Ira Gardner Todd8, (Iru S.7, Justus6, Asa5, Gershom4, Gershom3, Michael2, Christopher1) born Oct. 2, 1837, in Northampton, Mass., died Aug. 22, 1894, in Bridgeport, Conn. He, his wife and daughter are buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Florence, Mass., he married Dec. 4, 1866, Esther Luella, daughter of Jeremiah and Laura P. (Ellis) Boyden, who was born July 22, 1849, died Sept. 15, 1913, in Oak Bluffs, Mass.
He was a machinist by trade and worked at it for several years in Florence, Mass. In 1881, he went to Bridgeport, Conn., where he secured a position and was followed the next year by his family. He worked there at his trade for some years, until a few years before his death when he entered the employ of a lady who lived in New York City, who was interested in perfecting a sewing machine equiped with a rotary shuttle. He devoted the last years of his life to this work, it seeming to be a congenial task, as he had had some experience in the principles of sewing machine construction, as he worked for the company in Florence, Mass., that manufactured what was called the “Florence” sewing machine.
He was a veteran of the civil war, having enlisted in Company G., 37th regiment M. V. M. and served through the war, part of the time as a musician.
Children:
2344. Frank Merrill, b. Jan. 22, 1874, m. May 18, 1898, Emily, daughter of Joseph Henry and Jane Hannah (Smith) Bladon, who was b. Sept. 12, 1878, in Scotland. He went to Bridgeport, Conn., with his parents in 1881 and there obtained his education in the public schools and a course in the business college, after which he secured a position in the jewelry store of Fairchild where he stayed some time. Leaving this position he took a course in Horology and Engraving, and also studied to be an Optician. For some time he worked in the jewelry store of his brother-in-law, John Reid, with whom, a little later, he formed a partnership under the firm name of Reid & Todd.
2345. Rena M., b. June 27, 1877, d. April 6, 1888.