From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902.

Typed by Carol Taylor Lanza.

Pages 710 and 713

ALBERT EIKEY, engineer of the Elm Grove Coal Company, located at Elm 
Grove, Ohio County, West Virginia, possesses natural mechanical ability 
and has filled his present post of duty for the past two years.  He was 
born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1874. 

His father, Charles Eikey, was a puddler by trade, and is still an 
active man.  He served four years in the army during the Civil War, as 
a member of an Ohio regiment, and participated in many battles.  Few of 
the regiment who originally enlisted are now left; many were wounded or 
taken prisoners, many died in battle or during the conflict, and others 
have passed away since it's close. Albert Eikey's paternal grandfather 
served in the same war and is still living, having reached the age of 
eighty-five years.  He is supported by a pension from the government, 
which he richly deserves.  He was a native of Germany, but in early 
manhood sought and found a permanent home in America.

Albert Eikey obtained a limited mental training in the public schools, 
which he attended until he was fourteen years old, when he became self 
supporting.  He did odd jobs at anything he could obtain, but  the bent 
of his mind was for machinery and later he found employment with the 
Wheeling Street Railway Company, applying himself so closely to the 
running of the plant that he was finally employed as night fireman, 
which position he held for five years.  Subsequently he accepted an 
offer from the Wheeling & Elm Grove Water Works to assist in running 
the engine.

Two years ago Mr. Eikey accepted his present position as engineer for 
the Elm Grove Coal Company.  The company mines about 600 tons of coal 
daily, and employs 125 men.  Mr. Eikey has exclusive control of it's 
big hoisting engine that brings the coal from the mine, 90 feet deep, 
to the surface; he also has charge of the stationary engine, which 
supplies air to the men at work in the mine.  The large engine is a 60-
horsepower engine.  The latter is a 10-horsepower engine, which runs 
two pumps, with a cylinder to each pump, throws a four inch stream of 
water night and day, and pumps the accumulated waters out of the mine.