USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > A twentieth century history of Trumbull County, Ohio; a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Vol. II > Part 30
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He was married October 23, 1901, to Miss Millie Masters, born at Mas- sillon, December 19, 1879, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Ann ( Powell) Masters. Both of her parents were born in England, the father in 1831 and the mother in 1850. He came to America about 1870 and the mother a few years later. They were united in marriage in Massillon, Ohio. The father engaged in the grocery business and continued in it about thirty years, re- tiring about a year before his death in June, 1897. The mother still lives at Massillon, on the old homestead. There were three children born to them : Thomas E., deceased ; William J., with the mother on the old place :
WILLIAM V. GIFFORD
MRS. WILLIAM V. GIFFORD
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Mrs. Doll, being the youngest of the three. Mr. and Mrs. Doll are the parents of one child: Denton T., born April 13, 1905.
WILLIAM V. GIFFORD is numbered among the tillers of Trumbull county soil, whose pleasant farm home is situated within Lordstown town- ship and his farm is finely improved and his buildings stand in a natural and most attractive situation. Mr. Gifford was born in Sparkford, Somer- setshire, England, July 21, 1859, a son of George Gifford, a native of the same locality and a son of Thomas Gifford, a life-long resident of England, who died, aged eighty-nine years. George Gifford was a farmer and spent his life in his native country. His wife's maiden name was Letitie Cock. She was also a native of England. By this marriage union, eleven children were born: Anna, Thomas, Sophia, George, John, Samuel, Susan, Eliza- beth, Emma Jane, Adelaide and William V. Of this family the ones who came to America were: John, Samuel, Emma Jane, and William V.
William V. Gifford was reared on the farm and remained with his parents until 1882, when he went to his brother Samnel in Lordstown and lived with him for a time, learning the butcher's trade. After his mar- riage, he went to Mineral Ridge and engaged in business, a short time afterward purchasing a farm, upon which he still resides. This place is situated about two miles from Niles, and four miles from Warren. For a few years he was engaged in business with his brother Samuel, after which he went into business with his sons, William G. and Walter P. Gifford.
October 31, 1882, he was married to Anna Powell, born in Sand- Brook, Somersetshire, England, January 18, 1856. Her father, William Powell, was a native of the same shire in England and followed farming all his life. Her mother's maiden name was Ann Talbott, whose life was spent in Somersetshire, England. She was the mother of the following children : Ann, Anna, and Emily. Mrs. Gifford was the only member of the family who ever settled in this country.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gifford are: William G., Walter P. and Harry R. Gifford. The parents were reared in the Episcopal church faith. The Gifford family are among the most highly respected people within the township, and the forefathers bore well their part in the de- velopment of Trumbull county.
ALFRED GREGORY, who is numbered among the farmers who have made a success at tilling the land in that part of Trumbull county known as Vienna township, is a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, born January 29, 1851, a son of Charles and Elizabeth (McConnell) Gregory. The father was born in Connecticut and the mother in Westmoreland county, Pennsyl- vania. The father was descended from good old Scotch ancestry. He fol- lowed boat building and pursued his trade until his death, when he was seventy-five years of age, dying in 1873. The date of the mother's death was about 1861.
Vol. II-16
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There were six children in the family of Charles and Elizabeth Mc- Connell Gregory, only one of whom is living, Alfred of this sketch. By a second marriage there were five children born and only one of this number survives-a half brother of Alfred. The brother was a gallant soldier dur- ing the Civil war for three years and is now blind and resides in Sharon ..
Alfred Gregory, of this biography, attended the district schools of Arm- strong county, Pennsylvania, and remained at home with his parents until twenty-one years of age, after which, for about ten years, he worked his father's farm in Pennsylvania, coming to Vienna township, Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1888. He married and purchased a farm in Hartford town- ship, residing there about nine years. When the Lake Shore Railroad was bnilt through his farm he sold and then purchased a farm of one hundred and eight acres, a part of which land belonged to his father-in-law. Here Mr. Gregory has erected a commodious new residence at an expense of two thousand dollars and made many other valuable improvements thereon. He carries on an up-to-date farming business here, making a specialty of raising Jersey cattle and Shropshire sheep, and he expects to make this his perma- nent home. What property Mr. Gregory owns he has accumulated by the dint of real industry, having been a brain as well as muscle worker.
Mr. Gregory was united in marriage in March, 1888, to Miss Florence A. Williams, a daughter of Squire Williams. She was born on the farm where she now resides in the month of March, 1850. Her parents were na- tives of Vermont and came to Ohio at an early day and after a long and industrious career died on the old homestead.
In religious faith, he is a follower of the teachings of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he belongs at the church in Brookfield township. Politically, he is a firm supporter of the principles of the Republican party, but has never cared to hold publie office.
JOHN C. MCMASTER, one of the well-to-do and progressive type of farmers living in Vienna township, was born April 4, 1845, within the township in which he still lives, a son of Schuyler and Lucy (Hart) Me- Master. The father was born in Palmer, Hardin county, Massachusetts, May 6, 1801. When about fifteen years of age, he went with his father, Reuben McMaster, also a native of Massachusetts and a farmer by occupa- tion, to Clinton, New York, and there resided until 1822, then went to Ohio, locating in Vienna township, Trumbull county, on a farm, where Reuben MeMaster died in 1838 and was buried at Vienna Center, his wife dying soon after and she was laid to rest beside him.
When twenty-six years of age Schuyler MeMaster married and three years later bonght the farm where now resides John C., of this memoir. At that date this was but a wilderness. Soon after his coming to this place he secured employment in a clock factory at Vienna, at which place they made old-fashioned wall sweep clocks. He remained there about eight years, or possibly as long as ten years, after which he learned the shoemaker's trade,
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and followed it in connection with operating his farm for sixteen years; after this devoted all of his time to the farm. He continued on the farm until his death, January 22, 1886. At one time, while an employe of the cloek factory, one of the company became involved by indebtedness to him, and for which debt Mr. MeMaster took eight clocks and started back to New York and peddled out the clocks on his way. He drove a team the round trip, and the weather was very cold. He could not tell his black horse from the gray one half of the time on the journey.
His wife was born in Bristol, Connecticut, August 23, 1808, and ac- companied her parents to Ohio in 1820, the family locating in Vienna town- ship, this county, on a farm. IFer father, Ira Hart, resided there until his death in 1835. The mother then started, with her family, for lowa. This was in 1846, her two sons having preceded her to Iowa. She was taken ill while en route and died and was buried on Iowa soil. John C. MeMaster's mother, Luey (Hart) McMaster, remained in Ohio, having married abont 1827. Her death occurred in Trumbull county October 22, 1881. She had three children : Sophia, born November 23, 1829, and died when thirty- two years old the wife of James Walker, of Vienna township; Willis, born September 22, 1832, died at the age of three years ; John C.
John C. McMaster attended the district schools of his township; be- came a member of the Disciples church at Payne's Corners and when old enough to vote cast his ballot with the Republican party, which he still sup- ports. He remained with his father until the latter's death, when he became possessed of his father's farmi consisting of forty-six and a half acres and here he has continued ever since, doing his part as an agriculturist, pro- ducing both grain and stock for the markets nearby. At the age of twenty- five years he learned the carpenter's trade, which he worked at several years, then returned to the more independent life of the farm. The great- grandfather of Mr. McMaster served in the Revolutionary war and was by birth a Scotchman.
Angust 23, 1872, Mr. McMaster was married to Aurelia- Shull, born in Hartford township, this county, November 5, 1844, a daughter of Charles and Olive (Mervin) Shull. Her father was born in Pennsylvania, at some point in Westmoreland county. Her mother was a native of Vienna town- ship, this county. The father of Mrs. McMaster eame to Ohio at an early time, and was by trade a carpenter and joiner. He became the owner of a farm in Hartford township and died there January 14, 1895. The mother died June 16, 1881. In this family were seven children, of whom five sur- vive, as follows: Aurelia, Mrs. McMaster: Helen, widow of Smith Leslie, residing in Liberty township; Reuben, a farmer in Hartford township and by trade a wagonmaker; Calvin, of Youngstown, Ohio, foreman at Todd Works ; Lola, wife of D. W. Jones, a farmer of Hartford township.
To Mr. and Mrs. John (. McMaster were born the following children : Sophia Edna, born March 19, 1875, wife of Fred W. Blackstone of Brook- field township, a drayman operating at Sharon; they have two children- Roy, born January 14, 1901 : Leona, born June 18, 1902: Clyde C., born
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February 10, 1878, married Miss Lula Clark, of Brookfield, where he is en- gaged in general mercantile business, has one child-Lois Ruth, born De- cember 14, 1898.
MICAH BRADLEY, who is the owner of a good farm on the rural mail route ont from Tyrrell, in Vienna township, is a native of Brookfield town- ship, Trumbull county, born November 8, 1844. He is the son of Michael and Caroline (Amey) Bradley. His mother was born in Brookfield and died in that township, February 3, 1849. She was the daughter of Michael Amey, who was a native of Vermont. He was among the pioneer settlers there and was remarkable because he was born with but one hand and was a carpenter and joiner by trade.
Michael Bradley was born in Ireland in 1796 and came to America when about eighteen years of age. He went to Niagara Falls, and thence to Canada, later going to Brookfield township, Trumbull county, Ohio, in which vicinity he followed threshing with a wooden flail during the winter season, as the old custom was. In the summer months he was a farm hand. When thirty-three years of age he married and purchased a farm in Brook- field township, where he remained the balance of his life, dying October 9,1881.
His children, all born on the farm, were as follows: James, born De- cember 25, 1836, died 1900; Thomas, October 15, 1838, was a member of an Ohio regiment and died in hospital at Camp Chase in 1862; Elizabeth, No- vember 11, 1841, died November, 1898; George, January 29, 1843, is a farmer and unmarried, lives with his brother; Micah, of this notice; Almira, October 1, 1847, wife of Iddo Alderman and they reside on a farm in Brookfield township; Daniel M., January 20, 1831 (by a second marriage), when last heard of was in Michigan engaged at teaming; Cornelia, Septem- ber 28, 1855, wife of John Patton, employed in the mills, residing at Sharps- ville, Pennsylvania ; Ruel, August 9, 1858, residing at Warren; Lovinia, July 20, 1860, widow of John Ichel; she resides in Sharon, Pennsylvania ; Albin, 1862, a farmer of Fowler township; Maud L., January 20, 1864, wife of William Raney, of Orangeville; Will W., June 22, 1868, a farmer of Vienna township; Frank, March 22, 1870, lives at Warren, Ohio, where he is employed at the bathtub works; Mattie, January 20, 1874, wife of George Woodside, a mechanic, of Warren, Ohio.
Micah Bradley attended school in Brookfield district and has never married. He resided with his father until eighteen years of age, after which nine years were spent as a farm hand for others. He then engaged at drilling for coal. After about eight years of this kind of employment, he spent two years more on a farm for others, then rented a farm in Howland township. He rented land and farmed seven years, then purchased sixty- seven acres, where he now lives and does general farming. At present he is making a specialty of dairying, keeping ten cows.
During all the years of Mr. Bradley's farm life he has been an indus- trious worker and by economy has at last been rewarded by owning a well
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improved place of his own, and a property which he truly appreciates for the toil expended in securing the same.
ELIAS STEWART .- A substantial farmer of Vienna township, Trumbull county, Ohio, Elias Stewart is a man who has seen life in many phases and in many sections of the United States, but has spent the last two decades in his native township, engaged in the honorable calling of his earlier years. Born in Vienna township, December 28, 1841, he is a son of Alexander and Margaret ( Milford) Stewart, both of his parents being native to the pic- turesque country east of the Allegheny mountains in Pennsylvania. They migrated to Ohio during its pioneer period, Alexander being but a small boy when he came with his uncle to Trumbull county on horseback. After his marriage Alexander Stewart and family resided in Liberty township for several years, and he then purchased a farm in Vienna township, residing thereon until his death in 1905, at the age of eighty-seven years. The mother had passed away about 1871, some thirty-four years before.
Elias Stewart, of this biography, obtained his only schooling from books within the walls of the old blockhouse in Vienna township, and remained at home until he was twenty-five years of age. With a seizure of the western fever he was induced to take a load of flour to Denver, remaining in that city about a year, after which he sought other interesting localities in the west, both from love of change and with the purpose of finding a location which was more to his liking than his old Ohio home. For a time he farmed and drove a stage in Iowa, and about the close of the Civil war retraced his steps to Trumbull county. His next experiment was a laborer in a Michi- gan sawmill, but a year of that work again converted him to the advantages and attractions of his home locality and, for about two years after his return, he was engaged in drilling for coal. He next took charge of the old home farm in Vienna township and was thus employed until 1888, when he purchased the forty acres which he has since transformed into his present homestead, so expressive of substantial success and family comfort. In political belief he is a Democrat.
In 1872 Mr. Stewart married Miss Hannah Wolf, daughter of John and Jane (('annon) Wolf, her father being a native of New Jersey and her mother of Vienna township, this county. At a very early day the Wolf family located in Hubbard township, from which Mrs. Stewart's father enlisted for service in the Civil war. At the end of his term of enlistment he returned to his old home in that township, where he died in 1898, the later years of his life being passed in total blindness. His wife had died fully a quarter of a century before.
IRA M. GREENWOOD, who now resides on his sixty-five acre farm within Vienna township, Trumbull county, was born in the township in which he now lives, November 1, 1875, a son of C. S. and Rachel (Mackey) Green- wood. His father was also a native of this township, as was his brother,
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the former was born February 5. 1843, and the latter born April 7, 1840. In his father's family there were five children: Archie, residing with his father, a farmer; Ira M., of this notice: Mabel, deceased; May, wife of Claud Rhodes, who resides in Cleveland and is engaged with the railroad company ; Remi, residing on the farm with his father.
Ira M. Greenwood attended school at the district schools, as did the other youth of his neighborhood ; later he attended the ('larke Business Col- lege at Warren, Ohio, graduating from that excellent educational institution in 1834. He continued to reside at home until he was about twenty-one years of age, then rented land which he farmed three years, the same being within Vienna township. He then embarked in the general mercantile business at Tyrrell and was successfully engaged at merchandising for six and a half years. He was also postmaster at Tyrrell during this period. In the month of September, 1907, he sold his store and in company with his wife (there being no children) he went to California, Oregon, Washington and other western states for a pleasure trip, traveling from December 1, 1907. to May 1, 1908, after which they returned to the farm he had already purchased in Vienna township, consisting of sixty-five acres. This property Mr. Greenwood expects to dispose of and intends now to remove to Wash- ington and locate permanently at Seattle, with a view of bettering his condi- tion.
Mr. Greenwood is a worthy member of both the Masonic fraternity and the order of Maccabees. In his church faith, he is a Methodist Episco- pal, belonging to the church at Vienna. May 12, 1897, he was united in marriage to Miss Maud Fusselman, born at Orangeville, Ohio, October 30, 1825, a daughter of Edward and Florence (Clark) Fusselman. Her mother was born in Brookfield township, this county, and the father in Hubbard township; they now reside in Brookfield township, retired. By trade Mr. Fusselman is a tinner, which occupation he has followed many years. He is of German descent and was a soldier, in time of the Civil war, serving in an Ohio regiment. He was the father of four children, as follows: Henry, an electrician, residing in Brookfield township: Maud, Mrs. Greenwood ; Clyde, residing with her parents ; Kittie, unmarried and at home.
WILBER C. SCOVILL, one of the representative farmers cultivating the rich and productive soil of Vienna township, Trumbull county, is a native of the place on which he now lives, born there December 16, 1861, a son of Samuel and Mary A. (Kratzley) Scovill. His mother was born in Con- nectient, November 26, 1819, and the father in New Jersey, July 5, 1817. When eight years of age he accompanied his parents to Ohio. The paternal grandfather, Obediah Scovill, located in the southeastern part of Vienna township, on a farm which he cleared up from out the forest land and there resided many years and finally died there. The maternal grandfather, Kratzley, came here when Mrs. Scovill was about five years of age; he lo- cated two miles east of Vienna Center on a farm. The grandfather died there and the grandmother died in Howland township about 1873, at which
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time she was residing with her son John. The grandmother Scovill died at the old homestead. The father remained at home until he reached his majority. He was a carpenter by trade, and married when about twenty- three years of age. He then bought a farm in Howland township and re- mained there until 1854, then sold and purchased the place on which his son, of whom this biography treats, now lives. Here the father continued to live until his death, May 5, 1881, aged sixty-three years and ten months. His faithful wife died October 12, 1889. This worthy couple were the par- ents of five children, as follows: Emma, wife of Lehman Ferry, who now resides in Tennessee; Lucius II., residing in Vienna township, a retired veteran ; Frederick C., died at nine years of age in 1861; Marshall J., re- siding in Fowler and is in the undertaker's business; Wilber C., of this notice, the youngest of the family. Mr. Scovill's brother, Lucius H , served three years in the Civil war as a soldier from Ohio.
Concerning the career of Wilber C. Scovill it may be stated that he attended the common schools in Vienna township. He commenced the con- flict of life for himself, when about nineteen years of age, by working on the farm for others for a time. He married when twenty-one years and pur- chased the old homestead of ninety-eight acres and a fraction on March 10, 1883. When he first left the paternal roof he worked at Youngstown, Ohio, and also did mill work until he bought the old homestead, since which time he has lived on it continuously and expects to spend his days there. He raises grain and some stock.
January 29, 1883, marked a new era in his life, for it was upon that day that he was united in marriage to Maggie Heaps, born in Hubbard town- ship, Trumbull county, Ohio, September 18, 1865, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Russell) Heaps, both of whom were natives of Scotland and who came to America in the early sixties, locating in Hubbard township. The father was a miner. After about two years they returned to Scotland, remained there three and a half years and came back to Hubbard township, this county. In 1871 the father bought a farm in Vienna township, the exact date being July 3. The mother died there April 13, 1906, and the father still lives on the old place, which consists of fifty-seven acres. He has retired and this farm is carried on by his son. In the Heaps family, of which Mrs. Scovill is a daughter, the children were: William, engaged in - the livery business at Salem, Ohio: Elizabeth, wife of John Schaffer, resid- ing in Hubbard township, on a farm; Maggie ( Mrs. Scovill) ; Robert, re- siding with his father; John, residing in Vienna township, on a farm; Jennie, wife of Hugh Bartholomew, residing on a farm in Brookfield town- ship; Mary, wife of Jackson Vasey, residing in Vienna township, where he is a blacksmith; Andrew, of Vienna township; James, residing with his father; Mary Jane, deceased.
In his church faith, Mr. Scovill is of the Presbyterian denomination. In politics, he is a firm supporter of the principles of the Republican party. The children born to Mr. Seovill and wife are as follows : Grace Elizabeth, born February 7, 1884, wife of William Rimmel, residing near Vienna Cen- ter, where he follows teaming, and they have one child, born May 28,
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1907; John Samuel, born January 20, 1886, unmarried and residing with his parents ; Jesse Fremont, born January 9, 1888, unmarried, at home; Wade Earl, born June 18, 1891, at home.
IRVIN K. SHOFF, of Vienna township, Trumbull county, was in his lifetime a miner and farmer and highly respected by all within the radius of his acquaintance. He was born in that part of Trumbull county known as Brookfield township, April 23, 1849, a son of Aaron and Lucinda (Hum- mason) Shoff. His mother was born in Vienna township, January 17, 1818, while the father was born January 13, 1816, in Canada and came with his parents to this county when he was about five years of age. The family located in Brookfield township. Aaron Shoff was a tailor and fol- lowed his trade there until his death, January 19, 1882. The mother died August 12, 1890, of heart failure. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, Irvin K., of this memoir, being the sixth in order of birth.
What may justly be termed a self-made man was Irvin K. Shoff, as he had gone through life unaided by others, save the assistance so ably ren- dered him by his good wife. He attended the common district schools of his native township, Brookfield, and remained with his parents until he married, after which he was employed on the top of the mines for several vears. Previous to his marriage, he had also worked on the grade of the Lake Shore railroad from Youngstown to Ashtabula, Ohio. After marrying he continued to work at the top of the coal mines for about one year, when he was stricken with typhoid fever, which dread disease kept him from work for a year. After he had sufficiently recovered to work, he engaged in the butchering business at William's Corners, continuing in this line of busi- ness six or seven years. He then purchased the farm upon which his widow now resides, which tract consists of fifty-four acres. Here he died June 1, 1907. Mr. Shoff was connected with the Masonic order at Hartford, having passed all the official chairs in the lodge; he was also a member of the order of Maccabees, at Vienna village.
He was married May 31, 1874, to Miss Rosetta Vinton, born in Vienna township, near the Brookfield line, May 1, 1853, a daughter of Aaron G. and Ruhama (Snyder) Vinton. Her mother was born in Hartford, Ohio, December 2, 1826, and the father in New York state, May 25, 1827. He came there with his parents when quite young, they settling in Brookfield, near the Vienna line, on a farm, where the grandfather died. The father became the owner of a farm in Vienna township, near the old home in Brookfield. There he remained until his death, June 11, 1899. The mother still survives and resides on the old place around which clings so many dear old memories. There were four children in the Vinton family, Mrs. Shoff being the eldest.
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