Christian Steinmetz was born on December 27, 1843, in Germany. He came to Wheeling, West Virginia in 1868 and began manufacturing paper boxes for the Wheeling Hinge Company at his first factory located at 1221 Main Street. In November 1919, he moved to a larger, modern 4-story factory he built at the corner of 25th and Wood streets, measuring 66 by 87 feet. This factory was known as one of the largest box factories in West Virginia at the time. Steinmetz turned over the box company to his three sons - George F., Clement A., and Lawrence C. - and one daughter, Sophia, in January 1920, though it remained in the family's ownership. Christian Steinmetz passed away on October 13, 1933, in Wheeling at age 89. After his death, the Steinmetz Box Factory at 25th and Wood later became a Marx Toy Warehouse.
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Photo Credits: Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave