Bio-Minard, CharlesHGuesman

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Charles Henry Minard
(1879-1938)

Charles Henry Minard was born on Nov. 26, 1879 near Uniontown, Fayette County, PA, the son of William H. and Ollie (Stull) Minerd. He was a "lifelong resident" of North Union Township and a "highly respected citizen" who spelled his last name with the "a."

The federal census of 1880 shows that at age eight months, Charles and his older brother George H. Minard resided in the home of their uncle, Robert Hixenbaugh, and next-door to their parents near Uniontown.

When Charles was five, in 1884, his father was tragically killed in an explosion at the Youngstown (PA) works of the Youngstown Coke Co. In a rare legal move for the times, Charles' widowed mother successfully sued the company and received more than $500 in damages to support herself and her children.

Charles married Thursea M. Guesman (1887-1922), the daughter of Jennie Guesman. They had one daughter, Nellie Cavanaugh.

Following his father's dangerous field of work, Charles was a longtime coal miner for the H.C. Frick Coke Co. He was a member of Lemont Local 7278 of the United Mine Workers of America. The Lemont Mine is seen at left in a rare postcard view.

Charles registered for the World War I military draft in 1918, and stated his occupation as track layer for the Frick coke company.

Circa 1921, the Minards resided at R.D. 2, Coolspring, a coal mine patch town near Uniontown. Thursea was a member of the First Methodist Protestant Church of Uniontown.

Sadly, on Oct. 9, 1922, at the age of 35, Thursea died "due to a complication of diseases," said the Uniontown Morning Herald. She left "a host of friends to mourn their loss." She was buried in Park Place Cemetery in Uniontown.

When the federal census was taken in 1930, Charles resided with his married daughter and son in law, Nellie V. and Raymond W. Cavanaugh in Uniontown. Age 50 at the time, Charles' occupation was listed as track layer in a coal mine. Raymond's employment was given as a truck driver for a gasoline company.

Later in life, Charles resided at the home of daughter Nellie on Johnson Avenue in North Union. He died there on Oct. 2, 1938 "after an illness of complications," reported the Connellsville Daily Courier. He also was buried at Park Place Cemetery.

~ Daughter Nellie (Minard) Cavanaugh ~

Daughter Nellie Minard (1906-1995) married Raymond W. Cavanaugh (1904- ? ). The wedding took place in Cumberland, Allegany County, MD on Aug. 30, 1924, when Nellie was age 18 and Raymond 20.

They had one son, Charles W. Cavanaugh.

The Cavanaughs lived at 38 Johnson Avenue in Uniontown. Raymond was employed by the Fayette Gas and Oil Company.

Nellie was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church of Uniontown, the Women's Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Elks Auxiliary. In 1949, the Cavanaughs celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, and were pictured in a related article in the Uniontown Morning Herald. A surprise party was held in their honor, and "a delightful lunch was served buffet style on the lawn of the Cavanaugh home," said the Herald. Among the attendees were Mrs. A.e. Hawkins, Mrs. James Cupp, Mrs. J.V. Guess, Mrs. Olive Loomis, Elizabeth Ainsley, Mr. and Mrs. George Doyle of Orlando, FL, Mr. and Mrs. James Barkley, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Biggs, Mr. and Mrs. Gus Seller, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Luckey, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Bielstein, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ainsley, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ainsley and son Bob, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Evans, Mr. and Mrs. James Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. R.B. Crossland and daughter Augusta Rae, Mr. and Mrs. William Capossere and son Ronnie, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Decker, Stanley Skoris, Leroy McDowell, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cavanaugh and son Billy.