The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-11-28

In the past few weeks the hand OF
death has been laid heavily on Wheel
ing'g old and leading citizens The
deaths of Captain John Mcclure, DR..
John Frissell and ex-governor John ].
Jacob wero followed yesterday by the
shockingIy sudden taking of Of Mr..
Lewis S. DelaplaiH, for ffty-six years n
resident of Wheeling, prominent in
business and financial circles, and in
continuous business career tho Oldest
dry goods iobbcr in the United States.
Mr.. Delaplain was found about 7
o'clock in tho morning lying in the
rear hall way at the foot Of the stairs,
unconscious. lie was in the habit Of ris.
ing early, and always went to the bath
room to make his toilet. 1t was very
evident that no had fallen down tho
stairway while on his way TO the bath
room.
Physicians were at once summoned,
aud u small fracture OF tho skull was
discovered near the ear The doctors
gave it as their opinion that conclusion
OF the brain was responsible for the
coma in which he lay, and gave no hope
OF his recovery. He lived until $3.50
D. m., and then breathOd his last, never
having reguined consciousness after he
was found.
News of the accident spread all over
town rapidly, aud universal regret was
expressed, while inquiries as to his con-
dition poured IN upon the family and
friends all day.
Mr.. Del0plain would have been sew
enty.eght years old had he lived till
next month. He was born in Delaware,
and from there removed to Zanesville,
o., where he was in the employ OF the
government as IL clerk in the distribut-
ing postollice. From Zanesville he was
transferred to Wheeling, and continued
in the same service. Wheeling at that
day was one OF the largest and most i'm
portant distributing postoltices in the
country, and for eight or nine years,
commencing with his arrival in 1887,
he was chief clerk in tho distributing
department. entering the office when
The late Judge u. W. Thompson was
postmaster.
In 1916 Mr.. Dclaplain entered into
partnership with Mr Tallant in the
wholesale dry goods trade. Their start
was made ON Twelfth. street where
Joseph Graves now has his stationery
store. From there the firm moved to
another stand on Twelfth street west OF
Main, and from there TO the storeroom
on Main street which is now part Of the
fine new block lately remodelel by the
firm Of l.. $ Delaplain, Son 4 Co.
In 1865 the firm OF Tallaut & Deia-
plain dissolved, and since that time the
firm has remained substantially as it is
now. In 1852, after having peen for
come time on the east side OF Main
street, it again moved to the stand 1t
now occupies, where Il fine block had
been built by the frm.
Fifty-two years ago Mr.. Delaplain
was married to Miss Mccoy. n daughter
Of the late Gen. Robert Mccoy. Two
years ago they celebrated their golden
wedding The widow survives him.
They had four children, Louis Della
plain, Col. Robert Dclaplain. Mrs.
Hullihen Quarter and Mrs. Jacob W.
Grub. OF these Mrs. Grubb alone
survives. Two sons and daughter OF
Col. Robert Deiapiain, with his widow,
are living. These are Mr. VIII Della
plain, of Monroe county, Ohio; U. S.
Consul /. S. Delaplain, jr., of George
town. British Guiana, and Miss Hulda,
OF this city.
Mr., Delaplain, in spite of his ad-
vauced age. had always been in perfect
health until the past summer, when hil
intimate friends thought they noticed
signs OF failing. In addition to his ex-
tensive dry goods bufiness, he was
prominent in many financial and manu-
featuring corporations. He was the
president of the Standard iron works
until its corporation with the Etna,
was formerly vico.president Of the
BeDwood iron works, and vicG-presi-
dent until his death OF the Exchange
bank. He was possessed OF an unusual
fund OF common sense, was n shrewd
business man and well up in public
affairs His long experience and good
memory made OF him warm and intel
ligent advocate OF protection to Ameri-
can industries.
Taken all in all he was the kind Of
man whose loss must be keenly felt by
a community and in all the concerns in
which he was interested his death will
4 F.Nt Ill 49,, 1-nnu, III -,