From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 350-351.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


BERNHARD KLIEVES

Bernhard Klieves, of Wheeling, is well known as one of the men who 
has taken an active and prominent part in the advancement of the 
city.  He was born in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, March 2, 1836, 
one of eleven children of Philip Klieves and wife.  The father was a 
cabinet-maker and carpenter by trade.  The mother died in 1839, and a 
year later three of the children came to the United States.  In 1852 
two others came, and in 1858 the father and five children, including 
Bernhard, removed to the United States, coming directly to Wheeling.  
Here his two brothers were then engaged in contracting, and he found 
employment with them until about 1862, when he went to Preston 
county, W. Va.  He remained at the latter place about two years, and 
upon his return to Wheeling formed a partnership with William and 
Theodore Klieves, his brothers, and engaged in the planing-mill 
business, they founding the Central planing-mills, with the firm name 
of Klieves, Kraft & Co.  In 1877 William Klieves retired from the 
business, and it was carried on by the three remaining partners until 
1880, when E. W. Wells was admitted as a partner.  The firm name 
remains as at first, Klieves, Kraft & Co.  This is one of the leading 
establishments in the department of manufacture, and the firm does 
also an extensive business in contracting and building, and is widely 
known as one of the most prosperous and enterprising firms of the 
city.  The outside business of the firm and the buying of materials 
is under the charge of the subject of this mention.  Mr. Klieves has 
also devoted much time to other enterprises calculated to advance the 
interests of the city.  He is a director of the Dollar Savings bank, 
of Virginia, a stockholder in the German bank, a director of the 
Elson Glass works, of Martin's Ferry, and a stockholder in the 
Wheeling and Belmont Bridge company.  His career, the importance of 
which may be inferred from these brief statements of facts, was begun 
without capital and assistance from others, and his success has been 
achieved by his own efforts and talent for affairs.  Mr. Klieves was 
married in 1864 to Melosena Kenamond, a native of Hanover, Germany, 
who came to the United States in 1852.  They have two sons, Frank and 
Archie.  


(Linda Fluharty)