---

Death of the Pioneer Son of Mansfield

Born:  February 2d., 1811

Died:  February 23, 1885

Aged 74 years and 21 days

On Tuesday last many of our readers were startled at the above announcement of the death, and notice of the funeral obsequies, of Mr. Mansfield H. Gilkison.

The old must died the young may, and most certainly Mr. Gilkison's life was prolonged beyond the average age of man, but it is not specially the fact of his many years that THE HERALD desires to note.  It is always a melancholy pleasure to record the death of friends, and it is especially so when the demise is that of an aged citizen.

It is a fact known to most of the readers of THE HERALD that Mansfield H. Gilkison was the first white male child born within the limits of Mansfield, and that his days span all the years from the early beginning of the village down to our present growth and extent as a city.

His grandparents on his mother's side were George Coffinberry and wife, who in 1809, came to this then new country from Lancaster, Ohio, having previously moved from Virginia.  His father, Jno. C. Gilkison, was of North Carolina parentage.  He first moved to Kentucky, thereafter to St. Clairsville, and in 1810 to Mansfield.

On both sides he was of pioneer stock and he inherited many of the sterling qualities of these brave early settlers.  Fear of man was an unknown feeling to Mansfield H. Gilkison.  His father was a mason by trade, but had acquired much of a practical knowledge of the printing art, and so the son was an adept both as a brick-mason and type-setter.  THE HERALD, in this connection, is informed, and takes pleasure in putting on record the fact, that the father of our deceased friend was the very first to print and publish a newspaper in the county of Richland, and we would be glad to have a copy of "THE OLIVE" for that was its title, so as to re-produce it in our columns.  The son, as he grew up, worked with his father, in the summer season at brick-laying, and in more inclement weather in the printing office.  THE OLIVE afterwards became THE MANSFIELD GAZETTE, and passed into the control of our now venerable townsman, James Purdy, Esq., but later on Mr. Jno. C. Gilkison, with his sons, projected the RICHLAND COUNTY JEFFERSONIAN, and for years were its publishers and editors.  In 1850, they retired, selling the whole plant to the firm of Day & Smith, composed of our friends M. Day, Jr. and E.W. Smith, who gave the paper a new name, THE MANSFIELD HERALD, which title, under them and their respective successors, it has since retained.

Mansfield H., when a young man, was married to Miss Dukes, a member of another pioneer family, and who preceded him to the "far off country".  His children grew to manhood and womanhood, and formed alliances and established homes of their own, so that for many years since the death of the wife of his youth, the subject of our sketch was alone and lonely, and only within the year passing he was again married to her who is now his bereaved widow.

Mr. Gilkison has filled many official places in his long life requiring coolness, courage, and a determined spirit, such as marshal, constable, deputy and acting sheriff, and discharged the several duties well and acceptably by all.

He was a member of I.O.O.F. -- Mansfield Lodge, No. 19.  His funeral obsequies were attended by the Order on Wednesday, and so peacefully midst the snows of winter, was this old friend, the first child of Mansfield, laid away in his final resting place, the grave -- resting place for all the weary sons of men.  It is fitting that we chronicle his birth, his life, his death.  One by one, they who were the pioneers, or children of the pioneers, take their departure.

On the 4th. of July, 1881, there was a gathering of our people in the park to unveil the monument.  Of those there assembled was our departed friend, with many of the older citizens, the friends and associates of early days and manhood's years.  Since then, of what number how many have died:  John Wiler, John Y. Glessner, David Vasbinder, Samuel Snyder, Dr. Sutherland, Thos. J. Robinson, John Krause, Peter Remy, Alanson Allen, Barnabas Burns, Charles Krabill, J.A. Heldman, E. Clapp, David McCullough, Jacob Emminger, preceded him, and now Mansfield H. Gilkison joins the throng.  The old men are fast passing away;  the pioneers of Richland County are nearly all gone hence.  We who survive should cherish their memories and imitate their virtues.

---

<< Back to Obituary Index

<< Back to the Richland Co., Ohio Index