From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 234-235.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


CHARLES W. BROCKUNIER

Charles W. Brockunier is one of our most active, prominent and 
successful business men.  He was educated at Pittsburgh, Penn., and 
came to this city with his father in 1852.  Soon thereafter he 
entered the employment of Messrs. Hobbs and Barnes, glass 
manufacturers, in South Wheeling, and by virtue of his superior 
business abilities and other qualifications, while yet quite a young 
man, was taken into partnership, the firm name being changed to 
Hobbs, Brockunier & Co.  The members comprising the firm were John L. 
Hobbs, John H. Hobbs, Carles W. Brockunier and William Lightner.  Th 
business steadily increased until their glass works became one of the 
largest and best known in the United States, exporting its wares to 
England, Australia, France and Germany, and achieving a world-wide 
reputation. For many years Mr. Brockunier was president of the 
association of glass manufacturers of the United States, and was 
selected to appear before the tariff commission appointed by 
President Arthur in 1882, to represent the interests of the 
association, and glass manufacturers generally before that 
distinguished body.  His presentation of the facts and principles 
which should govern the duties to be laid in the glass schedule was 
so effective as to draw from the commission the compliment of having 
every one of his recommendations adopted and his evidence quoted in 
their final report.  He was a member and took an active part in the 
tariff convention held in the city of New York in 1881.  He was also 
among the pioneers in the oil development of West Virginia, being 
associated with Messrs. John Handlan, John H. Hobbs, J. B. Ford and 
W. C. Brockunier, in operations at Volcano, in 1862 and subsequently.  
Their enterprise was successful and profitable.  In the development 
of natural gas and its application as a fuel in manufacturing 
operations he took an active and deep interest, and the 
Manufacturers' Gas company, of which he was president, was the first 
to furnish that valuable fuel to the manufactories of our city.  In 
1887, owing to delicate health, Mr. Brockunier retired from business 
pursuits, and the firm with which he had so long been connected was 
thereupon dissolved, the other partners also retiring.  Still 
retaining his connection with various manufacturing and other 
interests, he became again, in the current year (1890) engaged in 
business affairs, and is now actively operating as president of the 
Two Brothers Oil company, Brockunier Bros., etc.  He is also vice 
president of the National Bank of West Virginia, at Wheeling.  He was 
married to Miss Elizabeth C. Brady, daughter of the late Sobieski 
Brady, of Wheeling.  They have six children: Charles Wesley, Jr., 
deceased; Samuel H., Mary G., Shirley E., Elbert H., deceased, and 
Sara Z.  Mr. Brockunier is one of the most enterprising and succesful 
of Wheeling's citizens, and is recognized as an influential leader in 
all movements promising the advancement of the interests of this 
community. He is a member of the Fourth Street Methodist Episcopal 
church. Though taking a somewhat active interest in politics, state 
and national, as becomes a good citizen, he has hitherto declined the 
high and honorable positions to which the partiality of his personal 
and political friends have sought to have him aspire without doubt of 
success, and is therefore at present a private citizen.     


(Linda Fluharty)