creditors, and he paid William L. in full. I met William L. soon after this and asked him as to the correctness of the statement when he told me that as to details there were minor inaccuracies, but that it was substantially true.

In politics William L. Hearne was all his life a Democrat, till 1888, when he and all his sons voted for Harrison and protecton, and vote that way still.

From the "History of the Upper Ohio Valley," Volume I., Page 314-315:

William L. Hearne, a prominent capitalist who is devoting his capital largely to the upbuilding of the iron industry of the upper Ohio Valley, has secured for himself a well deserved place in the esteem of the people, and demands from an impartial historian also, by his career, such mention as will briefly but accurately show his relation to the development of those important institutions, which have in recent periods revolutionized to so large an extent the character of that region. It was not until Mr. Hearne had attained wealth by the successful prosecution of other business that he moved to Wheeling, and lent his aid to the manufactures peculiar to this valley. He is a native of Delaware. Born 1818, and was there reared; and, while a young man, was married, 1837, to a sister of Governor Ross. 1857. He removed to Missouri, and at Hannibal engaged in the tabacco business. Five years later he made his home in New York, and continued the same business there until May, 1865, after which date he was again a resident of Hannibal, Mo., for two years. In 1867 he came to Wheeling and became a stockholder and director in the association known as Dewey, Vance & C. Owners of the iron works after known as the Riverside. One of the best appointed nail establishments in the country, which has done much to produce the wide reputation which Wheeling has acquired for the production of nails. When Mr. Hearne became a partner in the business the nail mil was in process of construction. The next enlargement of the plant was the blast furnace at Benwood, which was completed 1871, and put in blast Feb. 9, 1872. The average weekly product of this furnace is now 1.000 tons of pig iron. All consumed in the company's steel plant. The blast furnace formerly used by the steubenvile Furnace Company was purchased by the Riverside Company in 1885 and thoroughly

[Continued on page 238]

Thanks to Candy Hearn for transcribing this page.