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 779 & 780

HON. MICHAEL J. O'KANE, a retired merchant, living at No. 1112 Chapline 
Street, has long been one of the substantial business men of Wheeling, 
and served one term of four years as postmaster of the city.  He was 
born in County Londonderry, Ireland, August 20, 1829, and is a son of 
James and Bridget (Hagan) O'Kane.

James O'Kane came to the United States in 1834, and located in the city 
of Philadelphia.  He then sent for his family, which came to this 
country in 1839.  He lived in that city until his death, on February 
17, 1850, at the age of fifty-eight years.  His wife died on October 1, 
1849, at the age of fifty-six years.  They were members of the Catholic 
Church. They became parents of 10 children, of whom but two, Michael J. 
And James, are now living.  James O'Kane, Jr., resides in Philadelphia 
and works in the United States Mint.  He was a 1st Lieutenant during 
the Civil War, and was taken prisoner at Winchester and confined in 
Libby Prison eight months.  He was imprisoned there when others made 
their escape through the tunnel.  He is now about sixty-eight years of 
age. 

Michael J. O'Kane attended the public schools of Philadelphia, and 
there learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed in that city 
until 1860, when he came to Wheeling. He followed his trade here until 
1864, when he opened up a shop of his own.  He was in business alone 
for four years, and established a fine reputation for workmanship, and 
soon had command of a well-paying patronage.  In 1868 he entered into 
partnership with James Devine, and year by year their trade steadily 
grew, necessitating several removals to larger quarters.  The firm of 
O'Kane & Devine had a flourishing business from its inception until 
it's dissolution in 1887, when Mr. O'Kane took sole charge of affairs.  
He opened a large and commodious place at No. 1113 Main Street, doing a 
wholesale and retail business.  He gives special attention to custom 
work and has the largest establishment of the kind in the city.  He was 
honest and upright in all his dealings, and was held in the highest 
esteem by his fellow citizens.  He continued to conduct this 
establishment until April, 1901, since which time he has lived a 
retired life.  He has given much of his attention to public affairs, 
and was connected with several charitable institutions, and a director 
of the City Hospital. He was elected two terms from the second ward of 
Wheeling to the city council, a fact which attests his popularity, as 
he was the first Democrat to be elected from that ward in twenty years.  
He also served in the legislature during the term of 1892-1893.  He was 
appointed postmaster of Wheeling and served throughout President 
Cleveland's second administration.

December 3, 1853, Mr. O'Kane was married in Philadelphia, to Honora 
Welch, a native of Ireland, who came to this country in 1850, her 
parents having died in Ireland.  They have the following offspring;  
Mary, who has had many years experience as a saleslady; Robert E., a 
Catholic priest, with parish at Parkersburg, West Virginia; Hannah, 
wife of Joseph McGugan, a traveling salesman, by whom she has two 
children, Robert and Joseph;  James, who is a clerk; Margaret A., who 
is in charge of the registered letter and money order department of the 
Wheeling Post Office; and John E.  John E. O'Kane graduated from 
Fordham College and the dental department of the University of 
Pennsylvania, and has practiced in Wheeling a number of years; he is a 
skilled workman, his work being up-to-date in every respect.  He is a 
member of the State Dental Association.  Our subject is a Democrat in 
politics, and takes an active interest in the political affairs of 
county and state, and has been a delegate to several state conventions.