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George Riley Minerd was born in 1863 in Barbour County, WV, the son of Sarah Minerd and Thomas Mayle, who were not married. His mother later married Charles Wright.
George and Sally Minard had 10 known children: Grover James Minard, Cansetta Collins, Blanche Ann Collins, Samuel Miner, Willie "Babe" Miner, Marion Francis "Frank" Miner, Conter Miner, Camden Minard, May "Alta" Croston and Mildred Newman. George was a farmer and coal miner, and the Minards lived in the Philippi area circa 1900-1910. In 1920, when the federal census was taken, they resided in the south district of Philippi, along Olive Hill Road. Later, they lived at Ford Run. The census of 1930 shows George and Sarah Ann making their home near Philippi, with their sons Willie, Grover and Samuel living nearby as neighbors. Sally died at age 72 of dysentery, caused by "exhaustion," on Oct. 26, 1939, at home. The Philippi Republican published an obituary, which said that funeral services "were held at 1 o'clock ... at the Minard school with the Rev. Harris, in charge." She was laid to rest in the Welch Cemetery. At the time, they had seven surviving children.
Later, George married widow Debbie Mayle (1888-1967), the daughter of Reese and Martha (Collins) Mayle. She had been married twice before, to Jake Dalton and Beverly "Jack" Nash Stevens, and brought two children to the marriage, Elsie Fagons and Denzil L. "Dink" Stevens. George began suffering from heart disease in about 1944, and after one year of the illness, he passed away at age 76 on Sept. 18, 1945. He was buried at Chestnut Ridge. Debbie outlived George by more than two decades. "After a long illness," said the Barbour Democrat, she died at the age of 79 in Broaddus Hospital, on July 31, 1967. Following a funeral led by Rev. Franklin Peoples at the Chestnut Ridge Church, she was laid to eternal rest in the Norris Cemetery. ~ Son Grover James Minard ~ Grover James Minard (1888-1977) was born on April 17, 1888, in Barbour County. He was tall and of medium build, with blue eyes and light hair. He was twice married. His first wife was Virdie Newman (1894- ? ), whom he married on July 21, 1912. Three years later, he married his cousin Vernis Jane Mayle (1900-1988) on Oct. 10, 1915. She was the daughter of Elsworth and Sara E. (Kennedy) Male and the granddaughter of Margaret (Minerd) Male. Circa 1918, as with many of his cousins, Grover was employed by the Humphreys Coal Company in Philippi. That year, he registered for the military draft, with the draft board marking his race as "colored." They had at least six children, Dorsey Miner, Thomas Cleveland Minard, Pansy Jane Mayle, Lovada Newman, Sarah Elizabeth Mayle and Eugene C. Minard.
Disabled at some point in his life, Grover passed away in 1977. Vernis outlived him by 11 years, and died in 1988. Grover and Vernis are buried in the Welch Cemetery near Philippi. Daughter Pansy Minard (1919-1990) married Denzil Mayle (1917-1997) of Philippi -- their 11-month-old son Wilford Lee Mayle died on Dec. 6, 1942. Pansy later provided genealogical information for Dorothy J. Cox's 1979 master's thesis from Marshall University, entitled A Marginal Group in West Virginia: An Historical and Cultural Study. Pansy died in June 1990, at the age of 71. Son Thomas Cleveland Minard (1917-1963) married Geraldine Collins (1922-1985). They had several children including Thomas Minard Jr., Lennie Lee Minard Sr. (born 1953), James Allen Minard and at least one daughter. Thomas was a laborer, and died of a coronary occlusion at Hopemont, Preston County, WV on June 2, 1963, at the age of 46. Geraldine later married David "Laco" Mayle (1926-1982), son of Jefferson Davis and Lucy Jane (Croston) Mayle and had more children together. Geraldine died in 1985. Daughter Sarah Elizabeth Minard (1925-2000) married Virgil Scott Mayle Sr. (1920- ? ), son of Dow and Ettie Mayle, on May 20, 1944. Later that year, Sarah and Virgil's infant son, Virgil Scott Mayle Jr., died on Nov. 27, 1944. Sometime after 1951, they relocated to East Canton, Stark County, OH, and went on to have seven more children -- Kyle E. Mayle, Patricia Mayle, Vernice R. Mayle, Alisa F. Mayle and Carla K. Collins, Allen Mayle and Cornelius Mayle. They were members of the Rock Baptist Church of Canton. Sarah died in Aultman Hospital at the age of 75 on New Year's Eve 2000. Burial was in Evergreen Memorial Park. At her death, said the Canton Repository, she was survived by 17 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and "a large number of extended relatives and friends." Their son Kyle E. Mayle (1951-2000) worked for three decades for the Timken Company of Canton as a roller bearing assembler, and died at age 48 on June 13, 2000. Son Dorsey "Dorcie" Minard (1916-1932) died at the age of 16 on Sept. 14, 1932, in Philippi. He was buried in Welch Cemetery. The family name on the death certificate was spelled "Minard." Daughter Lovada Minard (1929-1987) lived in Canton. She died in February 1987. Son Eugene C. Minard married Virginia Mayle, the step-daughter of Eugene's uncle Marion Francis "Frank" Minard. They had one known daughter, Beverly J. Minard, who married Warren Lee Hess Jr. The Hess's son Warren Lee "Bounce" Hess III (1980-2009) was "employed by the Taylor County School System as a school bus operator ... [and] was a member of the United Kennel Club and enjoyed coon hunting," said the Grafton Mountain Statesman. Sadly, Bounce died at the age of 28 on Aug. 2, 2009.
~ Daughter Cansetta (Minard) Collins ~
They had at least three children -- Shirley Collins, Rosetta Mayle and Ersel Collins. Cansetta suffered from liver cancer for at least six months, and died from its effects at the age of 47 on March 14, 1937. In a brief obituary, the Philippi Republican said "Interment was to be made in Norris Cemetery." Tom outlived her by nine years. He died of "chronic nephritis" at the age of 56 on Nov. 23, 1946, and was buried at Norris as well. Son Ersel Collins died at the age of four from tuberculosis and was buried in the Norris Cemetery in Philippi. Daughter Rosetta Collins (1915- ? ) married Isaac Mayle (1904- ? ) in 1939 -- she was age 24, and he was 35, at the time. Son Shirley Collins (1917-1944) married Ruby Croston (1918- ? ) and had three children. They were farmers at Hanging Rock, Barbour County. While butchering in early January 1944, Shirley, age 26, suffered a heart attack and died instantly. A top headline article in the Philippi Republican stated that just prior to his death, he may have been involved with an arson fire "which destroyed a barn on the outskirts of Philippi" and that he was "seen leaving the scene of the fire, which was near his home, as the first of the volunteer firemen reached the scene..." Added the Republican, "The fire completely destroyed a barn owned by W. Alba Upton of this city, located about one mile south of the city limits on the Belington road. The flames killed three horses and two milch cows, besides an estimated 400 bushels of corn, a quantity of hay and various other items of farm equipment and machinery."
~ Daughter Blanche Ann (Minard) Collins ~ Daughter Blanche Ann Minard (1893-1980) married Luther "Lewis" Collins (1885- ? ). They resided in Philippi in the 1930s. The Collinses had at least seven children: Anna Bell Collins, Alfred Evert Collins, Eli Collins, Hartford Collins, Russell C. Collins, Everett Collins and Hayward Collins. Sadly, son Alfred died at the age of two months of chicken pox on Dec. 22, 1922, and daughter Anna Bell died at the age of one month on Sept. 11, 1931, caused by "marasmus." The babies were buried in the Welch Cemetery. When the federal census was taken in 1920, the Collinses lived near Philippi, with Lewis laboring as a coal miner. The census taker first listed them as "colored" but then crossed it out and marked them as "black." Blanche survived her husband but his details are not known. In her later years, Blanche made her home in Moatsville, near Philippi. Blanche died in Grafton at the age of 87 on March 3, 1980. Son Eli Collins (1915- ? ) married Louise V. Mayle. He lived in Fairmont, Marion County, WV in 1975. Son Hartford Collins (1917- ? ) is believed to have married Thelma Croston and resided on Route 5, Philippi, with two children (Hartsel Collins and Wilmoth Collins) who died in infancy. They made their home in Canton, Stark County, OH circa 1975. Son Howard Hayward Collins (1929-1975) married Edna Mary Croston on Nov. 27, 1953. They lived near Philippi, where Howard was a longtime coal miner. They had six children -- Jeffrey Collins, Gertrude Marie Mayle, Shelia Rose Collins, Genevieve Irene Collins and Lora Jane Collins, and one who died at a young age. Howard died at the age of 46 on July 3, 1975, in Broaddus Hospital in Philippi. Following a funeral led by Rev. Frank Peoples, he was laid to rest in Welch Cemetery. ~ Son Samuel Miner ~
As with several of his brothers, Samuel was a World War I veteran and a coal miner and farmer, residing in the Moatsville and Hacker Creek sections of Philippi. In 1918, he registered for the military draft, and listed his occupation as a miner for the Morrall Coal Company and his race as "colored." The 1930 census shows the family living near Philippi with their five eldest sons, with Samuel working as a farmer. Samuel and Mary ultimately had six sons, Virgil Miner, James Miner (1920- ? ); Bradford Miner; Stanley Miner; Herbert Miner; and Clifford Miner. Mary attended the Pentecostal Church. She died at home at the age of 74 on June 28, 1969, with her obituary published in the Grafton Daily Sentinel. Samuel lived a long life, surviving his wife by two decades. He passed away at the age of 94 on Christmas Day 1989 in Broaddus Hospital. He was laid to rest in the Welch Cemetery, following a funeral service led by Rev. Kermit Maley and Rev. Paul Davis. The Barbour Democrat reported that Samuel was survived by 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Son Bradford Miner (1920-1984) married Priscilla Mayle (1925- ? ), the daughter of Stephen Angelo and Fannie (Collins) Mayle. He died in 1984. Son Stanley Miner (1923-1984) was born on Feb. 19, 1923, in Barbour County. He "was a disabled coal miner, being employed last by C&W Coal Company," said the Barbour Democrat. "A veteran of World War II, and a member of VFW Post No. 3560, he was a Southern Baptist by faith." Son Herbert Miner (1925-2004) married Dessie Luvenia Mayle (1929-2005), the daughter of Granville and Mahalia (Crostno) Mayle. The wedding took place on Aug. 24, 1957. They had three children -- Kittie D. Miner, Penny Mayle and Robbie Dycel Miner, and made their home on a farm near Philippi. Herbert died on April 18, 2004. Dessie followed him in death a little more than a year later, on June 20, 2005. They are buried together at Welch Cemetery. Son Clifford Miner (1929- ? ) lived in Philippi circa 2005.
~ Son Willie "Babe" Miner ~
Circa 1920, the Miners resided near his parents' home in the south district of Philippi. They had five children -- Beatrice Mayle, Theodore Miner, Leroy Miner, Elsie Croston and Magdalene Mayle. The 1930 census shows Willie and Emaline living next to his parents near Philippi, with Willie laboring as a farmer. Willie also was a longtime coal miner, a field of employment from which he retired. At the age of 76, in 1973, Willie passed away at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Clarksburg, Harrison County, WV. Rev. Frank Peoples officiated at his funeral in the Chestnut Ridge Church, followed by burial in the Welch Cemetery. Willie's obituary was published in the Barbour Democrat, which reported that he was survived by "14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren." Adult children Magdalene, Theodore and Leroy all resided in Canton, Stark County, OH circa 1973. Daughter Beatrice Miner (1918-1947) married Elijah Mayle (1913-1949), the son of Charles (or "James") and Mary Ellen Mayle, on Oct. 20, 1934. They had at least three children -- Dottie Lou Mayle (born 1940), Barbara Jane Mayle (born 1943) and Fronnie Mayle (born 1945). Tragically, Beatrice was inflicted with painful peritonitis during childbirth in 1947, and died from its effects at the age of 29, on April 24, 1947. Burial was at Chestnut Ridge. Elijah, a coal miner, died just two years later, of "acute alcoholism," on Nov. 20, 1949, at the age of 35. James Mayle was the informant on Elijah's death certificate. What became of the orphaned children, and who raised them, is not known. Daughter Magdalene Miner (1925-1993?) married Bradford Mayle (1921- ? ), the son of Joseph and Missouri Mayle, on April 16, 1944. They resided in Canton, OH. Bradford died in Canton in October 1986. Magdalene is believed to have died in Canton on May 1, 1993.
Son Theodore Minard lived in California circa 1992. ~ Son Marion Francis "Frank" Miner ~
In the 1920s or 1930s, when the Democratic Executive Committee of West Virginia took an informal census of voters in Barbour County, Frank was registered as a Republican, and was residing at Switzer, WV at the time. The Miners had 10 children -- Hoy Miner, Maxine Miner, Helen Mayle Croston, Winfield "Buddy" Miner, Irene Croston, Frances Croston, and four who are not yet identified but died before 1986. Sadly, young Maxine passed away of the measles at age nine months in April 1935. Circa July 1943, the Philippi Republican listed Frank and his brother Grover among local residents who had not paid taxes.
Lona passed away in 1978, at the age of 72. Later, Frank married Jessie L. Mayle ( ? - ? ), who had seven children of her own -- Virginia Mae Minard, Marvin Jack Mayle, Sue Mayle, Dixie Mayle, Patsy Muncie, Darcus Collins and Frank Renzo Mayle. At the age of 85, Frank passed away in Broaddus Hospital, on June 23, 1986. The Barbour Democrat noted that he was survived by an astounding "36 grandchildren, 66 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren." Frank and Lona are buried together in the Welch Cemetery. Their marker is seen above-- note the spelling "MINER." Daughter Helen Miner (1919- ? ), at the age of 16, married 18-year-old Dewey Mayle (1917- ? ), the son of Bulger and Angelina Mayle, on Oct. 9, 1935. Sadly, they lost an unnamed son in childbirth on Feb. 4, 1937, with the infant laid to rest in the Chestnut Ridge Cemetery. They apparently moved to Canton, Stark County, OH. Dewey is thought to have died in March 1980, while Helen's final fate is not yet known. Son Hoy Miner (1920- ? ) married Levonia Croston (1925- ? ) on July 18, 1941. They had at least two children -- Edward Leroy Miner (born 1945) and Larry Junior Miner (born 1948), with both births taking place in Philippi. Stepdaughter Virginia Mayle married Eugene C. Minard, a step-cousin and the son of Grover James Minard. ~ Son Conter Miner ~ Son Conter Miner (1902-1926) was a farmer. He was married. He died of tuberculosis at age 24 on Oct. 3, 1926, and was buried in the Welch Cemetery. This grave is not marked. ~ Son Camden Minard ~ Son Camden Minard (1904- ? ) married Mildred Mayle (1905-1931?), daughter of Jennie Mahle, on Feb. 11, 1923. They resided in Philippi circa 1924 and had two children -- Merrill L. Minard and Bess Thrasher. The marriage ended sometime in the mid 1920s. Mildred then married widower Alexander "Alex" Rhoden (1883-1936), the son of Martin and Sarah Rhoden, and a native of Harrison County, on Aug. 13, 1927. She was age 22, and he 44, double hers', at the time of marriage. The Philippi Republican reported in 1936 that he had come to Barbour County "from somewhere in the state of Pennsylvania several years ago." Alex was considered to be "colored" according to several sources. The Rhodens went on to have five more children -- William Edward Rhoden, Leona Williamson, Ella Brown, Rose Cosgrave and Gene Rhoden. When the 1930 census was taken, Alex's name was spelled "Elia Rodan," and they lived in the Pleasant District of Barbour County. Under their roof that year were son William Edward Rhoden (1927- ? ), Mildred's children Bessie Minard and Merrill L. Minard, and 75-year-old Erwin Mayle. Sadly, the Rhodens' son William died at age four, on March 20, 1932,of pneumonia, with burial at Pritchard Cemetery. Mildred herself is believed to have died circa 1931-1932, but the details are not known. Rhoden, who was very hard of hearing was walking on the track. The men gave warming but he did not hear until it was on to him and before he could get off it struck him on the shoulder and knocked him off the track over the bank breaking a number of ribs, crushing his shoulder and injuring him about the head. The train men stopped and picked him up and backed into Philippi where he was taken to the Myers hospital. He died about 5 p.m. His wife died about four years ago. He is survived by several children, who are all married and most all of them live in other communities. Alex was laid to rest in the Welch Cemetery, beside his first wife, Mary (1873-1915). Daughter Bessie Minard (1923- ? ) married (?) Thrasher. Son Merrill L. Minard (1924-2007) was married twice. His first wife, Mildred Mayle, was a native of Cutler, OH. They resided in Canton, Stark County, OH during World War II. Their 10-month old daughter, Dianna Sue Minard, died of cerebral meningitis on May 31, 1943. She was laid to rest in Forest Hill Cemetery. On the infant's death certificate, the family name was spelled "Minnard." In about 1947, Merrill wed again, to Opal Croston (1928-2005), the daughter of Claudus and Cansora Croston of Grafton. They lived in Kensington, OH and had four children -- Audrey Ossler, Camella Plott, Floyd Minard and Merrell Minard. Merrill "worked in construction all his life," said the Canton (OH) Repository, while Opal "was a nurses aide for Miller's Nursing Home near Louisville [OH] for over 30 years." Opal died at the age of 77 on Nov. 9, 2005, with burial in Heritage Memorial Gardens, following a funeral led by Rev. Winfield Mayle. Merrill passed away 15 months after his wife, in a hospice, on Feb. 22, 2007, at the age of 83. He was laid to rest beside his wife. At the time of Merrill's passing, he and Opal had produced 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Daughter May "Alta" (Miner) Croston (1906-1987) was born on Oct. 15, 1906 near Philippi. When the federal census was taken in 1920, she was an unmarried 14-year-old living with her brother Willie in the South District of Philippi. She married Blaine Croston (1903-1967) on July 7, 1923, when she was 17 and he 20. Blaine was the son of Elisha and Hattie (Mayle) Croston of Flemington, Barbour County. They had 10 children, all daughters but one -- Lucille Kennedy, Agnes Mayle, Virginia Mayle, Harley Croston, Maxine Norris Mayle, Alma Croston, Evelyn McCartney, Dolly Croston, Shirley Collins and Lula Mayle. Blaine was a coal miner and attended the Pentecostal Church. Circa 1967, the Crostons lived in Moatsville near Philippi.
Alta outlived Blaine by two decades, and also three daughters and one son who died during her lifetime. In her final years, she resided in the Olive Hill community of Philippi. She died on Sept. 6, 1987, at the age of 79, at Broaddus Hospital. The Barbour Democrat reported that she had been "a homemaker, and attended the Apostic Church," with burial at Welch Cemetery. The Democrat also said she was survived by 38 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. Daughter Maxine Croston (1934-2005) was born in Philippi, and moved to East Canton, Stark County in about 1959. She married twice -- first to Irvin Norris ( ? -1959) and second to Carney Mayle ( ? -1994). She had one son, Daniel Norris. Maxine was a "member of the First Apostolic Church of Canton," reported the Canton Repository. Sadly, Maxine outlived both of her husbands -- Irvin dying in 1959, and Carney in 1994. She passed away at the age of 70 on March 19, 2005, in Mercy Medical Center, "following a nine month illness." Her remains were returned to Philippi for burial in Welch Cemetery. Son Harley Croston ( ? - ? ) lived in 1967 in Canton, Stark County, OH. Daughter Lucille Croston ( ? - ? ) married (?) Kennedy ( ? - ? ) and lived in Canton. Daughter Evelyn Croston ( ? - ? ) wed (?) McCartney and made her home in 1967 in Canton and in 1987 in Philippi. Daughter Alma Croston ( ? - ? ) was unmarried and residing in Canton in 1967-1987. Daughter Agnes Croston ( ? - ? ) married (?) Mayle and lived in Moatsville. Daughter Shirley Jean Croston ( ? - ? ) wed (?) Collins and made her home in Moatsville in 1967 and in Philippi in 1987. Daughter Lulla Mae Croston ( ? - ? ) married (?) Newman and resided in Moatsville circa 1967. Daughter Virginia Croston ( ? - ? ) wed (?) Mayles and lived in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH. Daughter Dolly Croston ( ? - ? ) made her home in Philippi.
Daughter Mildred Minard (1910-1980) married John Newman (1899-1981) in February 1924. The Newmans resided in Philippi Route 1, and had 14 children -- Rosabell Croston, Steven Newman, Wanda Lott, Josephine Summerfield, Barbara Ellen Newman, Leona Mayle, Eloise Dalton, Ernestine Newman, Emma Jean Mayle, and five who died prior to 1980, and whose identities are not yet known. Said the Barbour Democrat newspaper, "Mrs. Newman was a homemaker and a Methodist by faith." Mildred passed away at the age of 71, in Broaddus Hospital, on Feb. 10, 1980. At her death, she was survived by her husband, nine children, 43 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Following the funeral, led by Rev. Frank Peoples of the Peoples Chapel Church of Chestnut Ridge, she was laid to rest in the Welch Cemetery. One unknown child died before 1910. Copyright © 2004-2009 Mark A. Miner |