U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Maxwell, Alexander O. (1858-1938) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 601-603 ALEXANDER O. MAXWELL, who has been a resident of Wheeling, West Virginia, since 1869, is secretary of the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company and a prominent member of the Board of Education of that city. He was born in Ohio County, Virginia, now West Virginia, 10 miles from Wheeling, in 1858. He is a son of John D. Maxwell, and grandson of Thomas and Sarah (Steele) Maxwell, of Scotch-Irish descent; the former died in 1858, and the latter, in 1872. Thomas Maxwell was born at the Redstone settlement in Pennsylvania, and removed to Ohio County, Virginia, now West Virginia with his father. They located on a farm 12 miles east of Wheeling, which property still remains in the possession of the family. Farming was the chief pursuit of the family up to that time. Thomas and Sarah Maxwell had eight children, as follows: John D.; Hester, deceased; Sarah Jane; Margaret Ann; Rachel Amanda; Elizabeth, deceased; Robert M.; and T. T. All the surviving members of the family reside in Ohio County, with the exception of Sarah Jane, who is a resident of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. John D. Maxwell was born in Ohio County, August 8, 1816, and was reared on the farm on which he remained until he arrived at maturity. At the age of about 25 years, he attended the academy at West Alexander, Pennsylvania, in charge of Rev. Dr. McCluskey, a Presbyterian minister, contemporary with Dr. Hupp, of Wheeling. He became proficient in Latin and Greek and familiar with the sciences, during his course of four years. Upon leaving school, he taught for six months at Triadelphia, and during the three succeeding years taught a select school five miles from Wheeling. He then taught for seven seasons near his old home and Valley Grove. Two years later, he was married and then opened a merchandise store at Triadelphia, and later at Roney's Point, where he conducted business about two years. He then sold out and took charge of his father's farm, which he succeeded in clearing of a previously incurred indebtedness. He removed to Wheeling in the fall of 1869, and in 1871 rented the stock yards of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Bellaire, and conducted them for about seven months. During 1858 and 1859, he had served as deputy sheriff under Samuel Irwin, and under an act of the Legislature was appointed in 1867 by Governor Boreman a commissioner for the equalization of lands — representing the First Senatorial District, which included Brooke, Hancock and Ohio counties. The work occupied the commission for nearly a year. Mr. Maxwell was special deputy United States marshal under Hegeman Slack, of Charleston, for 12 years or until the early "eighties," since which time he has lived practically a retired life. Although 85 years of age, he is most active and hearty, and resides at No. 25 South Penn street, on the Island. He was united in marriage with Margaret Pierson, who was born in Ohio County, July 6, 1831, and is a daughter of Perry and Isabel (Frazer) Pierson, being one of seven children, as follows: Margaret; David; James C.; Jane; Narcissus; Abigail; and Perry E. This union resulted in the birth of eight children, as follows; Thomas T., a painter and contractor, of Wheeling; James P., of the firm of Hubbard & Paull, of Wheeling, a member of the executive committee of the West Virginia Wholesale Grocers' Association; Alexander O.; Margaret (Lake), who resides on the Island, and has two children, Sidney and Marguerite; John Edward, who lives at home and is in the employ of the Wheeling Electrical Company; George D., president of the Hicks & Hoge Dry Goods Company of Wheeling; Rose (Montgomery), of Martin's Ferry, Ohio; and Schuyler Colfax, who died in infancy. Alexander O. Maxwell attended the public schools of Wheeling until he was 14 years of age, and then served an apprenticeship to the trade of a printer, with William Ewing. He afterward became a clerk in the employ of Isaiah Warren & Company, in the oil refinery at Wheeling, and occupied several clerical positions with them during the following six years. He served as traveling salesman for Simeon Baer's Sons Grocery Company for five years, and in 1888 began his business relations with the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company, as bookkeeper. In 1890, when this firm became incorporated, he was made secretary of the company, in which capacity he has since served with credit. Mr. Maxwell was united in marriage with Clementine Loomis, who died in 1896, leaving five children, as follows: Lillian B.; Edna G.; Margaret C.; John Alexander; and Harold. He formed a second union, wedding Emma W. Seybold, of Wheeling, a daughter of Joseph Seybold, deceased, who was at one time cashier, and later president, of the Bank of Wheeling, and was also sheriff of Ohio County. The subject of this sketch resides in the Seventh Ward, on North Front street, on the Island. He is a Republican, and has taken an active interest in the affairs of his party. He was a member of the city executive committee one year, and was elected a member of the Board of Education in 1892, to fill out an unexpired term. He served until 1894, when he was re-elected for a term of six years, and in 1900 was again elected to that office. Fraternally, he is past master of Ohio Lodge, No. 1, A. F. & A. M. In religious belief, the family has always been Presbyterian, but Mr. Maxwell is liberal, attending the Protestant Episcopal and Methodist Episcopal Churches. ------------------------------------------------------------------- DEATH CERTIFICATE, Ohio County WV, #16850 FULL-NAME: Alexander Orr Maxwell BIRTH-DATE: February 1, 1858 BIRTH-PLACE: McGraws Run, Ohio Co., West Va. DEATH-DATE: December 7, 1938 AGE-AT-DEATH: 80y-10m-6d DEATH-PLACE: Wheeling, Ohio County, WV USUAL-RESIDENCE: 3 Walnut Ave., Wheeling, Ohio County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Widowed (Clementine Loomis) OCCUPATION: Retired Secy Block Bros Tobacco Co. FATHER: John D. Maxwell (born in Wheeling, W.Va.) MOTHER: Margaret Pearson (born in Wheeling, W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Chronic Interstitial Nephritis / Bronchitis INFORMANT: Edna G. Maxwell (of 3 Walnut Ave.) BURIAL: Greenwood Cemetery ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------