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 605-606.


ALBERT D. RODEFER, senior member of the firm of Rodefer Brothers, glass
manufacturers, of Bellaire, Ohio, was born in the city of Bellaire in
1841, the son of John and Mary (Horn) Rodefer. John Rodefer was the son
of John Rodefer, Sr., a native of Ohio. In 1796 John Rodefer, Sr., came
to Wheeling, W. Va., and engaged in his trade of a blacksmith. Soon after
coming to Wheeling he was married to Miss Barbara Bennett, daughter of
Capt. John Bennett, the famous Indian scout and trailer. After his
marriage he moved on to a farm on Wheeling creek, where he was engaged
in farming and distilling until about the year 1833. Having purchased a
tract of 133 acres of land which now constitutes the very center of the
city of Bellaire, he lived there until he disposed of it in 1853, he then
moved to what is now known as Pultney Bottoms, and lived there until his
death, which occurred about the year 1858. He died at the advanced age of
eighty-eight years, and his wife died the following year, having reached
her eighty-sixth year. They were the parents of seven children, all of
whom are now dead with the exception of two. John Rodefer, Jr., was born
June 16, 1810. His early life was passed on a farm in Virginia, where he
was also interested in river transportion, making several trips to New
Orleans. In 1833 he came into Ohio, where he died February 7, 1888. His
wife was Mary, the daughter of S. L. Horn, who was of a roving spirit,
having been born in Maine, he made the then perilous, trip to Ohio at an
early date. He was under Commodore Perry in his great battles on the
lakes, and finally met his end in Missouri. The marriage ceremony of John
Rodefer and Mary Horn was solemnized in 1840, to whom seven children were
born, five of these children still survive the mother, who died in 1885.
Albert D. Rodefer attended the schools of his native city, finishing his
schooling in the commercial college of Wheeling. When twenty-two years old
he went west and entered the employ of the Western Fur company, being
occupied in boating on the Missouri river. During the winter months he was
engaged in teaming across the prairies for the same company. For some time
Mr. Rodefer carried the money for paying the soldiers at the forts along the
Missouri river, very often carrying large sums of money through a country
where his life would not have been worth a moment's purchase had it been
known that he had money on his person. In 1873 he returned to his native
state and the following year entered the employ of the National Glass
company, as shipping clerk, and remained with them until they suspended
business in 1876. In the following year in company with his brothers,
Thornton A. and John F., Mr. Rodefer purchased the business, which has
since been operated under the name of the National Glass works, he being
the general manager of the same. By his marriage to Margaret Cochrane, a
resident of Belmont county, Mr. Rodefer had three children, Lillie J., now
living in San Francisco; wife of R. Hall; Kate C., and one that died in its
infancy. Mrs. Rodefer died in May, 1866. Mr. Rodefer married for his second
wife Rebecca McElroy, by whom he has had three children: Lucy H., Mary M.
and Albert E., now dead. Mrs. Rodefer is a member of the Christian church,
in which society she is an active worker. Few men have had a more varied
experience in life, and few men have help themselves above the temptations
of a business career more successfully than has Albert D. Rodefer. He is
one of the most influential and most highly esteemed men of Bellaire. He
is a democrat, believing firmly in the principles and platform of that
organization.