Wellsburg, one among the oldest towns on the Ohio river, takes her name in honor of Bazaleel or Alexander Wells. Previous to 1816, the town was known as Charlestown, but its name was changed by an act of Legislature, dated December 16, 1816. This change in name was made on account of there being a Charlestown elsewhere in the State. Wellsburg, in the days of her incipiency, was one of the most noted shipping points on the river, her exports of flour and whisky, previous to and about 1820, exceeding those of Wheeling and almost equaling those of Pittsburgh. But since this ancient date the town has changed her industries, and is now one of the most flourishing and prosperous of her size in West Virginia. The first boom that contributed more than anything else to Wellsburg's prosperity was the completion of the Pittsburgh, Wheeling & Kentucky Railroad from Wheeling Junction, opposite Steubenville, to Wheeling, the formal opening of which occurred on Monday, February 25, 1878. The telegraph line was completed and ready for business on the 1st of May, the same year. About September, 1879, glass making having a boom in this section, Messrs. Charles Brady, Henry Gassmire, John Dornan, Jay Ratcliff and others, who were then interested in similar business at Wheeling, made a proposition to the effect that if they were donated certain low lying grounds in the town they would proceed to erect a glass factory of large capacity for the manufacture of general glassware. Mr. John Blankensop, sr., an old time glass house man, went zealously to work soliciting funds and in a short time the purchase money, about $900, was raised by a subscription from citizens who were eager to encourage an establishment of this character, and have it located in the town.