From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 226-227.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


JOHN A. BORING

John A. Boring, a venerable citizen of Wheeling, who has acted an 
important part, as a leading builder, in its development, was born in 
Washington, Penn., October 14, 1816.  His parents were Ephraim M. and 
Margaret (Henry) Boring, both natives of Pennsylvania, who settled at 
Zanesville in 1817, and thence came to Wheeling in 1824.  He was a 
mechanic of considerable skill, and followed at various times stone 
masonry, bricklaying, tailoring and carpentry.  During the war of 
1812, he occupied the position of fife major.  His death occurred in 
Christian county, Ky., April 21, 1858, at the age of fifty-eight 
years.  Nine children were born to him, of whom seven grew to 
maturity: Charlotte, wife of Jacob Robinson; John W.; Sarah, wife of 
Mr. Clark; Ellen, wife of William Hercules; Eliza, wife of Henry 
Smith; Martha, wife of Thaddeus Bell, and George W.  John W., the 
subject of this mention, who was reared in Wheeling, and engaged in 
business there as a bricklayer and manufacturer, in which he was 
occupied for forty years.  Among the buildings which he erected are 
Washington Hall, built in 1852, First ward school building, in 1869, 
Fourth ward school, in 1870, and many others, including dwellings and 
warehouses.  Mr. Boring has been prominent socially throughout his 
career, and has been for thirty years a member of the Baptist church, 
and is a veteran member of the I. O. O. F.  He has taken an interest 
in public, affairs, and in the government of the city, having served 
seventeen years faithfully, and honorably as a member of the city 
council, and ten years as a member of the board of county 
commissioners.  He has also acted four years as a member of the board 
of education.  Mr. Boring has been three times married: first to 
Louisa, Stevenson, of Virginia; second, to Eliza A. Snyder, of 
Cincinnati, and lastly, to Josephine, daughter of Peter Zillars, of 
Wheeling, by whom he has four children: Retta, Eliza A., Mary M. and 
John W., Jr.  


(Linda Fluharty)