CYRUS GATTON, SR., died Saturday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J.A. Reeder, east of Butler. He had gone there for a visit and became ill with pneumonia. Mr. Gatton was 85 years old. (81 Years old)

He is survived by three sons, Isaac of Bellville, Floyd of Jefferson township and Wilbur of Newark; three daughters, Mrs. Webster Tucker of Mifflin Township, Mrs. William Swigart of Monroe Township and Mrs. Reeder; three brothers, John of Gatton's Rocks, Madison of Bellville and Jerry of Willard.

The funeral was held at the Reeder home Sunday afternoon with burial in Four Corners Cemetery. (aka Zion)

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CYRUS GATTON, residing on his farm on section 12, Jefferson Township, was formerly an extensive landowner of this county and was also engaged in the stock business to a considerable extent.

He was born in a log house in Jefferson Township, 28 August, 1836, his parents being Isaac and Hettie M. Gatton, who came to Richland County in 1812. He obtained a common-school education, pursuing his studies in a log schoolhouse, and remained with his father until he attained his majority.

Mr. Gatton began farming on a part of his father's home place. At the age of 16 years he commenced breeding Merino sheep, starting with only three, and has since devoted considerable attention to that industry. During his boyhood wool was worth 60 cents per pound and during the Civil War sold for one dollar per pound. He entered his sheep at the first fair held in Mansfield and carried off the first prize. His fine Merino sheep have been shipped all over the country, and he has also bought cattle and hogs, as well as sheep, starting in that business in 1865 and continuing it for nearly 20 years. He handled about 50 carloads annually, Bellville and Butler being his shipping points.

Since Mr. Gatton has engaged in farming and at one time was the owner of 7 hundred acres of valuable land, all in Richland County, but is farming only 160 acres on section 12, Jefferson Township, having distributed the remainder among his children. He has placed many improvements on his farm and is well known as one of the county's most successful and prominent agriculturists. Adjoining his place, there is an Indian graveyard, called the Mound, in which seven Indians and seven white people are buried.

On the 3rd of January, 1867, Mr. Gatton was united in marriage with Miss Mary Jane Hines, a native of this county, while her parents were born in Maryland. Unto our subject and his wife were born ten children, namely; Isaac, a resident of Bellville; Nettie, the wife of William Swigart of Monroe Township; Annie at home; Wilbur of this county; Marilla the wife of Webster Tucker of Monroe Township; George Clinton of Cleveland, Ohio; Floyd at home; Daisy the wife of Alvin Reeder; Ella May and Albert, who were accidentally shot at school. On the 28th of December, 1892, Mr. Gatton was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, her demise being deeply regretted by many friends as well as her immediate family.

Mr. Gatton gives his political support to the Republican party and has served in the position of supervisor. Throughout his entire life, already covering more than the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten, he has been a resident of this county and that his career has ever been honorable and upright is indicated by the fact he has the respect and esteem of all of with he came in contact through business and social relations.

Source - History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808-108 by A.J. Baughman - Chicago; The J.S. Clarke Publishing Company, 1908, Vol II, Page 1105.

(Biography Courtesy of Todd James Dean)