From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 471-472.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


GEORGE K. WHEAT

George K. Wheat, the second son of James M., was born at Berkeley 
Springs, January 25, 1825, and came to Wheeling with his parents in 
July, 1832.  He was educated in several different schools of the 
city, among which may be mentioned the Lancasterian academy, taught 
by Prof. McBurney.  The academy occupied the ground south of the 
Fourth Street Methodist Episcopal church, and the school taught by 
Professors Rutter and Smith, which was conducted in the building on 
the corner of Fourteenth and Chapline streets.  In 1837 Mr. Wheat's 
father removed to Ritchietown, now South Wheeling, and established a 
tannery there, he being a tanner by trade.  Until the year 1844 Mr. 
Wheat was engaged in various pursuits, first being employed in a ship 
yard, and then in a glass factory operated by H. Milton Miller; 
subsequently he worked in a saw-mill owned by Hughes & Martin.  In 
March, 1844, he entered the employ of J. & T. Hornbrook, dealers in 
notions, and remained with them for four years.  According to 
agreement, he was to receive the first year, $50; the second, $75; 
and the third, $100.  The fourth year he was engaged at a salary of 
$500, which was a very liberal compensation in those days.  About 
1849 the firm dissolved partnership and divided the stock, and one 
year later, Jacob Hornbrook sold his business to Wheat & Chapline, 
this firm continuing until the death of Alexander C. Chapline, which 
occurred in 1855.  Mr. Wheat purchased the Chapline interest in the 
business from the administrator of his partner's estate, and was 
connected with the same until January 1, 1889.  While with the 
Hornbrooks Mr. Wheat made several trips to Louisville on a flat-boat 
carrying merchandise to that point, subsequently making two trips to 
Cincinnati for Wheat & Chapline.  The first trip was made about the 
year 1852.  After having disposed of his stock and while making 
arrangements to return home, the steamer "Lake Erie," which had been 
used to tow canal boats from Rochester, Penn., to Pittsburgh, arrived 
at Cincinnati with two barges, each loaded with about 5,000  bushels 
of coal.  This was the first coal ever towed down the Ohio river by a 
steamboat. Instead of selling his flat-boat, as was before necessary, 
Mr. Wheat paid the captain of the "Lake Erie" $75 to tow his boat 
back to Wheeling.  To Mr. Wheat belongs the entire credit for 
bringing the pottery industry to Wheeling.  This important industry 
now forms one of the chief manufacturing interests of this community 
of factories.  While passing through the town of East Liverpool, 
Ohio, the enterprise and prosperity of the place struck Mr. Wheat so 
forcibly that he decided to look into the cause of it.  As the 
pottery business was the business of the town almost exclusively, he 
naturally determined that this was the cause, and immediateley began 
to lay his plans for the establishment of a pottery at Wheeling.  The 
Wheeling Pottery company is the immediate result of his foresight and 
enterprise.  This concern was founded in November, 1879, and proved a 
great success.  This experiment having been successful, other 
companies have been, from time to time, formed for the purpose of 
manufacturing china, porcelain and other earthenware, until, at the 
present writing there are four very large potteries in the city of 
Wheeling, besides numerous other smaller, but growing, companies.  
Mr. Wheat is connected extensively in the West Virginia China 
company, the Warwick China company and the Wheeling Pottery company.  
His support has always been given to any enterprise which promised 
increased prosperity to Wheeling, and we find him prominently 
identified with the iron business, being a stock-holder in the 
Benwood Iron company, the Belmont Iron works, the Wheeling Iron and 
Nail company, and the Wheeling Steel plant, he being a director
in last two named.  In 1858, with others, he established the
Citizens' Deposit bank of Wheeling.  This institution was
merged into the First National bank, of Wheeling, in April, 1864.  
Mr. Wheat was president of both banks, and now has a $10 bank note in 
his possession bearing his signature as the president of the First 
National bank, of Wheeling, dated in 1864.  This bill was in 
circulation until very recently, when it was discovered by a friend 
and presented to the one whose signature it bears.  He was also one 
of the founders and a large stockholder in three insurance companies, 
the Wheeling Fire & Marine, the Franklin, and the National Insurance 
companies.  From the early days of the oil business he has been an 
operator in the different fields, having been one of the capitalists 
who sunk the well on the National road, near the "S" bridge.  He 
subsequently operated at Smith's Ferry, and is now interested in the 
Belmont oil field.  His marriage to Miss Fannie J. Doane was 
solemnized June 6, 1855.  Their children are: Henry Lawson, Kate 
Doane, George K., Jr., Albert Allen, Archie Laurance, Frank Renick 
and Fannie Josephine.  Mr. Wheat is recognized as one of the most 
progressive and successful business men of the upper Ohio valley.  
His enterprise and ability have been exercised for the good of the 
entire community as well as for his own interests, and long after his 
individuality has sunk into that oblivion which comes to all, his 
many acts of charity and kindness will be remembered with loving 
tenderness.  The great industry which he has planted will serve as a 
monument to his ability and as a reminder of his public spirit.  Mr. 
Wheat is an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church.  His 
greatness is best attested by the great devotion which his multitude 
of employes bear him.


(Linda Fluharty)