Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-01-09

Michael Reilly died at his residence
on Fourteenth street, at 6:55 o'clock
yesterday morning, Of Ia grippe, aged
81 years.
In his demise, Wheeling looses one of
her oldest business men, very sue
cessiul merchant, and a citizen who
took deep interest in all public affairs.
He accumulated a large fortune
during the seventy years Of his resi-
dence here, its total being placed at
as high figures as $500 to $780,
600, and at his death his real estate
and commercial interests were ex-
ceeded by few men in this community.
His death was expected for four
or five days past, by those
nearest to his bedside, as he steadily
lost ground during the last ten days OF
his illness, which was Of about two
weeks duration. His mind remained clear
up TO within few days OF his death,
when conversation with him showed
that his thoughts no longer found free
expression in words, and about six
O'Clock Thursday evening he became I'M
conscious. Remaining in that 4 con-
dition throughout the night, he passing
quietly away at the hour named above.
Michael Reilly was son Of Philip
Reilly, VINO was born in County Cavan,
Ireland, and who emigrated to this coun-
try in the early portion OF the century,
settling in Pittsburg. Later he re-
moved to Steubenville, where he engaged
extensively in business. A favored
child died there, and subsequently he
returned to Pittsburg, where he was
Joined, about 1919, by his mother, Sis
ter and his oldest son, Michael. They
resided in Pittsburg until 1921, when
they removed to this city, purchasing
property on Market street, just north
OF Eleventh, where they went into the
grocery business. Subsequently Mr..
Reilly, Sr., was largely interested in the
shipment of produce to the South by
boats.
The subject of this sketch was but
twelve years Of age when he followed
his father to this county. At first he
went into the tailoring business, and
later was a distiller. In the spring OF
1886, he embarked In the grocery bus
mess on Market square, in this city, and
remained at the stand until 1857, when
he removed to Main street, and engaged
exclusively in the wholesale commits
sion, grocery and produce trade. He was
the oldest grocer in the city, and one OF
T., 10 CNof IL oil
extensively engaged in curing and pack
ing pork, which he carried on at his es-
tablishment at Manchester, where he
also mad magazine for storing of pow
der. Aside from the lines
OF business named, he had,
with notable enterprise, connected
himself with various other undertakings
OF great Importance. He was Vice
President of the Franklin Insurance
Company. Director in the National
Bank Of West Virginia, and Director
ia the Wheeling and Belmont Bridge
Company and in the Elm Grove Railroad
Company, in the three latter OF which
corporations he was particularly large
stakeholder. As public spirited and
enterprising citizen he contributed
greatly to the Improvement Of the city
by various buildings, notably that
handsome architectural pile known as
the "Reilly Block" He was associated
with Mr.. Hobbs and others, until re-
Gently, in the ownership and manage
ment Of the Hotel Windsor, one Of the
leading hotels of the State.
In early life Mr.. Reilly was great
lover and patron Of the drama, and he
was largely instrumental in securing
the construction of the old Athen9um,
at the southeast corner OF Sixteenth
and Market street, which was quite a
famous theatre in its day, and a larger
and more handsome theater than
Wheeling has since had.
His success In life was due to his ex-
ceptionally fine business habits, and by
his enterprise and public spirit he won
the respect and admiration Of the COM
munity, no less than by his uprightnesS
OF character, probity and fair dealing.
In religion he was, as was his father, a
member of the Catholic Church, and was
an attendant st st. Joseph's Cathedral.
Mr.. Reilly was first married at this
city, December 81, 1897, to Martha G..
Finnegan, who died in 1884. Ry this
union he had seven children, OF whom
five are living; Thomas, George, James,
Michael, John and Helen, wife Of Mr..
A. c. Jamison. Michael is now in bust
ness in Chicago, and the others reside
in this city. One daughter died in
childhood. On November 10, 1885, Mr..
Reilly was again married 10 Mrs. Vir-
GINA c. F. Zane, widow Of the late
Orloff A. Zane, and daughter Of the
late Job Stanbury, descendant Of the
ZaneS and Clarkes, distinguished in
the early history OF this valley.
In the death of Mr.. Reilly, Wheeling
looses of her foremost aud most enter
prising citizens. His honesty and up
rightneSs in business matters was
proverbial. he was classed among the
wealthiest citizens of Ohio county, and
it Is said paid more taxes than any one
person in the county. II is also said of
him that he paid taxes in many instances
which could have been easily avoided by
a resort to those peculiar methods
which are sometimes used by men of
wealth. In politics Mr.. Reilly was a
Staunch and Incorporating Demo
crat all his life. He made liberal and
frequent contributions to the campaign
funds, and often when unsolicited. He
was at one time chairman Of the Demo-
cratic State Executive Committee, and
in that capacity did valuable service for
the cause, and while never candidate
for position, always tooka deep interest
in party matters, and doing all in his
power to secure the ascendency of
Democratic principles.
Mr.. Reilly, while taking profound In