From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. 

Typed by Laurie Birks Dean

pp. 397-398

James NESBITT, one of the worthy and well-to-do pioneer citizens of 
Wheeling, Ohio county, West Virginia, generally known for his 
enterprise and thrift, is a retired blacksmith, living at No. 56 
Alley 20.  Mr. Nesbitt is a native of Ireland, and was born in County 
Antrim, March 11, 1823.  He is  a son of John and Catherine 
(Montgomery) Nesbitt, who were also natives of Ireland.
	James Nesbitt came to America in 1847, landing in New York, 
where he stayed a week and then went to Philadelphia.  Leaving 
Philadelphia, he spent a year in Pittsburg, and subsequently came to 
Wheeling, about 1848.  Here he worked at blacksmithing, the trade he 
had learned in his native country, which he continued for some time, 
and did a good business for those days.  Always very handy with 
tools, he seemed a born mechanic, and soon had the reputation of 
making anything used in his business, and, if necessary, even the 
tools that were required.
	Mr. Nesbitt was employed in the Riverside Mill for a 
considerable length of time, and held the position of boss there for 
several years.  After leading an active life for many years, he at 
last retired from business in 1896.  He is a stockholder in the 
Riverside Steel & Nail Works in Benwood.
	The subject of this sketch has never married.  He was formerly 
a member of the I.O.O.F.  In politics Mr. Nesbitt is an ardent 
Republican.  He has made a good success in his financial operations 
and has retired with a competency, and a consciousness of owing no 
man anything, and of duty well done.