​Today in Wheeling History: March 16—Tim O'Brien, Grammy Award-winning bluegrass musician and founding member of Hot Rize, was born in Wheeling (1954).
 
Tim O'Brien, born March 16, 1954, in Wheeling, West Virginia, is an acclaimed bluegrass and country musician who began his musical journey in his hometown. As the youngest of five children, O'Brien developed an early interest in music after hearing Bob Dylan at age 12. During his high school years in Wheeling, he taught himself guitar, violin, and mandolin, and began performing folk music with his sister Mollie at local coffeehouses and church events.
 
After briefly attending Colby College, O'Brien left in 1973 to pursue music professionally, eventually settling in Boulder, Colorado, where he co-founded the innovative bluegrass band Hot Rize in 1978. The group, which also performed as their alter ego "Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers," won the International Bluegrass Music Association's first Entertainer of the Year award in 1990.
 
O'Brien's multifaceted career includes over 30 albums, Grammy recognition for "Fiddler's Green" (2005), IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year honors (1993, 2006), and songwriting credits for artists like Kathy Mattea and Garth Brooks. In 2006, he was inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame, and in 2013, entered the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
 
Though left-handed by nature, O'Brien plays all instruments right-handed and is proficient on guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bouzouki, and mandocello.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/bdh9f4at) (https://tinyurl.com/yrc3wkz7), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/268syjen)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons

Today in Wheeling History: March 15--Joseph M. Devine, 6th Governor of North Dakota, was born in Wheeling (1861).
 
Joseph McMurray Devine was born on March 15, 1861, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Hugh E. and Jane (McMurray) Devine. Growing up in Wheeling, Devine gained early business experience by delivering the Wheeling Daily Register and assisting his father in the landscape and florist business. He attended public schools in Wheeling and graduated from West Virginia University in 1881 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Devine moved to LaMoure County, Dakota Territory, in 1884, where he initially farmed before becoming an educator. He served as LaMoure County Superintendent of Schools and was elected president of the North Dakota State Education Association in 1889. Devine entered politics as Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota in 1897 and became the 6th Governor of North Dakota in 1898 following the death of Governor Frank A. Briggs. He continued to be active in educational issues, serving as the North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1901 to 1902. Devine later held positions as the executive head of the State Training School in Mandan and as State Immigration Commissioner. He passed away on August 31, 1938, in Mandan, North Dakota, and is interred in Mandan Union Cemetery.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/2cjbz), Mandan History (https://shorturl.at/oUUVO), Griggs County Historical Society (https://shorturl.at/KfBpD)
 
Photo caption and credit: Joseph M. Devine (Beauregardbert, Wikimedia Commons)

Today in Wheeling History: March 15--Joan Corson Stamp, philanthropist and community leader, was born in Wheeling (1951).
 
Joan Corson Stamp, born on March 15, 1951, is a prominent figure in Wheeling, West Virginia, known for her extensive contributions to education, culture, and the arts. Born and raised in Wheeling, Joan married Judge Frederick P. Stamp Jr. in 1975, who is also a member of the Wheeling Hall of Fame. Joan's dedication to philanthropy was influenced by her parents and grandparents, who instilled in her a commitment to supporting the community. She has been actively involved in various organizations, including the West Virginia University (WVU) Foundation, where she served on the Board of Directors for 17 years. Joan's father, Louis D. Corson, composed the Alma Mater for WVU, further cementing her family's legacy in the state. Joan's contributions have been recognized through numerous awards and honors, including her induction into the Wheeling Hall of Fame in 2023. Her work has had a lasting impact on the community, and she continues to be a role model for future generations. Joan's story is a testament to the power of dedication and service to one's community.
 
To learn more: (https://shorturl.at/pWeoH) (https://shorturl.at/KkXa5) (https://shorturl.at/1z28A) (https://shorturl.at/TfAEL)
 
Photo credits: Weelunk

​Today in Wheeling History: March 14--Sam Moffet, Major League Baseball player and successful gold miner, was born in Wheeling (1857).
 
Samuel Robert "Sam" Moffet was born on March 14, 1857, in Wheeling, West Virginia. He grew up in Wheeling and developed a passion for baseball at a young age. Moffet played on amateur baseball teams as a teenager and quickly gained a reputation for his skills on the field. In 1882, he batted an impressive .404 for the Wheeling Standards. The following year, Moffet began his professional baseball career with the Toledo Blue Stockings of the Northwestern League, where he played as a pitcher and also covered first and third base. In 1884, Moffet made his Major League Baseball debut with the Cleveland Blues. During his time with the Blues, he played 42 games in the outfield and batted .184 in 256 at-bats. Moffet's pitching record was less stellar, with a 3-19 win-loss record. After a brief hiatus from professional baseball to pursue mining ventures in Montana, Moffet became a successful gold miner, earning approximately $50,000 from his mining endeavors. Adjusted for inflation, this amount would be equivalent to around $1.3 million in 2025. He later returned to the majors in 1887 with the Indianapolis Hoosiers. He played until mid-1888 before retiring from baseball. Moffet continued his mining endeavors in Montana, where he mined gold. He passed away on May 5, 1907, in Butte, Montana, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling, West Virginia.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/3nfcyrez), Baseball Reference (https://tinyurl.com/4dwm254t), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/4v7kcenh)
 
Photo credits: Find a Grave, Baseball Reference

Today in Wheeling History: March 13—Johann Ludwig Stifel, founder of the J.L. Stifel & Sons calico works and a prominent figure in Wheeling's industrial history, was born (1807).
 
Johann Ludwig Stifel, born on March 13, 1807, in Neuffen, Württemberg, Germany, was a pioneering industrialist who significantly impacted Wheeling, West Virginia's textile industry. Stifel immigrated to the United States in 1833, initially settling in Baltimore, Maryland. He later moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he worked in a wool mill and learned the textile trade. In 1835, Stifel walked to Wheeling, where he established a small dyeing shop in a log cabin with just a $10 investment and a piece of cotton cloth. His business quickly grew, and he opened a larger calico shop on the southeast corner of 9th and Main Streets. Stifel's company, J.L. Stifel & Sons, became one of the nation's largest calico printing establishments, known for its indigo-dyed prints. The company played a crucial role during both World Wars, providing textiles for France and khaki for American soldiers. Stifel was also an active citizen, serving on the boards of various businesses, helping to found Wheeling's first German newspaper, and attending the second Wheeling Convention, which helped establish the state of West Virginia. Johann Ludwig Stifel passed away on December 1, 1881, in Wheeling and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery. His legacy as an industrial pioneer and community leader continues to be remembered in Wheeling.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling, WV (https://tinyurl.com/ytsc5h69); Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/y5cw29et), Archiving Wheeling  (https://tinyurl.com/3pvyzx2j)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling, WV; Find a Grave

​Today in Wheeling History: March 12--Father Joseph Jamula became the 3rd Pastor of St. Ladislaus Church (1973).
 
Father Joseph Jamula was born on February 25, 1916, in Windber, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Anthony and Catherine Niedzialek Jamula. He attended Lackawanna High School in New York and later Canisius College in Buffalo. He then pursued his religious studies at Our Lady of the Angels Seminary in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he was ordained as a Franciscan Friar on June 18, 1942. Father Jamula dedicated his life to serving the Catholic Church and its community. He served as a teacher and pastor in various locations before being assigned to St. Ladislaus Church in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1973. Under his leadership, the church underwent significant renovations and expanded its community outreach. Father Jamula was known for his dedication to his parishioners and his efforts to modernize the church. He served as the pastor of St. Ladislaus Church until its closure in 1995, due to declining membership and finances. Father Jamula passed away on June 14, 1997, in Wheeling, West Virginia, and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Lackawanna, New York.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling, WV (https://tinyurl.com/44kh9v6t); Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/3fzfhvzw)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave

​Today in Wheeling History: March 13--Johann Ludwig Stifel, founder of J.L. Stifel & Sons, was born (1807).
 
Johann Ludwig Stifel was born on March 13, 1807, in Neuffen, Württemberg, Germany. He learned the trade of dyeing and calico printing in his homeland before emigrating to the United States in 1833. Stifel arrived in Baltimore and later moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he worked in woolen mills. In the summer of 1834, he walked barefoot from Bethlehem to Wheeling, Virginia, to save his shoes. By 1835, he had established a small dyeing shop in a log cabin with just a $10 investment and a piece of cotton cloth. His business grew rapidly, and he opened a larger calico shop on the southeast corner of 9th and Main Streets in Wheeling. Stifel was an active citizen, serving on various business boards and helping to found Wheeling's first German newspaper, "Staats Zeitung." In 1859, his sons Louis C. and William F. joined the company, which became J.L. Stifel & Sons. The company grew into one of the nation's largest calico printing establishments, exporting indigo-dyed prints internationally. During World War II, the company produced textiles for the U.S. military. However, foreign competition and recession forced the company to merge with Indian Head Mills in 1957. Stifel passed away on January 21, 1881, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/3avsjymx), Archiving Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/yty3zutu), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/5bw7ru69)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV

Today in Wheeling History: March 11—Daniel Dulany Addison, Episcopal clergyman and writer, was born in Wheeling (1863).
 
Daniel Dulany Addison (1863–1936) was a prominent Episcopal clergyman, historian, and author with deep ancestral ties to American history. Born on March 11, 1863, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to the Reverend Thomas Grafton Addison and Maria Eliason Addison, he was a descendant of William Paca, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Colonel John Addison, an early American settler. Addison pursued higher education at Union College, where he graduated in 1883. He later attended the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, earning his degree in 1886.
 
Addison served as a rector in various churches, including St. Peter's Church in Beverly, Massachusetts, and All Saints Church in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was also deeply involved in missionary work, particularly in Liberia, where he was recognized for his contributions by being knighted by the Liberian government in 1904. As a writer, Addison authored several notable works, including "The Episcopalians" and "The Clergy in American Life and Letters". His historical and biographical writings remain valuable resources for understanding American religious and cultural history.
 
Addison passed away on March 27, 1936, in Brookline, Massachusetts, and was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery in Marion, Massachusetts.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/yckaa2yj), Massachusetts Historical Society (https://tinyurl.com/dn2n5928)
 
Photo credits: Find a Grave, Wikimedia Commons

​Today in Wheeling History: March 10--Dan F. Morse, pioneering archaeologist renowned for his groundbreaking research on prehistoric cultures, including the Sloan Dalton site (one of the oldest documented cemeteries in the Americas) and his influential publication Archaeology of the Central Mississippi Valley, was born in Wheeling, WV (1935).
 
Dan Franklin Morse (1935–2024) was a pioneering archaeologist whose work profoundly shaped the understanding of prehistoric cultures in the Midwestern United States and the central Mississippi Valley. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, he was inspired by his father, a forensic anthropologist and vocational archaeologist, to pursue a passion for uncovering humanity's ancient past. Morse's meticulous research illuminated the burial practices, social structures, and adaptive strategies of prehistoric societies. His seminal work, *Archaeology of the Central Mississippi Valley* (1983), became a cornerstone of archaeological literature, offering an authoritative overview of the region's prehistoric cultures.
 
Morse's excavation of the Sloan Dalton site in Arkansas—one of the oldest documented cemeteries in the Americas—remains a pivotal contribution, providing key insights into Paleoindian societies and their complex social and spiritual frameworks. As a professor at Arkansas State University for 32 years and a collaborator with the Arkansas Archaeological Survey, Morse mentored generations of students, extending his influence well beyond his publications. His wife, Phyllis Anderson Morse, also an accomplished archaeologist, collaborated with him on groundbreaking projects, enriching the field with their combined expertise. An Army veteran, Morse's legacy reflects a life of rigorous scholarship and public service, leaving an indelible mark on American archaeology.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/yc7b5vz6), Arkansas Archeological Survey (https://tinyurl.com/u6v3nns4), K8 News (https://tinyurl.com/43mrnth7)
 
Photo credits: Arkansas Archeological Survey, eBay, Amazon

​Today in Wheeling History: March 9--Amy Shuler Goodwin, the first female mayor of Charleston, West Virginia, was born in Wheeling (1971).
 
Amy Shuler Goodwin was born on March 9, 1971, in Wheeling, West Virginia. She grew up in Wheeling, where her father, Floyd Shuler, was a business owner, and her mother, Pat Shuler, was a teacher. Goodwin is the granddaughter of Thais Blatnik, a notable journalist and politician who served in both chambers of the West Virginia Legislature. Goodwin attended Wheeling Park High School, where she developed an interest in journalism and public service. She pursued higher education at West Virginia University, earning a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1994. After graduation, Goodwin worked for ABC News as a researcher before becoming a reporter and anchor for WCHS-TV in Charleston and WTRF-TV in Wheeling.
 
Goodwin's career in public service began when she served as communications director for Kemp Melton, the mayor of Charleston, in the 1990s. She later worked as the state communications director for John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign and as communications director for Governors Bob Wise and Earl Ray Tomblin. In 2014, Tomblin appointed her as commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Tourism and deputy secretary of commerce, a role she held until January 2017.
 
In February 2017, Goodwin announced her candidacy for mayor of Charleston. She won the election in November 2018, becoming the first female mayor of Charleston. Goodwin was re-elected in November 2022. Throughout her tenure, she has prioritized fiscal accountability, diversity, and community-focused initiatives.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/OllN3), City of Charleston (https://shorturl.at/ZJnk5), The Intelligencer (https://shorturl.at/RKUpf)
 
Photo caption and credit: Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin (charlestonwv.gov)