Bio-Minard, FrancisD

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Francis D. "Frank" Minard
(1860-1937)

Francis D. "Frank" Minard was born in 1860 in or near Jelloway, Knox County, OH, the son of Clenon C. and Mary Ann (Kunkle) Minard. He was a farmer who helped organize large annual Minard Reunions in Ohio.

On Oct. 5, 1884, when they were both 24, Frank married Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" Beam (1860-1917). The ceremony was performed by Samuel Schwank, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Loudonville, Ashland County.

Their portrait, seen at left, which may have been taken around the time of their wedding, was made at the studio of Theo H. Campbell in Mansfield, Richland County, OH.

The Minards had three children -- Elva W. "Will" Minard, Alva Wilbert "Bert" Minard and Frederick R. Minard. Will and Bert were twins. The twins are seen here as infants in a portrait taken at T.H. Campbell's studio in nearby Mansfield, Richland County, OH.

The family resided in Pike Township, Knox County, OH. Later, they moved to a farm south of Nunda in Brown Township, Knox County, where they lived for many years.

When Frank's father died in 1912, Frank received 50 acres of the home farm and was to make a $100 payment from the farm to the children of his deceased sister, Samantha "Jennie" Armstrong.

At some point, most likely in the 1890s, Frank was elected president of the annual Minard Reunion. A newspaper clipping from a Mt. Vernon newspaper shows that the reunion lasted at least for eight years, and likely more. As this reunion clearly pre-dates the first annual Minerd reunion in Western Pennsylvania, it is the first organized reunion known in the family, and more research is being done to learn more about its origins. The newspaper article from the eighth reunion, seen at right, states:

     Members of the Minard family held their eighth annual reunion Saturday afternoon at South park. Approximately 75 relatives were present, from Columbus, Mansfield, Mount Vernon, Johnsville, Cardington, Butler, Ashland, Danville and Howard
     Following the picnic lunch which was served at noon, short speeches were made by Rev. E.H. Woodworth and Rev. H.F. Truxall.
     The officers for next year include F.E. Minard, of Butler, president; Samuel Clark, Sr., of Mount Vernon, vice president; Miss Hazel Minard, of Butler, secretary-treasurer; and Mrs. and Mrs. Samuel Clark Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Clark Jr. and Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Minard, of Mount Vernon, entertainment committee. The reunion next year will be held at Riverside Park, Mount Vernon.

A rare old postcard view of Riverside Park is seen here, postmarked 1907. It's not known if the 9th Minard Reunion took place there, but will be researched further.

Sadly, wife Mary died in 1917, at the age of 57. She is buried at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church about 1.5 miles southwest of the town of Jelloway.

A grand-niece fondly recalled that Frank:

...looked like Abraham Lincoln, the same dark hair and rugged features. I had great respect for him when I was a little girl. In front of his house at the bottom of a small hill ran a quiet, sparkling stream. It started at the spring under the spring house that sat there and was cool even on the hottest day. To a town girl this seemed most remarkable. However, the thing that thrilled me the most was the fact that a snake would lay on a big stone beside the little stream and sun itself on those hot days. It never bothered anyone and I just knew it was there to protect he crocks of butter, cream and other goodies that were there keeping cool in the water in the spring house. When someone said something about killing the snake, it was explained that the snake was to protect the food by killing the rodents that might have eaten the good things left there.

Minard Reunion in 1935, with Frank (center), Hugh Armstrong (left) and Elzie Minard

Sadly, in January 1937, Frank died suddenly at home, at age 76. He was buried with his wife at Zion Lutheran Church.

Son Fred Minard ( ? - ? ) lived in Akron, Summit County, OH. Nothing further of his life is known.

Son Alva ("Bert") Minard (1885-1961) resided in Butler, Richland County, OH. On Nov. 4, 1906, he married Mary Josephine "Mae" Snively (1885-1962), the daughter of John and Mary (Reichert) Shively. They had four children -- Hazel Marie Mumper, Mary Turney, Lucille Sidle and John Minard. Bert was a longtime farmer and, like brother Will, was a member of the Amity (OH) Grange. Mary died at home at age 76 in 1961. Later, Bert married Edith (Bumpus) Evans ( ? - ? ). He and Mae are buried at Zion Lutheran Church.

Seen at right, Bert's daughter Hazel Minard (1908-1994) with her husband Irvin Mumper ( ? -1990), who were married on April 12, 1932. Together, they owned the Frigid Food Storage and the Red and White Supermarket in Loudonville, Ashland County, OH. Hazel was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Hanover Range, Homemakers Club and Professional Women's Club. They retired in 1963, and celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with an open house on April 12, 1982. They had five children -- Jean Kauffman, Joanne Utterback, Mary Lou Wachtel, Larry Mumper and Elaine Vostine -- with 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren circa 1982.
Bert's daughter Lucille Minard ( ? - ? ) married (?) Sidle. Lucille died sometime prior to 1962.
Bert's daughter Mary Minard ( ? - ? ) married Dwight Turney ( ? - ? ). They resided circa 1962 in Danville, Knox County.
Bert's son John Minard (1914-2000) married Dorotha Wright (1916-1994). They resided in Mt. Vernon, and were married for 57 years. John he was employed with Cooper Energy Services in Mt. Vernon for 37 years. Dorotha was a member of Amity United Methodist Church, the Amity Grange and the Amity Garden Club. They had one son, Ralph Minard. Dorotha died at home on Jan. 31, 1994. John also passed away at home, on Sept. 19, 2000, and was buried in Amity Cemetery.

Son Elva ("Will") Minard (1885-1964) lived in Danville, Knox County. He married Goldie Miller and Priscilla (Twix) Wolford (1886-1959). Will and Goldie had two children -- Raymond "Earl" Minard and Walter "Russell" Minard. He lived near Mt. Vernon, Knox County, and was a member of the Amity (OH) Grange. He is buried with his second wife, Priscilla, at Zion Lutheran Church.

The twins' graves at Zion Lutheran Church near Jelloway

Will's son Earl Raymond Minard (1908-1985) "lived in the Mansfield area for a number of years before moving to Seattle," said an Ohio newspaper. He was "a former employee of Nisner Brothers and The Tappan Co." Earl was married several times, including to Edna Mae (?) and Marilyn (?). He and Edna Mae had two children -- Richard Minard, Donis Minard. He and another of his wives had a daughter, Doris Sturts.
Will's son Russell Minard (1910-2001) married Mary Elizabeth Hasenzahl (1913-2001), the daughter of William and Olive Hasenzahl. They resided in Lexington, Richland County, and had three children -- Ronald E. Minard, Larry R. Minard and Linda Jenkins. Russell "retired in 1972 following 32 years of service to the Tappan Company as a welder," said a local newspaper. Mary died in Lexington at age 87 on Feb. 17, 2001, and Russell passed away just a few months later in Lexington, at age 90, on May 11, 2001.

We are grateful to cousin and longtime genealogist, the late Mary Jane (Armstrong) Henney (granddaughter of Samantha "Jennie" [Minard] Armstrong), for much of the information in this biography.