ANDREW REITZ
 
       Andrew REITZ, secretary and general manager of the Spears Axle 
Company, one of the largest plants of its kind in this country, is a 
thorough business man and has hosts of friends.  He is a native of 
Wheeling and is a son of George and Catherine (Weil) Reitz.  His 
father was born in Germany and came to this country when a young man, 
previous to his marriage with Catherine Weil, which took place in 
Wheeling.  He was a stove fitter by trade, and departed this life in 
1877.  The mother of Andrew Reitz is still living in Wheeling, at the 
age of eighty-three years.
	Previous to embarking in the business which now claims his 
attention, Andrew Reitz was a government inspector, located at 
Wheeling, and served in that capacity from 1884 to April, 1889.
	The Spears Axle Company, of which he is now general manager and 
secretary, was organized in 1888, and he was one of its 
incorporators.  The plant was erected on the corner of Main and 
Market streets; the finishing shop is of brick, and is 215 feet long 
by 70 feet wide, with iron trusses and slate roof, while the rolling 
mill and forging department is of frame, 60 by 200 feet in 
dimensions.  The capacity of the plant is about four or five hundred 
sets of axles daily, and it is the intention of the owners to double 
its capacity in the near future.  It is well equipped with machinery 
and also turns out wagon, carriage and buggy axles.  Special foremen 
are employed for each department, and about 85 men in all are 
engaged, most of whom are skilled workmen.
	The office is located at the east side of the building.  The 
steel and raw material are secured mainly from Wheeling manufacturers 
and several kinds of axles are made, among them the famous "Horse-
shoe" brand.  The trademark of the company is stamped by a steel 
stamp on the inside of each  and every axle.  Besides assisting in 
office work, Mr. Reitz attends to selling the products of the plant 
to various manufacturers and heavy hardware jobbers, and makes large 
sales all over the United States.  Large shipments have been sent to 
the Pacific Coast. Charles Reitz, a brother of Andrew, is 
superintendent at the same plant and three other brothers also find 
employment there.

From "HISTORY OF WHEELING and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens."  Edited & Compiled by Hon. Gibson Lamb 
Cranmer.  Biographical Publishing, 1902; p. 365. 

(Laurie Birks Dean)