John Mansfield
John Mansfield, farmer, P. O. Atwater Centre, was born in Wallingford. Conn., November 18, 1806; son of Ira and Susan (Kirtland) Mansfield, who had a family of six children, of whom our subject is the only survivor. His grandfather, John Mansfield, was an officer of some distinction in the Revolutionary struggle. Ira Mansfield, his father, better known as Maj. Mansfield, made his way through the wilderness of Ohio in 1806, and succeeded in making a trade of land with Joshua Atwater, the original proprietor of the township, securing 360 acres. Returning to the East he brought his family back with him in 1808, and here founded a home. This land he subsequently sold, and purchased 150 acres near the present homestead. He raised a company of volunteers for the war of 1812, in which he took an active part. While in camp at Detroit his trusted clerk decamped with $1,500 of his money. For a time this crippled him, but his untiring ambition soon enabled him to retrieve the loss. Ira Mansfield's death occurred in Atwater in 1849. His widow survived him until 1851. Our subject was married, in 1833, to Miss Mary Hall, also a native af Wallingford, Conn., and who has borne him two sons: Ira K., residing at Chicago, Ill, is married to Emma J. Cook (their living children are Mary M., Susan M. and Bessie I.); Silliman S., married to Margaret Goss, they reside in Atwater Township, this county, (Their children are Charles K., Alfred H., Pearl W., Henry L., Carrie J., Frankie G. and Ira S.). Mr. Mansfield is among the oldest settlers of Atwater Township. He has served as Assessor several terms, and has ever taken an active part in the development of his township.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885