From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 453-454.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


JAMES B. TANEY

James B. Taney, journalist, is a native of New Jersey, born in the 
city of Newark, in the year 1841.  His parents, Hugh and Letitia 
Taney, came to the Ohio valley in 1850, and became residents of 
Wheeling two years later.  Mr. Taney's educational training was 
obtained in the public and private schools of Wheeling, and while 
still a youth he left home and joined the merchant marine, serving 
from a sailor before the mast to chief officer.  At the breaking out 
of the great rebellion he joined the United States navy, in which he 
served with ability until 1868, when becoming tired of the service he 
resigned his commission and returned to Wheeling.  While in the navy 
Mr. Taney was attached to the Atlantic and Gulf blockading squadrons, 
also doing duty in conveying the New York and Panama mail steamers 
through the narrow West India passages.  During his period of service 
he participated in a number of engagements, including the battles of 
Beaufort, Port Royal, Newberne, storming of Fort Fisher on both 
occasions, the capture of Wilmington and other minor actions.  At the 
second bombardment of Fort Fisher he commanded a detachment of men 
from the man-of-war, "Tacony," which formed a part of the naval 
forces that united with the force of Gen. Terry in the bloody hand to 
hand assault upon the enemy's works.  On leaving the naval service, 
Mr. Taney entered the field of journalism, which, with the exception 
of six years as collector of the city of Wheeling, he has since 
successfully continued.  In October, 1884, he purchased an interest 
in the WHEELING DAILY REGISTER, the leading democratic paper of West 
Virginia, which, under his able management, has greatly enlarged its 
scope of influence, until it now enjoys much more than a state 
reputation.  In 1888 Mr. Taney Was chosen delegate-at-large to the 
national democratic convention at St. Louis, and during the ensuing 
campaign, did able and distinguished service for his party in West 
Virginia and elswhere.  It was in this campaign that an incident 
occurred which brought Mr. Taney's name into prominence throughout 
the country, and which also brought upon him a great deal of 
vituperation and abuse from the republican press of the United 
States.  Briefly stated, the incident is as follows: In August, 1887, 
the societies of the G. A. R., of West Virginia, western Pennsylvania 
and eastern Ohio, held their encampment at Wheeling, during the 
progress of which a large banner, bearing a well-executed crayon 
portrait of President Cleveland and the inscription "God bless Our 
President, Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United 
States," was suspended from the REGISTER office to the opposite side 
of the street.  As is well known, quite a number of G. A. R. posts 
refused to march under the banner, thereby causing intense 
excitement, the effect of which was to threaten seriously for a time 
the dismemberment of the organization in various parts of the 
country.  Mr. Taney has been prominently identified with the business 
interests of Wheeling for a number of years, and all movements having 
for their object the public good, find in him a liberal patron and 
zealous supporter.  He is essentially a self-made man, and his 
thorough knowledge of men and affairs, gained by a long, practical 
experience with the world, coupled with his energy and industry, 
fairly entitle him to a place among the representative citizens of 
his adopted state.  In the year 1872 he was united in marriage with 
Miss Emily F. Pollack, youngest daughter of the late Thomas Pollack, 
of Wheeling. 


(Linda Fluharty)