Jacob N. Atherton
Jacob N.Atherton celebrates the Anniversary of His Birth. Today is the birthday anniversary of Jacob N. Atherton, of 140 West Fourth street, one of Mansfield's well-known and highly respected citizens, who was born Oct. 15, 1847, in Chambersburg, Franklin county, Pa., "the land of smoked sausage and buckwheat cakes." Mr. Atherton has been a resident of Mansfield since 1867. As a boy of 14 years he began learning the printing trade, having started as "devil" in the office of the Semi-Weekly Dispatch at Chambersburg. He soon advanced to type-setting and afterward went to Harrisburg where he set type on the Star until in 1863 he enlisted in the army. He was sent home as being too young but was determined to be a soldier and again enlisted in February, 1864, in the United States signal service, in which he remained until the close of the war. His father was a brick mason and contractor and he embarked in that trade, soon afterward coming to Mansfield. In this city he enjoyed many years of activity in his trade and constructed a number of the city's business blocks, factory buildings and public buildings, including the county and city jail, the Bissman bock, the Eclipse stove works, the brick in the foundation of the Ohio state reformatory, and the News building, a part of this work having been done while he was in partnership with the late George Keller. Mr. Atherton is one of the men who overcame the Democratic majority in this county and was elected county commissioner. He later served on the city sanitary board and for the past eight years has been a member of the city board of review. He is a member of Mansfield lodge, No. 19, I. O. O. F., Mohican encampment No. 13, and the Grand Army of the Republic. For the past week Mr. Atherton has been confined to his home by illness but in now improving and will probably be enjoying his usual good health within a week or two. It is an odd coincidence that this is also Mrs. Atherton's birthday anniversary, she and Mr. Atherton being of the same age. Mrs. Atherton was born in Ashland and has resided in Mansfield since a young girl.
From The Mansfield News, Page 5: Saturday, October 15, 1910
