Bio-Minard, RoyalD

Royal Dee Minard
(1870-1936)

Royal Dee Minard was born on June 6, 1870 in Cedar County, IA, the son of Nathan W. and Sarah Jane (Woodruff) Minard. He and his parents were pioneer settlers of Missouri and Kansas.

As a seven-year-old boy, Royal and his parents and siblings left Iowa and moved to Richland, in Monmouth Township, south of Topeka, Shawnee County, KS. There, he grew into adulthood.

Royal married Mary Jane "Mamie" Blansett on June 8, 1891, in Topeka. He was age 21, and she 16, at the time of marriage. Probate judge G.W. Elliott in Shawnee County performed the nuptials.

Mary Jane was born in Missouri on Oct. 14, 1875, and as a two-year-old apparently was motherless, and was taken into the home of a family named Beeler. In fact her name on the marriage license was "Beeler." Her age as stated on the license was 19, which may have been fudged.

A copy of the Minards' marriage license, found on microfilm in the probate court office at the Shawnee County Courthouse, is seen here.

Their 10 children, born between the years 1892 and 1918, were Royal "Roy" Minard, Vera Minard, Hazel LaGretta Smith, Ethel Holcomb, Wilbur Minard, Doris Plymale, Niona Minard, Elizabeth Helen Santa Maria and Mary Minard.

In 1900, the Minards resided on Kansas Avenue in Topeka, as next door neighbors to his older sister and brother in law, Emma Frances "Frankie" and Leroy Dumars. Roy's occupation that year, following his father's vocation, was carpentry.

The Minards remained in Topeka for about two decades. The 1912 Topeka City Directory show that Royal was living at 2108 Van Buren, while his father was residing just down the street, at 2101 Poplar. Royal's brother Edward also is listed in the directory, at 396 Poplar. The entry for Royal shows that he was working as a contractor, while son Roy was a pressfeeder at Crane & Co.

By 1919, the Minards had relocated to Washington, settling in Sunnyside, Yakima County. Royal's occupation was carpenter.

Royal and Mary Jane pushed further south and by 1930, when the federal census was taken, were living in Calabasas Twp., Los Angeles County, CA, where Royal was employed a caretaker of a private estate.

Some of the Minard children: back, l-r: Royal Jr., Vera, Hazel. Front, l-r: Willard, Helen, Mary Jean

Mary Jane was said to have been strong-willed and opinionated. She often clashed with her equally strong father in law over what others considered trivial matters. Mary Jane also is remembered as a loving and concerned mother, perhaps making up for the fact that she had no mother of her own. Genealogy, and looking after her family, were important to her, especially in her later years.

On the other hand, Royal was said to be more good-natured and easy-going. He went through repreated religious cycles where he would be very strict and not allow tobacco or alcohol in the family, but his daughters knew it wouldn't last, and after awhile he would start buying tobacco again.

Royal passed away at the age of 66 on April 19, 1936 in Girard, CA. He was laid to rest in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, CA.

After his death, Mary Jane with a daughter resided in California. She survived her husband by a quarter of a century. She died in Los Angeles on Jan. 30, 1961.

Royal is honored on the Migrations Project website, which details his pattern of pioneer movements over the years. His name also appears on an intricate old family tree drawn by "C. Furnas" of Topeka, KS -- apparently a family friend who was an artist.

Son Royal "Roy" Minard (1892- ? ) was born in July 1892 in Topeka. Nothing more is known.

Daughter Hazel Lagretta Minard (1897-1975) was born on May 22, 1897. She stood only about five feet tall and is said to have weighed no more than 110 lbs. even when nine months pregnant.

Hazel married Floyd Grant Smith ( ? - ? ). She was sweet tempered and fun-loving, with penetrating blue eyes.

The Smiths had at least three children -- Dale Gordon Smith, Gerald Frank Smith and Elaine Marie Smith.

Son, Dale Gordon Smith, seen at right, served in the US Armed Forces during the Korean War. He passed away on Nov. 10, 2007, in Murray, Salt Lake County, UT.

Son Gerald Frank Smith (1923-1995) was born on Oct. 4, 1923. He was married and had at least one son, Michael Dale Smith. Gerald died on Oct. 22, 1995, just after reaching his 72nd birthday.

Hazel and Floyd with grandbabies Victoria Smith and Michael Dale Smith

Daughter Vera Minard (1894- ? ) was born in August 1894 in Topeka. On Aug. 5, 1912, at the United Presbyterian Church in Topeka, she wed Fred E. Moore (1879- ? ). Dr. J.A. Renurch performed the ceremony. Vera was just 18 years old, and Fred 33, at the time of marriage. Their marriage license is on file today on microfilm in the Shawnee County courthouse.

Family lore says that Vera spoke French, "almost to the exclusion of English, and represented that the family had been French Huegenots and came to America after an extended stay in Germany, to which they had fled to escape persecution... trying to downplay any true German heritage."

Daughter Elizabeth Helen Juanita Minard (1898-2006) married (?) Santa Maria. She passed away in November 2006.

Minerd.com extends its great appreciation to Royal's great-granddaughter Victoria Sherrill (Smith) Clingman Gundersen for her assistance and sharing of information.