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 582-583.


JACOB HEATHERINGTON, the pioneer coal dealer of Belmont county, was born
in county Durham, England, March 7, 1814.  He is the son of John and
Rebecca (Deut) Heatherington, both natives of England. John was a miner
in the English coal mines until his coming to the United States in 1829.
He located in Patterson, Penn., entering the employ of Buckley & Potts,
for the purpose of exploring the country, in the vicinity for a possible
bed of coal which was thought to exist there. He located the first bed
of coal in that country at Tomockway.  Remaining in Pennsylvania until
1832, he then removed to West Wheeling, then known as Whiskey Run, where
he remained until his death, some time about 1837 or 1838. He was aged
forty-seven years at the time of his death. In 1830 he brought his family
from England; the family consisted of five boys and four girls. The
daughters are all dead, with the exception of one who resides in California.
Four of the boys still survive their father. His wife followed him to the
grave about 1850. Jacob Heatherington began to work in the coal banks of
England when but seven years of age, continuing to be so employed until
his coming to the United States, when he worked with his father until his
death. When his father died Jacob and his brothers took charge of the coal
bank at West Wheeling, remaining in partnership for about one year. He then
worked for five years for Capt. Fink mining coal, at the end of that period
he had saved $500 which he immediately invested in land. In 1839 he came
into possession of a mule which he named Jack. This mule and the land bought
with his hard earned savings was his capital with which to start his coal
mine. The assets proved of value for he has made a large fortune from that
land, the mule which he kept until he was forty years old, probably earned
his master as much money as any mule that has ever lived. It is not out of
place to say that Jack received as decent a burial as his master could give
him. Mr. Heatherington was married May 8, 1835, to Eliza Armstrong, of
West Wheeling. John, Alexander, Martha, Hamilton, Wilbur, Ella, Albert,
Perkin and Scott are the children that have come to bless their home.
John and Hamilton both served their country in the hour of her need, the
latter entered the service as a bugler and left it as a captain. Mr. and
Mrs. Heatherington are active members of the Christian church. The subject
of this sketch has always been a public spirited man, aiding every enter-
prise of public benefit with his money and influence. He is an ardent re-
publican, although not a politician.