The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-11-12

JAMES z. WHARTON.
His Career as an Editor al W Wheeling and
Elsewhere.


His Career As an Editor Al wheeling and
Elsewhere.
Portsmouth to) Tribune.
Colonel ]. E, Wharton, whose illness We
noticed in our last issue, died last Thurs
day night at halfpast eleven o'clock. He
had been in poor health since last winter
but his indomitabls spiritof work prevailed
to the last, and he can truly be said to have
died in harness. Those who knew the
Colonel best in life will agree that no death
could have been more in accordance with
his desires than that Of falling at the post
Of duty. A man Of culture and advanced
ideas, he was ever at the frontin enterprises
for the public good. His religious BELIEF
was embodied in his iavorite and oft quoted
phase, "As the tree falleth, so shall it lie, y
and to that end he labored TO do all the
good possible in this world, believing that
in SO acting he was doing what was pleas
ing in the sight Of God.
Colonel Wharton was born at Heath,
Massachusetts. in 1909, and was always
proud TO claim the old Bay State us the
place, of his birth. lie served an appren-
ticeship at the printing business, and al
forwards came to Massillon, Ohio, and
published newspaper, and went from
there to Wheeling and established what is
now the Wheeling DAILY INTELMGENCER,
the leading paper Of West Virginia. This
IL q mistake. Mr., Wharton was never con-
neCted with the lNTILLlGRSCER, except as
a correspOndent-ED. INTEL The best
years of his life were spent in Wheeling,
and the city to this day bears the impress
OF his wisdom and energy in many OF her
institutions and industries. In later years
he was editor OF the New York Daily Star
and the Brooklyn Daily Transcript, and the
Parkesburg Times and Mansfield Herald
From Mansfield he came to this place in
1875, and Portsmouth has certainly had
no more enterprising or energetic citizen
than he proved to be. He became
deeply interested in developing the
mineral and agricultural resources
OF the county, and though stricken
with age and broken in health, abored un.
ceasingly to that end. To many he APP
peared to be in advance OF the age, but
we cannot avoid the conclusion that II his
ideas were carried out the condition OF our
city and county would soon materially i'm.
prove. He procured the right OF way for
the Cincinnati and Eastern railway, and
labored for It's completion up to the time
OF his death, His browning work in this
city, and the one which will stand us
monument to his courage, zeal and energy,
was the establishment OF the Public Ii
brary, The successful building up OF this
institution, now necessity Of our Commu.
nifty, was due entirely to the personal OF.
forts Of Col, Wharton, and our citizens
could not honor his memory in u more
fitting manner than by literally supporting
i and carrying out his ideas in relation
thereto.
1t was through the efforts OF Mr.. Whar.
ton that Portsmouth was made port OF
entry. He was appointed by President
Hayes Collector Of the port, but did not
live to see tho full fruitfon OF his labors.
lie worked for others, and was rather
proud Of tho fact that he had never en-.
riched himself pecuniarily during his long
and eventful career. He will be missed in
this community, lie had kind word for
all, and many silent tear will fall as the
fact Is realized that his familiar face and
form will be seen on our streets no more.
His remains were taken TO Mansfield, to
be inferred beside those OF his wife.