400 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. would respectfully refer you to the officer in command at or near Grafton.  " Very Respectfully, " SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War." Impressed with the spirit of loyalty to his adopted government, he encouraged the organization of the first German company of Wheeling volunteers in the Union army; enlisted himself in the Home Guards; contributed liberally of his means to' establish a German newspaper in Wheeling, called The Patriot; was elected president of the company that published it, and did much to encourage loyalty to the government in those dark days in the history of the Republic. He never sought office at the hands of the people and the only public official position he ever held was that of a member of the board of education of the Third ward of Wheeling. He has for years been a leader in every movement that had for its object the development of the business interests of his adopted city. He has been president of the German bank and director of the "Etna Iron and Nail company, and is now director of the German Insurance company; trustee of the Wheeling Female college; trustee of the Linsly institute, and president of the West Virginia Tobacco company. Mr. Pollack is thoroughly public-spirited. He officiated as chairman of the Aid movement in behalf of the widows and orphans of German soldiers who were slain during the Franco-Prussian war, and the large contribution forwarded by him November 5, 1870, was acknowledged by Minister George Bancroft at Berlin, in which, among other things, he said, " all honor is given here to the generous efforts of the people of Weeling." He was elected president of the German Peace celebration held at Wheeling in 1871. In 1875-6 he fostered the movement to aid the establishment of the German seminary at Milwaukee, and was elected president of the Wheeling organization. He presided at the Garfield ratification meeting at the Wheeling Opera House, July 3o, 188o, and was president of, and the leading, spirit in, the movement that resulted in the mass meeting at the opera house, November 20, 188o, when the Hon. A. W. Campbell was presented with a massive oil painting commemorative of the independent position he took in the Chicago convention of that year. He was elected president of the first Saengerfest celebrated at Wheeling, July 20, 21, 22, 23, 1885, and also president of the great trades display of Wheeling, held August 25, 1887. . He presided at the German Memorial services, in Wheeling, commemorative of the death of Emperor William, held at the opera house, March 22, 1888, and transmitted an engrossed copy of the resolutions adopted, to the court at Berlin. He was chosen umpire to adjust the differences between the Central Glass company and its employes, and as such rendered a ecision that attracted general attention and gave satisfaction to a the interests involved 'by reason of his large and liberal views as to the just understandings that should govern the relation of employers and employes in all-industrial establishments. These views were greatly strengthened by the fact that Mr. Pollack's administration of his own business affairs OHIO COUNTY, WEST. VIRGINIA - 401 has been exceptionally satisfactory to his employed labor. He aided materially in the construction of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis, and Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling railways to Wheeling. Mr. Pollack is in no sense a politician. It was therefore with relucttance that he accepted the honor of a unanimous nomination for the position of an elector-at-large on the Harrison and Morton presidential ticket for West Virginia, and contributed materially to the success of the campaign of 1888. His speeches in favor of a tariff for protection to American labor were of a high order of merit and were well received by his fellow-citizens. No man in all West Virginia commands higher respect both from business associates and the working class, and no lingering prejudice overshadows his confidence in the promise and dignity of progressive tolerance. Ephraim Pollock was one of the pioneers of Ohio county. As early as 1792 he came to America from Donegal, Ireland, and settled in Chester county, Penn. His wife and two children remained in the old country until two years later, when he sent for them and brought them over, the trip occupying in that period of slow navigation, ninety days. Ephraim Pollock removed with his family to Ohio county about 1804, and bought fifty acres of land from one Shepherd, on the hills near the present city of Wheeling. Here the old gentleman settled and followed farming until his death,•which occurred about 1818. His wife survived him about fen years. To these parents two children were born in Ireland, Stephen and Mary, and in this country, Thomas, Jane, Hamilton, Ephriam and Letitia. These children are prominent in the history of the city. About the year 1825 Stephen and Thomas Pollock, and John Scott, established a foundry at Wheeling, which they operated for three or four years, when Thomas Pollock and Mr. Scott sold their interests to Stephen Pollock, who conducted the business alone for several years. In 1833 Thomas again joined him, in the enterprise, but withdrew in the following year and engaged in farming in the Wells neighborhood, in Marshall county. In 1836 Thomas and Ephraim purchased the foundry, and Stephen settled on a farm in West Virginia, about fourteen miles below Gallipolis, Ohio, where he died about 1865. Ephraim subsequently engaged in the boot and shoe business, but afterward retired from that and entered the wholesale grocery business. In 1852_ he removed to New York' city, and carried on business there with his residence at Jersey City. He died in 1867. Hamilton Pollock was also engaged in the boot and shoe trade at Wheeling. He died in 185o. Thomas Pollock learned the trade of a tailor, and followed that, traveling from place to place, for a number of years. About 1820 he opened a shop at Wheeling. Five years later he engaged in the shoe business. In 1833 he re-entered the foundry business for a year, and subsequently located on a farm in the Wells neighborhood. In 1864 he returned to Wheeling, and there died in December, 1873, at the age of eighty years. He was married to Emily, daughter of William Fairchild, a pioneer of Wheeling. She was born at Newtown, Conn., in July, 1804, and died in March, 1889. To this union nine 26—A. 402 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. children were born, five of whom survive: Mortimer; Mrs. Jacob Anshurtz, of Philadelphia; Mrs. Bernard Peters, editor of the Brooklyn, N. Y., Times; Julius, of Wheeling, and Mrs. J. B. Taney, of Wheeling. Mortimer Pollock, son of the above, was born at Wheeling, February 12, 1822. He was reared in the city up to his twelfth year, when he removed to the farm and remained there until 1839, when he returned to Wheeling, and was engaged for two years in a shoe store. In 1841 his father and others erected a flouring-mill at the mouth of Sunfish creek, where the town of 'Clarington now stands, the latter having been laid out by Thomas Pollock subsequently. In 1842 Mortimer was sent to this place and became a clerk in the store, which was run in connection with the mill. He remained there until 1864, in which year he and his brother, Julius, erected and established the Pacific Flouring mills at Wheeling, the most extensive concern of the kind in this part of the country, having a capacity of zoo barrels per day. The roller process was introduced in the mill in 1882. Mortimer Pollock, in addition to the development of his business, has been public spirited and enterprising, and is a popular citizen. In 1866 he was elected a member of the city council from a republican ward, though he is a democrat, and continued to hold the office until 1872. He was married in 185o to Mary J. Thomas, of Clarington, who died in June, I 854. In September, 1855, he was married to Helen Kimball, of Rome, N. Y., who died in October, 1856, leaving one son, Ernest, who was born in June, 1856. In 1857, Mr. Pollock was married to Amanda F. Smith, of Cincinnati, who died in 1884, leaving a daughter, now Mrs. John Dunlap, of Brooklyn, N. Y. January 4, 1887, he was married to Ophelia C. Smith, of Wellsbottom, Marshall county. Julius Pollock, the other surviving son of Thomas Pollock, was born in Marshall county, W. Va., December I I, 1834. He was reared in West Virginia and educated in Bethany college.. From 186o to 1863 he was engaged in his father's mill at Clarington, and subsequently came to Wheeling, and formed a partnership as has been stated, with his brother in the establishment of the Pacific mills. This firm is still in operation, under the firm name of M. & J. Pollock. Mr. Pollock is interested also in other enterprises of importance, is a director of the Wheeling Storage and Ice company, and is a stockholder in the Ohio Valley National bank, the Belmont Bridge company, and, the Fire and Marine Insurance company. In 1878 he was elected to represent the Third ward in the city council for four years, and he is now serving in the same position. Mr. Pollock was married in 1877 to Mary A. Ray, of Burlington, Iowa, and they have three children. Isaac D. Prager, a prominent merchant of Wheeling, W. Va., is a grandson of John Prager, who came to America from Amsterdam about 1797, accompanied by his brothers, Mark and Levi. They settled at Philadelphia and engaged extensively in foreign trade, exporting and importing vast quantities of goods, and ranking as one of the foremost firms of the country in that business. They had branch houses in various ports in all parts of the globe, owned between OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 403 twelve and fifteen vessels, and were owners, shippers and underwriters. During the French and English war the Pragers were completely ruined in business and bankrupted by the depredations of the French privateers, losing all their vessels and cargoes. From such losses as these arose the French spoliation claims, about to be paid by the government, and among those who will receive some compensation for the ravages of that war are the descendants of the famous firm of the Pragers, of Philadelphia. John Prager died in New Orleans in 1806, during an epidemic of yellow fever, being then engaged in the service of the government. His children living at that time at his home in Philadelphia were Charles, Susan and Harriet, and their half-brother and sister, George and Charlotte. Charles, the father of the subject of this mention, was born in Philadelphia in June, 1799• In childhood he was bound out, but being ill treated ran away and returned home, after which he was apprenticed to a gilder. About the year 1840 he left for Philadelphia and removed to Pittsburgh, where he was soon afterward married to Elizabeth Morrison. This lady was born in March, 1821, of a family that was prominent in the pioneer history of Pennsylvania. Her grandmother, Mrs. Smea, was scalped by the Indians during one of their raids upon the settlements, but survived the injury. During his residence at Pittsburgh, Mr. Prager followed his trade. In 1843 he removed to Wheeling and found employment with the firm of Harbour & Mendel, furniture dealers, who then did business where the Grand Opera House now stands. He continued to reside in the city until his death in June, 1881, and his widow is still living here. To their union were born ten children: John, who was born at Pittsburgh, enlisted in Company I, First regiment West Virginia infantry, and was killed at New Market, Va., May 15, 864; Mary, born at Wheeling, died in 1853; George, born at Wheeling, enlisted in the First West Virginia infantry and served three years; Charles, now a job printer of Wheeling; William; Isaac D., born April 4, 185o; Andrew B., Michael, James H., and Daniel L., all residents of Wheeling. 'Isaac D., the subject of this sketch, was reared at Wheeling, his native city. At sixteen years of age he embarked in the business to which he has since devoted himself, starting as a paperhanger and decorator. He worked at this until 1875, when he opened an establishment on Main street, beginning on a small scale. His business increased from year to year until he became one of the foremost in his line of trade. In 1885 he removed to his present place of business, No. 17 Eleventh street, where he conducts an extensive wholesale and retail business in wall paper exclusively, Mr. Prager was married October 27, 1881, to Mary E. Bigelow, of Wheeling, and they have four children: John Elwood, Austin B., Andrew B. and Elizabeth E. Captain William Prince, of Wheeling, is one of those who are prominently connected with the river commerce and transportation which has contributed in so considerable a degree to the progress of the city. Captain Prince was born about two miles above Wheeling, August 15, 1833, and is the son of William Prince, one of the early 404 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. settlers of the upper Ohio valley. The latter was born in Staffordshire, England, and there grew to manhood, and was married to Ann Shirley. In 1829, accompanied by their son and three daughters, the parents came to America, and by stages over the Alleghanies reached Wheeling, where they lived about two years before moving to their country residence, known as the Andrew Woods farm. Later in life they returned to Wheeling. The mother died in 1854, and the father in 1857. Six daughters and four sons were born to them, and the sons alOne are living at this time. When not quite sixteen years of age, Capt. William Prince had his first experience as a river man, making a trip on a coal boat to New Orleans, in the spring of 1849. At that time coal was floated down the river, and the trip was a long one from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. Captain Prince continued in the employment of the Pittsburgh firm for which he began work, for a period of thirteen years, floating coal during all that time. In 1862 he quit that employment and, began steamboating, at which he has since been engaged. In 1876 he and 'Samuel Coughland built the " Iron Valley," a tow boat, and Mr. Prince became for the first time a captain, which position he has since filled. The " Iron Valley" blew up in August, 1879, and the owners built the " Belle Prince," which they now conduct in the towing trade. Of this Mr. Prince is half owner-and captain. Captain Prince is a worthy gentleman, highly esteemed. by the community, and he and wife are active members of the Methodist church. He was married May 28, 1854, to Belle Cloee, of Wheeling, and they had six sons and four daughters born to them, of whom two of the sons are deceased. John Edward Prosser, a leading retail grocer of Wheeling, was born in Shropshire, England, April 25, 1845, the son of Thomas and Ann (Nash) Prosser. In 1863 the father came to America and provided a home for his family at Sharon, Penn., whither the mother with her five children, of whom John Edward was the eldest, came in 1865. In 1868, the parents removed to Hickory county, Mo., where they still reside, and the subject of this sketch came at that time to Wheeling, where he found employment as a boiler maker, which trade he learned in England. From 1872 to 1879 he followed the same occupation at Irontown, Ohio, and subsequently he made his permanent home at Wheeling. He has continued to follow the trade named, but in April, 1885, also started a grocery on Main street, of which he has since been the proprietor, but which has been under the immediate care of his family. The business has been successful- and he has one of the popular groceries of North Wheeling. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs, and in politics is a republican. Mr. Prosser was married-January I, 1871, to Elizabeth Dixon, daughter of Thomas and Jane Dixon, formerly of Belmont county, Ohio. Mrs. Prosser's parents were natives of England. His mother, whose maiden name was Jane Robinson, was born December 30, 1821, and came to America with her parents in 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Prosser have had four children:. Thomas D., Annie B., Harry C. and Harriet. OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 405 Among the old and honored citizens of Wheeling was William B. Quarrier, now deceased, who for many years was connected with the banking interests of this city. He was a native of Richmdnd, Va., in which city he was born in the year i800. His father was Alexander Quarrier, who was a native of Scotland, emigrating to this country . during the colonial days. He served in the American army "during the Revolutionary war, attaining the rank of colonel, while engaged in fighting for his adopted country's liberty. At the close of the war he located at Richmond, Va., and subsequently removed to theKanawha valley, where he owned large tracts of land, and where he established his plantation, living there the balance of his life. His son, William B., was given a liberal education, and while a young man, went to Norfolk, Va., where he went on the United States man-of-war, " Delaware " as purser, in which capacity he served for several years, during which period he visited all the foreign countries. After leaving the navy, he came west, reaching Wheeling about 183o, on his way to Louisville, Ky. Friends then living in Wheeling prevailed upon him to locate here, and consequently he accepted the position of book-keeper in the old Merchants' and Mechanics' bank. He continued to hold this position until his death, which occurred in April, 1862. He was married to Miss Mary A. Hudson, a native of the Kanawha valley. She survives him, still residing in Wheeling. To these parents ten children have been born, seven of whom are living. Mr. Quarrier was one of the most highly respected men in Wheeling. He was a prominent member of the Second Presbyterian church, and from the time of the organization of that church, until his death, he was an elder in the same. A thoroughly conscientious man, one who both in a business and a social way, was very popular, and he had a large circle of friends and acquaintances who esteemed him for his many sterling traits of character. His memory still lives in the hearts of many of the older citizens. Hullihan Quarrier, a member of the large dry goods firm of L. S. Delaplain Son & Co., and the president of the chamber of commerce of Wheeling, was born in this city November 19, 1847. He is a son of William B. Mr. Quarrier was raised and educated in Wheeling, and has always lived here with the exception of a short time spent in Louisville, Ky., where he went immediately after his father's death, being employed in the Commercial bank of that city. Returning to Wheeling, he entered the wholesale dry goods house of Tallant & Delaplaih, in 1864, in the capacity of a clerk. He has since been connected with this firm. The firm of Tallant & Delaplain was dissolved in 1865, and in 1872, Mr. Quarrier became a member of the firm and is now the active partner, doing all the buying and attending to the details of the immense business done by this house. He was one of the prime organizers of the chamber of commerce, being made a vice president at its inception, and was the second president, succeeding Dr. Logan, the first president, who died in 1888, and is still the presi- dent. Mr. Quarrier is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity of this section, being a Knight Templar, he is also a vestryman of St. Matthew's Protestant Episcopal church. In 1867, Mary, daughter 406 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. of L. S. Delaplain, became his wife. Her death occurred February I I, 1882. The second marriage occurred in 1888, when he married Miss Annie Hogg, of Cadiz, Ohio, a granddaughter of. Chauncey Dewey, father of C. C: Dewey, of Wheeling. Mr. Quarrier is recognized as one of the representativiircitizens and merchants of Wheeling. He is progressive in his ideas, and is ready at all times, to assist in the promotion of any public enterprise. As president of the chamber of commerce, he has accomplished much in the way of advancing the interests of the city and the surrounding country. D. L. Ratcliff, a prominent business man of Wheeling, senior memof the popular firm of D. L. Ratcliff & Co., general merchants at the corner of Thirty-sixth and Jacob streets, was born at Wheeling in 1844. He is the son of Thomas Ratcliff, an early settler and manufacturer at Wheeling. The latter was born in England in 1819, and in 1836 came to the United States, landing at Baltimore and thence proceeding directly to Wheeling, making most of the journey overland on foot. He engaged in the manufacture of pumps at Wheeling for many years, but is now retired. His wife, Ann Exley, an aunt of Col. William Exley, and of one of the old families of Wheeling, was born in England in 1817, and is still living. Eight children were born to then, five of whom survive. D. L. Ratcliff, their son, with mention of whom this sketch begins, was reared and educated at Wheeling, and at the age of eighteen years began clerking in the store of which he is at present one of the proprietors. He clerked for J. & W. C. Handlan, then the owners, for three years, after which period he purchased the interest of W. C. Handlan, forming the firm of Handlan & Ratcliff. Louis Hoelsche came iuto the firm at the same time, and upon the death of John Handlan in 188o, he and Mr. Ratcliff formed the firm of D. L. Ratcliff & Co. Aside from his interest in this prominent house, Mr. Ratcliff is a stockholder in the Hobbs Glass works, the Riverside Glass company, of Wellsburg, and he is a director in the West Virginia Tobacco company, and People's bank. In 1869, Mr. Ratcliff was married to Rachel Dillon, daughter of James M. Dillon, of Wheeling, and they have one daughter. Charles J. Rawling, a prominent citizen of Wheeling, is a son of John S. Rawling, well-remembered as a business man of that city for many years subsequent to 1835. John S. Rawling was born in the village of Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, England, in 1798, the son of John Rawling and his wife, Mary James, of Norman lineage, the latter of whom was very prominent in the societies of England. John S. received his business training in the Friend house of Guerney, linen man, in London, as a clerk, and in 1826 he came to America, settling first at Washington City. He then embarked in business at Georgetown, D. C., conducting the leading store of that place for about six years, after the expiration of which period he removed to Orange county, Va., about 1833, and engaged in gold mining on Mine Run, not far from Orange Court House, where Lee fortified in the winter of 1863-4. In 1834 Mr. Rawling removed to Pittsburgh, and in the fol-. lowing year came to Wheeling. He was married to Margaret, OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 407 daughter of George and Margaret (James) Godfrey, of Saxon descent. Her father, George Godfrey, came to Wheeling in 1826, walking from Philadelphia, when seventy years of age. He purchased a farm at Scotch Ridge, Belmont county, where he lived until his death in 1845. James and Joseph Godfrey, brothers of Mrs. Rawling, were engaged in business at Wheeling, when Mr. Rawling arrived, and he was connected with the establishment subsequently for forty years, succeeding to the proprietorship in 1875. In 1876 he removed to Moundsville, Va., where he died August 18, 1877. His widow passed away in December, 1885, at the age of eighty-seven years. The elder of their two children, Georgia Anna, was born in ]829, at Washington City, and died in December, 1887. Charles J. Rawling, the subject of this mention, was born at Washington, in 1830. Coming to Wheeling in childhood he was educated at the Linsly institute, and first had his experience in business with Sweeney & Bell, glassware manufacturers and queensware importers. Afterward he spent one year in the west, and on returning learned the drug business with Dr. F. A. Breitlinger, and afterward clerked for various druggists Until i 861. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in the famous First Virginia regiment of infantry, organized at Wheeling in May, 1861. He entered the service as a private. He served at the front until wounded in the Virginia valley, when he entered the quartermaster's department, and at the latter period of the war he represented that department at Martinsburg, supplying Sheridan's army with supplies. The heroic deeds of his regiment have been-preserved for posterity by Mr. Rawling in his volume entitled the History of the First Virginia Regiment Infantry, 1861 to 1865. The war ending, Mr. Rawling returned to Wheeling and in the fall of 1865 became a partner with Dr. Logan, under the firm name of C. J. Rawling & Co., in the drug business on Twelfth street. In the following year he purchased Dr. Logan's interest and opened a store on the corner of Sixteenth and Market streets. In the fall of 1867 Mr. Rawling began a long and honorable service as postmaster of Wheeling. He was appointed by President Johnson, and served through the administration of Grant, and part of that of Hayes, in all twelve years. Mr. Rawling is prominently connected with manufacturing and financial interests, being president of the Wheeling Hinge company, with which he first became associated in 1868, and he is president of the Fire and Marine Insurance company. He was married in 1866, at Ellicott Mills, Md., to Maria A. Donnelly, and they have-one son, C. Q., teacher of chemistry at the Linsly institute of Wheeliug. James Reed, formerly a prominent druggist of Wheeling, now retired, was born in what is now Ohio county, February 23, 1820. Of this county his grandfather, Charles Reed, a native of Scotland, was a prominent pioneer, clearing and subsequently cultivating a farm which was his home until the end of his days. He had seven children: James, John, William and David, and three daughters. John, who became the father of the subject of this mention, was born in Ohio county, in 1797. He was a farmer by occupation, and a worthy and respected 408 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. citizen of this county, in which his whole life was spent, eighty-five years. He was married to Margaret McMurray, by whom he had seven children: James, Samuel; Mary, wife of Joseph Gerry; Nancy, wife of Hiram Elliott; Margaret, wife of Thomas Hand; John B. and Henry. The mother was a daughter of Samuel McMurray, a native of Ireland, who settled in an early day near West Alexandria, in Washington county, Penn. James Reed has resided in Ohio county with the exception of five years, during his entire life. In early manhood he engaged in general merchandise at Triadelphia, where he was in business for fourteen years. In 1854 he settled at Wheeling, where he engaged in the drug business with Dr. Isaac Baguley, his brother-in-law, with whom he learned the business. He continued in this business, with much success, conducting one of the popular and leading establishments of the city, until 1885, when he was succeeded by his son, J. T. Reed. His business career as a druggist in Wheeling extended over thirty-one years. Mr. Reed was married in April, 1843, to Mary A., daughter of Charles and Sarah (Bowers) Baguley, of Triadelphia. By this union there are four children living, Anna, James S., Charles and John T. Mr. Reed has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1839. He has served one term as member of the city council. Leon N. Reefer, V. M. D., was born in Meadville, Penn., July 24, 1867, the son of Morris H. and Jeanette Reefer. The father is a prominent and wealthy merchant of Meadville, Penn. Dr. Reefer received his preliminary education in the excellent public schools of his native town, and afterward entered the Allegheny college. In 1885 he became a student in the University of Pennsylvania, and was graduated therefrom in June, 1888. Dr. Reefer took the highest honors of his class, and all through his course was the recipient of the chief honors. Among the many articles which he has contributed to the medical journals may be mentioned one on " Media Union," which was published in the Comparative journal of Medicine and Veterinary Surgery. This article attracted wide-spread notice from horsemen all over this country, and was copied in the London, England, Lancet. Dr. Reefer came to Wheeling in October, 1888, and although a young man, has come to be recognized as pre-eminent among those practicing in this locality. He was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Brinton, of Wheeling, November 27, 1889. ' Dr. Reefer has medical charge of all the horses used in the several city departments, and also of most of the blooded stock owned in Wheeling and vicinity. In his short residence in this city he has not only made a success in his profession, but has also made a host of friends, and is regarded as a very promising-young man. Andrew Reitz, one of the prominent young men in the manufacturing circles of Wheeling, occupies the position of secretary of the Spears Axle company. He was born at Wheeling, September 15, 1851, in the residence he now occupies. His father, George Reitz, who was born in Germany, in January, 1803, immigrated to the United States in 1830. He first located at Buffalo, N. Y., OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 409 and thence came to Wheeling. For over thirty years he was in the employ of A. J. Sweeney, and the different companies with which that gentleman was associated, and after closing that employment he retired from active life. He resided in the city until his death in 1887. He was married at Wheeling to Catherine Weil, a native of Alsace-Lorraine, who came to the United States when eleven years of age. She is still living, and on, February 12, 1889, was seventy years of age. Eleven children were born to these parents, of whom nine survive. Andrew Reitz was reared in Wheeling and educated in the city schools until the age of fifteen years, when, on March 4, 1866, he began an apprenticeship as a carpenter, and worked at that trade about six months after completing his apprenticeship. He then learned the pattern-making trade with A. J. Sweeney, and was so employed until 1875, when he went south with Capt. T. C. Sweeney, and Was engaged in steamboating for two seasons. Then, returning to Wheeling, he again entered the works of A. J. Sweeney. In March, 1886, he was appointed, by the Cleveland administration, local inspector of steam vessels for the district of Wheeling, a position he held until March 15, 1888, when he resigned to accept the secretaryship of the Spears Axle company, in which he is a stockholder. Michael Reilly, a notable citizen of Wheeling, is a son of Phillip Reilly, who was born in county Cavan, Ireland, and in the early part of the present century emigrated to America. The latter first settled at Pittsburgh, where he obtained employment in a merchant tailoring establishment, and thence removed to Steubenville, Ohio, where he went into business for himself. In a few years he accumulated some capital, and then removed to St. Louis, where he built up arlarge busi- ness and prospered for several years. But there he lost a favorite child by death, and subsequently at the entreaty of his wife he returned to Steubenville, and resumed business there. About 1819 he sent to the old country for his mother, sister and oldest son, who came to Steubenville, and all resided there until 1821, when they removed to Wheeling. There he purchased property on Market street, a few doors north of Eleventh, and erected a residence and store room, in which he opened a grocery and produce store. Subsequently he was largely engaged in shipping produce to southern markets by flat-boats, and by large and successful operations amassed much profit. He purchased a farm located on the eastern confines of the city, which included that portion known as Manchester, which was platted and named by him. Here he erected a distillery which he managed several years, at the same time conducting a farm. Subsequently he purchased a farm at Glenn's Run, in Ohio county, on the line of the Pittgburgh, Wheeling & Kentucky railroad, and there built a residence which is still intact, where he lived until the time of his decease. All his various enterprises prospered and he accumulated a large estate. He was one of the large stockholders in the old Northwestern bank of Virginia. The only survivors of his children are a daughter, Mrs. E. J. Carney, and one son, Michael Reilly. The latter came to America from his native island at twelve years of age. As he 410 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. grew up he turned his attention first to the trade of merchant tailor, but abandoning. this, engaged in the distillery business. In the spring of 1836 he embarked in the grocery business at Wheeling, on Market square, and remained at the same stand until 1857, when he removed to Main street, and engaged exclusively in the wholesale commission, grocery and produce trade. He is the oldest grocer in the city, and one of the oldest of the state. He is also . extensively engaged in curing and packing pork, which he carries on at his establishment at Manchester, where he also has a magazine for the storing of powder. Aside from the lines of business named, he has, with notable enterprise, connected himself with various other undertakings of great importance. He is vice president of the Franklin Insurance company, director in the National bank of West Virginia, and director in the Wheeling and Belmont Bridge company, and in the Elm Grove Railway company, in the three latter of which corporations he is a particularly large stockholder. As a public-spirited and enterprising citizen he has contributed greatly to the improvement of the city, by various buildings, notably that handsome architectural pile known as the " Reilly block." His success in life is due to his exceptionally fine business habits, and by his enterprise and public spirit he has won the respect and admiration of the community, no less than by his uprighness of character, probity and fair dealing. In religion he is, as was his father, a member of the Catholic church, and is an attendant of St. Joseph's cathedral. Mr. Reilly was first married, at this city, December 27, 1837; to Matilda C. Finegan, who died in 1884. By this union he had seven children, of whom six are living: Thomas, George, James, Michael, John, and Helen, wife of A. C. Jamison. Michael is in business in Chicago, and the others reside in Wheeling. One daughter died in childhood. On November To, 1885, Mr. Reilly' was married to Mrs. Virginia F. C. Zane, widow of the late Orloff A. Zane, and daughter of the late Job Stanbury. She is a lady of great personal charms and fine accomplishments, and is a descendant of the Zanes and Clarks, distinguished families in the history of the valley. Her father's family is also prominent, and her uncle, Henry Stanbury, filled the office of attorney-general in the cabinet of President Johnson. Mrs. Reilly is recognized as one of the leaders in Wheeling society. George Rentsch, a member of the firm of George M. Snook & Co., was born January 29, 1856, in the city of Wheeling, W. Va. His parents were Daniel and Catherine (Felsing) Rentsch, deceased. The subject of this mention passed his early life on Wheeling Island, and attended the Fifth ward public school. Subsequently he entered Frazier's Business college, where he remained for a short time. At the early age of thirteen years Mr. Rentsch began active life as a package boy in the Fisher & Seamon's dry goods house. He gradually worked his way up until he secured the position of book-keeper for George E. Stifel & Co., a place he held for five .years, the last two years of which he and his present partners were members of the firm. After the memorable flood of 1884, Mr. Rentsch and his two associ- OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 411 ates in business left the firm of George E: Stifel & Co. and established. the present firm of George M. Snook & Co. Mr. Rentsch possesses admirable business ability and has great talent as a decorator. He was married to Miss Lydia Rittar in March, 1884. She is a daughter of Charles Rittar. Two children have come to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rentsch, one son and a daughter. Anton Reymann, proprietor of the Reymann brewery, the largest establishment of the kind in West Virginia, was born at Gaubickelheim, near Bingen-on-the-Rhine, Germany, September 15, 1837. In 1853, he came with his parents to the United States, the family landing at New Orleans, from which city they came up the Mississippi river to Galena, Ill., where they made their first settlement. Their residence there was of short duration, however, and the prevailing disease of chills and fever soon caused them to seek a home elsewhere. In the fall of the same year they came to Wheeling and made a permanent location. George Reymann, the father engaged with P. P. Beck, a brewer, and the two purchased the ground where the present brewery stands, and opened a summer garden. Only a few years were spent in this business, Mr. Reymann retiring and Mr. Beck dying. George Reymann was a man of good education and while in the old country was in the employment of the Geiman government as a teacher. In 1862 he returned to Germany and remained one year. His death occurred in 1882, at the age of seventy-five years, but his widow survives, past eighty-five years of age. After coming to Wheeling, Anton Reymann entered the public schools and attended, the Fourth ward school until they were closed in the spring of 1854 on account of the small-pox. He then entered the' employment of P. P. Beck, and served an apprenticeship of four years in the brewery business. He completed his knowledge of the trade at Cincinnati, where he went in 1858 and remained one year, working at different breweries, and then, spent two years in different St. Louis breweries. At the outbreak of the war he returned to Wheeling with the intention of enlisting in the army, but upon the solicitation of his friends his enlistment was delayed, and later, Mr. Beck's health failing he took charge of the business of the ratter, and was thus prevented from enlisting at all. In.1862, he was married to a daughter of Mr. Beck, and upon the death of that gentleman. he formed a partnership with his widow in the brewery, taking charge of the establishment. The business was then of small proportions, the output being about 2,000 barrels per year. Several years later Mrs. Beck retired from the business, and Mr. Reymann rented the establishment, which was then lo- cated between Market and Main streets. In the latter part of the sixties, when it became necessary to make extensive repairs, Mr. Reymann purchased the entire business, and removed the plant to the present site, erecting new buildings, to which more have been added from time to time, until the plant is the largest in the state with a capacity of over oo,000 barrels per year. In 188o, a stock company was formed for the prosecution of the business by the admission of Henry Hess, as manager; Frederick Happy, foreman; Charles Smith, 412 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. assistant foreman, and August Walter. Mr. Walter retired in 1881, and Herman Grimm took his place as secretary, and- at the same time Oscar Burdats became traveling agent. Mr. Reymann is interested in various other enterprises, being a large stockholder in the Wheeling & Elm Grove railroad company, president of the Wheeling Park company, president of the State Fair association and vice president of the German Fire Insurance company, of which he is one of the originators. He was one of the founders of the German bank, and is a stockholder in both the Warrick and North Wheeling Pottery companies. Mr. Reymann is a member of Ohio lodge, F. & A. M. In 1880, Mr. Reymann visited Germany, and took his family there in 1885, and again in 1889. His son, Paul 0., has been a student at the university at Berlin, since 1888. Jacob S. Rhodes, born at Middletown, Frederick, county, Va., in 1822, died at Wheeling, April 12, 1881, was noted as one of the pioneer merchants of the latter city. He came to Wheeling about 1838 or 1839, and found employment with his uncle, Jacob Sweeney, one of the earliest dry goods merchants, and subsequently became a member of the firm of Senseny & Rhodes. In 1848 he opened a dry goods establishment of his own on the bridge corner and continued to do business there the remainder of his life. He was very prominent as a dry goods merchant, his establishment being recognized as one of the largest in the city. Progressive, far-sighted, and continually on the alert to aid in the growth of the whole community, he not only achieved success for himself but lent valuable assistance to the welfare of the city. Through his instrumentality several large business blocks were erected that now adorn the city. Though active in this way for the public advancenient he never sought political preferment. He was connected with the banking interests of the city, and was one of the organizers and promoters of the First National bank of Wheeling, now the Bank of the Ohio Valley, being one of the directors of that institution. The firm of J. S. Rhodes & Co., founded by him, has been in existence for forty years, is one of the most substantial houses of the city, and is a worthy monument of his fame. - Peter M. Rhodes, son of the above, was born at Wheeling, in 1847. He was reared in the city, and there received his education in the public schools. In about 1860, he began his business career as package boy in his father's establishment, and rose from that to the position of clerk. He continued in that capacity until about 1867, when he was given an interest in the business, and for some time before his father's death, he was manager of the business. He has since that event, conducted the business ably in behalf of the estate, and has maintained the high reputation of the establishment.  Albert L. Rice, a business man of Wheeling, well-known throughout the extensive territory covered by the trade of the wholesale house of A. L. Rice & Co., was born at Tamaqua, Schuykill county, Penn., October 16, 1848. At that place he was reared in the home of his father, L. Rice, who emigrated from Germany in 1835, and was engaged in the lumber business at Tamaqua. In 1865 Mr. Rice se- OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 413 cured a position at Philadelphia as book-keeper for a wholesale millinery house, and this was his introduction to mercantile life, as well as to that branch of trade for which he has shown a notable adaptation. Going to New York in 1867 he became the book-keeper and manager of a house in the same trade, and in 1872 he made his residence at Wheeling, which has since been his, home. Here he first engaged as manager of the house of D. A. Adler & Co., in millinery business, and upon the death of Mr. Adler in November, 1873, Mr. Rice succeeded to the business. In the following year he disposed of that establishment and opened a store at 1126, 1128 and 1130 Main street. Here in the same year was established the firm of A. L. Rice & Co., by the admission of S. M. Rice, whose attention is devoted to the wholesale business of the house. The latter branch of the business has grown to large proportions, and three men are employed to visit the territory tributary to Wheeling in the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. The retail trade is also flourishing, and the success of the house as a whole is one of the noteworthy features of the business history of the city. A. L. Rice is prominent in social as well as mercantile circles, and is highly regarded. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In July, 1875, he was married to Rosalie Klotz, and they have one daughter. Stephen W. Rice, manager of the Alderson Insurance agency, is the son of John L. and Mary H. (Rogers) Rice.. The mother is the daughter of William Rogers, who came to this country from Ireland in the early part of the nineteenth century. He has attained much prominence in the business circles of Baltimore, Md., where fot many years he was engaged in the wholesale trimming business. Mr. Rogers is now retired from active life, having reached the advanced age of eighty-four years. Stephen Rice, grandfather of the subject of this biography, came to Wheeling, W. Va., then Virginia, in 1837, from New York. He was prominently identified with the business growth of Wheeling during his life, and is still remembered by the older citizens. Stephen W. Rice was born in Wheeling May 9, 1866. Having graduated from the Linsly institute, he entered the employ of J. C. Alderson, the representative insurance man of the upper Ohio valley, and has since remained with him. When Mr. Rice first became connected with the business in 1881, he filled the lowest position in the office. By dint of unflagging energy, strict integrity and much ability he has risen .from office boy to manager of the concern. Almost the entire charge and responsibility of the business rests in his hands. It is seldom that men attain such success in so short a time, and it can only be done by the exercise of every faculty and by the most rigid adherence to the interests of the cause in which one' is engaged . Mr. Rice is regarded as one of the most promising young men in the insurance business in the upper Ohio valley, and if his life be spared it is safe to predict for him a very bright business career. Fidelius Riester, secretary of the German Fire Insurance company, of Wheeling, was born in the kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany, 414 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. April 23, 1848. He was reared and educated at his home in that country, and at fifteen years of age went to Russia, where for five years he was connected with the firm of Bellino, Fenderich & Co.-manufacturers and wholesale dealers at Odessa. In 1867 he left Rus, sia and took passage for the United States. Reaching this country he proceeded directly to Zanesville, Ohio, where he had relatives, and took a position in a brewery as book-keeper. Subsequently, during his residence at Zanesville, Ohio, he became a clerk in a dry goods store. In August, 1871, he came to Wheeling, and became a traveling salesman for the firm of C. Weltey & Brother, now P. Weltey & Co. On September 1, 1874, he took the position of secretary of the German Fire Insurance company, which he held until January 1, 1884, after which date, until September 1, 1887, he held the office of secretary of the Jefferson Insurance company. At the latter date he returned to his former position with the German Fire Insurance company, which he still holds. In 1878 he took charge of the management of the Opera House, and since then, during the period that he has held the secretaryship of the German Fire Insurance company, he has managed that establishment. Mr. Riester is a member and secretary and treasurer of the Arion society, of Wheeling. He is a popular citizen, a competent official, and is highly esteemed by the community. He was married in 1879, to Mary Welty, daughter of Sebastian Welty, of Wheeling. Nicodemus Riester, manager of Belmont Iron works, is art old citizen of Wheeling, and for many years has witnessed the steady development of the city's manufacturing and commercial and financial possibilities, in various branches of which he has been an effective worker. Mr. Riester is the son of John George Riester, a native of Wittenberg, Germany. The latter was married at his native place to Cordelia Detling, and in 1832, the family, consisting of parents and three children, emigrated to America, and proceeding at once to Wheeling: were among the first German settlers of the city. The father followed the trade of weaving in his native land, but found no demand for such labor at Wheeling at that time. In 1847, in answer to the last call for volunteers for the Mexican war, he joined a squad who proceeded to Newport barracks, and thence sailed to Mexico, and marched with Gen. Scott to the city of Mexico. He then returned to Wheeling, and six months later died from disease contracted in the service. His widow survived until 1885, dying in her eighty-third year. Several children were born to these parents after their arrival in America, and four are now living. Nicodemus Riester was born at Wittenberg, September 15, 1831, but his life at Wheeling began at seven months of age. When about eight years of age he went to work in the old Ensel Glass works, above .the Top mill, one of the pioneer glass houses of the city, and was afterward employed. in the Sweeney works. He then began a career of fourteen years as a feeder in iron works, being employed first in the Top mill, and then in the Virginia mill, which stood where the B. & O. depot now stands. He came to the Belmont mill in 1852, and in about 1863 he was made OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 415 manager of the Belmont mills, a position he has ever since held, displaying in that capacity administrative ability and business talent of a high order. He was one of the old stockholders of the Belmont mills before the failure in 1879, and was badly crippled financially by that catastrope, losing upwards of $4o,000. Mr. Riester was also one of the incorporators of the Spears Axle works, and a director of the company at present, an incorporator and director and is a stockholder now in the Wheeling Electric railroad. He was one of the first stockholders of the People's National bank, the Citizens' Street railway, and the Nail City Brewing company. He has taken a worthy part in municipal affairs, having served as assistant marshal of the fire department, and in the city council two terms. Mr. Riester was married in 1854 to Mary E. Carney, of Cumberland, Md., and they have had twelve children, six of whom survive. Parents and family are members of the Catholic church. John C. Riheldaffer, one of the enterprising young business men of Wheeling, fills with ability the position of secretary and treasurer of the Vance Shoe company, one of the largest concerns of the kind in the west. Mr. Riheldaffer was born at Wheeling in 1857, -the son of William Riheldaffer, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Wheeling about 1830. The latter was engaged in the furniture business in this city for a time, and during all his life was identified with that line of business. He died in 1883 in his sixty-sixth year. His widow, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Dean, was born in Pennsylvania, and is now residing at St. Paul, Minn., having been married again to F. McCormick. Mr. John C. Riheldaffer is the only child of the second marriage of the parents. His home has always been at Wheeling, where he was reared and educated in the public schools. In 1871 he began his business career as a clerk for Laughlin Bros. & Co., wholesale druggists, and was engaged with them during a period of eleven years, retiring in 1882 to enter the house with which he is now associated. He began there as a book-keeper, and there being no incorporation he became one of the partners in 1884. At the time of the incorporation, in 1887, he became secretary and treasurer. He is also a director in the Jefferson Iron works at Steubenville, Ohio. Mr. Riheldaffer was married in 1885, to Laura, daughter of Percival Harden, of Wheeling, and to this union one daughter and one son have been born. George Ritchie, an old and well-known resident of Wheeling, was born in county Donegal, Ireland, in February, 1824. His parents were William and Margaret (Campbell) Ritchie, the latter of whom died when their son George was three years old, and the former of whom died in his native county of Donegal after reaching old age. Of their nine children, George Ritchie was the eighth born and he is one of the three survivors. He, in company with his sister, came to America in 1840, and proceeded directly to Wheeling. He had already received a good education, and he also attended a few months of school after reaching Wheeling. He was first employed in a commission house, then in a queensware store, then for short periods at 416 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. carpentry and afterward in a flouring establishment, and in a trading boat. For twenty years following he held a position in. a wholesale grocery house at Wheeling, and at the end of that period he removed to Fremont county, Iowa, where he remained twelve years, engaged in farming. Returning to Wheeling in 188o he embarked in the retail grocery business, to which he has since given his attention. His establishment is a popular one, and Mr. Ritchie ranks among the prosperous business men of the city. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics is a republican. In May, 1858, he was married to Miss A. E. McMillan, who was born in county Derry, Ireland, the daughter of Samuel and Jane (Brown) McMillan. Mrs. Ritchie came to America about three years previous to her marriage. R. Biddle Roberts, junior member of the firm of Egger, Warrick & Company, large dry goods dealers, was born July 24, 1859, at Pittsburgh, Penn., the son of James and Susan Roberts, both natives of Pittsburgh. In 1868 the parents moved to Wheeling, and it was in this city that Mr. Roberts -received his education. When about fifteen years of age he was given a scholarship in the Wheeling Business college, and was graduated therefrom after two years of attendance. After leaving school he learned the nailer's trade under the tutelage of his father, and was employed at the Top and Riverside mills until the summer of 1887. At this time he embarked in the dry goods business with J. H. Egger and S. B. Warrick. Mr. Roberts married Miss Jeannettie Thiers, by whom he had four children, one son and three daughters. William Robertson, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Hagerstown, Md., in 1812, and died in Wheeling in 1864. He was engaged in mercantile business, and at one time was mayor of the city of Hagerstown. In 1833 he married Sarah Clark, who had. come with her father to this country from Ireland. In 1849 Mr. Robertson came to Wheeling and was engaged in merchandising in that city until death. He was alderman from the Second ward for eight years, and a prominent whig. Fourteen children were born to this marriage. Richard Robertson, the subject of this sketch, was born November 7, 1845, in Hagerstown, Md., and is a twin brother of Hon. Edward Robertson, state labor commissioner, and formerly a member of the state legislature. Mr. Robertson received a common school education, and when fourteen years of age entered W. M. Ewing's job printing office as an apprentice, but subsequently left there and went to the Intelligences office. The turmoil and excitement of the civil war was at its full, and the seventeen-year old boy becoming fired with patriotic zeal, left his unfinished apprenticeship, and enlisted in 1863 in Company C, Fourth West Virginia cavalry, with which he served nine months, and then re-enlisted March 24, 1864, in Battery H, First West Virginia light artillery. The battery was stationed at Fort Fuller, New Creek (now Keyser), W. Va. The command was surprised and captured by Gen. Rosser's cavalry, November 28, 1864, and with a number of others Mr. Robertson was taken to Richmond, where he experienced the horrors of prison. life in Pemberton prison, until OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 417 February 15, 1865. He was then paroled, but for six months hovered between life and death as a result of the experienced hardships. He was honorably discharged at the end of the war. After completing his apprenticeship in the Register office, he was a typographical tourist for eight years. He returned to Wheeling in 1874, and was married to Miss Mary Emert. They have had no children. In 1878 he was one of the founders of the Wheeling Sunday News Leiter, and through its fluctuations of fortune, always experienced by a new paper, and its varying changes of partnership, has retained an interest in the establishment. In January, 1890, he became sole proprietor. Politically, Mr. Robertson is a republican, and has always taken an intense interest in the rights of organized labor. He was master workman of district 35, Knights of Labor, for two terms, and represented them twice in the general assembly. He was president of the Ohio Valley Trades and Labor assembly for one term, and has been a continuous delegate to that body since the date of its formation. A. G. Robinson, born in 1816, died in 1886, was one of the most enterprising and valuable citizens of Wheeling, and prominently interested in manufacturing. He was born at Washington, Penn., son of a native of Ireland, and in 1840 came to Wheeling, where he engaged in merchandise, in the firm of T. W. Bassett & Co. Subsequently he embarked in the manufacture of paper, forming the firm of A. G. Robinson & Co., which became at that time the most extensive wrapping paper mannfacturers in the United States, operating eight to ten mills, and supplying the entire west with their product. Mr. Robinson also engaged in the iron manufacture, being interested in the Virginia mills, built on the point where the Baltimore & Ohio depot now stands, the first mill in the west devoted to the exclusive manufacture of nails. He was also interested in the Benwood mills, the successor of the former enterprise, and was one of the Gill, Kelley & Co., at Benwood, in 1853. Returning to the paper manufacture in about 1861 he was engaged in that business until his death. Mr. Robinson took an activ̊ part in politics also, and was one of the very few original abolitionists in Virginia, taking a bold stand on that issue. In 1860 he was a delegate to the Chicago national convention, and supported the candidacy of Lincoln. When West Virginia was organized as a state, Mr. Robinson was elected and served two terms as recorder of Ohio county. His wife was Anne Williams. She is the daughter of Col. Williams, one of the engineers in the service of the national government in the location of the old national road, who married Naomi Eoff. The latter was born in the old fort at the forks of Wheeling creek, in 1791, the daughter of John Eoff, one of the first settlers of the county of Ohio. When only three weeks old she was carried back over the mountains by her mother, on account of the hostility of the Indians. Mrs. Anne Robinson was born May 1, 1818, and is still living at Wheeling, her native place. To A. G. Robinson and wife were born four children, of whom three died in childhood. The survivor is Cecil A. Robinson, president of the La Belle Iron works, and one of the most prominent of the young 27—A. 418 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. manufacturers of Wheeling. He was born at that city, January 1, 1855, and received a common school education. In 1875 he became bookkeeper of the izEtna Iron works, where he remained until 1880. In the following year he became the secretary of the La Belle works, and in September, 1887, he was elected president, in which position he has the general supervision of the works. Mr. Robinson was married in 1877 to Ella Wright, daughter of John Wright, of Wheeling. John R. Robinson, for many years connected with the iron industry of Wheeling, and at present manager of the La Belle Iron works, was born at Philadelphia, October 21, 1829. He is of Quaker parentage and his father was a native of England and the mother of Scotland. In his childhood Mr. Robinson lived until he had reached the age of twelve years, with his grandmother, who resided about four miles from Doylestown, Penn., and subsequently with his parents at New York, except an intervel spent at Pittsburgh, until 1849, when he removed to Wheeling. At Pittsburgh he had been engaged as an iron worker, and here he found employment in the Top mill; until the Bel mont works were completed, when he went to that establishment. He was connected with the LaBelle mill from the time of its erection, and was first made manager in 1868, having previously held the same position for one year in the Chesapeake Iron works at Harrisburgh, Penn. In 1871 Mr. Robinson retired from the works, and until 1886 devoted himself to the tillage of a farm he purchased near Bellaire, and to stone quarrying.and contracting. At the latter date he resumed the management of the La Belle mill. He is a stockholder in this company, to the success of which his notable ability as manager is fully devoted. Mr. Robinson has been a member of the Presbyterian church since his twenty-first year, and is now an elder of the Third church of Wheeling. He was married at Pittsburgh in 1849 to Sarah J. Oxley, who died in 1882. Six of their ten children survive: Rev. E. S. Robinson, pastor of the Cannon City Presbyterian church; Col. George O., who lives one and a half miles west of Bellaire on his farm, and operates a coal mine and brick works extensively on the B. & 0. railroad;- William, of East Liverpool; Clarence, of Belmont county. In 1884 'Mr. Robinson was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Choen, of Bellaire. John Robrecht, a member of the board of public works of Wheel ing, has been since 1872 engaged in the hotel business in that city as proprietor of the New St. Charles. Mr. Robrecht, though he has been for a number of years one of the prominent citizens of Ohio county, did not come to this region until 1848. He was born on the river Weser, in Germany, February 12, 1828. When he had reached his twentieth year, he came to the United States to seek his fortune, and landing at Baltimore remained there one month, after which he came to Wheeling. At first he worked at various occupations, but finally learned the trade of a plasterer, which he soon mastered, so that in 1849 he began to take contracts on his own account. In this occupation he continued for five years, completing extensive contracts at Wheeling, Moundsville, Bellaire and elsewhere, and making a suc- OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 419 cess of the business. In 1854 he changed his occupation to that of farming, occupying 450 acres of land on. Short creek, where for eighteen years he carried on operations in agriculture and stock dealing. He carried on farming on a most extensive scale, probably not being equalled in the state. In 1863, while he was cultivating four farms, he raised 2,700 bushels of barley, goo bushels of rye, 3,300 bushels of oats, 300 tons of hay, 8,000 bushels of corn, and 1,600 bushels of wheat, and kept 700 head of sheep. On January I, 1872, Mr. Robrecht removed to Wheeling, having on the previous day purchased the St. Charles hotel property. This establishment he has since conducted successfully, besides taking and completing various heavy contracts in street pavement and street railway construction. Ever since he became acquainted with the affairs of his adopted country Mr. Robrecht has taken an active interest in politics and public matters, but has never held office until February, 1889, when he was chosen a member of the board of public works of the city, a position he now holds. He is one of the best known residents of German birth of Ohio county, and has the respect and esteem of all as one of those self-made men who have been strong enough to arise from poverty and adverse circumstances to a reputable position among their fellows, and amass property by their industry and ability. Mr. Robrecht was married in 1849 to Mary Wilke, who was born in the same place as her husband. She died in 1873 at the age of forty-seven years, leaving five' daughters and four sons. John H. Roemer, principal of the Linsly institute, was born in Monroe county, Ohio, April 26, 1865. He is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Lineberger) Roemer. Mr. Roemer was reared in his native county, and was educated at Marietta college, at Marietta, Ohio. He came to Wheeling in 1887, and took charge of the Linsly institute, which at that time had but sixteen pupils in attendance. Since then he has devoted himself with much energy to the restoration of the popularity of the school, and has already increased the attendance to Too. Mr. Roemer is a skillful and successful teacher, though but fairly entered upon a career which promises to be conspicuous and useful. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Phi Beta Kappa societies. Edward Rogers, a well-known citizen of the First ward of Wheeling, has as mill manager of the Top mill, been closely identified with the forge department of the iron manufacture of the city. He was born at Buffalo, N. V., in 1855, the son of John and Sarah Perry Rogers, natives of England. In that country the father was engaged as an iron worker, and he followed that calling after his immigration. He and family settled at Buffalo in 1842, thence removed to Ironton, Ohio, and from there to Wheeling, about 186o. He had four daughters and one son, the subject of this sketch. One of the daughters died in September, 1882. By a previous marriage to a brother of John. Rogers, his wife had two children, both of whom are living. Mr. Edward kogers has been occupied at the Top mill since his fourteenth year, when he began to acquaint himself with the craft. Beginning 420 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY work at the puddling furnace in 1862, he continued to be so employed until October 21 1882, when he was made mill manager. Mr. Rogers is widely known as a master of his trade, and a gentleman of good business ability and administrative talent. In 1879, he was elected to the responsible position of vice president of the National Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers, a position he held for three years. In August, 1882, he was made a trustee of the same association, but resigned that office when he accepted his present position. He was a representative of the Boilers' Union as a delegate to the meeting at Pittsburgh, when the Amalgamated association was formed, and has ever since been an active and influential, member. Mr. Rogers is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, Wheeling lodge, No. 9, I. O. O. F., Fort Henry commandery, National Union, is a member, and was for nine years, trustee of the Lincoln club, and is a trustee of the Dime Savings bank. He was Married in April, 1883, to Belle, daughter of Capt. William Prince, a well-known river-man of Wheeling. They have two children: Myrtle B. and Chester P. William W. Rogers, justice of the peace and pension and claim attorney, of Wheeling, was born at Sharpsburg, Ky., June 6, 1842. The early home of his family was the Shenandoah valley, of which his grandfather, Charles S. Rogers, was .a native. The latter was a general of the American army during the war of 1812, as was also the father of his wife, Weathers Smith. He was one of the pioneers of Bath county, Ky. His son, George W. Rogers, was a colonel of the Second Kentucky cavalry during the Mexican war, and at its close engaged in the iron business at the Bellefonte and Mandy furnaces, with T. J. Shreeve, at Louisville, Ky. Subsequently he was a partner of the firm of Shreeve & Tucker, bankers of that city. His wife, the mother of the subject of this mention, was Charlotte Carroll, a granddaughter of " Charles Carroll, of Carrollton," one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and daughter of Dempsey Carroll, a native of the Shenandoah valley and a pioneer of Mason county, Ky. William W. Rogers, at the beginning of the civil war, enlisted in April, 1861; in Company I, Second Kentucky cavalry, and remained in the service until July 17, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. His service was most honorable. Enlisting as a private, he was pro.; moted second lieutenant for gallant and meritorious conduct, then captain, and then colonel by brevet, as which he was mustered out. He was wounded twice at Shiloh and twice at Bardstown, Ky., October 4, 1863, at which latter engagement he was captured by Gen. Horton, but by reason of his wounds was paroled. His brother, Col. John G. Rogers, Tenth Kentucky cavalry, died of wounds at the close of the war in 1865. After his discharge Col. Rogers made his home at Cincinnati, and engaged in the produce business until 1870, when he removed to Bridgeport, Ohio. Here he was occupied in farming until 1877, when he came to Wheeling, and again entered upon the produce business, at which he was engaged until 1877. In the latter year he was elected to the office of justice of the peace, an office which OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 421 he has filled with credit to himself and to the general satisfaction of the public, conducting in connection with it a pension and claim attorneyship. Col. Rogers is a member of the P. 0. S. of A., of which he is state president. In politics he has always been a staunch republican. He votes as he shot. Allen Rose, notable among the contractors and carpenters who flourished during the early days of the cities and towns of the upper Ohio valley, was born in Somerset county, Penn., in 18o1. He was reared in his native county, and was there married to Henrietta Brubaker, who was born in Somerset county in 1808. After learning the trade of carpentry in his native county, he removed to Moundsville, W. Va., and there engaged in contracting and building for a considerable period. Subsequently he removed to Wheeling, and carried on the same business until his retirement in 1880. His death occurred in 1884. His widow survives and has her residence at Wheeling. Fourteen children were born to these parents, five of whom are now living. One of these, Gilbert E. Rose, now a prominent business man of Wheeling, was born at that city December 24, 1848. He was reared in the city and was educated in the public schools of the Fourth ward. In 1872 he began an apprenticeship as a plumber with the firm of Dillon, Thompson & Co., with whom he learned the trade, at which he was subsequently engaged with other firms until 1885. He then formed a partnership in the same business with John S. Hamilton, establishing the house of Rose & Hamilton, which is still engaged in plumbing- and gas and steam fitting, with their rooms at No. 19 Eleventh street. In 1870 Mr. Rose was married to Nora B., daughter of Robert Preston, of Wheeling, and they have had six children. Mr. and Mrs. Rose are members of the Zane Street Methodist Episcopal church. J. H. Rosenberg, a prominent contractor in stone construction and builder, of Wheeling, was born in Germany, November 15, 1828, the son of Gerhard Rosenberg and Gesine (Poppe) Rosenberg. He was reared in his native city of Bremen, and there served an apprenticeship of five years as a stone cutter. In 1851 he came to America, and after remaining in the city of New York a year, worked at his trade as a journeyman the principal cities of the United States until 1855, when he settled at Cincinnati, and embarked in the stone business on his own account. He was in business there until the close of the war. He was next engaged in sawing stone and quarrying at Portsmouth, Ohio, until 1877, when he removed to Wheeling, of which city he has since been a valued citizen. Here he was engaged in contracting and building, and has met with much success. One of his principal undertakings was the putting down of the flagging about the state house, now the city building of Wheeling. He erected the stone front of the building of Greer & Lang, on Main street, and supplied the stone work for the residence of A. W. Kelley on Twelfth street, and the Rogers block on Main street, and other important buildings. During the period he has been engaged in contracting he has also conducted for two years a stone sawing establishment. He moved to Ports- 422 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. mouth in 1865, and was elected as county commissioner in 1868 for a term of three years. He made the plan and superintended a stone bridge there across what is called Carney's run, two miles below the town near the county infirmary. August Rolf, a substantial and influential citizen of Wheeling, who is prominently connected with many of the leading and most creditable enterprises of the city, was born in the town of Polear, in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, August 13, 1828. His parents were natives of the same place and his father and three brothers were connected with the extensive glass works at that town, of which his brother, the only other survivor of the family, is at present manager, a position he has held for forty years. Mr. Rolf learned the trade of a tailor in his native land, and after coming to the United States, and to Wheeling, in 1846, he continued to follow his trade. In 185o he went to New Orleans, but returned to this city in the following year. Previous to the war he was a member of a volunteer militia company, as first lieutenant, and was ordered by Gov. Wise to Charleston, Va., to be present at the execution of John Brown. The same company, after the outbreak of the war, offered its services to the government to put down the rebellion, and became Company C, of the Second West Virginia infantry, with Mr. Rolf as first lieutenant, and much of the time in command of the company Mr. Rolf served as first lieutenant until the fall of 1862, when he resigned and returned to Wheeling. Subsequently he has devoted his energies to manufacturing and other enterprises of importance. Early in the history of the Central Glass company, he became a stockholder, and for about eighteen years he has served as a director. Of the German Fire Insurance company, he was one of the organizers, and was a director from the beginning, and has since 1883, held the office of treasurer. He was one of the founders of the German bank, and served as a director of the same until about 1881, and is a stockholder and director of the National bank of West Virginia. In the spring of 1883, he joined with others in the purchase of Wheeling Park, and is now vice president and general manager for the association, and he is also interested in the State Fair association, as a director. To notice briefly some of the other enterprises with which he is connected it may be said that he is director of the West Virginia Printing company, vice president of the West Virginia China company, a stockholder in the Benwood Iron company, and one of the organizers and present directors of the Fostoria (Ohio) Nickle Plate Glass works. Socially, Mr. Rolf and family are highly esteemed. He was married in 186o, to Lena Wagner, who died in 1864, leaving one son, and in 1865, he was wedded to Mary Rodenburg, of Wheeling, by whom he has had three children, two of whom are living. George C., his eldest, is one of the book-keepers at the Central Glass works, William A., is assistant secretary and bookkeeper at the Nickle Plate Glass works at Fostoria, and the youngest is Amelia C. In public affairs Mr. Rolf has taken an honorable part as a member of the city council and of the board of county commissioners, and as president at one time of the city gas board. His OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA - 423 career has been one based upon inherent and masterful qualities of manhood, rather than inherited wealth and fortunate circumstances, and his talent for affairs and honorable success have made him one of the popular men of the city. The subject of this sketch was born March 23, A. D. 1855, at Brownsville, Monroe Co., Ohio. His father's name is Christian Sander, who was born January 25, 1825, and moved to Brownsville in 1854, the present place of abode, who has been postmaster at Jolly postoffice for twenty-three years, notary public for twenty-one years, taught two terms of public school, and superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sabbath-school for twenty-eight years. He was married July I, 1847, to Mary E. Goss, who was born December 20, 1826. Christian Sander, the subject of this sketch, received a good education, and a good business training in his father's store, and also a religious training at home, which has been a palladium in his trying days of young manhood. In 1868 he joined the Methodist Episcopal church, and for the last ten years he has been a member of the Fourth Street Methodist Episcopal. society. Mr. Sander was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, May 16, 1889, to Ida May Hibberd. She was born February 20, 1868, and is the youngest daughter of George V. Hibberd and Sabina (Redman) Hibberd. Mr. Hibberd was born September Jo, 1837, at Philadelphia, Penn., and is by occupation a plumber. To Mr. and Mrs. Sander were born, April 19, 189o, twin boys, one of whom died when nine days old. Mr. Sander conducts a grocery store on the corner of Wood and Eighteenth streets, Wheeling, W. Va. The establishment over which he presides was originally established July6, 1880, at 118 Eighteenth street. By his thorough business ability, as well as his sterling integrity, his stock of goods has always been complete. In the fall of 1884 he bought a two-story corner brick house, in which he moved, April 1, 1885, which he occupies for a store and dwelling. Frederick Schaefer, a well-known citizen of Wheeling, where he has been in business many years as a contractor in stone masonry, was born in Germany in 1823. In 1848 he was married to Charlotte Schwertpfeger, and immediately afterward they started for the New World, accompanied by the parents of each and the families of the latter. They were induced to come mainly by the persuasions of Charles Schwertpfeger, who had preceded them to this country. In the old country Mr. Schaefer had learned the trade of stone mason, and had been engaged in contracting there, and this he continued in after arriving at Wheeling. He was a member of Zion's German Lutheran church and was highly esteemed. His death occurred June 18, 1865. There survive him his widow, and one daughter and three sons. The daughter, Louisa, is the wife of Louis Delbrugge, chief of police, and the sons are Fred F. Gustav, who is a prominent carpenter of Wheeling, and Henry. Fred F., the eldest son, is now one of the prominent cigar manufacturers and dealers of the city. He was born at Wheeling in 1854, and was educated in the public schools of the city as well as in private institutions, and also took a 424 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. course in Wheeling Commercial college. At about the age of fifteen years, he began to learn cigar making, and continuing in the business, embarked in the manufacture on his own account in 1878. He continued to do business alone until about 1886, when a partnership was formed by the admission of his brother, Henry Schaefer. The firm of Schaefer Bros., at their place of business, at the corner of Twenty-second and Market streets, manufacture a general line of cigars and stogies, and keep a full stock of tobaccos and smokers' merchandise. Mr. Schaefer is a member of Zion's Lutheran church, and is one of the popular citizens of the south side. C. P. Schambra, a prominent merchant tailor of Center Wheeling, whose establishment is at No. 2105 Main street, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, April 16, 1831. He was educated in his native land and there acquired the trade of tailor. He came to America in 1851, and proceeded directly to Wheeling, where he had relatives who had preceded him. For one of these, D. Schambra, one of the pioneer tailors of Wheeling, he worked until 1865, when he opened rooms of his own on Mairr street, in Center Wheeling, a part of the city in which he always did business. He did business without a partner until the spring of 1885, when he took his son, William A., as a partner, and they are doing a prosperous business under the name of C. P. Schambra & Son. Mr. Schambra came to this country quite poor, except in the possession of a well-learned trade and genius and capacity for work, and by continued application he has so well succeeded that he is now well-known as a business man, and one of the substantial and influential men of Center Wheeling. He is a member of St. John's Lutheran church, and of the Turner society, the A. O. U. W., and the Order of Red Men. In 1856 he was married to Mary E. Renner, sister of William Renner, formerly a leading confectioner of Wheeling, now of Columbus, Ohio. By this union eight children have been born, of whom the following survive: William A., Louisa,Hermann, Christian, Eva and Philip. John E. Schellhase, assessor of water rent of Wheeling, was born at that city, February 22, 1861, the son of George and Annie (Bril) Schellhase, natives of Germany, who came to America in their youth. The father was one of the early residents of Wheeling, and dealt in ice for a considerable period, but after making his home here for thirty years, removed to Pittsburgh, where he resides, his wife with him. They were active at Wheeling in the interests of the Methodist Episcopal church. Of the eight children born to them the following survive: Matilda, wife of James Fawcett, of Pittsburgh; Louise; John E.; George, in the paint business at Cobden, Ill.; Jennie; Edward, a railway postal clerk. John E., the subject of this mention, was reared at Wheeling, and educated in the public schools at Pittsburgh, and in the Iron City college. He began his business career about 1879, joining with his father under the firm name of George Schellhase & Son, in the retail grocery business at Wheeling, and they continued in this until April, 1887, when the senior partner retired and removed to Pittsburgh. Mr. Schellhase soon afterward entered the office of the