The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-04-18

GAAAAH- ~ AAAAI 49, - N-ease-- - = -
ResPonhbls Position.
The Intelllgeucer yesterday publiSbSd
The rather modest biographies OF the
Republican candidates for sheriff. ana
this morning, as next in order submits
the following equally modest sketches Of
the candidates for clerk of the county
court
Mr. 3. P. Wheat. who Is q son OF Jesse
s. Wheat, was born in Wheeling. Sep
teunber Is, 1851. After he received q
liberal education he Travelled three years
for the firm OF Wheat & Sons, which drm
was engaged in the leather business. In
February 1878, he took charge OF the
office OF Joseph Speliel & Co., wholesale
grocerB, and continued in that position
until 1881, when he became member OF
the wholesale notion and gents futnlgh-
lhg firm of HaSlstt, Wheat & Hays.
Upon the dissolution Of that firm Mr.
Wheat continued in the gentlemen's fur
nishlng business at 2l26 Main street,
where he Is at present located.
Mr. Wheat has been elected to the
city council two terms, serving four
years. -Four years ago in the memora-
BILE deadlock that occurred in the SEC
ond branch, he was one OF the spirited
leaders on the floor He has, from his
youth up, been an active and enthuslas-
tic Republican, and has served with emil
nent faithfHlneBs as secretary OF nun1er-
GUS executive committees OF the party.
He iB Mason of prominence, having
been honored by his brethren as master
Of his lodge, and commander Of the
knights Templar commandery, with
which he was affiliated. He is also .
member Of Black Prince lodge No. 10.
Knights OF PythiRs. Mr.. Wheat iB OF a
sunny disposition, and easily makes
friends
MajorJ. v. L. Rodgers was born ae
the Rodgers salt works, one mile south OF
Wellsburg, In Brooke county, w. va.
His father, D. D. Rodgers. died when the
subject Of this sketch was about three
years old, when the family removed to
Wellsburg. where he was raised. He
was a pupil OF the late Joseph r Nay.
lor, until his twelfth year, when he went
to work in glass works, serving three
years as an apprentice as q bottle blow
er. His nealth falling. he left the glass
works and was engaged as q clerk IN
the store OF C. Tarr, jr., who afterwards
was the first treasurer of the state OF
West Virginia, until 1857, when he went
to Kansas, then a territory, and engaged
in the lumber business In the then young
city Of Leayenworth.
belled against the government, he went
| with the army to Utah, from thenee 70
Benlcia barracks, Colorado, and return-
ed with a typographical engineer corps,
through Arizona, New Mexico. Colorado
| and Kansas to Leavenworth city, after
an absence Of thirteen months, where he
resumed the business he had formerly
been engaged In, remaining there until
the war OF the rebellion broke out IN
1861. He cast his fortunes with the
south and served four years In the COM
federate army.
In 1865 he came to Wheeling and &C.
cepted a position with ]. H. Smith & Coz
as clerk and book-Reeper. In 1861 ne
was employed as book-keeper and CASH
Ter with Geo R Taylor & CO., which
position he was compelled, on account or
IN health, to resign, and was afterwards
Seyeral years connected with the general
agency Of the Aetna Life Insurance Co.,
under the management of Long & Whip
pie. He was, while IN their employ
elected assistant secretary OF the PetDs
body Insurance Co., OF this city, ana =
short time afterwards succeeded the late
N. @, Arthur as secretary Of that com.
pany, with which company he remained
several years, when he started the Gen"
eral Insurance Agency, OF which buSt-
ness he Is at present engaged in.
Major Rodgers was raised an old hne
Whlg, and after the passage OF the Flick
amendment voted for the hrst time with
the Democratic party, and acted with
them until the Garfield campaign, when
he decided 10 "hang his gate on the otner
= 10, the nT1fTI0lNHnn
marty. He became a member OF the
Lincoln club and served as one OF It's d.
rectors until It closed, and has since
been a worker IN the ranks Of the party
for the protection of American Indus
tries as promulgated by Major MctStn-
ley.
Richard Robertson was born at Ha-
gerstoWn, Nd, in 1SAh. He came %
wheeling when four years OF age, and
has lived here since He receiYed
public school education ana atterwaTos
learned the printing trade. Al seyens
teen years of age he entered the Union
army and served to the end OF the war.
The last winter Of the war he spent IN
libby prison, and the Heagre prison
fare. combined with brutal treatment,
permanently affected his health ana
strength.
At the close OF the rebellion ne re,
sumed his occupation as printer. ana
established the Wheeling Sunday News
Letter in connection with several other
printers. he finally became sole owner les
az the paper, which was published for
twelve years and was then sold 70 the
Wheeling News Company,
Following in the footsteps OF his
father. he was originally Democrat,
but was always q firm adherent OF the
prIncIpIe OF protection. and when the
democratic party adopted the "torin TOT
revenue only" pink IN us platform ne
at once publicly renouneed ms Alleglsnee
to that faith and Joined the party whose
foundation principle was ana pT
tectlon TO American lapor ana A'neIF-
can industriea" .,-...
Mr. Robertson has for the past thirty
years been connected with the cause OF
organlzed labor In this community ana
has held many positions of honor anu
trust While an active worker IN tue
labor cause, he Is also regarded as
man who Is conservative enough TO rec
ornise the rights OF all concerned IN
labor controversies, and has reputa
tlon as a pcace-mnker IN TINS Sohhee-
ton. ,,.z,,S,,,,, r,rtv
Ntr robertson at once took an active
Interest in politics, aud six years ago
,.,, m.ss solicited 10 make the forlorn-hope
roce 'rS arolnst George Hook for the ONCE
Of county clerk. his afhllation with the
labor people being the main incentive 70
rpro,rn his name an the ticket ne &C
cepted. entered the race, and whlle ue-
featcd, made so successful a canvass
tSat he received the congratulations OF
Inc Republicans OF all sections OF the
county. At tSc close Of that canvass
ho was made chairman of the City hs-