MASTERS, IRVINE U. (1823-13 Nov. 1865), OHIO CITY politician and shipbuilder and Cleveland mayor, was born in New York and moved to Ohio in 1851 with his first wife, Naomi. He became a trustee of Ohio City and helped WM. B. CASTLE negotiate the merger between Cleveland and Ohio City. Masters served on CLEVELAND CITY COUNCIL (1854-63), 3 times as council president (1859-61, 1862-63), officially welcoming Abraham Lincoln to Cleveland when he visited in Feb. 1861. In 1863, Masters, a Republican, defeated incumbent mayor EDWARD S. FLINT, supporting measures to improve business and showing support for the war effort, holding public meetings and ceremonies for soldiers. Masters had tuberculosis and resigned because of poor health in May 1864. Masters was also a businessman, as a partner with E. M. PECK in Peck & Masters shipbuilding company: the firm's ships were among the larger on the Great Lakes. After resigning his mayoral office, Masters tried to maintain his business interests, but his declining health overwhelmed him, and he sold his interest in the business in 1865. Masters's first wife, Naomi, died in 1863, leaving him with 3 children: Willis, Harriet, and Main. He then married M. Augusta Prull on 27 Oct. 1863. After resigning from office, Masters went to New England and Nova Scotia in the summer of 1864 in hope of regaining his health; however, it did not improve. In 1865, Masters relocated to Pine Island, Minn. with his family, however his health continued to decline, and he died several months later.
Article Categories