Bio-Miner, Grant U

Grant Ulysses Miner
(1867-1944)

Grant Ulysses Miner was born on May 18, 1867 near Humbert, Somerset County, PA, the son of Henry A. and Matilda (Rose) Miner. He is seen here with his second wife, Drusilla, and always liked to tell his grandchildren that the family was "Pennsylvania Dutch."

At about age four, in 1871, Grant came with his parents to Connellsville, Fayette County, PA. He worked for many years as a railroader, retiring as a yard brakeman for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.

Grant's first wife was Mary Louisa Hoover (1865-1913), a native of Garrett, PA, the daughter of Charles H. and Harriet (Saylor) Hoover. Their children were Albert "Clyde" Miner and Edna Bender.

Connellsville's Main Street is seen here in a rare, 1906 postcard photograph.

In 1901, the Miners were victimized by a robber who used a unique method to subdue them while they slept at home. The Sept. 20, 1901 edition of the Connellsville Courier reported the following:

ROBBERS USED CHLOROFORM
Took Nearly $100 from Under a Woman's Pillow Tuesday Night

Robbers entered the home of Grant Miner on West South alley about 1 o'clock Tuesday morning and procured $99.75 and a woman's gold watch. The robbers entered the house by climbing from the top of the kitchen door into the window of the room occupied by Miner and his wife, without disturbing them or a small dog which sleeps in the kitchen. Mrs. Miner awakened at 1.20 A.M. and was sitting up in bed. She noticed that the door was open and tried to arouse her husband who had fallen into a deep sleep, probably induced by chloroform. Miner awoke after his wife had shaken him for some time and called the night police....
Mrs. Miner's gold watch and $97 was taken from under her pillow, while two fine gold watches and a revolved under her husband's head were not disturbed. Mrs. Miner had received $150 on Monday in payment of a debt, but luckily hid it in an open fire place and neglected to place it under her pillow that night. Miner feels sure that the robbers are from town, although he has as yet found no direct evidence.

B&O yards at Connellsville where Grant worked, with the city as a backdrop, and the Youghiogheny River in the foreground

At age 43, Mary Louisa died on Dec. 5, 1913 at home on Pine Street in South Connellsville. The Connellsville Daily Courier said she "had been in poor health for the past two years but her late illness dated back only to last Tuesday night. Heart trouble was the cause of death."

On Dec. 10, 1916, at age 48, and after three years as a widower, Grant married 31-year-old Drusilla Fike (1885-1953), daughter of James W. Fike of Somerset County, PA. They helped to raise several of their grandchildren, which Drusilla treated as if they were her own offspring. Grant is seen at left holding granddaughter Wilma, date unknown.

The Miners and their grandchildren enjoyed attending the large annual McDowell-Miner Reunions held at Connellsville's Hillcrest Park in 1929-1930, where Grant was elected to the program committee.

Sadness struck the family in 1941 when son Albert "Clyde" Miner passed away. He was just 47 years of age. See more about him below.

Grant died at home at 204 East Francis Avenue in September 1944. He was age 77 at the time. He was laid to rest in Connellsville's Hill Grove Cemetery. The Daily Courier carried a two-paragraph obituary, stating that he was survived by eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Drusilla outlived him by nine years. She passed away just two days after Christmas 1953 at the home of step-granddaughter Wilma (Miner) Kincaid. She is buried beside Grant at Hill Grove Cemetery.

Son Albert "Clyde" Miner (1894-1941) is seen at right with his wife Myrtle (Martin) Miner (1898-1970) and daughter Donna Ullery Galley.

Clyde registered for the World War I military draft in 1918, and stated his occupation as acetylene cutter at the Sligo Mills. He was a pall bearer at the funeral of his uncle John Ross Miner in 1935.

Clyde died in 1941, and was buried in the Miner family plot at Hill Grove Cemetery. His widow remarried to a man named Fulton. She passed away in 1970, and is buried near Grant, with their infant son Walter (-1924-) in between.

Albert and Myrtle's grave site, seen here, has been lovingly maintained by their descendants for many years, marked with plantings, and kept neat and clean.

In 1991, the Miner grave marker was highlighted in a feature article by Laura Dell in the Greensburg (PA) Tribune-Review about our Minerd-Miner genealogy research effort. The article led directly to a meeting with their offspring and Minerd.com's founder, and much new information was gleaned as a result of the family's generous sharing of information.

Clyde and Myrtle Miner's offspring at a 1991 meeting with this website's founder at Ninnie's Restaurant in Scottdale, PA