How a man I never met touched my life forever.

 It sometimes amazes me that people take the name of a business and continue on without even knowing about the history of the legacy perhaps of such a business. It is not measured in just years, but in ethics, and the person who set such a example. One such man that I never met for long before my years on this earth he had made a difference. I never would have realized that some 40 years after his death I would begin my journey, and how I was touched by people which he touched that influenced my life, and my career. 

I began my musical career at the age of 12 working for a local music company named after the founder Mr. C.A. House. Over my lifetime I have worked for this company for 25 years. It was here that I learned about a real hero...a man who walked a journey for others and that a person can be sucessful by looking beyond the wealth of money to leave a lasting legacy.  I am perhaps the only person alive that sat down and spoke with two people who worked and knew Mr. House. One such man was Mr. Harry Smith who also like me began his journey with Mr. House as a young boy. Though they both are now gone, the memories they shared with me about this man lead me to make his life a study of mine. I had worked with historical societies in three states building up Mr. House's Journey. I have the original business journal [1883] of the company, along with other items I have collected over the years about this man and his legacy. The homeplace of Mr. House is still standing in Wheeling and is now owned by a funeral home.

Mr. Houses life history ranks with the top founders of Wheeling WV 's past. Though little is written about Mr. House as other's his legacy is apparent throughout time. His monument at Greenwood Cemetary in Wheeling, his contribution to our city is second to none. Mr. House was listed in Who's Who in West Virgnina History. In a way I had a chance to find out first hand just what this man was really like. Also Mr. House and I have something in common. We both were born on Feb. 6th.

Mr. House's journey began in Courtland County New York in 1834 where he was schooled and then moved on to study as a architect  in St. Cloud, Minnesota, then to Meadville PA where he built several buildings including the old courthouse, then on to Wheeling WV where he began a business with Howe sewing machines.

I spoke with a woman who was his secretary and a gentleman that oversaw his repair shop

Mr. Harry Smith a older black man that worked for C.A. House when I was 12 years old which passed the picture above to me was so stated in the records of C.A. House Music company that Mr. Smith was to have a position with the company until he wanted to quit or pass-away. There were many day's that I could just spend hours speaking with Harry about Mr. House. Though his health was failing the old bent over man recalled to me that when people on the sidewalk's of Wheeling saw Mr. House pass down the street in a buggy they would tip their hats off to him. Harry recalled that when a employee pasted away the family was very poor and Mr. House took care of the arrangements for the family and even closed his business for the funeral. 

 I am blessed to have pictures of the business, one from a flood on Wheeling Island were Mr. House sent his flatbed wagons to help people move their pianos, and another of Mr. Harry Smith in the repair shop of C.A. House.  Many people in Wheeling don't realsize that Mr. House was one of the oldest citizens and the business he founded in his name was known throughout the United States.  In my living room I have a Story and Clark parlor organ that came from His Company during the days that he built his empire. Mr. House was also one of the founder's of the Olmstead Paper Company in Wheeling, Wv.

During his long and active career, Chauncey A. House was a prominent figure in the business, civic and social life of Wheeling. Always robust physically and devoted to outdoor exercise, be remained an active business-man until his death on January 6, 1921. The firm of C. A. House Company, founded by him in 1883, as a piano and musical instrument concern, has for many years been the largest wholesale and retail music house in West Virginia, with branches at Fairmont, W. Va., and Steubenville, Ohio. The business is now owned and directed by his widow, Mrs. Rose A. House, who is President and General Manager of the business, and two daughters, Miss Rena House and Mrs. Jessie Tomlinson, who are stockholders in the Company.
     Chauncey A. House was born February 6th, 1834, at Homer, N. Y., Courtland county the son of Jacob and Lucinda House, who imagrated from Germany. The young house  attended public schools and later Horner Academy. As a young man he went to St. Cloud, Minnesota, served apprenticeship as an architect and practiced there for a number of years. Later he removed to Meadville, Pa., where he constructed a number of public buildings. In 1870 the young Mr. House moved to Wheeling were he brought the first Howe sewing machine and was the manager of the business. After 12 years of managing the business he took a new venture.  In 1883 he founded the firm of C. A. House which later became a corporation, the present C. A. House Company. That he was able to make a signal success of any venture he undertook, is not the least remarkable trait of this notable man's career. The C. A. House Company began at once to advance to its present dominance, and became a West Virginia institution.
     Mr. House kept well to the fore in the civic undertakings of the city and was held in affection and esteem by his fellow men. He was a member of Thompson Methodist Episcopal Church, the Fort Henry Club and the Wheeling Country Club. During the World War, although his years precluded any aggressive participation in war activities, he gave liberally of his means to the many drives so necessary to success in war.
     Mr. House was twice married, - first to Sarah Miller, daughter of Daniel and Lydia of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, who preceded him to the grave. To this union were born three daughters and two sons, both sons dying at the age of seven years. One daughter, Helen Mar House is deceased; the others are Miss Rena House and Mrs. Jessie Tomlinson of Wheeling. On October 21st, 1903, he married Rose Tucker of Wheeling, daughter of John and Mary Tucker who survives.
     The C. A. House Company, which at the time of Mr. House's death had grown to great proportions, has been expanded further under the management of his widow, who has achieved her high success by carrying on the sound policies and fair dealing which distinguished her husband. His obituary sums up the man: Mr. House was of a robust nature, and generally enjoyed spledidi health. When in school he was a great athlete. On one occasion he ran a distance of fity miles in order to eat supper with his famioy.  He though nothing of covering fitenn and twenty miles on foot and often got a great deal of pleasure in commenting on his college days. Mr. House was a kindly disposition and always ready to extend the helping hand to those less foriunate than himself. No man was revered more by his employees than was the deceased.

Funeral Rites for C.A. House on Saturday at Three O'Clock" [Part of a nearly full page obituary]

On Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock in his late home, No. 44 Fifteenth street Chauncey A. House, verteran Wheeling music house proprietor, whose death from pneumonia occured at 9 o'clock Thursday morning.  The services will be conducted by the Rev. J.M. Potter pastor of the Vance Memorial Presbyterian church, a  warm personal friend of the late Mr. House.  The body will be laid to rest in Greenwood cemetary.  The death of Mr. House removed form the community one of the oldest and most revered citizens.  He was president and active manager of the C.A. House Music company, whose splendid store is located at 1141 Market street, and the name of his store is know in musical circles throughout the country.  Mr. House expired after an illness of only four days, of pneumonia.  Until he was stricken last Monday, he was active as the head of his business house, notwithstanding the fact that had attaineed the ripe old age of 87 years and 11 months.  He was a man of powerful physique, and his strong constitution pulled him through two previous attacks of pneumonia.  For two days, no hope had been entertained for Mr. House's recovery, and the end came peacefully yesterday morning with members of his famioly at his bedside.  On New Year's day, Mr. House enjoyed the A.G. Field's minstrels performing at the Court Theatre, and on Sunday evening atteded services at the First Christian church,m to the congregation of which he had loaned a spendid new piano with a reproducing attachment for use in the evangelistic services no in progres there.  Monday morning, Mr. House was not feeling well and remained in his bed.

In my research. References: Wheeling Room/ Ohio County Library/ Courtland County Historical Society New York/ Crawford County Historical Society/Benton County Historical Society, Souk Rapids, MN/Greenwood Cemetary National Road Wheeling, Wv.

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