BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 567-568.

THOMAS AULT, proprietor of the Bellaire City Mills, comes from a
family of millers. His father, Michael, was a native of Washington
county, Penn., he was the son of Michael, Sr., who came to this
country from Germany about 1712, settling in Washington county,
Penn. He learned the miller's trade from his father who had been
a miller in Germany, and who at one time owned the old "Ten Mile
Mill" in Washington county. Ault, Sr., came to Ohio in 1808, and
erected a mill at Glenco, Belmont county, operating the same
until his death in 1844. He left nine children, three of them
are still living. Michael Ault, Jr., was born in 1807, attending
the schools of Belmont county in his youth. He soon went to work
in the mill, and subsequently, in 1830, became its owner,
operating it until 1860, when he turned his attention to farming,
which he still follows. He was married to Catherine James, by
whom he had ten children, eight of whom survive. His wife died
In 1880. Mr. Ault still lives on his farm near Glenco, and
although now in his eighty-third year, he gives promise of
spending many years on this earth in peace and retirement.
Thomas Ault was born in Belmont county in 1834, and after
acquiring a suitable education, he learned the miller's trade,
and in 1860, in company with his brother Alexander, took charge
of the mill at Glenco, running the same for eight years, at the
expiration of this time Mr. Ault took a farm and continued in
this work, also dealing in wool, until 1882, at which time he
came to Bellaire and purchased the mill that he now runs so
successfully. This mill was built by his brothers, Alexander
and Shanon, in 1868. In 1887 the property was partially
destroyed by fire, and when Mr. Ault rebuilt it he remodeled
it, making it a complete roller-mill. Mariah Trimbel became
his wife in 1855, and has borne him five children, they are:
Allie M., wife of Dr. McMasters, a prominent physician of
Wheeling; Jennie A., Estella L., Lizzie A. and Austin M.,
died at the age of twenty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Ault are
acceptable communicants of the Presbyterian church, and are
highly respected throughout the city and vicinity. Mr. Ault
is quite extensively interested in the First National bank,
and has made a success of all his business enterprises.
Politically, Mr. Ault is a firm democrat.