U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Flaccus, George A. (1858-1908) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 612-614 GEORGE A. FLACCUS, the originator and proprietor of the firm of Flaccus Brothers, which conducts the largest fruit preserving plant in West Virginia, and another large preserving plant at New Philadelphia, Ohio, is a resident and prominent citizen of Wheeling; he was born in Washington County, Ohio, and is a son of George C. Flaccus. His father, George C. Flaccus, who has lived a retired life for many years at his home near Altenheim, two and a half miles east of Wheeling, on the National Road, is a native of Germany and came to this country in 1848, first locating at Pittsburg, where he remained a short time, then removed to a farm eight miles north of Marietta, in Washington County, Ohio, and moved to Wheeling about the close of the Civil War. George A. Flaccus, subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in Wheeling, where he attended the public schools, Linsly Institute and the Wheeling Business College. From 1876 until 1879, he, together with his brothers, conducted a wholesale grocery store, manufacturing much of the goods that they sold. For the past 20 years, especial attention has been given to the manufacture of catsup, preserves, etc., the first plant being located at Altenheim, where the business was begun in a small way, together with the grocery at 23rd and Market streets. In 1890, the business was removed to its present location on the corner of 17th and Chapline streets. Mincemeat and canned goods were the first manufactured, but in later years the famous Steers-Head catsup became the specialty, being manufactured and shipped by carloads, together with preserves, pickles, canned goods, sauces, etc., to all parts of the country. The buildings occupied cover the entire square on 17th street, from Chapline street to Eoff street, and are well equipped with up-to-date machinery, especially adapted for the purposes designed, most of it invented and made by the firm. Flaccus Brothers were the first firm to engage in the manufacture of this line of goods in Wheeling and among the first west of the Alleghany Mountains, as then most manufacturers of these goods were located in Eastern Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and New Jersey. They contract with farmers and gardeners in the territory adjoining Wheeling and at their plant in New Philadelphia, Ohio, to furnish most of the necessary products, while large supplies are also drawn from other large fruit centers. About 60,000 square feet is the present area of floor space at the Wheeling plant, which has been continually added to since 1890, while the New Philadelphia plant has about 30,000 square feet more; the firm has agents and salesmen in all parts of the country, from Maine to California, particularly in the largest cities and is only able to partly supply the ever increasing demand. George A. Flaccus married Ella B. Friend, a sister of Kennedy Friend, who is engaged in the furniture business in Wheeling. For seventeen years they resided on the Island and for the last six years have maintained a beautiful summer home on the National Road, near Wheeling Park, which since the spring of 1901 they have made their permanent residence, — it is called "The Pines" and is surrounded by beautiful and well kept grounds. Mr. and Mrs. Flaccus have one daughter, Adelaide, aged 18 years, who is attending school at Washington, D. C. Politically he has always been a Republican. ------------------------------------------------------------------- DEATH CERTIFICATE, City of Wheeling, W.Va. #236 FULL-NAME: George Andoraus Flaccus BIRTH-DATE: June 2, 1858 BIRTH-PLACE: Washington Co., Ohio DEATH-DATE: March 28, 1908 AGE-AT-DEATH: 49y-9m-26d DEATH-PLACE: The Pines, Tridelphia Dist., Wheeling, W.Va. MARITAL-STATUS: Married (Ella B. Friend) OCCUPATION: Retired FATHER: Geo. C. Flaccus (born in Germany) MOTHER: Emelia M. Blennerhaset (born in Germany) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Chronic Interstitial Nephritis INFORMANT: Edward C. Flaccus (of Wheeling, W.Va.) BURIAL: Greenwood ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ohio County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/ohio/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------