From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902 
 
Typed by Carol Taylor Lanza 
 
Pages 840-841 
 
JOSEPH W. FERREL.  Since August, 1870, Mr. Ferrel has been identified 
with the rising fortunes of Wheeling, and as a pioneer merchant, and as 
at present an agent for numerous tailoring establishments, has 
indelibly impressed his worth and strong personality upon the growth of 
the town.  On the old homestead farm in the center of Ohio County, West 
Virginia, at the Head Spring on Peter's Run, he was born May 14, 1826. 
 He is a son of Moses Ferrel, and a grandson of Joseph Ferrel.   
    Moses Ferrel, who was born on the Ohio County farm mentioned above, 
in 1784, was a man of many gifts, and was successful as a farmer, 
carpenter and school teacher.  He married Mary Wallace, who was born in 
Ohio County, West Virginia, in 1786, and whose brother, Charles, 
assisted by Mr. Spalding, paved the National Road from West Alexander 
to Columbus.  Four children were born to receive the affectionate and 
capable training of Moses Ferrel and his wife.  Of these, John and Jane 
are deceased, and Margaret became the wife of Mr. Young, of West 
Liberty.   
     Joseph W. Ferrel lived and worked and studied on the ancestral 
homestead in Ohio County until he was eighteen years of age, having, in 
1836, began to attend school in West Alexander.  His first attempt to 
earn a living was as a clerk in West Liberty, a position he filled for 
one year.  In 1852 he married Sarah E. Forney, who was born in Ohio 
County, Virginia, a daughter of Dr. Forney.  For nineteen years Mr. 
Ferrel conducted a hotel and grocery business in West Liberty, and he 
also had a store at Bellaire and one in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. 
     After coming to Wheeling, in 1870, he was engaged in the insurance 
business for a year and a half, and then he purchased the Iron Hall, 
and started in the dry goods business, which proved a remarkable 
success. For one year alone his sales amounted to $130,000.  This store 
was disposed of in 1873, since which time Mr. Ferrel has been in the 
merchant tailoring business.  His experience in one line for more than 
twenty years justifies the assertion that he has no superiors among 
those similarly engaged.  He is the agent for 14 different 
establishments, all of which are leaders in the tailoring business. 
 His place of business, at the corner of Twenty-first and Main Streets, 
is well adapted to the purpose for which it is intended, and a large 
volume of trade is carried on. 
     Mr. Ferrel and his wife have had one child, Addie L., who married 
H. W. McLure, and has two children, -Sarah E. and Harry.  Mr. Ferrel is 
a Democrat, and a Mason.  He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. 
 He is one of the best known of the business men of Wheeling, and is 
possessed of characteristics which bind to him unchanging friendships 
and win universal regard.