to its credit at Washington, eight captured battle flags, three more than was taken by any other regi- ment of the army. At the close of the war Mr. Brown acquired the blacksmith's trade, and removed to Ohio county, in 1866. Two years later he was elected clerk of the board of education, as which he served two years, and then declined re-election. He is a member of the Mystic lodge, K. P., at Elm Grove, and of the grand lodge of the state. Mr. Brown was married September 28, 1869, to Sarah K. Burk- ham, who was born December 20, 1842, the daughter of Isaac and Nancy Burkham, of Ohio county. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have five children: Nannie J., born September 13, 1870; Georgia, December 4, 1872; W. B., February 29, 1876; Frank, January, 1881; Allen C., November 10, 1885.
George Atkinson Cracraft, deceased, formerly a physician of Tria- delphia, Ohio county, was born in Washington county, Penn., in 1815. He was educated at a medical college in Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1848. He at once removed to Triadelphia, and began the practice of medicine, which he continued until 1852. He was at that date appointed postmaster at Wheeling by President Pierce, and he held that office during the Pierce administration. Subsequently he retured to Triadelphia, and practiced there until 1862. During the war period he served in the south as a surgeon of the Nineteeth regi- ment Virginia cavalry, and at the close of the struggle he returned to his home and practiced medicine until the time of his death, April 17, 1888. He was married in Washington county, Penn., to Jane Knox, of that county, born in 1814 and died in 1876. Twelve children were born to them, seven sons and five daughters. Three of the sons and three daughters are living, viz .: George Cracraft, who is practicing law at Sterling, Ark .; Emma, living at Triadelphia; W. A., of Elm Grove; Mrs. Mattie Ferrell, of Elm Grove; Mrs. Alice Hornbrook, of Elm Grove; Dr. Frank Cracraft, of Triadelphia, died Oct. 20, 1889, and Homer, of Triadelphia.
Dr. William A. Cracraft was born in Washington county, Penn., in 1844. Coming to Triadelphia when a child he was reared there and received his early education at West Alexander academy. In 1861 he went south and entered the confederate army, becoming a member of
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the Shriver Grays, Company G, Twenty-seventh Virginia infantry, Stonewall brigade. Two years later his time of enlistment having ex- pired he joined the Twentieth Virginia cavalry, Col. Arnett's regi- ment, and was second lieutenant of Company I until the close of the war. Subsequently he studied medicine at the University of Virginia during the session of 1866-7, and began the practice at Triadelphia in June, 1867. In 1871 he removed to Elm Grove, where he is now en- joying a lucrative practice. He was appointed physician to the county infirmary in 1872, and has ever since held that position. The doctor was married in 1875 to Mary, daughter of Abner Key, of Elm Grove, and they had four children, one of whom, a daughter, is deceased. Dr. Cracraft is a prominent citizen, a Presbyterian and is generally esteemed.
Joseph A. Dimmey, a prosperous citizen of Ohio county, engaged in the dairy business, came to the United States from Germany, his native land, in 1847, and in making the journey experienced dangers and hardships that made that chapter of his life a thrilling one. He landed from the ocean steamer at New Orleans, and took a river boat up the Mississippi. When opposite Baton Rouge, the boat was sud- denly discovered to be on fire, and Mr. Dimmey barely escaped with his life by swimming to shore, all of his property being destroyed. His lot was a hard one, penniless in a strange land, but he was deter- mined to proceed to Wheeling, his destination, and boarded the next boat, for Cincinnati, and worked his passage. Taking another steamer at Cincinnati, he proceeded in the same manner to Wheeling. Arriv- ing here, he found employment in the lumber business for thirteen years. In 1862, he removed to a place above Wheeling, on the Ohio river, and established a dairy at first on a small scale, and remained there for seven years. Having prospered he removed subsequently to his present location in Triadelphia district, and has gradually increased his business until it is now quite extensive. Mr. Dimmey was born September 8, 1821. In 1850, he was married to Rosina Bachman, by whom he had twelve children, of whom three sons and five daughters are living. Mr. Dimmey and family are members of the Catholic church at Wheeling.
G. R. E. Gilchrist, a prominent attorney of Wheeling, was born at Beaver, Beaver county, Penn., January 8, 1857. He received a thor- ough academic education, and completed his literary studies at Wooster university, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1879. He then began preparation for the profession of law, and pursued a course of study in that department for two years, 1880-SI, in the University of Virginia, at Charlottesville. In July, 1881, he was admitted to the bar, and he ther formed a partnership for the practice of his profes- sion with Hon. E. G. Cracraft, of Wheeling, with whom he was asso- ciated until the death of that venerable gentleman and distinguished practitioner. Among the attorneys of Wheeling, which Mr. Gilchrist has chosen as his field of labor, he now occupies a creditable place, and has in a notable degree, the confidence and esteem of the com- munity. He is at present one of the commissioners in chancery for
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the circuit court. Mr. Gilchrist has his residence at Elm Grove. He was married April 25, 1883, to Jennie E. Murphy, of East Liverpool, Ohio, and to this union two daughter have been born, Ethel, Octo- ber 16, 1884, and Mabel, January 5, 1888. Mr. Gilchrist is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church of Wheeling.
Joseph M. Gonter, a well-known citizen of Elm Grove, is a son of Adam and Catherine (Fanning) Gonter. Adam Gonter was born at Waynesboro, Penn., in 1794, and his wife was born April 7, 1801. The former was a wagon-maker by trade, and followed that vocation through life. He had ten children in all, seven sons and three daugh- ters, of whom five sons are now living. Joseph M. was born at Shepherdstown, Jefferson county, W. Va., March 14, 1835, and there received his education, and subsequently learned the trade of painter and paperhanger, at which he has since been engaged. On Septem- ber 23, 1860, he was married to Catherine Rupp, of Wheeling, who was born February 9, 1841. The war breaking out soon afterward, Mr. Gonter enlisted in Company G, First West Virginia infantry, having previously been rejected from Battery D, First artillery, on account of disability. His last enlistment was in 1864, and he then served until the close of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Gonter's marriage has been blessed with seven children, three of whom are living. Mrs. Jane McCormick, the oldest, resides in Wheeling, and Martha C. and George B., reside with their parents. Mr. Gonter is a worthy citizen, a member of the Evangelical church, of Wheeling, of the G. A. R., and of Mystic lodge, No. 24, K. P., of Elm Grove.
J. R. Greer, one of the old citizens of Ohio county, and leading busi- ness men of Wheeling, came to that city in 1834, and embarked in the hardware business, in which he has continued to the present time, meeting with exceptional success. The wife of Mr. Greer is a daugh- ter of Rev. John Armstrong, who came to Wheeling in 1820. This notable divine was the founder of St. Matthew's Protestant Episcopal church, and ministered to the same until his death on June 11, 1827. His son, William Armstrong, succeeded to the pastorate after a per- iod of three years during which the vacancy was filled by Rev. J. T. Wheat. Rev. John Armstrong continued as minister of this church during a period of twenty-five years.
G. F. Hartlieb, of Elm Grove, has been since 1884, the proprietor of the Elm Grove Hotel, one of the best places of entertainment in the valley. He was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, May 15, 1849, and is the son of Jeremiah Hartlieb. The latter removed from his native land to the United States in 1853, and after making a stay of nine months in Philadelphia, removed to Ohio county, where he has since made his home upon a farm and followed agriculture as his oc- cupation. G. F. coming to this county in childhood, sought his edu- cation in the Wheeling schools, and subsequently was occupied upon the farm with his father for a considerable period. On October 26, 1871, he was married to Rosina Schroeder, of Ohio, who was born in that state, September 25, 1853. He and his wife lived upon the farm until April 1, 1884, when he purchased the Elm Grove hotel. He
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and his wife have had eleven children, of whom eight are living: William F., born July 8, 1872, died January 27, 1882; Mary R., born November 9, 1874; Anna C., January 11, 1875; Katie, July 21, 1876, died January 30, 1882; Lizzie C., born February 23, 1878; Lena, No- vember 26, 1880, died February 13, 1882; Emma, born March 11, 1882; Frederick, September 26, 1883; Nellie M., May 20, 1885; Nicholas J., November 4, 1886. Mr. Hartlieb is a member of the German Luth- eran church, and of the Odd Fellows lodge, of Triadelphia, and of Germania lodge, No. 7, K. of P., of Wheeling.
J. L. Kimmins, a leading citizen of Elm Grove, was born at Haney- town, W. Va., January 9, 1851. His father, A. H. Kimmins, who was in his day a prominent farmer and engaged extensively in stock-deal- ing throughout Ohio, Marshall and Wetzel counties, W. Va., and Washington county, Penn., was born September 18, 1815. He mar- ried Mary Chambers, who was born November 2, 1816, and to their union were born three sons and one daughter, two of whom survive, J. L., of Elm Grove, and E. L., of Denver, Col. The father died March 10, 1889, but the mother is still living. J. L. Kimmins received his early education in the common schools and then was a student for a limited time at the college at Waynesburgh, Penn. Leaving school, he found employment in an auction store at Wheeling, and while there he was married to Louisa Kerston, of that city. During the year after his marriage he was-engaged in farming, and he sub- sequently became the proprietor of a planing-mill and carriage shop at Dallas, W. Va., also managing in this connection, an undertaking establishment. Selling out in a short time he removed to Elm Grove, and again engaged in the manufacture of carriages, and adding an undertaking establishment a year later, he conducted this business for six years. At the end of that time he sold out, and during one year traveled extensively throughout the United States. On his return he purchased and conducted for one year a steam flouring mill at Moundsville, which was destroyed by fire, causing him a loss of over $5,000. Returning to Elm Grove he built a stone building and en- gaged in business, but he was compelled by ill health to remove to California, after two years. In the fall of 1888 he returned to Elm Grove and rebuilt this store, which had been destroyed by the great flood of 1888, and since that time he has lived a retired life. Mr. Kimmins is a member of Mystic lodge, No. 24, K. of P. He has five children: Harry, born May 24, 1874; Ollie, born July 20, 1876; Sal- lie, born May 25, 1878; Mary, born August 28, 1881; and John A., born January 18, 1889.
The superintendency of Wheeling park was intrusted in August, 1889, to Ernest Krieger, one of the leading young men of Triadelphia district. He is the son of John and Caroline (Wedmond) Krieger, both of whom are natives of Germany. The father was born in 1832. In the fall of 1862 these parents, with their family, came to the United States and settled at Wheeling, where the father engaged in garden- ing near the city, and pursued that vocation for four years, being at the end of that time employed as night-watchman for the Belmont
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Iron mills for several years. Subsequently he was again engaged in gardening for five years, after which he removed to Monroe county, Ohio, where he is now living. His son, Ernest Krieger, was born in Germany, September 14, 1862, but being brought to Wheeling soon afterward, grew up there, and was educated in the public schools. He adopted his father's calling, and was engaged in gardening until 1884, when he entered the employment of the Wheeling Park associ- ation, with which he has ever since remained. Mr. Krieger was mar- ried on January 13, 1887, to Amelia Craft, and they reside near the park of which he is general superintendent.
Robert B. McLain, deceased, formerly a prominent business man of Wheeling, was one of seven children (five sons and two daughters), of J. G., native of Scotland, and Eliza E. (Baird) McLain, native of Ireland. John G. McLain was prominent for a considerable period as the senior editor of the Wheeling Argus, a newspaper at Wheeling, which has since been discontinued, and his son, Robert, after leaving school, was employed in the office as a printer for a short time. At the age of fourteen, however, he chose another occupation, and en- gaged in the drug business with his second brother, Henry B., and youngest brother, Thomas B., as partners. Subsequently, the second brother retired from the business, and a younger brother took his place in the firm. John G. became a partner, and the firm so contin- ued until the death of Robert B. McLain, which occurred February 13, 1889. At a considerable period before this, however, in 1880, Robert had retired from active participation in the business. Arrangements are now made by which John G. retires from the business, and Mrs. L. A. McLain, widow of Robert, goes into business with her brother, L. B. McLain. Mr. McLain was a worthy man, a prominent .member of the Reformed Episcopal church of Wheeling, and was a consistent Christian throughout his life. He was married on November 22, 1866, to L. A. Fisher, who was born in New York city, and is the daughter of John F. and Caroline M. Fisher, of New York. Their marriage was blessed by three children: Louise Elenor, born September 12, 1867; Henry F. B., born November 26, 1869; Robert B., Jr., born August 16, 1877.
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