|
|
|
John
W. Miner |
John W. Miner was born in 1820 near New Rumley, Harrison County, OH, thought to have been the son of George and Susannah (Smith) Minard. Precious little is known of his life.
John is believed to have married Catherine Gillespie (1818-1895) on July 28, 1841, by the hand of justice of the peace Emanuel H. Custer. This marriage is recorded in the book, Historical Collections of Harrison County, in the State of Ohio, by Charles A. Hanna (New York, 1900).
The man who performed the Miners' wedding ceremony was none other than the father of Gen. George Armstrong Custer, who also lived in New Rumley at the time. In fact, the Custers and Miners were longtime friends, and the general's brother, Capt. Thomas Ward Custer, produced a child out of wedlock with one of John's first cousins, Rebecca Minerd.
|
|
John and Catharine's marriage recorded in the 1900 book, Historical Collections of Harrison County |
John and Catherine resided at
Scio, Harrison County, and had at least four children -- Eliza Ann Miner, Sarah
A. Miner, Wilson Miner and Mary C. Miner.
When the federal census was taken in 1850, the Miners were next-door neighbors to John's brother and sister in law, Jacob and Mary Ann (Kimmel) Miner. John's occupation was listed as "farmer."
In December 1852, the Miners purchased a 37-acre farm in the county from David and Emma Kimmel. They paid $500 for the acreage. Two years later, in September 1854, they sold the tract to their longtime neighbor, Frederick Kimmel, realizing a $300 gain.
Evidence suggests that John died sometime between 1854 and 1858, as his wife married again in 1858.
|
|
Unpaved main street in New Rumley |
Catherine is believed to have married widower Joseph Kimmel (1831-1901), the son of New Rumley justice of the peace Frederick Kimmel, who was considerably younger than she was. Joseph and his first wife, Iowa native Caroline Dively (1827-1895) were married in Van Buren County, IA, but she died there in the late 1850s.
Joseph and Catherine's wedding took place in 1858, when Catherine was age 40, and Joseph 27. (Catherine's brother Jacob Miner married Joseph's sister Mary Ann Kimmel.)
Joseph brought three children to the marriage -- Mary C. Kimmel, William Kimmel and Hannah M. Kimmel. Joseph and Catherine then are thought to have two children of their own, if not more -- Martha A. Kimmel and Jane (or "James") Kimmel.
When the 1860 census was enumerated, Joseph and Catherine Kimmel and the Miner children Sarah (age 14), Wilson (10) and Mary C. (8) were residing in their home near Scio.
The census of 1880 shows the family in North Township, with children William, James and Martha Kimmel, and five year-old-grandson Leon Medley, in the household.
Catherine is said to have passed away on Sept. 29, 1885, and to be buried at the Lutheran Church Cemetery in New Rumley.
The 1900 census lists widower Joseph, age 68, as head of his household. Unmarried son William Kimmel (age 46) and married daughter Hannah Medley (44), and granddaughter Olive S. Medley, also were in the residence. Daughter Hannah stated that she had been married for 25 years and was the mother of four children.
Joseph is thought to have died on Dec. 2, 1901.
Copyright © 2007-2008 Mark A. Miner