OGLEBAY, EARL W. (4 March 1849-22 June 1926) developer of iron mines in Michigan and Wisconsin, co-founder of Oglebay Norton and Central National Bank, was born in Bridgeport, Ohio, the son of Crispin and Charlotte Scott Oglebay. Brought up in Wheeling, West Virginia, he graduated from Bethany College in Bethany W. Va in 1871 and worked for his father in Wheeling. After his father's death, Earl inherited his interests in the Benwood Iron Works and became president of Wheeling's National Bank of West Virginia, which his grandfather had founded in 1817. Oglebay came to Cleveland in 1881 through his bank's interest in mining, and together with Horace A. Tuttle, established the partnership Tuttle, Oglebay & Co. in 1884 to mine iron ore in Michigan and Wisconsin where Oglebay had already purchased a mining interest. When Tuttle died in 1889, Oglebay bought the interests of his heirs and acted as sales agent for mines in the Gogebic, Menominee, and Marquette Ranges. Backed by JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER†, Oglebay and DAVID Z. NORTON†, he organized Oglebay Norton in 1890 to mine iron ore on the lands that Rockefeller owned. That same year Oglebay was one of the founders of the Central National Bank, and remained a director of the institution throughout his life.
Oglebay divided his time between Cleveland and Wheeling where he owned the 1200-acre Waddington farm, practicing scientific farming to improve methods of soil and crop adaptation. He married Sallie Howell 27 Oct. 1881 and they had a daughter Sarita. He died in Cleveland, survived by brothers James and Frank of Kansas City, Sarita Burton Russell (Mrs. Albert), and grandson Courtney Burton. He was buried in Wheeling.
Last Modified: 21 Jul 1997 02:10:09 PM- Related Article(s)