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

Typed by Polly Oliver.

Pages 815-819


THOMAS BAIRD McLAIN, who has been prominently identified with the 
business interest of Wheeling since 1858, is now a dealer in dental and 
surgical supplies, having fine quarter in the City Bank Building.  He 
was born at Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio, and is son of John Germmell 
McLain Sr., who was born in 1795, followed the printing and publishing 
business throughout his entire life upon locating in Wheeling 1844, he 
took up the publication of the Wheeling Argus, one of the first 
newspapers of the city.  He continued with this paper until his death 
in 1849, at the age of fifty-four years.  He was an active supporter of 
the Democratic Party. The subject of our sketch has in his possession 
three bound volumes of the Warren New Letter and Trumbull County 
Republican a weekly newspaper running from August 1831, to August 1836, 
and which, notwithstanding its name, was a stanch Jackson Democratic 
paper.  John Gemmell McLain and Thomas Jefferson McLain, his younger 
brother published it at Warren, Trumbull County, and Ohio.  These 
volumes were exhibited at a recent loan exhibition in Wheeling.  In  
1827, John Gamely McLain married Eliza Ellen or Baird, of Cleveland, 
Ohio.  She was born May 1799, and died in 1866 in Wheeling at her 
residence on Haden Street, (now Thirteenth).  They reared five sons and 
two daughters: Lazarus Baird, who was bon in 1828 and died in 1859-at 
the time of his death being local editor of one of the leading Wheeling 
papers; Henry Baird; John Gemmell, Jr.; Robert Baird; Thomas Baird; 
Mary A.; and Annie E.  All the children were born in Trumbull County, 
Ohio, and all but two are now deceased, those living being John 
Gemmell, Jr., and Thomas Baird.

All of the McLain brothers, except Thomas Baird, served apprenticeships 
at the printing trade in the establishment of their father, later 
working as journeymen in different printing offices of the city.  In 
1856, one of the brothers, Robert Baird, learned the drug business, and 
f1858 "set up" a small store in Ritchie town (now in the eight ward) in 
a one-story frame building belonging to the late Dr. R. W. Hazlett, at 
what is now the corner of Thirty-eight and Jacob Streets, the subject 
of our sketch being employed as clerk and errand boy.  About 1860 the 
brothers established a penny post office in their drug store, which 
proved to be quite remunerative to them and a great accommodation to 
the townspeople who took advantage of it.  It was a forerunner of the 
postal substation idea.  People who wanted their mail brought down form 
the city signed an order to the postmaster to have their mail put into 
the penny post box, and every morning it was carried down to the drug 
store, distributed into the proper boxes, and delivered when called for 
at a charge of a penny for each letter or paper. During this time, the 
younger brother boarded and lodged at the family residence on North 
Main Street, between what are now Eighth and Ninth Streets, and walked 
to and form the little drug store stopping on the way at the post 
office for the penny post mail.  In addition to their first 
establishment, they operated a number of other stores, all under the 
firm name of McLain Brothers.

In 1880 the health of the elder brother, Henry Baird, failed, and he 
retired from the firm, purchasing a section of about 600 acres of 
timber land on the Big Kanawha River about four miles below the town of 
Buffalo, Putnam County, West Virginia.  In 1885, Robert Baird also 
retired form and active part in the business on account of the 
continued illness of the elder brother, who being unmarried, made his 
home with the younger brother at the letters country place near Elm 
Grove.   Both are now deceased, Robert Baird in February 1889 and Henry 
Baird in September 1889

In 1890 John Gemmmel McLain, Sr., retired from the firm and purchased 
the right to manufacture and sell in the United States the celebrated 
Todd's Pills.  He has since continued in this business and has an 
extensive trade, maintaining a laboratory at this home and office at 
the corner of Twelfth and Eoff Streets.  He does and exclusively 
wholesales business and sells in all parts of the United States.  He 
purchased the right of manufacture of Laughlin Brothers, who it is 
reputed had paid $50,000 for the same privilege.

In 1893 Thomas Baird McLain, under the advice of this physician, 
disposed of the drug business.  Associating with him his son, James 
Latane McLain, he formed the new firm of the McLain Dental and Surgical 
Depot, in a small room on the second floor of the McLain Block, corner 
of Market and Twelfth Streets. In that time, short in comparison with 
their old business, since this enterprise was established, it has 
proved itself to be one long needed in this vicinity, and now ranks as 
one of the best in the country.  In its various departments can be 
found a large and complete stock of the articles mentioned below, all 
of the latest and most improved instruments and appliances being placed 
in stock as soon as possible after they are put on the market by their 
manufacturers. 

In the dental department is kept a large and varied stock of artificial 
teeth, instruments, furniture and all other necessary articles 
pertaining to the practice of dentistry.  In the surgical department 
their stock consists of a complete assortment of instruments, furniture 
and physicians supplies too numerous to mention.  An extensive line of 
sick room and hospital supplies in carried, such as hot water bottles, 
ice bags, air pillows, air cushions, bed pans, fountain syringes, in 
numerous styles, at moderate prices, and Arnold's Sterilizers and food 
warmers.  They also make a specialty of renting rolling chairs, invalid 
beds, air mattresses, chair commodes and surgical operating tables. 

A specialty of the firm is truss fitting, to which the subject of this 
sketch gives his personal attention, having had over twenty-five year's 
experience.  They possess quite an advantage over ordinary dealers, on 
account of the situation of their establishment, and of their having a 
nice, light private room for fitting trusses and appliances.  Their 
stock of this line of articles is very large and complete, consisting 
of Seeley's hard rubber, leather-covered steel spring and the New York 
elastic web trusses, elastic surgical hosiery, abdominal supporters and 
bandages, and shoulder and body braes.  They also supply appliances for 
deformities of the body, artificial eyes, limbs, arms and hands, and, 
being agents for the best manufacturers, they can guarantee 
satisfaction.  Very few people realize how many persons there are who 
could be made to enjoy life through the use of instruments to aid the 
hearing, and have but a faint idea of the number of articles that the 
McLain Dental & Surgical Depot carries in stock for that purpose, such 
as mohair conversation tubes, London hearing horns, hard rubber 
audiphone fans, black metal ear trumpets and invisible ear drums. 

A general invitation is extended to inspect this establishment, which 
to say to least is quite interesting.  They occupy nearly all of the 
fifth floor of the City Bank Building, at 1300 Market Street.