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 66

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Madison, Wis. : Brant & Fuller
Number of Pages: 842

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 66

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Iron and Steel .- Iron and nails is and has been the leading industry of Wheeling for more than a generation past. When the manufac- ture of nails was first introduced here they were made by hand, and the iron used in this industry was brought here on pack horses from the east. It is now one of the largest iron producing cities in the world. There are eight nail factories in the locality and seven blast furnaces. Three steel plants convert large quantities of its iron into steel, which is in such demand that it far exceeds their capacity to furnish the supply. There are three sheet mills, two bar mills, and many foundries, forges and machine shops, which turn iron into every known shape and purpose.

The first iron mill erected in Wheeling was built in the year 1834, having been built by Messrs. Shoenberger & Agnew, on the site of the present Top mill. The next in order was the Virginia mill, organized in 1847, by E. M. Norton & Co., which was engaged in the manufac- ture of nails only, and was located at the point of confluence of the creek with the river, now occupied by the site of the B. & O. railroad depot. This mill started with forty machines. ' The Belmont mill was the next in order, and this also was built by Mr. Norton and others, in 1849. In 1853 the Virginia mill was re-organized and re- moved to Benwood, Marshall Co., four miles below Wheeling. In 1852, E. C. Dewey, Esq., established the Eagle Wire mill. In 1860, Dewey, Vance & Co., operated the Wheeling Iron and Spike works. The next to be mentioned is the Riverside Iron and Steel works, of which J. N. Vance is president. In 1852 the La Belle mill went into operation under the auspices and control of Bailey, Woodward & Co. The following information concerning these industries has been con- tributed by our friend, J. N. Vance, Esq., one of the best informed

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and most enterprising of our fellow citizens in the line of his business. He says: "We have seven nail mills with a combined capital of $4,100,000, containing 1,140 nail machines, with an annual capacity of 2,830,000 kegs of steel nails, which are distributed all over the country, but mainly through the west and south, including California and Oregon. The superiority of the Wheeling steel nails is acknowledged in all sections of the country, and they command a higher price and have the preference over all other brands. We have in successful operation three Bessemer steel plants, with a combined capital of about $1, 200,000, and producing about 210,000 tons of soft steel annu- ally. This steel is used for a great variety of purposes, and has largely superseded the use of wrought iron. Three mills here manu- facture bars and sheets in all their varieties out of iron and steel, and have an annual production of 38,000 tons, which meets with a ready sale in all parts of the west and northwest. Five blast furnaces are located here using Lake Superior ores and Connellsville coke, and producing about 180,000 tons of Bessemer pig iron yearly, which is all used here in the steel plants. Steel, gas and steam pipe is being suc- cessfully manufactured here by the Riverside Iron works. This is a new industry, being the only establishment manufacturing steel pipe in the country. It has an active sale, and is growing in favor rapidly where a high pressure and great strength is required."

In 1880, Wheeling, including those in its vicinity, according to the census report of that year, had thirteen iron works. Of this number eight are credited to Wheeling. These eight had: Capital, $2,274,425; employes, 2,629; yearly wages paid, $1,098,296; raw material used, $2,502,053; value of product, $4,416,567.

Glass Manufacture .- Within the limits of Wheeling are three glass manufactories having seven furnaces and eighty odd pots in which are employed about 1,500 men in various branches of the work. In 1815, a glass-works was established in Wellsburg, and in the year 1820, they are estimated to have turned out a product amounting to $20,000 in value. In 1831, there were two factories in operation in Wellsburg. In 1840, she had but one, which did a good business. At present there are Dalzell Bros. & Gilmore Table Ware factory, the Riverside Glass works, the Lazear Glass works, the Wellsburg Window Glass works and the Venture Glass works. There are few places possessing greater advantages for the manufacture of glass and other industries than Wellsburg. The first glass factory in Wheeling was built in 1821. Its specialty was the manufacture of window glass. Another was opened about 1829, on the side of the hill opposite the head of Tenth street. This was a cut-glass factory. In 1835, the Messrs. Sweeney (Thomas and Michael, brothers), built a flint-glass house in the north end of the city. Later, Plunkett & Miller operated a glass fac- tory in East Wheeling, on the site of the present school building in Union district, and afterward they operated the South Wheeling works. In 1845, J. L. Hobbs & Son carried on these works, J. L. Hobbs having been connected with them from that time down to within the last two or three years when he retired from active con-

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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.

nection with them and they are now operated by a new company. In 1889, Wheeling had three glass houses with seven furnaces and seventy-two pots and they had a combined capital in round numbers of a half million of dollars and employed nearly 900 hands. The Wheeling glassware for excellence and beauty cannot be surpassed. The city is noted for her manufactures in this line of industry. It is shipped in large quantities to Europe, and especially 's this the case with the Central Glass works which makes large shipments annually to Germany. Dealers in glassware from the principal cities of the country periodically visit this city, to examine styles and designs and to leave their orders for stock.

Potteries .- The first lot of vitrified china ever made west of the Alle- gheny mountains was produced at the factory of Homer Laughlin, in East Liverpool, Ohio. It suffered nothing from comparison with the best French, German or other vitrified china. The first step in the art in what is technically called potting, is to get a list of the bodies used in it, and the second is to classify them, as for instance, bodies, glazes and colors. Then there are bodies known as earthen- ware, china, porcelain and terra cotta, including all the varieties of white and colored glazed dey or vitrious. The manufactury of pot- tery has been practiced for a long time, though the specimens of taste or workmanship were not of the choicest, for we find that Pompey's soldiers carried some from Pontus to Rome, B. C. 64. The progress made in the last fifty years has been truly wonderful and especially do we have reference to our country. To this day there are potteries in England working exactly on the same lines they did when they first started in the business a century ago. The same methods of making slip by hand -the same process of drying - the same throw- ing wheel turned by hand, the same turning lathe worked by the foot, in fact everything the same as when they first commenced. The great improvement in machinery and the skill of our workmen is placing this industry not only in competition, with foreign manufactures of the same character, but have already in a general way excelled them. The excellence of American earthenware is nowhere more forcibly shown than in the potteries of the Pan-handle. The facilities available for the prosecution of the industry are admirable, and the results de- veloping the fact that their wares are enabled to successfully compete in prices and quality with any similar industry elsewhere located.

Cigars and Tobacco .-- One of the most important of the manufactur- ing interests of the city of Wheeling, and which is carried on to a greater or less extent, in all of the counties composing the Pan-handle, is the manufacture of what is known to the trade, of a cigar called the "Stogie," which has attained to such a degree of prominence, as to have extended its popularity and field of occupation from the Ohio river to the distant shores of Behring's Straits. Manufactured to- bacco for chewing and pipe smoking is an increasing industry. Millions of pounds are annually produced. The internal revenue of- fice of this district, derives a large and constantly, growing revenue from this source, as is evidenced by the large and increasing number

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of stamps required by manufacturers. The returns of the internal revenue office in the city of Wheeling, shows that the value of stamps sold in the first six months of the fiscal year 1889, amounted to the sum of $172,341.93. For the corresponding six months of 1890, the value of the stamps issued amounted to the sum of $236,044.55, show- ing an increase in value of $64,702.62, in the first six months of the current year, and that the increase has been regular and steady.

The Wholesale Trade .- This trade is annually expanding, keeping pace with the increase in wealth and population of the surrounding country. Not only are the merchants of the Pan-handle, known in every portion of West Virginia, but they have become known and have extended their trade into southern Pennsylvania, western Maryland, eastern Ohio and in Kentucky.

In hardware and agricultural implements, boots and shoes, hats, dry goods, notions, confectionery, cigars and manufactured tobacco, drugs, queensware, glassware and groceries, the volume of business is very large, and no competition has been able to prevent its growth and increase.

The whole jobbing trade, embracing all branches, is in the hands of men of ample capital and first rate credit, able to buy low and sell at reasonable prices. Their character for fair dealing, and this may be said of those engaged in all branches of business, is above reproach, and none enjoy the confidence of eastern merchants to a greater de- gree than do the business men of the Pan-handle, among whom there are fewer failures in proportion to their numbers than a like commun- ity in any other portion of the country.

But it is not our purpose to enter into a detailed description of the different branches of trade carried on in this section, but only in a general way to give some idea in a very limited space, of some of the most prominent industries (and not all of them) so that the reader may form some slight idea at least of the advantages of the upper Ohio valley in a business point of view, and the facilities it enjoys as a manufacturing center.

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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.

CHAPTER XV.

BENCH AND BAR OF THE PAN-HANDLE-FIRST COURT IN OHIO COUNTY - EARLY ATTORNEYS-SKETCHES OF LEADING LAWYERS OF OHIO COUNTY -EARLY JUDICIARY OF BROOKE COUNTY - ORGANIZATION OF THE COURTS OF BROOKE COUNTY -PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE BROOKE COUNTY BAR-EARLY COURTS OF MARSHALL COUNTY-LAWYERS OF MARSHALL COUNTY-COURTS OF HANCOCK COUNTY -SOME LEADING LAWYERS OF HANCOCK -THE BENCH - SKETCHES OF JUDGES.

PAWYERS and the judiciary always form an interesting part of the history of every community, and much might be chronicled, but in this mention only the conspicuous actors can receive notice. Indeed, manyof this class have passed into oblivion, as no record has preserved the facts connected with their lives and labors. The members of the judiciary of the various courts, viz .: County, " circuit-superior," cir- cuit, municipal, Ohio county (special), federal and court of appeals, all have secured some, although many but brief mention. Of the bar of the older counties only the leaders are given special notice.

The first court held in Ohio county after its organization was at Black's cabin, on Short creek, January 6, 1777. This was a county court, composed of justices of the peace elsewhere mentioned. John McColloch was appointed high sheriff, and Philip Pendleton, who came from Berkeley county, was commonwealth's attorney, and James McMechen clerk. George Brent, Esq., was at the same term admitted to the bar. At each term of court many non-resident attorneys were admitted to practice, and at this date it is difficult to ascertain the names of those early attorneys who were residents of Ohio county. Philip Doddridge commenced the practice in the latter part of the eighteenth century and had a large share of the practice in the county court. Charles Hammond, a student of Doddridge, was at Wheel- ing in 1805. A. Hamilton and W. A. Harrison were also admitted to the bar at an early day. Samuel Fitzhugh and Moses Chaplaine were for some time partners. The latter was the first mayor of Wheeling, serving from 1836 to 1840. Samuel Irvin came to the county in the early part of the century. Morgan Nelson, who became wealthy, was from Kentucky. He was licensed to practice in the circuit court in 1820. Lewis Summers was a regular attendant upon the court held at Wheeling, but was not, however, a resident of Ohio county. Asa Andrews, William E. Russell and Samuel Atkinson were familiar names at the bar in the decade of the thirties. E. H. Fitzhugh and

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Nathaniel Richardson were men of more than ordinary legal attain- ments and both were active practitioners for many years.

Noah Linsly, an early attorney, came from Branford, Conn. His family was of English descent, his earliest ancestors in this country, being John Linsly, who emigrated from London, England, in 1644, and settled here in New Haven. Noah was the third son of Josiah Linsly, his mother's maiden name being Rachel Fowler. He pre- pared for college at East Gifford, under the Rev. Dr. Todd, and was admitted to Yale in 1787, graduating in 1791. For a time after grad- uating, he taught school at Feathersfield, when he left for a tutorship in William's academy, now William's college, under President Fitch. After leaving Yale, Mr. Linsly commenced the study of law at the law school in Litchfield, under Tapping Reeves, but at what time he was admitted to the bar is not known. After completing his law studies he moved in 1797-8 to Morgantown, Va., now West Virginia, where he remained two years, and then removed to Wheeling, where he practiced with success for several years and was for a time com- monwealth's attorney. He died of hemorrhage of the lungs in 1814. In his will he made provision for the establishment and maintenance of a school in the town of Wheeling, on what was known as the " Lancasterian " system, and what is now Linsly institute, as the out- growth of his bequest.

Perhaps one of the most brilliant lawyers who practiced at the bar of Wheeling during the first half of the present century, was Samuel Sprigg. He was admitted to the practice early in the century, and was as early as 1814 appointed commonwealth's attorney. The estimation in which he was held by the people may be imagined when it is known that for nearly sixteen years he was retained as the attorney for the commonwealth of Virginia. His professional career was one of unusual activity, his name appearing more fre- quently in the bar docket than that of any of his contemporaries. Per- haps no better estimate of his character and ability can be obtained at this time than that found in the record of a meeting of the bar at the time of his death, which occurred in 1843. At the meeting Zach- ariah Jacob, was chairman, and E. H. Fitzhugh, secretary. The fol- lowing testimonial was offered by Gen. James S. Wheat: "Death has come among us and has stricken down our brightest ornament, Sam- uel Sprigg. While we bow with submission to the force that has terminated a life of honor and usefulness, we would with fond regret dwell upon his virtues and remember his merit. With talents peculiarly adapted to his profession, exalted and strengthened by an ardent temperament and generous ambition, he was an advocate of unrivaled favor, whenever the opressed needed vindication and support, or the vicious exposure or punishment. He gained the highest honors of his profession and wore them with the modesty peculiar to his merit. A long and intimate association with him left upon our memory, nothing to lessen our admiration and affectionate regard. As a man we all loved him, as a citizen he was the able and untiring advocate of every public interest."

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Zachariah Jacob, who for many years stood at the head of the bar of Wheeling, was a native of Ohio county. He was admitted to the practice in the twenties. His long life of usefulness as a lawyer and citizen was never tainted by a suspicion of dishonesty. The records of the courts show that his practice was very large. He did not ex- cel as an advocate, but as a lawyer he perhaps had no superior at the bar. He was a useful citizen, and was always in the lead in whatever promised to promote the interest of the community. He died late in the sixties much lamented.

Gen. James S. Wheat came to Wheeling from Washington, D. C., and was admitted to the bar of the circuit court in October, 1831. He at once became prominent as an attorney. He was a man of re- finement and culture, and courtly and faultless in his manner. While he was not considered so profound in the law as some of his com- peers, he was nevertheless one of the best equipped attorneys of his day. He was a ready and fluent speaker, and on all public occasions was much in demand as an orator. He served as attorney general under the re-organized government of Virginia, and was also a member of the constitutional convention of West Virginia in 1872.

Joseph H. Pendleton, father of Hon. John O. Pendleton, was born in Louisa county, Va. He entered Bethany college in Brooke county, W. Va., in about 1844. He attended the college four years, and after graduating entered Judge Thompson's law school -at Staun- ton, Va. After finishing the course at the latter school he returned to Brooke county and entered upon the practice of law at Wellsburg, and in August, 1851, he removed to Wheeling, where he soon became one of the leading attorneys of Ohio county. In 1861 he joined the Twenty-third regiment Virginia infantry, entering as major, and served through the entire war. He also represented Ohio county in the Virginia legislature during 1863-4-5, holding at the same time his commission in the confederate army. At the close of the war he spent four years at Wellsburg and Bethany, Brooke county, and in 1870, after his disabilities were removed he returned to Wheeling and again entered the practice. While not a student in the strict sense of that term, he was by intuition a lawyer, and as an advocate ranked among the most brilliant men of the West Virginia bar.

Among the prominent and brilliant members of the Wheeling bar previous to the late war, and one who figured conspicuously in the affairs of both the city and state during that period, was Charles Wells Russell, deceased. He was a native of Virginia, having been born on July 19, 1819. Mr. Russell came to Wheeling and attended school for about one year, and next entered Jefferson (now Washing- ton) college at Cannonsburg, Penn., from which he graduated. Re- turning from college he became a law student in the office of Z. Jacob, and upon receiving his license he entered the practice and at once took rank as a most promising attorney. As time passed he devel- oped all the necessary qualities of a brilliant and successful lawyer, and by 1861, when he went south, he was recognized as the peer of any member of the Wheeling bar. In public matters he was a leader

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and when the war of the rebellion began he espoused the southern cause and for four years was a member of the confederate congress from Virginia. At the close of the war he went to Canada and re- mained there between eight and nine months, when he returned to the United States and located at Baltimore and practiced his profes- sion in that city with distinction until his death, which occurred in November, 1867.

Hon. A. B. Caldwell, now practically retired from the practice, en- joys the distinction of being the first attorney general of West Vir- ginia. He served two terms and was the first and the last republican to hold that position. He was for a time prosecuting attorney for Ohio county, and has had a long and useful career.

Col. Robert White served the state as attorney general, having been elected in 1876. He was educated for the law at the school of the famous Judge John W. Brockenbrough, of Lexington, entered the practice at Romney in 1854, entered the confederate army in 1861, and rose to the rank of colonel. After the war he returned to Romney and again resumed the practice with ex-Gov. Jacob as a partner. After his retirement from the office of attorney general he became a permanent resident of Wheeling, and has since practiced here with much success.

Hon. Alfred Caldwell, at present filling the office of attorney gen- eral of West Virginia, was elected to said office by the democratic party in 1888. He had previously served in the state senate, where he became conspicuous for his ability. Although a young man he is recognized as one of the brilliant and able lawyers of the state.

Brooke County Bar .- The territory now included in Brooke county was prior to the organization of said county a part of Ohio county, and before the organization of a court at Wellsburg there were one or more resident attorneys. Philip Doddridge had long been a mem- ber of the Wheeling bar. At the first session of the court held in Charleston (now Wellsburg), Philip Doddridge and John Relfe were admitted to practice. The latter was appointed attorney for the com- monwealth, and had a long and successful career at the bar. The court was composed of the following justices: John Henderson, John Beck, William Griffith, Alexander Stephenson, John Connell, Richard Elson, Francis McGuire, Isaac Meek, George Hammond, Josiah Gamble, Robert Caldwell, and James Griffith. William Griffith was the senior and became presiding judge. The first term of the circuit court was held by Judge Joseph L. Fry in 1831. Dr. John C. Camp- bell was appointed commonwealth's attorney. He had been a suc- cessful practitioner of medicine, but gave it up to engage in the law. He was one of the few men who have succeeded in an eminent de- gree in two professions. After a long professional career he became a banker, and before his death, removed to Wheeling, where he was connected with the old Northwestern bank.

Jesse Edgington was an early settler in Brooke county. He bought a large tract of land opposite Steubenville, and at one time repre- sented Brooke county in the house of delegates of Virginia, also in.

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the senate. He was not a profound lawyer. Daniel M. Edgington, brother of Jesse, was raised and educated in Brooke county, and practiced there for a time. He was a fine lawyer, a polished orator, and had but few rivals as an advocate.

O. W. Langfitt, conspicuous at the bar of Brooke county for many years, was an able lawyer and strong advocate. Dr. George W. Cald- well, who was accidently killed in June, 1887, was for many years the lender of the bar. James Hervey was long in the practice at this place. J. C. Palmer, now longer in the practice than any resident member of the bar, was admitted to the practice in 1854. He is now practically retired from the law and is devoting his best energies to the management of the Wellsburgh National bank. The present mem- bers of the bar are: John C. Palmer, H. C. Hervey, Thomas Boyd, J. R. Braddock, D. A. Hindman and J. F. Cree.

The following sketch of Philip Doddridge, who was, perhaps, the most conspicuous and distinguished lawyer of West Virginia, is taken largely from the press accounts published at the time of his death: Philip Doddridge was the second son of John Doddridge, who was a native of Maryland, born there in the year 1745, where on the 22d of December, 1765, he married Mary, the daughter of Richard Wells of that state. They emigrated from Maryland to Bedford county, Penn., and there Philip was born on the 17th of May, 1772. In the spring of 1773, they removed to Washington county, Penn. At that time this place was within the jurisdiction, and was supposed to be in the territory of Virginia. But afterward when Mason and Dixon's line was established, and the western boundary of Pennsyl- vania was drawn due north from the western terminus of Mason and Dixon's line, the residence of the Doddridge family was included, by a short distance, within the territory of Pennsylvania. During the minority of young Philip the facilities for acquiring an education were very meager in the vicinity of his residence. There were neither colleges nor academies there, and the common schools were of an inferior character. Indeed, there were few schools of any grade. Nor did the circumstances of his parents enable them to send him to distant seats of learning. Until he was seventeen years of age he was kept at home working upon the farm, receiving, how- ever, from his father, who was a "good English scholar," such instruc- tion as the intervals of their toil permitted the one to give and the other to receive. At the age of seventeen he was placed at school in Charlestown, now Wellsburg, Brooke county, W. Va., under the tuition of a gentleman by the name of Johnson. Here he remained a short time devoting himself principally to the study of the Latin language. In 1799, Mr. Doddridge married Miss Juliana P. Musser, of Lancaster, Penn., who survived him twenty-seven years. She died at Liverpool, Fulton county, Ill., in the year 1859. The records show that at the first court held in Brooke county, Tuesday, May 23, 1797, Philip Doddridge wasadmitted to practice as an attorney in said court. Having thus established himself in life as well as in the pro- fession he had adopted, he pursued it with little intermission until the

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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 66

Author: Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Madison, Wis. : Brant & Fuller Number of Pages: 842

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Madison, Wis. : Brant & Fuller
Number of Pages: 842