Humason, James J. and Eliza Woodford

Published Biography

From History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches (Cleveland, Ohio: H. Z. Williams & Bros., 1882), Volume 2, p. 455:

James Julius Humason was born in the city of Hartford, Connecticut, September 27, 1801. His parents, James and Honor Humason, removed from Connecticut to Ohio and settled in Brookfield township. Their family consisted of Leonard, Henrietta, Maria, James J., Mary, and Laura Sterne. Soon after his settlement in Brookfield Jacob Humason died, and the family removed to Vienna, where Mrs. Humason died August 3, 1843, aged seventy-three years.

James Julius Humason taught district school and followed other employments in the summer. He was married April 12, 1829, to Eliza Woodford, a daughter of Darius and Bathiah [Bethia] Woodford. This introduces us to one of the largest and most respected families in the township. Four of the sons of Isaac Woodford settled in Trumbull county. Isaac, Jr., was for many years deacon in the Vienna Presbyterian Church; he had a family of fourteen children. Sylvester Woodford had thirteen children; he removed from Vienna to Sandusky county in 1832 and died the following year. Sidney settled in Farmington township and afterwards removed to Mantua; he was one of the founders of West Farmington seminary. Darius was born at the old family seat in Farmington, Connecticut, in the year 1780. He was married in Connecticut to Bathiah Bass, and in 1805 removed to Vienna. Six of the family of thirteen children came to maturity, viz: Eliza (Humason), Celarcia (Hayes), Sophronia (McClung) [McClurg], Henry, Mary, and Darius. Mr. Woodford died March 28, 1867; Mrs. Woodford died December 11, 1877, aged ninety-three years.

Eliza, the oldest daughter, was born January 10, 1810. She attended district school and received instruction at Warren. The year 1828 she spent at Hartford and attended part of the time the seminary at that place where Catherine Beecher was principal and Harriet Beecher Stowe assistant. Mrs. Humason expresses preference for the former but retains a warm admiration of both these illustrious women. After leaving the seminary she learned the milliner and dressmaking trade in Hartford. The following year she was married and settled with her husband on the farm which she still owns, and which was given to her by her father. Mr. Humason taught school and gave some attention to the farm during his lifetime. Since his death, which occurred April 13, 1853, the entire management has devolved upon his widow. She is a woman of extraordinary energy and strength; is intelligent and possesses a correct and radical judgment. She is a persistent temperance advocate. On the temperance question her family have a record. Her uncle, Deacon Sidney Humason, organized the first temperance society in the county, and one of the first in the State, in the year 1827. He soon prevailed upon his brothers and neighbors to abandon the free use of whiskey and gradually worked a revolution in public opinion on that topic. Mrs. Humason joined her uncle’s society and her chief source of pride in the family is founded on the fact that none of them were drunkards. She hopes to have the privilege of casting a vote in favor of total abolition of the traffic.

James J. and Eliza Humason have had a family of four children—Celarcia is married to Miles Munson and lives in Fowler township; J. Eliza died in childhood; Martha Jerusha married Henry Fowler and lives in Vienna; James Henry married Juliette A. Betts and lives in Vienna.

Death notice of Eliza Humason from The Evening Republican (Meadville, PA), March 10, 1890, p. 1.

This image depicts the Humason residence sited on Lot 9, south of Woodford's Corners on the east side of Sodom-Hutchins (now Hutchings) Road. Immediately north of the Humason residence were the coal fields of the Vienna Coal Company.

From Combination Atlas Map of Trumbull County, Ohio: Compiled, Drawn and Published from Personal Examinations and Surveys (Chicago: L. H. Everts, [1874]).