The Viall Families of Summit County, Ohio

JOHN F. VIALL, undertaker, corner Water and River street, Akron; is a native of Chautauqua Co., N. Y.; was born April 30, 1825, and is the fourth of a family of nine children born to Bennett and Wealthy (Arnold) Viall. They were natives of Vermont and Connecticut, and were married in New York, whither he had gone when a young man, and she with her parents. He farmer there until 1832, when he came to Ohio, and settled in Springfield Township, farming there some two years. He then came to Middlebury and took an active interest in a saw and woolen mill, built by himself and brother Thomas, continuing until the latter's death, after which he continued some three years longer. He then went to Wisconsin, where he remained for two 3'ears, and then returned to Middlebury, and soon after went to Granger Township, in Medina Co., where he followed farming until his death in 1877, aged 84 years. She died in 1845. He married a second time to Mrs. S. Hinckley, who died about four years after her marriage. A third marriage was to Mrs. Rhoda Baker; she survived him about one month. John F. (the subject) lived at home until he was 22. He learned the cabinet-maker's trade with his brother in Middlebury. After three years his brother died, and himself and brother Eli engaged in the furniture business under the firm of Viall Brothei's, and continued about ten years. Subject then sold out and worked for G. W. Barber & Co. twelve years, then worked for Kent & Baldwin, woolen machinery manufacturers, for two 3'ears. He then bought an interest in his brother's cabinet-making business, continuing three years, when the firm became Viall & Replogle, the latter succeeding

Eli Viall, and three years later he sold to Mr. Dewey, and about three years after John F. Viall became sole proprietor, and quit the furniture business and followed the undertaking business since. He was married, Nov. 4, 1847, to Miss Cornelia C. Wheeler, a native of Tallmadge Township. They had seven children, five of whom are living — Francis (now Mrs. Obendorf, of Middlebury), Edwin W. (married, and lives in Middlebury), Laura C. (now Mrs. Charles B. Macey, of Middlebury), Arthur G. and Otis live at home.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

OTIS K. VIALL, funeral director, whose business is located at No. 919 East Market Street, Akron, was born at Akron, in 1874, and is a son of John F. and Cornelia C. (Wheeler) Viall.

John F. Viall was born in Chautauqua

County, New York, April 30, 1825, and was brought to Ohio by his parents, Bennett and Wealthy (Arnold) Viall, when five years of age. They settled in Springfield Township, Summit County, among the pioneers. John F. Viall learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which he followed until 1866, at which time he engaged in undertaking. Later he was in partnership with his son, under the firm name of Viall & Son. He married Cornelia C. AVheeler, and their surviving children are: Frances, who married William Orendorf, residing at Akron; Laura, who married C. B. Macey, residing at Noblesville, Indiana; Edward W., a resident at Noblesville; and Otis K., of Akron. Both John F. Viall and his wife have passed away. He was a man of business honesty and enterprise, and he made the first coffins kept in stock in the city of Akron, an innovation at that time. He was a stanch Republican politically but was never disposed to be a politician. A number of the minor offices of the township he held because he was elected to them, but he sought no political honors. For many years he was secretary of the Middlebury Cemetery Association.

OtLs K. Viall, upon completing his school education, became associated with his father in the undertaking business, and since the latter's death has had sole charge of it. He is a graduate of the Champion College of Embalming at Springfield, Ohio, and also of the Boston College of Embalming, of Boston, Massachusetts. His firm style is Otis K. Viall, funeral director and embalmer. He keeps in readiness all the paraphernalia incident to his business, and has an establishment which is modern in every particular. He is superintendent of the East Akron Cemetery Association.

In 1895 Mr. Viall was married to Daisy Shoemaker, who is a daughter of the late Cyrus Shoemaker, one of the old families of Northampton Township. They have one son, Earl Victor, who is a student of promise in the public schools. Mr. Viall and his wife belong to the Disciples Church. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GEORGE VIALL, Treasurer Middlebury Clay Co., Akron (Sixth Ward); is a native of Middlebury (Sixth Ward of Akron), and was born March 12, 1834; is the only child of Thomas C. and Mahala (Atwood) Viall, who were natives of Vermont and Connecticut, and when young came to Ohio with their parents. He built a woolen and saw mill in Middlebury which he conducted until his death in 1834. She settled with her parents in Springfield Township, where her father owned 1,000 acres of land. They were married in 1832. After the death of her husband in 1834, she was again married in 1840, to Nathaniel Munson, and in 1845, they moved to New York, but returned about 1850. He was a tanner by trade, and followed the business in Middlebury. He died in New York while on a visit to his relatives about the year 1865. She is still living, and makes hr home with her son, Leroy Munson, in Tallmadge Township. George Viall lived at home with his mother until he was 1 9 years of age, receiving a common-school education. At the age of 19 he engaged in the grocery business at the old forge north of Middlebury. He followed the business some eighteen months, and then sold out and bought a canal-boat, following boating for three summers, when he again embarked in the grocery business in Middlebury, which he continued for three years, then sold out and opened business in Akron, where he did business three years longer. He then sold out and commenced the manufacture of stoneware in Middlebury, continuing for eight years. He sold out and went into general merchandise in Middlebury, and after nine years again sold out. He was one of the incorporators of the Middlebury Clay Co., of which he is Treasurer, and has also served as Secretary. He has served two terms in the Middlebury Council. He was married Aug. 24, 1857, to Miss Maria Reepsomer, a native of Trumbull Co., Ohio. They have had three children, one of whom is living, viz., Nannie L., also an adopted child, Edward Carl.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES VIALL, Superintendent Hill Sewer Pipe Co., Akron (Sixth Ward); is a native of Akron, Summit Co., Ohio. Was born Jan. 15, 1828, and is the sixth of nine children born to James and Sarah (Hubbard) Viall, natives of Vermont, where they were married, after which they came to Ohio (about 1822) and settled in

Summit Co. Here he followed for a time charcoal burning, and later he became a contractor on the canal. After its completion, he engaged as bridge-builder, and built many of the bridges in this county. He died in February, 1837; his wife lived in the vicinity until her death, in the summer of 1880, at the age of 84 years. James (the subject), lived at home until 22 years of age, receiving but a limited education at the district schools. In 1841, he went on the canal, following the same until 1865, the first two years as driver, and in 1843 — then but 15 ears old — -began as steersman, continuing as such as long as he remained on the canal, running between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. He embarked, in 1865, in the manufacturing of stoneware, buying the business of Wm. Owens, which was located in Springfield Township, and has conducted the same ever since. About the year 1876, he sold a half-interest to George Markle, under the firm name of Viall & Markle. He also became interested, in 1865, with J. B. Woods, in the mining and manufacturing of clay, which he has since continued, and which has been incorporated into the Middlebury Clay Co. In March, 1873, lie, in company with Mr. Hill and others, incorporated the Hill Sewer Pipe Co., of which he is Superintendent. He was also engaged for several 3'ears, with Moses J. Huggins, in the grocery business in Middlebury, and for a time were the only representatives in that line in the place. He was married, Jan. 29, 1850, to Miss Mary Davis, a native of Middlebury, and daughter of Benjamin and Mary Davis — the former deceased, Mrs. Davis still living with her daughter, aged 86 years. Mr. Viall served as Councilman several terms in Middlebury before its incorporation. He has always been Republican in politics.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

BURRILL VIALL, farmer; P. 0. Peninsula; was born in Hanover Township, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1821. He is a son of Burrill Viall, who was born in Bennington Co., Yt., in 1793, and removed to New York in 1814, settling in Chautauqua Co., where he soon after married Sarah Ferguson, who was born in Cooperstown, N. Y. They removed to Ohio, and first settled in Middlebury in 1831, removing from there to Northampton, and residing there until 1850, when they- removed to Jackson Co., Iowa, where they resided until their deaths, his occurring Dec. 23, 1862, and hers Jan. 4, 1864. They were both members of the Methodist Church. They" had twelve children, six boys and six girls. Burrill, Jr., has always followed farming. He remained with his parents until 20 years of age, and, in 1841, bought 50 acres of land, which is a part of the farm where he now resides. He is a self-made man, having commenced the struggle of life with small means, and, by industry and practical ability, accumulated a large farm, which is ornamented by an elegant residence, finely appointed. His is one of the model farms of the township, and his system consists in dairying and general farming. He ranks as one of the township's most valuable citizens, having served as Trustee, and taken an active interest in its educational matters. He was married, Dec. 24, 1843, to Miss Jane White, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Feb. 7, 1823. Her father, Solomon White, was a native of Vermont; her mother, Hannah (Bronson) White, of Connecticut, he served as baggage boy in the war of 1812, at the age of 14, under Gen. Harrison. Her mother was taken to Connecticut by her mother, to avoid the danger of warfare. Her parents remained at Cleveland until she was 10 years of age, when they removed to Brooklyn, living there four years. He was the Cuyahoga Co. Pork Inspector. They subsequently removed to Boston Township, and finally emigrated to Jackson Co., Iowa, where they both died; his death occurred Jan. 24, 1864; his wife died March 15, of the same year. Mr. and Mrs. Viall's family are as follows: Sarah J., deceased; Mattie J. Humphrey, living in Richfield; Mary A. Carr, of Cuyahoga Falls; Julia F. Oviatt, Boston Township; Lucy K. Clark, residing in Middlebury; Kittie E. and Jennie M., at home.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM VIALL, dairyman and farmer; P. O. Cuyahoga Falls; son of Burrill Viall who came from Chautauqua Co., N. Y. during the winter of 1831, on a sled to Middlebury in what is now known as Summit Co., Ohio. He is of English descent on his father's side, but his mother, Sarah (Ferguson) Viall was of Scotch descent. At the lime of their removal from New York to Ohio, JMr. and Mrs. Viall were the parents of six children, and after their arrival, there were born to them six more, making a total of six sons and six daughters. Eleven of these grew to be adults. There are now living in this family of children only nine. The Vialls were in very- poor circumstances at the time of their arrival, and Mr. Viall had to labor early and late to keep his family recently supported. He first settled on the farm now owned by Uriah Horner. In 1850, he and family emigrated to Jackson Co., Iowa, where they lived until the death of their parents. The father's death occurred Dec. 23, 1862, of heart disease. He was buried on Christmas Day, 1862, in Sterling Cemetery Jackson Co., Iowa, aged 69 years 8 months and 25 day-s. His wife never survived the shock of her husband's death, and she died Jan. 4, 1863, aged 62 years 6 months and 15 days, and was also buried in Sterling Cemetery. The father was a Republican in politics, and he and wife were consistent and devoted members of the M. E. Church. The names of the children are Eliza, Burrill, Elzina, dead; Sullivan. John N., William, Mary, Julia, dead; Adaline, Clark, dead; Amelia and Lafayette. William, the subject of this biography, passed his youth and early manhood on the farm, receiving a common-school education. He was married Oct. 17, 1849, to Sabina, daughter of James and Mary (Dickerson) McPherson, and by her had four children — Charles W.. born Aug. 9, 1852, died April 24, 1853; Martha T., born April 19, 1854, now wife of George W. Hanson, and resides in Medina Co., Ohio; Mary D., born April 4, 1856, and is now the wife of Fred S. Prior, and resides in Northampton, and James F., born April 25, 1860. Mrs. Viall was born Oct. 16, 1832, in Utica, N. Y., and Mr. Viall was born Aug. 20, 1828, in Chautauqua Co., N. Y. After fifteen years of farming on the prairies of Iowa, our subject returned to Ohio, and for the first year lived on the Lindsey farm, in Stow Township, Summit Co., Ohio. He sold that soon afterward, and the following year purchased the old " Lewis farm ' in Northampton Township, where he has ever since resided. He now owns 134 acres of well-improved land. Is a Republican in politics, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace for twelve years. He and wife are members of the Disciples' Church, and are among the first citizens of Northampton Township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FAYETTE VIALL, proprietor hotel, Richfield; is a son of Burrill and Sarah Viall, who were early settlers in Northampton Township; they have four children now living in Summit Co. — Burrill, a prominent farmer, of Boston Township; Mary, the wife of Dr. Pope, of West Richfield; William, now a resident of Northampton Township; and Fayette, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Northampton Township in 1845; he accompanied his parents to Iowa in 1850, where he remained until 1863, when he enlisted in the 24th Iowa V. I., and was in the service until the close of the war. He then returned to Iowa, where he remained about a year, and then came to Boston Township, where he resided for several years with his brother. In November, 1872, he was married to Miss Emma Gilbert, a daughter of Chancey and Sophrona (Carter) Gilbert; since his marriage he has been a resident of Richfield Township, where he has been engaged in farming and also in the hotel business, which occupation he resumed in April, 1881, in Richfield Center, where he owns a hotel property. Mr. and Mrs. Viall have two children — Raymond and Willie.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

SYLVESTER G. VIALL, who is cultivating a finely imijroved farm of forty-three acres in Boston Township, was born ilareh 13, 1844, in Northampton Township, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of Sullivan and Mary Ann (Freeby)Viall. He attended his first term of school in the old log schoolhouse with split log floors and 'eats, and after his father's death removed with his mother to Richfield Townsliip, where Mr. YxaW purchased a small farm. In 1864 Mrs. Viall sold this place and Sylvester G. started out in life for himself, his mother marrying Stephen Dales of Copley Township, where.she died. In 1864 Mr, Viall worked in Bath Township, but soon thereafter married, and started housekeeping at Peninsula, where he was engaged in teaming for two years. He then removed to Copley Township and began farming a rented property, but in 1883 located on his present tract, which he had purchased some time previously. In this year he built his house, and in the following spring his barn. He now has growing fruits of all.staple varieties and in addition raises wheat, corn and potatoes. He makes a specialty of breeding thoroughbred Poland China hogs.

Mr. Viall was married October 15, 1864, to Mary E. Ozmun, who is a daughter of Hector Ozmun of Boston Township. He and hiwife have been the parents of seven children, namely: Florence, wife of F. C. Lee, a resident of Brunswick Township, Medina County, Ohio; Theda, who is the wife of David C. Ilarpham, of East Akron, Ohio; Ward, who died when twenty-two years of age; Fred, of The Akron Plumbing & Heating Company of Akron; Rutherford H., also a member of the same firm; Maud, the wife of James Crum, of Brunswick Township, Medina County, Ohio; and Mabel, a.stenographer, who lives at home with her parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Viall are identified with the Congregational Church, of which the former has been a deacon for the pa.st sixteen or seventeen years. They are also members of the Richfield Grange, No. 1260, of which Mr. Viall has been master, and he has also been overseer of Summit County Pomona Grange for six consecutive years. In political matters he is a Republican, and he was personal property appraiser for three years and real estate appraiser during the last appraisement, which occurred in 1900.

Nathaniel Viall, grandfather of Sylvester G., was born March 28, 1782. After his death his widow Betsey, who was born December 14. 1768, in Vermont, came to Northampton

Township with her son Sullivan, with whom she made her home until her death.

Sullivan Viall was born in Vermont March 3, 1811, and received his education in the common schools. He came to Middlebury, Ohio, which is now a part of Akron, and thence he went by team to Pittsburg, hauling dour there and returning with dry goods. In this business he was engaged for many years and accumulated in it about $4,000, which he lost through the failure of a private bank. He then decided to engage in agricultural pursuits, and accordingly purchased a farm, on which the remainder of his life was spent. He met with a sudden and accidental death, being gored to death by a savage bull in 1851. He was one of the first Whigs in this county, and served as township trustee, and for nearly the full period of his residence in Northampton Township was a member of ihe School Board. Sullivan Viall was married August 28, 1836, to Mary Ann Freeby, who was born in Pennsylvania,.august 28, 1813. Her father, George Freeby, was a shoemaker and farmer who came to America from Germany and died in Indiana about 1855. Mrs. Viall died March 21, 1890, having been the mother of three children, namely: Henrietta, Avho is the widow of Isaac Smith, of Portage Township; Sylvester G., who.se name stands at the head of this article; and Damaris, who is the wife of Dr. F. N. Chamberlin, of Stow Township. Mr. and Mrs. Viall were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FRED S. VIALL, president of the Akron Plumbing & Heating Company, of Akron, has been a resident of this city for the past.seventeen years. He was born in Summit County, Ohio, in 1873, and is a son of Sylvester Viall. The father of Mr. Viall was also born in Summit Coimty. in 1844, and is a son of Sullivan Yiall, who settled early in Summit County. Sylvester Viall re=ides on his farm in Boston Township and is one of the prominent citizens of the coimtv.

Fred S. A''iall wa. reared on his father's farm and obtained his education in the country schools. He came to Akron when he was.seventeen years old, and, deciding to learn the plumbing business, entered the employ of Kraus & Oberlin, with which firm he remained three years. For one year afterward he traveled through Vermont and Massachusetts, working at his trade, and then returning to Akron, and was connected with the firm of Kraus & Kirn for four years. About this time, in association with other practical men, he formed the Akron Plumbing & Heating Company, which was incorporated in the spring of 1907, with a capital stock of $15.- 000. The officers are: Fred S. Viall, pre-ident; R. H. Aiall, vice-president and manager; and F. S. Pryor, secretary and treasurer. The business of the company is' general contracting and plumbing of the most approved style.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HLBERT A. VIALL, the well-known saw-mill proprietor and lumber dealer at Tallmadge, Summit county, Ohio, and one of the youngest of the volunteers of the late war, was born in East Akron November 29, 1849, a son of Emory D. and Orpha L. (Wilcox) Viall, the Viall family being descendants of old New England colonists of Connecticut and Vermont.

Emory D. Viall, a lumberman, married, in Stowe township. Miss Wilcox, a daughter of L. H. and Hannah (Porter) Wilcox, who were from New England. The children born to this union were Albert A., Frank H., Arthur J. (deceased), Alfred C. (deceased), Carrie M. (a practicing physician of Cleveland), Nellie (deceased), and Cynthia E. Mr. Viall conducted an extensive business for many years, was a highly respected gentleman, and was killed in a railroad accident December 16,

Albert A. Viall received a good district school education, and was but twelve years of age when the first shot of the Civil war was directed against Fort Sumter. This fired his youthful patriotism, which grew with the growth of the war. Finally, with the consent of his parents, who, in fact, could not restrain him, he enlisted at Alliance, Ohio, January 26, 1865, in company F, One Hundred and

Eighty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, for one year, unless sooner discharged on account of the war being brought to an end.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

A. A. VIALL, farmer; P. 0. Tallmadge; was born in Harrisburg, Penn., Nov. 29, 1848. He remained at home until he was 16 years of age, receiving his education in the common schools of his neighborhood. In 1864, he enlisted in 184th 0. V. I., where he remained until the close of the war. After his return home, he was engaged as engineer on a steamboat. He then worked on the Pittsburgh & Cleveland Railroad, where he fired a locomotive. He was then engaged by J. A. Caruthers to take charge of machinery in his mill. In 1878, he purchased, in company with C. D. Caruthers, the mill he now operates. In 1879, he was united in marriage to Helen Caruthers, daughter of J. A. Caruthers, of Tallmadge, whose family settled there in an early day from Connecticut. Mr. Viall is a strong Republican, and has always been identified with that party.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.