In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1874
From Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens (1908)
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 Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1908. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.