George Riley Minard
(1868-1945)
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
was married
twice. His first wife was Sarah Ann "Sally" Croston (1867-1939), whom
he married on Oct. 30, 1887. Sally was the daughter of Thomas H. and Nancy (Mayle)
Croston. George was age 19 at the time of marriage, and Sally was 15. The
wedding took place at the home of Edgar Trimble in Barbour County, presided over
by Rev. Israel Moats of the United Brethren Church in Christ.
George was a farmer and coal miner, and they 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 as near 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.
George and Sally Minard had 11 known children and 28 grandchildren:
Grover
James Minard (1889-1977) 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 (1915- ? ),
Thomas Cleveland Minard (1917-1963 ), Pansy Jane Mayle (1919-1990), Lovada Newman, Sarah
Elizabeth Mayle and Eugene Minard. Grover served in World War I, and
was a coal miner and worked for Republic Steel in Canton, OH, as well as the West Virginia
Industrial School for Boys at Pruntytown, near Grafton, Taylor County, WV. Seen
here is a rare old photographic postcard
showing the school's administration building, also known as the "Reform
School for Boys." The 1930 census shows Grover and Vernis living near
his parents with their six children, and working as a general farmer. Circa July 1943, the Philippi Republican
listed Grover and his brother Frank among local residents who had not paid
taxes. Interestingly, in the county tax list, and as reported in the
newspaper, Grover's name was spelled "Minard," and Frank's was
spelled "Miner," showing how the spelling had evolved, even among
brothers. 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 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. Daugher Sarah Elizabeth
Minard (1925- ? ) 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. Grover's son Thomas Cleveland
Minard, a laborer, died at Hopemont, Preston County, WV on June 2, 1963
Cansetta Minard
(1889-1937), also known
as "Conzella," "Canszady" and "Knetta," married
Thomas Collins (1892-1946) on Sept. 5, 1914. She was age 25 at the time
of marriage, and her husband, three years younger, was 22. Thomas was the son of Noah
and Rose (Newman) Collins. They resided in Philippi, where Thomas was a
farmer. They had at least three children -- Shirley Collins, Rosetta Mayle and Ersel Collins. Son
Ersel died at the age of four from tuberculosis and was buried in the Norris
Cemetery. 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 Shirley (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." The Collins' daughter Rosetta (1915- ? ) married Isaac
Mayle (1904- ? ) in 1939 -- she was age 24, and he was 35, at the time.
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Top headline story about Shirley Collins' mysterious death in 1944 |
Blanche Ann Minard (1893- ? ) married Luther "Lewis" Collins ( ? - ? ). They resided in Philippi in the 1930s. The Collinses had at least seven children: Anna Bell Collins, Alfred Evert Collins, Ely 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. Blanche died in Grafton on March 3, 1980. Son Hartford 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. Son Ely married Louise V. Mayle.
Samuel Miner
(1895-1990) was of medium height and slender build, with blue eyes and brown
hair. He was married twice, first to Anna M. Norris on April 1, 1916. Tragically, she died the
following year, in 1917, but the details are not known. He shortly afterward
married Mary Virgie Newman
(1885-1969), the daughter of Richard and Maranda (Croston) Newman. 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 (1920- ? ), James Miner (1920- ? ); Bradford Miner (1921-1984); Stanley
Miner (1923- ? ); Herbert Miner (1925-2004); and Clifford Miner (1929- ? ).
Mary attended the Pentecostal Church. Mary 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 Stanley Miner (1923-1984) "was a disabled coal miner, being employed last by C&W
Coal Company," said the Democrat. "A veteran of
World War II, and a member of VFW Post No. 3560, he was a Southern Baptist
by faith." Samuel's son Herbert married Dessie (?). Samuel's son
Bradford Miner (1920- ? ) married Priscilla Mayle (1925- ? ), the daughter
of Stephen Angelo and Fannie (Collins) Mayle.
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Herbert Miner (1925-2004) and his wife Dessie (1929-2005) |
Willie
"Babe" Miner
(1897-1973) had blue eyes and light brown hair. During World War I, he
registered for the military draft, and stated that he was employed by his
father, George Miner, as a miner. The draft board gave his race as
"Negro." Willie married
Mary "Eveline" or "Emeline" Croston (1901- ? ) on Sept. 23, 1919. Prior to marriage, he served in
World War I. Circa 1920, they resided near his parents 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, 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." Daughter Beatrice Miner (1918-1947) married Elijah Mayle (1913-1949), the son of
Charles (or "James")
and Mary Ellen Mayle, on Oct. 20, 1934. 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. Daughter Magdalene Miner (1925- ? )
married Bradford Mayle (1921- ? ), the son of Joseph and Missouri Mayle, on
April 16, 1944. Daughter Elsie Miner (1923- ? ) married Jethro Croston
(1924- ? ), the son of Roe and Laura Croston, on May 31, 1944. Adult children Magdalene, Theodore
and Leroy all resided in Canton, Stark County, OH circa 1973.
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| Frank Minard's name (red dot) on a list of Barbour County voters |
Marion
Francis "Frank" Miner (1900-1986), also spelled
"Minard,"
was married twice -- his first wife was Lona Croston (1905-1975), whom he
married on Oct. 21, 1918. Frank and Lona resided in R.D. #5 in the south district of Philippi in
1920, where he labored in coal mines, and from which he retired. They
belonged to the Ford Run Pentecostal Church. 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 Frank. 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. 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 at right -- note the spelling
"MINER." Daughter Helen, at the age of 16, married 18-year-old
Dewey Mayle, 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. Son Hoy Miner (1920- ? ) married Levonia
Croston (1925- ? ) on July 18, 1941. Stepdaughter Virginia Mayle married Eugene C. Minard, the son of
Grover James Minard of the family of Sarah
[Minerd] Wright).
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.
Camden Minard (1904- ? ) married Mildred Mayle (1905- ? ), daughter of Jennie Mahle, on Feb. 11, 1923. They resided in Philippi circa 1924 and had two children -- Merrill L. Minard (1924-2007) and Bess Thrasher. The marriage ended sometime in the mid 1920s. Mildred then married Alex Rhoden (1883- ? ) on Aug. 13, 1927, a native of Harrison County. She was age 22, and he 44, at the time of marriage. The Rhodens had five 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, son William died of pneumonia at the age of four on March 20, 1932. The boy was laid to rest in the Pritchard Cemetery.
Mary "Alta" (Minard) Croston (1906- ? ) married Blane Croston (1903- ? ) on July 7, 1923. 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.
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 © 2004-2008 Mark A. Miner