James A. Henry, First West Virginia Infantry, Civil War

JAMES A. HENRY.

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BIOGRAPHY

"History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia
and Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902; pages 458-459.

     James A. Henry, ex-member of the police force, and formerly justice of the peace, of Wheeling, West Virginia, is now a prominent real estate dealer in this city. He was born October 4, 1844, in West Wheeling, West Virginia, and is a son of John and Rachel (Anderson) Henry.
     John Henry was born in 1809, of German parentage, in France, near Strasburg. In 1830 he emigrated from that country and landed at Baltimore, Maryland, on August 1st of that year. He was a shoemaker by trade, and followed that occupation until his death, in East Wheeling, on May 6, 1871. He was united in marriage with Rachel Anderson, a Virginian by birth, who first saw the light of day at New Creek, West Virginia, May 21, 1811. This union was blessed with five children, namely: James A.; David A. I., a baker on Chapline street, Wheeling; John L., a patrol drive in the Wheeling police department; Mary (Lunan), of Wheeling, whose husband is a successful blacksmith; and Theodore J. The mother of these children died October 30, 1868.
     James A. Henry was reared in Wheeling, and attended the fourth ward public schools, having moved with his father from West Wheeling to East Wheeling at the age of six years. After the termination of his school days he worked in the rolling mills, brickyards, etc. He then became a member of the police force under Conant, Davis and Ripley; he did office work under Davis and Ripley and was constable for two years, after which he engaged in the real estate business in 1878, buying and selling real estate, collecting government claims and attending to pensions. His office was at first on Market street, but was afterward changed to the present location at No. 1612 Main street, where it has been for the past five years. Mr. Henry gives his entire attention to his business, and is assisted in office work by his daughter.
     Mr. Henry built the building in which he now has his office, and has been so successful in his business that in 1896 he erected the building known in Wheeling as the Henry Block. It is composed of stores, a barber shop, a restaurant and a dwelling, and the building is 64 by 64 feet in dimensions. Mr. Henry also owns property on Main street, East Wheeling, and in Martin's Ferry, Ohio.
     The subject of this sketch has been twice married. February 7, 1869, he was united with Mary Heck, who bore him five children, three of whom are deceased, as is also the mother, who died in 1893. Those living are Nellie G., who assists her father; and Hardy D., who is engaged in clerical work in New York City. November 1, 1894, Mr. Henry contracted a second matrimonial alliance, this time with Mrs. Mary H. Dinger, widow of C. H. Dinger, who formerly dealt in hats, wholesale and retail. One child, Anderson, who is still at home, blessed this union.
     In politics, Mr. Henry has been a Republican most of his life, but is now independent. At the age of seventeen years he enlisted in Company A, 1st Reg. Va. Vol. Inf. He saw a large amount of service in Virginia and West Virginia, and was held a prisoner for six months at Belle Isle, Richmond, and at Libby and Pemberton prisons. He served three years and two months, and was mustered out of service November 26, 1864, and returned to Wheeling. Mr. Henry is a prominent member of J. W. Holliday Post, No. 12, G. A. R. He is liberal in his religious views, but his family favors the M. E. church.