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

Typed by Polly Oliver; hard copy provided by Linda Fluharty.

Pages 820-821


MICHAEL STEIN, Mayor of Fulton, Ohio County, West Virginia, to which 
office he was elected in 1900, is one of the oldest residents of the 
town, in the growth and development of which he has been a leading 
factor.  He is a man of influence in the community, and has been an 
enthusiastic supporter of all measures and enterprises tending to 
improve the condition of Fulton.  He was born in Hessen, Germany, in 
1833, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Emul) Stein. 

Jacob Stein, a wagon maker by trade, died in Germany in 1848, and his 
widow survived him but six years.  They were parents of seven children, 
of whom three are now living, namely: William, aged eighty-eight years, 
who came to America in 1844, and now resides in Lexington, Mississippi; 
a daughter who lives in Germany at the age of eighty-two years and 
Michael.

Michael Stein at and early age learned the trade of wagon maker form 
his father, and in 1850 came to America.  He stopped briefly at 
Baltimore and Pittsburgh, and then located at Somerton, Belmont County, 
Ohio, where he worked one year at wagon making for Lewis Jordan.  He 
moved to Bridgeton, where he worked on the old plank road to 
Harrisville, and then moved to Wheeling, in 1852, at time when what is 
now east Wheeling was but a cornfield.  He learned the trade of a 
butcher in the employ of John Sickler, who had engaged in that business 
at Fulton for several years, and in 1858 went into that business at 
Fulton for himself.  About two years later, he engaged in wagon making, 
having bought out the business of Henry Kiel.  In this line of work he 
continued until 1884, with the exception of the time he served in the 
state militia.  In 1877, he built a shop at the intersection of Fulton 
Street and the National Road, which, in 1884, was turned over to his 
sons, Henry and Charles.  The firm name became Stein Brothers & 
McClusky, and the business was conducted by them until 1892, when it 
was disposed of.  The shop is owned by Mr. Stein and his son, Henry, 
and is rented to David Nesbitt at the present time.  In 1884, he rented 
a building at Fulton and conducted a saloon, from which he subsequently 
removed to his present large building, which he purchased off John 
Cunning.  He kept a saloon until 1898, since which time he has 
successfully conducted a fruit store.  He is a good business manager, 
and has made a success of whatever he has undertaken.  He is a Democrat 
in politics.  He was elected the First Mayor of Fulton, when the town 
was incorporated 1879, and served one term.  He has also served in the 
council a number of terms, and for eight years was one of the 
commissioners of Ohio County.  

He was a member of the school board for seventeen years, and it was 
largely through his efforts that the excellent school building was 
secured for Fulton.  The town has six hundred inhabitants, and the 
principal industry is the F. Schenk & Sons Company packing house.  In 
1879 Mr. Stein secured the purchase of a fire engine, and has done much 
to place the efficient fire department on its present footing.  
Cisterns were built at covenant places but since a pressure of from 100 
to 110 pounds has be supplied by the Wheeling Water Works, these have 
been displaced by hydrants, and adequate protection from fire is 
offered. 

In 1858, Mr. Stein was united in matrimony with Eleanor Crider, who was 
born in Germany in 1834, and 10 children were the result of their 
union, namely: Henry; Mary; John L.; Lizzie; Conrad; Charles; Minnie; 
Richard A.; William C.; and Gussie.  Henry is a member of the firm of 
Miller & Stein, which purchased the business of W. T. Burt & Company, 
the oldest firm in Wheeling engaged in that line.  They are wholesale 
dealers in blacksmith and wagon supplies, and occupy four floors at 
No.1313 Main Street.  The firm in on of the three largest in Wheeling, 
engaged in this business.  Henry married Mary C. Hoffmann, a daughter 
of Frank P. and Barbara Hoffmann.  She died in 1897, at the age of 
thirty-eight years, leaving two children, Eleanor B., aged eight years, 
and Frank H., aged six years.  He formed a second union, wedding Jennie 
C. Hoffmann, and resided at Fulton.  Mary became Mrs. Miller, of Fulton 
and John L. is a blacksmith at Martin's Ferry, Ohio; Lizzies is the 
wife of William Happy, of Fulton, Conrad lives at home. Charles follows 
the wagon making trade at Wheeling.  Minnie married Mr. Hostcraft, of 
Mink Richard A., a clerk in the establishment of Miller & Stein, 
married Mary Yacke, and lives at home.  William C. is married and lives 
with his parents, Gussie is also living at home. Fraternally, Mr. Stein 
is a member of Logan Tribe, No. 1, I. O. R. M., and has been connected 
with the order since 1860, serving in many of its local and state 
offices, and as representative to national conventions.  He has also 
filled high office in the Knight of Pythias, and is supreme deputy 
commander of West Virginia.  Religiously, he has always adhered to the 
faith of the Lutheran Church.