BIO: Ira F. MANSFIELD, Beaver County, PA
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BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches
of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y.,
Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 45-47.
_________________________________________________________________
HON. IRA F. MANSFIELD, an extensive owner of coal mining interests about
Cannelton, Pa., whose active furtherance of many well-known enterprises
places him among the foremost of the prominent and progressive business men
of Beaver county, resides in a handsome home in Beaver, at the corner of Elk
and First streets. He is a son of Kirtland and Lois (Morse) Mansfield, and
was born in Poland, Ohio, June 27, 1842.
He is descended from Revolutionary stock, being a great-grandson of Captain
Jack Mansfield, who served through that war as a captain, and after its close
lived in retirement, - having served sixty years in the Second, Fourth and
Sixth Connecticut regiments. His son, Ira Mansfield, was the grandfather of
the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch.
Kirtland Mansfield, the father of Ira F., was born in Wallingford, Conn.,
and early in life went to Poland, Ohio, where for many years he was engaged
in mercantile pursuits. Later he removed to Philadelphia, Pa., where he lived
the remainder of his life. He was joined in the bonds of wedlock with Lois
Morse, a daughter of Elkanah Morse, an early settler of Poland, Ohio, where
he built the first oil, woolen and grist mills. In 1849, he moved to
California, where he died. After the demise of her husband, Mrs. Mansfield
returned to Poland, Ohio, with her son, where he was reared under the
influence of a kind mother's love.
Ira F. Mansfield received a good mental training in the common schools of
his native place, and in Poland College, where he was a schoolmate of
President William McKinley. At the early age of fifteen years he went to
Pittsburg and learned the trade of a molder, but returned to Poland, and in
August, 1862, enlisted in Company H, 105th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., being the
first to sign the roll. He was promoted to be orderly sergeant, then 1st
lieutenant, and for conspicuous bravery at the battles of Lookout Mountain
and Missionary Ridge he was breveted captain and was as-signed as a
quartermaster of the Fourteenth Army Corps. He was with Sherman in his
memorable March to the Sea and up through the Carolinas, and participated in
the grand review at Washington, in May of 1865. He is a man of very
methodical ways and of a very observing nature, and during his service kept a
diary, and a record of his many inter-
46 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES
esting and exciting experiences. This he has written out, and, being an
artist of superior talent, he has finely illustrated it with pen pictures,
and also with many fine photographs, taken in recent years,-all of which make
a beautiful and valuable volume. In October, 1865, he leased of Mrs. Edwin
Morse, the Cannel coal mines of Cannelton, Beaver county, Pa., and in 187o
bought them outright. He has since owned and operated them, and now owns 357
acres, through which veins run which are from ten to fifteen feet thick. The
daily output varies from one hundred to two hundred and fifty tons, and the
facilities for shipping are of the best,-the mines being located on a branch
of the Pennsylvania railroad. Mr. Mansfield also built a general store there
and operated it for a number of years, but it is now managed by C. W. Inman
and known as the Cash Store. He also erected a fine opera house and furnished
it in elegant style. The post office, which was established in the town in
1872, is located on the first floor of his building, and for many years he
served in the capacity of postmaster. He bought and rebuilt the Morse
homestead, and possesses a very fine farm, one hundred and eighty acres of
which is devoted to fruit raising; he has 5,000 peach trees and a large
number of pear, cherry and quince trees. He is also interested in the Gulf
Company, the Bituminous Company, and the Captain A. Hicks Company,-coal
operators. He is a man of wonderful energy and general business ability and
his many ventures have resulted in great financial success. In 1887, he moved
to Beaver, purchasing the Hum and Singleton property at the corner of Elk
and First streets, and there he has erected a very handsome modern brick
home, which overlooks the beautiful valley and the Ohio River.
Mr. Mansfield has traveled extensively throughout the United States and is
well versed in the current events of the day. He has a fine collection of
mounted specimens in botany, especially ferns and orchids-from Beaver
county,-and all are illustrated on separate pages, in natural colors,-this
being the work of his mother. In politics, Mr. Mansfield is a stanch
Republican, and was elected a member of the state legislature from Beaver
county in 1880, 1893, 1895, and 1897,-serving his constituents faithfully and
well. He was a school director of Cannelton and Beaver, and takes an earnest
interest in all matters of an educational nature. He is vice-president of
Beaver College, and Beaver Musical Institute, and is president of the board
of trustees, of Greers College of Darlington. He is vice-president of the
First National Bank of Rochester, is a stockholder and director of three
building and loan associations, and of several bridge and street railway
companies; he is a director of the P., L. & W. R. R., of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, and of the Valley Electric Plant.
The subject of this memoir was united in marriage with Lucy E. Mygatt, a
daughter of Dr. E. Mygatt, who was born in Danbury, Conn., and was a
practicing physician and surgeon of Poland, Ohio, when Mr. Mansfield was
married, in 1872. Three children have
BEAVER COUNTY 47
blessed this union, as follows: Kirtland Mygatt, Mary Lois, and Henry
Beauchamp. Socially, he is a member, and commander of, Post No. 473, G. A.
R.; past master of the following lodges of the Masonic order, being a
thirty-second degree Mason; F. & A. M., R. A. M., and K. T.; is past grand of
the Odd Fellows Lodge; and past commander of the Knights of Pythias; he served
as aide-de-camp on Gen. H. H. Cummings' staff. In a religious connection, he
is a member and elder of the Presbyterian church. and has served as
superintendent of the Sunday School. A portrait of Mr. Mansfield is
presented, in connection with this sketch.