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 630-631.

A. C. DARRAH

A. C. Darrah, one of the leading citizens of St. Clairsville, was born at
that place June 4, 1849, the son of William Darrah. He received a liberal
education in the town schools of that day, and afterward was engaged in
teaching in the common schools for several terms. Deciding to adopt the
profession of law, he entered the law office of Danford & Kennon, to pursue
his studies, and at the age of twenty-one years he was sufficiently
advanced for admission to the bar. He continued to teach, however, to
assist him in the struggles of a young attorney, during the winter
seasons until he was twenty-three years of age. At this time, in 1872, he
was united in marriage with Martha M., daughter of David Harris, the first
probate judge of Belmont county. Mr. Darrah soon became prominent in public
affairs, and in 1875 he was elected by the democratic party as justice of
the peace of Richland township, as which he served until 1878, when he was
elected to the position of clerk of the courts of Belmont county. This
office he filled to the entire satisfaction of the public during one term,
and was then re-elected, and he held the office two terms, proving to be a
most efficient public servant. Mr. Darrah is one of the most enterprising
citizens of Steubenville, and has rendered the town great service, par-
ticularly in connection with the St. Clairsville & Northern railroad. In
1880 the town began the building of this road, and completed it on the
narrow gauge plan. With this construction the road proved a failure, and
lay idle one winter. In 1882 Mr. Darrah interested himself in the matter,
and organized a stock company which obtained a lease of the road for thirty
years. The track was then changed to standard gauge, and an active business
was begun with Mr. Darrah as president of the company. Its subsequent history
has been one of unqualified success. All the indebtedness of the road has been
paid, and its gross earnings will now amount to about $7,000 per year. Since
the completion of the road, the company of which he is president, has also
been engaged in the mining and shipping of coal, of which their average
product is about 6000 tons per annum. In social life Mr. Darrah and his estim-
able family are highly esteemed. By his marriage above mentioned, he has three
children, Homer C., Gertrude and Charles D.