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Delbert B. Minard |
Delbert
B. Minard was born in 1878 in or near Philippi, Barbour County, WV, the son
of Henry C. and Sarah Catherine
(Croston) Minerd.
Delbert never married. He was stout, with black hair and blue eyes.
In 1909, when he was age 31, Delbert was
the informant for the marriage license issued for 79-year-old George W. Male and
75-year-old Nancy Croston. The wedding took place on Chestnut Ridge on April 12,
1909, by the hand of W.H. Sturm. Delbert's connection to the elderly newlyweds
is not yet known -- could they have been maternal uncles or aunts?
Delbert is seen at right, standing with a boy who has not yet been identified. The suit pants feature a crisp crease, and are cuffed.
A longtime farmer in the Meriden and Chestnut Ridge section of Philippi, Delbert faced a lifetime of the hardship of prejudice due to his mixed race heritage. When at age 40 he signed his World War I registration card, in 1918, he was marked as a "Negro" and the registration officer wrote: "Claims to be white but generally called colored."
Delbert passed away at his home on April 17, 1969, at the age
of 91, and was laid to eternal rest in the Welch
Cemetery near Philippi. Funeral services were led by Rev. Isaac Kennedy, and
his obituary was published in the Barbour Democrat newspaper.
Delbert's grave marker is seen here, marked with flowers, as photographed by the founder of this website in 2004.
Copyright © 2004-2008, 2010 Mark A. Miner