722 Main Street

 

Deed records suggest that this property, along with the adjacent property at 724 Main Street, were owned by the Hughes family in the mid 1800s. The 1867-68 Wheeling City Directory shows that John Hughes[1], “collector for Thomas Hughes,” resided on the east side of Main Street, between Washington Street (now named 7th) and Adams Street (now named 8th). However, an exact street address isn’t indicated. Deed records from 1875 indicate that Eliza S. Hughes[2] (widow) was granted the neighboring 724 Main during her lifetime, suggesting that that was their actual residence.

 

In 1873, Anton Baiker purchased 722 Main from the Hughes family. Baiker’s occupation was listed as “whitewasher.” Following Baiker’s death (probably in 1892, based on the execution of his will), the property was transferred to Christina and John A. Miller for $2800. Christina Miller (1854-1931) was the daughter of Anton and Catherine Reinacher Baiker. Her husband John was a tannery worker at Hoffman Tannery.

 

In 1901, George G. and Elizabeth M. Roth purchased the property for $4000. Roth (1851-1917) was an inspector for the water department. His wife Elizabeth (1853-1941) lived at 722 Main until her death. However, the property was transferred to their daughter, Cora Chamberlain, in 1938 for $3000. Cora was a nurse and the widow of Washington Chamberlain. It appears that following the death of George Roth, additional tenants also lived in the building. For example, the 1930 City Directory shows that Mrs. Laura Johnson (widow, PBX operator at Stone & Thomas) and Mary and Benjamin F. Strofer (Peerless Wallpaper and Paint) resided there.

 

Cora Roth Chamberlain (1877-1953) sold the property to Richard and Alma Elwood in 1952. She was living at the McLure Hotel at the time of her death.

 

Edward F. Davis purchased the property in 1969. He was listed as a factory worker at General Cigar & Tobacco and later at Helme Tobacco Company.

 

The property is currently owned by the Wheeling National Heritage Foundation while it is undergoing rehabilitation.

           

Prepared by Jeanne Finstein, Friends of Wheeling

August 4, 2015

 

Sources:

Ohio County Deeds

Wheeling City Directories – various years

Ohio County Death Records

Family Search

 

Photos by Joanne Sullivan

 

[1] John Hughes (1818-1870) served as a member of City Council for some 17 years prior to his defeat in early 1870. He died of typhoid fever on March 22, 1870 at the age of 52. He was apparently the brother of Eliza Clark Hughes (1817-1882) and Alfred Hughes (1824-1880), both homeopathic physicians who supported the Confederacy during the Civil War. Alfred served time in Camp Chase after refusing to sign the Oath of Allegiance. After being released, he moved to Baltimore and spent the rest of his life there. Eliza is believed to be the first female in what is now West Virginia to receive a medical license. She eventually signed the Oath of Allegiance and continued practicing medicine until her death.

 

[2] Eliza Sterritt McLane Hughes (c. 1824-1882) was the widow of John Hughes.