From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, page 340.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


WILBUR JACOBS

Wilbur Jacobs, a leading brick and stone contractor of Wheeling, was 
born at Wellsburg, W. Va., in 1854.  His parents were B. F. and 
Elizabeth (St. Ledger) Jacobs, both natives of West Virginia.  The 
mother died in January, 1888.  B. F. Jacobs has been a contractor all 
his life, and is now living a retired life at Wellsburg.  The subject 
of this biography lived in Wellsburg until his sixteenth year, and 
attended the public schools of that place.  When about sixteen years 
of age he went to Pittsburgh, where he followed the trade of a 
bricklayer for about two years, and then began contracting for 
himself.  He resided in Pittsburgh for nearly twelve years, and then 
returned to Wellsburg, remaining there for two years, and then he 
came to Wheeling, settling here permanently, though he had been doing 
business here before his removal to this city.  He was for some time 
a member of the Wheeling Mining & Manufacturing company, which he 
withdrew from in July, 1886.  He has since been carrying on a large 
and successful business in brick and stone contracting, having 
erected many buildings in Wheeling, which speak for his ability and 
honesty.  He was the first contractor to introduce steam power in the 
hoisting of materials for buildings in course of construction, and 
now owns the only apparatus for that purpose in the city.  Among 
other structures he has erected the First ward public school; 
Bridgeport Presbyterian church; First Methodist Episcopal church of 
Bellaire; Y. M. C. A. building, in Wheeling; Bloch Brothers' factory; 
Fifth ward school-house of Bellaire; the Toronto White Ware works; 
repaired the custom house, and many other buildings too numerous to 
mention.  He is a member of the Bricklayers' union.  Politically, he 
is a democrat. In 1876 he married Sarah Bowden, of Allegheny City, 
Penn., the ceremony taking place May 27 of that year.  Bessie, B. F., 
Mazie, Lucy and Charles, are the children which have been born to 
them. 


(Linda Fluharty)