John E. Sheal
John E. Sheal, for many years was prominently identified with the milling interests of Steubenville, O., and was a member of the firm of Raney, Sheal & Co., extensive grain dealers and mill operators for more than a quarter of a century. He was born in the city of Liverpool, England, August 19, 1836, and his death occurred at Steubenville, July 6, 1904, this city thereby losing one of its most esteemed residents.
Although born in England, the late John E. Sheal was of Scotch-Irish descent and he inherited many of the best qualities of the two races. His father, Capt. James Sheal, was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1786, and died in America in 1867, on a farm near Newcastle, Pa., on which he had settled in 1837. During many years of his early manhood he followed a sea-faring life, owning and commanding a number of ocean vessels, and during its course met with a number of disasters, a notable one being the wrecking of the Mountaineer, off the coast of Ireland. After leaving the sea he came to the United States and after he had acquired a home he sent to England for his wife and their seven children. He had married Mary Ann Erwin, who was born in 1798, in County Down, Ireland, and who died in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, in 1876.
John E. Sheal grew to manhood on his father's farm, a property which has been since retained by the family. He was afforded good educational advantages and attended an academy at New Castle for several years. His tastes not being inclined to agriculture, in early manhood he gave attention to other industries and in the summer of 1858 went to Winnipeg, British America, where he was interested in the fur business for the next seven years. In 1865 he returned to Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and for two succeeding years was engaged in a wholesale and retail grocery business at New Castle, but as he had, in the meanwhile, gained a practical trainiug in the mill business aud was interested in that line of industry he soon made arrangements that enabled him to turn his activities in that direction. In the year 1869, in partnership with his father-in-law and his brother-in-law, he embarked in the mill business, under the firm name of Raney, Sheal & Co., the company building a plant at Steubenville, O. For many years this milling firm held the preponderance of trade in the upper Ohio valley, and the quality of its products was upheld as long as Mr. Sheal was identified with it.
At Newcastle, Pa., on March 7, 1867, Mr. Sheal was married to Miss Lois Raney, who still survives, residing in one of the most attractive homes of Steubenville, her residence being at No. 826 North Fourth Street. Her parents were James and Sarah (Parks) Raney, old and prominent residents of New Castle. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sheal: James R., Mary L., Robert E., Sarah, and Leander.
Public life had little attraction for Mr. Sheal and the only office he ever accepted was during his residence in Pembina, Dak., when he served one year as postmaster. He was active in supporting the claims of his friends, however, and was a very zealous Republican.
20th Century History of Steubenville and Jefferson County, Ohio, by Joseph B. Doyle. Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910