<  CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO 1931 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
< CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO LIST OF BIOGRAPHIUCAL INDEXES >

HON. CHARLES L. McCLELLAN has been prominent in the civic and official life of Richland County for 35 years, and is now serving his second term as Judge of the Probate Court.  He was born at Butler, Richland County, Nov. 29, 1864, the son of John A. and Sarah A. (Miles) McClellan.
     John A. McClellan was born in Westmoreland Co., Pa., in September, 1821, and was two years old when his parents came to Ohio and settled in Richland County.  Early in life he was a carpenter but later engaged in general farming in Knox County.  He was a prominent citizen of the community in which he lived.  Mr. McClellen died Aug. 15, 1897, and with his wife is buried in Bunker Hill Cemetery, Worthington Township, Richland County.  His wife was a native of this county.  Politically Mr. McClellan was a Democrat.  To Mr. and Mrs. McClellan were born five children: Rose, died in infancy; Hattie Belle, deceased; William D., deceased; Charles L., the subject of this sketch; and James H., lives at Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
     Charles L. McClellan was educated in the home of his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. William Rider, of Butler, Ohio.  He attended the district schools, Greentown Academy at Perrysville, and later attended Wooster University.  He taught school for a period of eight years before taking up the study of law at the Cincinnati College of Law, from which he received the degree of LL. B. in 1894.  He was admitted to the bar in that year and became a member of the firm of Weaver & McClellan, with offices in Mansfield.  In 1900 Mr. McClellan entered the office of the clerk of courts as deputy under Allen S. Beach, and served until 1902, when he was elected clerk of courts.  He was reelected in 1905 and served in that capacity until 1909, at which time he became associated in practice with Mr. Cook.  Later he became a member of the firm of Maner & McClellan, and his partnership continued until Harry T. Maner was appointed on the State Bureau.  Mr. McClellan was elected in November, 1924, as Judge of the Probate Court on the Democratic ticket, and was reelected to office in November, 1928.
     On Sept. 19, 1894, Judge McClellan married Miss Ociea Mitchell, of Lucas, Ohio, the daughter of John and Ann (Rider) Mitchell, natives of Monroe Township, Richland County.  Both are deceased and are buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Monroe Township, Richland County.  To Judge and Mrs. McClellen were born five children:  Ruth¸ a graduate of Wittenberg College, lives at Cleveland; Lucille, a graduate of Wittenberg College, married Ivan Bauer, lives at Mansfield; John R., deceased; William Harold, attends Wooster University; and Mary Elizabeth, attends Wittenberg College.
     Judge McClellan has always been a Democrat and served for three terms as chairman of the executive committee of the Democratic Central Committee.  He and his family hold membership in the First Lutheran Church and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Maccabees, Optimist Club, and Amima Club.
Source #3: North Central Ohio Biographies embracing Ashland, Wayne, Medina, Lorain, Huron & Knox Counties by William A. Duff - 3 vols. 1931 - page 584

HON. EDWIN MANSFIELD, attorney, with offices in Mansfield, is a public spirited and influential citizen of Richland County, having taken a prominent part in the business and civic life of this section of Ohio.  He was born at Ashland, Ohio, June 9, 1861, the son of Martin H. Mansfield, who was born in New York City, the son of a shipbuilder.  The father of Martin H. Mansfield met with an accidental death and his widow, with her two sons, Martin H. and William¸settled at Baltimore, Md.  Martin H. later became attached to the family of the late Senator Patterson.  The brothers subsequently went to Mifflintown, Pa., where they married sisters, Martin’s wife being Anna Saeger.  He owned and operated a small shop at Steam Corners, Ohio, where he manufactured a clover huller, which was his own invention.  He patented his invention and others in the agricultural implement line and in 1842 removed to Ashland, Ohio, where he secured larger quarters.  In 1876 he retired from active business at Massillon, Ohio, having assigned his patent to Russell and Company, Massillon, Ohio.  Martin H. Mansfield died in 1880 and his wife died about 10 years later.  He was a man of remarkable talent and his inventions were indicative of his mechanical genius.  There were 11 children in the Mansfield family, three of whom now survive: Edwin, Myra, the widow of Edward R. Swett, resides in New York, and Newton.  The eldest son, W. M., deceased, was a civil engineer, and was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Zanesville, Ohio, and later at Richmond, Ind.  Subsequently he was with the Pan Handle Railroad and later was superintendent of the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railroad at Indianapolis.  He developed terminal facilities at Indianapolis while with the Pennsylvania Railroad and at the time oaf his death was assistant to the chief engineer at Pittsburgh, Pa.
     Cloyd Mansfield, deceased, was a resident of Ashland, became county clerk of Ashland County when a young man, held that office for six years, then for two terms was county auditor.  He also served as probate judge for two terms and his period of public service extended over 25 years. 
     Henry A. Mansfield, deceased, was also in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Indianapolis, where he became city engineer.  HE was also a contractor and engaged in government work on the construction of dams and power plants, with his residence at Indianapolis.
     Newton Mansfield was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., and served on the “Detroit” during the Cuban campaign and later in the Philippines.  His  health failed and he retired from the service but was recalled during the World War and placed in charge of naval recruiting in New York City.  He now resides at Ashland, Ohio.  The following children died in infancy:  John and Howard.
     Edwin Mansfield attended Ashland University for two years and in 1881 was employed with a railroad surveying party.  Four years later he took up the study of law in the offices of Skiles & Skiles, Shelby, and in 1886 was admitted to the bar, having successfully passed his examinations before the Supreme Court of the state.  He immediately engaged in practice at Shelby, where he remained for 16 years.  Two months after being admitted to the bar Mr. Mansfield was elected mayor of Shelby, then a city of 1,800 population.  From 1901 until 1907 he engaged in practice with Frank Long.  The firm was dissolved when Mr. Mansfield was placed on the bench as a Common Pleas Judge, to which office he was elected in 1906.  The district comprised Richland, Ashland and Morrow counties, and Mr. Mansfield retired from the bench after 12 years of service in February, 1919.  He also served for a number of years as city solicitor of Shelby and while in office he directed the installation of various public improvements, including the paving of streets, building of water works, placing of sewers, the construction of the electric light plant.
     Judge Mansfield was one of the organizers of the Citizens Bank of Shelby and has been a director from the time of its inception in 1903, being the only one of the original board still connected with the bank, and it is one of the strong financial institutions of the county.  In 1899 he was one of the organizers of the Shelby Telephone Company, of which he has since been a director.  In 1890 the Shelby Seamless Tube Company was organized and Judge Mansfield had an interest in that company.  It was subsequently absorbed by the United States Steel Corporation, and the local plant was later destroyed by fire.  In 1908 the Ohio Seamless Tube Company was organized and has developed into one of the leading industries of Ohio.  Judge Mansfield was a member of its board and for five years served as its chairman.  In 1929 he was elected president of the company and still acts in that capacity.
     In 1892 Judge Mansfield married Mrs. Ada E. Davis Lowe.  They have a daughter, Margaret, married J. W. Cook, general manager of the Reed Store at Mansfield, and they have two children, John W., Jr., and Edwin Mansfield.
     Judge Mansfield is identified with the Richland County Bar Association and Ohio State Bar Association.  He is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge and Rotary Club, and has other numerous connections.
Source#3: North Central Ohio Biographies embracing Ashland, Wayne, Medina, Lorain, Huron & Knox Counties by William A. Duff - 3 vols. 1931 - page 586

MARTHA MERCER, deceased, was widely known in library circles throughout Ohio, having served as librarian at Mansfield, where she was born, for a period of 24 years.
     Miss Mercer was appointed as the second librarian of Mansfield and it was largely through her splendid administration that the present library system was developed.  It was through her efforts that the local library was made a Carnegie institution and at that time it was Miss Mercer who obtained the necessary $35,000 from the Carnegie fund for the erection of the present library building.  In 1908 the collection of books was removed from the Memorial Building to the present library.
     Miss Mercer was known throughout the state for her interest in library work and was a charter member of the Ohio Library Association.  She served at various times as an officer in the organization and was active in its work until her retirement.  She resigned Sept. 1, 1914, but continued her residence in Mansfield until several years before her death.  Miss Mercer died at Pelham Manor, N. Y., Apr. 22, 1930, and is buried at Mansfield.
     Miss Mercer always considered the service of the public first and was anxious to build up a fine collection of books for the people of Mansfield.  The splendid collection of magazines, which the library now owns and is now being used by the city and many patrons from surrounding counties, was started due to Miss Mercer’s foresight.
     The work of the literary clubs was one of Miss Mercer’s interests, and she herself was a charter member of the Nomad Club.  She was a member of Grace Episcopal Church
Source#3: North Central Ohio Biographies embracing Ashland, Wayne, Medina, Lorain, Huron & Knox Counties by William A. Duff - 3 vols. 1931 - page 583