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 69
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News Letter .- Among the journals of Wheeling that have ex-
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isted a sufficient length of time to be classed among the permanent institutions of the city is the Sunday News Letter, instituted in the fall of 1878 by ten practical printers. After about six weeks it was sold to R. Robertson and J. H. McFall. In a short time a part inter- est was transferred to G. H. Stull and W. S. Meek. Mr. McFall re- tired after a few months' experience, leaving the firm of Robertson, Meek & Stull in full control-Stull sold to M. A. Chew in about 1886. In 1888 W. S. Meek again became associated with the paper, and dur- ing the presidential campaign of that year an evening daily was pub- lished, but the venture proved a financial failure, and the publication of the daily was suspended. Mr. Meek, who is an experienced and bright newspaper man, now on the editorial force of the daily Intelli- gencer, sold his interest to Mr. R. Robertson in 1890, and the latter has since been the sole owner. Under the management of Mr. Robertson the News Letter has taken high rank among the first class journals of the state. While it is in every sense a general newspaper, it has been especially the champion of labor, and has done much to advance this cause.
The editorial work is now in the hands of Mr. Joseph M. Crouch, who, although quite young, has had several years of valuable news- paper experience. He is a bright young man, and the editorial col- umns of the News Letter attest his fitness for this responsible place.
The Ohio Valley Manufacturer, the organ of the best industries of the valley, was established by the following stockholders in December, 1887: Belmont Nail works, Bellaire Nail works, Riverside Iron works, Benwood Iron works, La Belle Iron works, Wheeling Iron and Nail Co., Whitaker Iron Co., Ætna Iron and Steel Co., Standard Iron Co., Laughlin Nail Co., Spaulding Iron Co., Junction Iron Co., Jefferson Iron works, B. Fisher & Son, Centre foundry. Joseph Bell Stove Co., A. J. Sweeney & Son, Caldwell & Peterson, Greer & Laing, North Wheeling Glass Co., Central Glass Co., Warwick China Co., Wheeling Pottery Co., J. G. Hoffmann & Son, Reymann Brewing Co., Schmulbach Brewing Co., Peoples' Bank, Dr. George Baird, M. Reilly and Philip H. Moore. The first directors were: N. E. Whita- ker, C. R. Hubbard, W. F. Peterson, Benjamin Fisher, Philip H. Moore, Major Alonzo Loring and W. H. Wallace. First officers: N. E. Whitaker, president; W. F. Peterson, treasurer; P. H. Moore, secretary; O. G. Scofield, business manager. The purpose of the manufacturers as set forth in the prospectus of the publishers, is as follows: "This paper has been established solely to promote manu- facturing interests of every kind and character. It will graphically describe our boundless coal and gas fields; it will illustrate the mar- velous growth of our iron, steel and glass industries; it will demon- strate that this valley will ere long as potently control the pottery interests of the world as it now does those connected with the manu- facture of nails, glass and Bessemer steel. There are two objects in advertising these facts: First, to inform the manufacturer of a par- ticular line what is being done in other and different lines, and second, to prove to the outside world that our proximity to the best
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ore fields on the continent and the possession of magnificent natural resources, coupled with cheap fuel such as natural gas has proved itself to be, have placed us beyond the reach of all competition."
Philip Henry Moore, a son of Henry Moore, an old newspaper man of ability and much prominence, long identified with some of the leading industries of Wheeling, was one of the incorporators and a prime mover in the establishment of the paper, is and has been from the first its editor. He was for a time associated in the capacity of editor with the Chicago Journal of Commerce and St. Louis Ageof Steel. He is in everything connected with iron and steel industries, thor- oughly familiar, and his editorials are widely quoted. He is an able and intelligent writer, and under the non-de-plume of "Cold Short" he has contributed many valuable articles to the literature of these industries.
Mr. Austin Beach who is now connected with this journal in the capacity of special representative, while young in years is old in newspaper experience. He has been city editor of the Daily Intelli- gencer for the past ten years, the longest period of consecutive service of any one ever connected in like capacity with the press of Wheel- ing. He is a bright and versatile newspaper writer, and will bring to the performance of this new duty, such ability and experience as will no doubt prove invaluable to the paper.
The Deutsche Zeitung von West Virginicn is the only German paper published in the state, and was first issued as the Virginia Staats Zeitung, about the year 1848. It subsequently changed hands and became the Arbciter Freund. After a few years, Messrs. Gutten- berg and Colmar became proprietors, when yet a third change was effected; this time to its present title, The Deutsche Zeitung von West Virginien. Mr. Guttenberg, however, retired on the Ist of December, 1878, since when Lewis Colmar, Jr., has been the only successful pub- lisher of a German paper.
The Deutsche Zeitung, which was the name given to the paper in 1878, was a tri-weekly until 1883, when a daily penny paper was pub- lished for one year.
In 1887 the Volksblatt Company, which had published an opposition paper for some time, made an assignment, and Mr. Colmar pur- chased the equipment of the office. He is now publishing the daily and weekly Staats Zeitung, which is the only German paper in the state. It is a live paper and is well patronized.
The Wheeling Graphic. The latest newspaper venture established at Wheeling under this name in August, 1889, was, prior to that time the Wellsburg Local, which paper had been conducted at the latter place by W. and F. Tucker for about five years. Believing that Wheeling would afford a larger field for operation, the presses and equipments of the Local office were removed to Wheeling and the Graphic has ever since been regularly issued. It is a weekly issued on Saturday and with the subscription list of the Local which was, upon its establishment, transferred to the Graphic; together with its Wheel- ing clientage it has a large circulation.
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The Ohio Valley Farmer, as its name indicates, is devoted exclu- sively to the interests of agriculture. It was established by T. M. Garvin, Esq., who consolidated with it in April, 1888, The Practical World, that had been published at Columbus, Ohio, since 1884. The Farmer was sold to J. G. Leasure in February, 1890, and he is at present both editor and publisher. The paper is issued monthly and is well supported.
The Press of Wellsburg .- It is probable that the first newspaper established in what is now Brooke county was the Charlestown Gazette. The first issue made its appearance as early as 1814. Samuel Work- man was both the printer and publisher. Its legitimate successor was the Wellsburg Gazette, which was edited by John Gruber as early as 1823. A few years later the Gazette became the property of Thomas Semice.
The publication of the Brooke Republican was begun as early as 1833. Daniel Polley was the editor and S. R. Jones the proprietor. The Republican suspended publication in 1835.
The Western Transcript made its appearance with the same man in editorial charge. The Transcript continued its existence until late in the forties, and was for a time under the charge of Wills De Hass.
The Truc Republican, by Solomon Solo, and the Jeffersonian Demo- crat, by Dr. Hazelett, were also among the early newspapers of Wellsburg.
The Wellsburg Herald was established by Joe A. Metcalf, in December, 1846, and after two years it became the property of John G. Jacob and James A. Smith. Smith continued his connection with the paper for ten years, when it became the sole property of Mr. Jacob, who is still its editor and proprietor. Mr. Jacob has for almost a half century conducted with marked ability this most influential journal. Mr. Jacob was educated at Washington and Jefferson college, being a class-mate of the Hon. James G. Blaine. He was one of the first men to advocate the principles upon which the republican party was founded. He was bold and aggressive in his denunciation of the crime of human slavery. He is an able and vigorous editorial writer and he has, through the Herald, left his impress upon all public questions of his time.
The Item, published by J. W. Plattenburg, was first issued in the summer of 1855.
The Wellsburg Democrat made its appearance March 4, 1866. Alfred Glass was its first owner. He soon sold to James E. Anderson, who after a shorter period sold to J. F. Campbell & Son, by whom the name was changed to the Wellsburg Times. In September, 1868, Alfred Glass & Son purchased the plant and changed the name to the Pan-handle News. In 1872 Eugene Tarr became the owner. He associated with him in the management of the News, W. A. Brown, the present editor of the Hancock Independent. Glass & Son re-pur- chased the News in 1874 and successfully conducted it as a democratic organ until 1889, when its present proprietors, J. E. and J. L. Curtis,
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became its owners. It is now upon a paying basis and under its new management its friends predict for it a wide field of usefulness.
The Wellsburg Local was established in July, 1883, by James Murphy, by whom it was sold in 1885 to Tucker Bros., who conducted it with success until August, 1889, when the office was moved to Wheeling.
Press of Moundsville, WV. Va .- The first newspaper venture in Moundsville was The West Virginian, established about 1831, by Dennis Parriott. After a short time its publication was suspended and its successor, the Sentinel, established by David McLain. The Marshall Beacon, edited by Archibald McLain, was published under his management till . 1840, when M. M. Blackmore became owner. R. C. Halliday purchased the office in 1850, and after several years changed its name to the Herald. Wallace & Co. bought the Herald and changed its name to the Reporter. In 1871 Hanen & Bonar be- came proprietors. It was afterward owned by Dawson & Evans, and still later Evans & Rook. The Moundsville Herald, now one of the live papers of the valley, is the outgrowth of the new State Gazette, projected by G. A. Creel in 1874. After about four or five years Mr. Creel sold to J. F. Curtis, who changed the name to Marshall County Herald. After a short time John A. Ewing and C. R. Oldham became managers for Curtis. Under their management the "County" was dropped and the paper called Marshall Herald. The paper came into possession of J, E. Hart, but was soon sold to S. R. Hanen, who dis- posed of it in April, 1886, to John W. Burchinal. Three months later A. R. Laing became a partner, and ever since it has been published under the firm-name of Burchinal & Laing. The name was changed by the present proprietors to Moundsville Herald. Under the man- agement of Messrs. Burchinal & Laing it has become widely popular, and is now one of the newsiest and best conducted county papers in this section of the state. Both men are practical newspaper men, the former being associated with the Grafton Sentinel, part of the time as editor and proprietor, and the latter publisher of the Whetzel Democrat.
Many other newspaper have appeared since the first establishment in 1831, but they have been of short duration, and none except the Sun, deserve any extended mention in this connection. The Mounds- ville Sickle, which was the predecessor of the Sun, was established about 1887, by A. P. Carney, Ewing, Oldham and P. Meighen, man- agers of it, and by them the name was changed to the Sun. In 1889, W. M. Sprawls, an old newspaper man and practical printer, became owner. It was published by Mr. Sprawls until April, 1890, when the firm of Stewart & Sprawls became proprietors. The Sun is demo- cratic in politics, and under its present management, the friends of the paper hope for it a useful career.
Marshall & Wetzel News, of Cameron, W. Va., is the outgrowth of a job-printing enterprise begun in 1885, by Oliver Cook, associated with S. P. Carney, of Littleton. The News was established by them and has
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grown prosperous under their management. The office is splendidly equipped, and the circulation of the paper is rapidly increasing.
Hancock County Courier was the first newspaper published in Han- cock county. It made its appearance in February, 1869. It was founded by J. W. Platenburg, who was a practical printer and an ex- perienced newspaper man. He was born in Washington county, Penn., in 1830. At four years of age removed with his mother to Wellsburg, W. Va. Attended common school of that place, and Bethany college one year. Learned the printing trade in the offices of the Western Transcript and Herald, of Wellsburg. Followed the business in various places until the breaking of the war. Married Miss Sarah Wetherell in 1852. Conducted the Woodford county, Ill., Argus for two years. He enlisted in April, 1861, in the First West Virginia three-months' volunteers, during which time he was engaged in the affair at Phillippi. Re-enlisted for three years in the First Virginia infantry, and served out the term, rising from the po- sition of sergeant to that of captain. During this service took part in the battles of Winchester, Second Bull Run (where he was taken prisoner, remaining so about a month), New Market, Port Republic, Piedmont, Lynchburg and Snicker's Gap (where he received a serious minnie-ball wound in the left arm), besides numerous smaller engage- ments. At the conclusion of the three-years' term he went into the Second West Virginia veterans and served as captain until the end of the war. In 1869 he published the Hancock Courier at Fairview, being the first newspaper published in the county. The office has since been removed to New Cumberland, where it has a wider scope of usefulness.
The Hancock County Independent was founded at New Cumber- land in 1876, by A. W. Brown and S. M. Morrow. The first issue did not appear until January 10, 1877. J. D. Brown, brother of A. W., succeeded Morrow in the partnership, but retired in 1884, leaving Mr. A. W. Brown, sole proprietor. The Independent is an independent re- publican journal, but is more especially devoted to the interests of the community and the material welfare of its town and county, than to that of any political party. Mr. Brown is a journalist of long exper- ience and knows what constitutes a readable country paper.
A. W. Brown, editor and proprietor of the Hancock County Independ- ent, was born at Wellsburg, Brooke county, November 24, 1854. He is a son of John Brown, born in Brooke county, about 1820, who was engaged in the dry goods trade and in buying and shipping flour and produce to the south. He died about 1860. His wife, mother of the subject of this mention, was born in Richmond, Va., about 1820, and died at New Cumberland in 1880. A. W. Brown began his experience in the printing office at the age of twelve years, but worked for but one year and afterward attended school at Wellsburg and Wheel- ing, and he took a course in a commercial college at Wheeling. Sub- sequently he was book-keeper for a firm at the latter city, two years. Returning to Wellsburg, he bought a half-interest in the Pan-handle News, from Eugene Tarr, and with him, continued the publication un-
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til a year later, when he sold his interest to Mr. Glass. He then con- tinued in the printing business at Cleveland, Wheeling and elsewhere, until October, 1874, when he came to Hancock county. Mr. Brown was married to Mary V., daughter of Alexander Morrow, a prominent citizen and justice of the peace of Fairview, who was founder and proprietor of the Virginia House at that place. Mr. Brown and wife have two children, Bert M., born November 21, 1877, and Lucy S., born May 23, 1880. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Presbyterian church, and he of the Episcopal church, and of Stella lodge, No. 47, I. O.O. F.
CHAPTER XVII.
BANKS.
ORTHWESTERN BANK OF WHEELING,* the first incorporated bank of the city, was organized in pursuance of an act of the assembly passed in February, 1817. The commissioners named in the act for receiving the subscrip- tions to the stock in the town of Wheeling, were: Archi- bald Woods, John White, George Knox, Noah Zane and Samuel Sprigg. Similar commissioners were named to re- ceive subscriptions in Clarksburg, Morgantown, Wellsburg, Parkersburgh, Beverly in Randolph county, and Middlebourne in Tyler county. The books for receiving subscriptions were to be opened on the first day of the following November, and it is presumed that the bank was ready for business in the year 1818. The first pres- ident was Noah Zane, and the first cashier was Thomas Woods, and John List, the father of Daniel C. and Henry K. List, was clerk. The next president was Archibald Woods. John List succeeded to the cashiership in about five or six years, and continued in that capacity until his death in 1846, when Daniel Lamb succeeded. Mr. Lamb served until about 1863, when he was succeeded by his son, Gibson Lamb. The earliest record obtainable is 1839. At that time the of- ficers were: Archibald Woods, president; John List, cashier; Samuel Sprigg, W. B. Atterbury, John Eoff, John McLure, Daniel Steenrod, Thomas Paull, D. Cruger and Thomas Johnston, directors. The bank was located in a small, two-story building, upon the spot where George K. Wheat's residence now stands, which house was afterward built and occupied by the bank. The Northwestern was always a con- servative and well-managed institution, and so well in hand was it kept that, during the panic of 1837 and the long depression that fol-
* History of the Northwestern bank is by Mr. George Adams.
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lowed, it was one of the very few banks in the country that did not suspend specie payments, but all through that dark period in our financial history, it met all its engagements promptly. None but a well-ordered bank could have done that. During the war it went out of business, closing a long and honorable career, and was succeeded by the National Bank of West Virginia. It is an interesting as well as a melancholy fact that of all the many people who have from time to time been connected with the Northwestern as officers and directors, but nine are now living, viz .: Thomas Sweeney, Daniel Lamb, Dan- iel C. List, James W. Paxton, Gibson Lamb, Michael Reilly, Thomas H. Mong, Wilber C. Brockunier and William H. Woods.
A very popular error exists in the minds of many persons to the ef- fect that the banking business is mainly in the hands of large capital- ists, and that the people in general have little or no interest in it. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I see by the last report of the comptroller of the currency that the national banks had capital amounting to $589,659,400, and this amount was held by 244, 523 share- holders. Of that number 234,950 were natural persons, and 9,573 were corporations, religious, charitable, educational, municipal and savings banks, loan, trust and insurance companies. Of these 244,523 shareholders, 141,683 held stock to the amount of $1,000 and less; 73,132 held more than $1,000 and less than $5,000; 27,965 held over $5,000 and less than $30,000, while but 1,743 persons held more than $30,000 each. You will thus see that the banks are mainly owned by the people, the merchant, the manufacturer, the tradesman, the me- chanic, the widow, the orphan, the trustee, the executor; the rich capitalists owning not more than one-tenth.
Merchants' and Mechanics' Bank was originally founded July 13, 1834, the first president being Redick McKee, and this continued until 1865, when the title of the institution was changed to that of the Merchants' National bank, which went into liquidation in the early seventies. The Exchange bank, of Wheeling, was organized in August, 1874, with a capital stock of $200,000, and there is now a surplus fund amounting to more than $50,000. Its principal corres- pondent is the American Exchange National bank of New York. The executive officers of the institution are Messrs. J. N. Vance, pres- ident, and L. S. Delaplain, vice-president, with Mr. John J. Jones as cashier.
Among the best known and oldest established of these institutions is that of the Bank of Wheeling, which was founded about 1853, and among the founders, in addition to some of the present proprietors, were Messrs. C. D. Hubbard and Henry K. List. At the present time the ownership of the institution is vested in the hands of Messrs. D. C. List, Gibson Lamb, Joseph Seybold and others, the bank being a pri- vate firm. The bank transacts a regular banking business, making loans, discounts and collections, receiving deposits, etc.
Commercial Bank of Wheeling .- This business was started in Cen- tre Wheeling, as the Savings Bank of Wheeling, of which Thomas H. List was president and William Rankin was cashier-the former
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down to 1865 and the latter to 1853. George S. Thompson was then elected its treasurer. In 1853 the business was conducted at 1135 Main street, remaining there down to 1861, when its management bought their present building- 1303 Main street - of the Manufac- turers' and Farmers' banking company, and continued under its orig- inal name to November 1, 1865, when it succeeded to the style of "National Savings Bank of Wheeling," securing its charter under the national currency act of 1866. At this time S. P. Hildreth became cashier. It retained the name of "National Savings bank " down to 1869, when it reorganized as such under the state law, but under act of congress, 1874, it was subsequently obliged to drop the word "National," and adopt the style of "Commercial bank." Mr. List resigned the presidency in 1878. W. M. List is now the president.
One of the oldest established and most reliable institutions here is the Bank of the Ohio Valley, which was founded in 1864 as the First National bank of Wheeling, and George K. Wheat, as president, and George Adams as cashier. This old institution was one of the most successful in the city's history, and much was done by Mr. George Adams to bring about this result. It closed up with a capital of $250,000 and $100,000 surplus. On May 19, 1875, it was reorgan- ized under the present designation with a capital of $250,000, which in 1881 was reduced to $175,000, at which amount it still re- mains. The present officers and board of directors include such names as W. A. Isett, president; W. B. Simpson, vice president; F. P. Jepson, cashier.
People's Bank of Wheeling was founded in 1860, the original capi- tal being $20,000. Later the capital was increased to $71,720, at which amount it still remains. The bank occupies a handsome building at the corner of Twelfth and Main streets, which cost over $50,000, and it is particularly well suited to the requirements of the institu- tion. The bank utilizes the first floor and the upper part is let out for offices and other purposes, and a lucrative income is thus derived from the investment. Its energies are devoted to the regular routine of financial institutions of this character, such as receiving deposits, making loans, discounts and collections, and dealing in all first-class bonds and securities. A recent and valuable addition to the facilities of this institution is that of a safe deposit vault, built by the Hall Safe and Lock company. The officers and directors of the bank are as follows: Thomas O'Brien, president; T. T. Hutchisson, vice presi- dent, and G. W. Eckhart, Jr., cashier. The principal correspondents of the bank are the Third National bank of New York, and the Third National bank of Cincinnati. They have also reliable cor- respondents at other prominent centers and issue letters of credit in this country and abroad.
The City Bank of Wheeling may be quoted as among our most enterprising and stable fiduciary institutions, and it was originally es- tablished in 1871 as the city bank, modifying its title to the present designation in 1886. Its first executive officers were Robert Crangle, president, and F. H. Eccles, cashier. The capital stock of the bank
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at the present time is $100,000. The principal correspondents of the bank are the United States National bank of New York, Citizens' National bank of Cincinnati and the National Bank of Illinois at Chicago. The executive officers of the bank are Messrs. Henry K. List, president; A. S. List, vice-president, and R. C. Dalzell, cashier. The bank with all facilities at command extends an invitation to manufacturers and others to locate here, and is prepared to offer needed assistance on a liberal business basis.
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