William J. Minford, Blacksmith
written by Gladys Minford

William J. Minford, a blacksmith of Harrisonville, Ohio, was born in County Antrim, Ireland on January 1, 1829.  He was the son of John and Mary Awl Minford.

When he was 17 years old, he came with his mother, brother Robert, and two sisters Agnes and Mary to the United States.  He father died in Ireland.  They landed in New York City about June 1, 1845.  It took six weeks to make the long voyage in the sailing vessel.

They came to Ohio and settled in Portsmouth, remaining there eight years.  He learned the blacksmith trade from J. L. Ward.  In 1853 he went to Iowa and remained there four years.  He then traveled through Missouri seeking a better location, but finally returned to Portsmouth and subsequently came to Harrisonville where he remained.

He enlisted to serve in the Civil War in 1863 in Company I, First Ohio Heavy Artillery and served in the Army of the Cumberland under General Thomas.  He was discharged at Camp Dennison, Ohio in 1865. 

Mr. Minford was married in 1853 to Mary Ann Maps, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Maps, a great granddaughter of General Schuyler.  Nine children were born to them:  Mary (Mrs. Daniel Carroll), Agnes (Mrs. Robert Dodge), Ellnorie (Mrs. George Milam), Sallie (Mrs. William Bennett), Carrie (Mrs. William Osmeyer) and Frank.   Mrs. Minford died in August of 1876. 

In 1878 Mr. Minford married Abigail, daughter of Hezekiah and Lidia Dodge Mead, natives of New York but residents of Scioto County.

When he first came to the United States, his capital was limited, but by industry and economy, he accumulated a good property, and won the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens. 

For many years, William performed a useful service to his community in and about Harrisonville and lived retired several years before his death on April 29, 1908 when in his 80th year.

The Portsmouth Daily Times, May 2, 1908
DROPS DEAD AT THE TABLE
While eating his dinner at the home of his son in Harrisonville Tuesday noon, William Minford, 82 years of age, was stricken with heart failure and fell to the floor a corpse.

Despite his advanced age, Mr. Minford seemed to be enjoying the best of health and had just finished telling a witty story when his head was seen to fall forward on his breast and before his son could reach his side, he fell to the floor dead.  Mr. Minford was the father of Mrs. Robert Dodge of 611 East Seventh Street and was a highly respected citizen.  he made his home with his son, Frank Minford, a blacksmith of Harrisonville.  The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. 

Frank Robert Minford
Written by Gladys Minford

The brick building in the above photo is the location of Frank Minford's blacksmith shop. 

The home of this Scioto County citizen is at Harrisonville, now Minford, the name being changed to Minford in honor of Frank Minford.  The name of the village was changed from Harrisonville to Minford because there were two Harrisonvilles in Ohio.

The post office here was required to make the change in the name.  The post office changed here from Harrisonville to Minford in 1915.  By 1920 the change was accepted by all in Scioto County.

For half a century or more the name had been associated with that very useful and honorable vocation of blacksmithing.  The business was conducted by father and son.  Frank Minford continued with modern improvements and had a shop which in early years was the common resort of hundreds of farmers for all kind of iron work and machine repairing.

Frank Minford was born at Harrisonville on May 9, 1866.  His father, the late William J. Minford, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, of Scotch ancestry on January 1, 1829.

With his youth spent in Harrisonville where he attended the public schools, Frank Minford learned his trade under the eye of his father.  For a number of years he was the owner of the business and made it a source of substantial prosperity.

On October 20, 1887, Mr. Minford married his first wife, Lizza Munn.  She was born in Jefferson Township, a daughter of Ira Munn.  Lizza died in 1890 leaving a son named William.  Frank's second marriage was celebrated August 4, 1895 when Miss Lizzie Gaston became his wife.  She was born in Madison Township.

Mr. and Mrs. Minford became the parents of five children:  Homer who married Lena Synder; Gertrude, who married Edison Kuhn; Gladys Minford; Ada, who married J. Paul Phillips, and William Minford; and Kathleen. 

Frank died on May 6, 1942. 

The Portsmouth Daily Times, May 7, 1942
Frank R. Minford, 75, widely known blacksmith of Minford, passed away at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at his home after an illness of complications.

He was born May 9, 1866 in his present home, a son of William J. and Mary Mapes Minford, both deceased.  Mr. Minford is the last of a family of eight children.

In 1887 he was married to Lizzie Munn of Long Run.  To this union were born two sons, Patrick and Billy.  The mother and two sons preceeded him in death.

In 1895, he was married to Elizabeth Gaston Lyons who died six years ago.  To this union were born seven children:  Sammy, Dorsey and Kathleen who died in childhood and three who survive:  Homer of Minford, Gladys at home, Gertrude of Lucasville and Ada of Detroit.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Shumway Chapel Church of Christ in Minford.  Arrangements will be charge of Erwin.