Stephen Minard
(1894-1967)
Stephen
Minard was born on Feb. 17, 1892 (or 1895) near Philippi, Barbour County,
WV, the son of John and Martha (Male) Minerd.
Stephen Minard (1894-1967) was tall and slender, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. When he registered for the military draft in 1918, he was working as a coal miner for Lee J. Sandridge in Meriden near Philippi. On his registration card, he marked himself as "colored." He went on to in the U.S. Army during World War I, as a private in the West Virginia 4th Company, 160th Depot Brigade.
After the war ended, he returned home and married Carrie Kennedy (1899- ? ), on Nov. 11, 1919. She is thought to have been the daughter of John H. and Emma (Mayle) Kennedy, and had been married once before. They resided at Sandy Creek near Philippi. Carrie may be the same woman who was jailed in 1939 at the home of Stephen's brother Jacob.
Stephen's occupation over the years was as a coal miner.
Carrie and Stephen apparently divorced. Circa 1953, she made her home in Sharpsburg, Athens County, OH. This needs to be researched more deeply and confirmed.
Stephen married a second wife, who as of yet has not been identified, but who also died before Stephen.
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Stephen's tragic death was headlined in Philippi and Grafton newspapers |
Tragically, he was killed in an automobile accident
on Route 119 near Philippi on July
2, 1967 after suffering a heart attack. In a front page article, the Barbour
Democrat said that "According to State Police from the Philippi
detachment, who investigated, wet roads were cited as a cause of the mishap,
although an investigation continues." Pictures of the two vehicles involved
also were printed on the front page, seen here. The Grafton Sentinel
published a United Press International story naming Stephen as one of seven
individuals who "lost their lives on West Virginia highways during the long
[Fourth of July] holiday weekend. The deaths brought the toll for the year to
217."
Following a funeral service led by Rev. Winfield Mayle at the Wesley Methodist Church, Stephen's remains were laid to rest at the Norris Cemetery.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Mark A. Miner