Howard Campbell Miner
(1872-1943)
Howard Campbell Miner was born on March 25, 1872 (or possibly 1871 or 1874) in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH, the son of Howard Minard and Kate Camel (Campbell). His middle name is believed to have been "Campbell," reflecting his mother's maiden name, and it's believed that he carried that as his regular surname as a child.
When interviewed by federal government officials in 1942, at age 70, Howard furnished his parents’ names, and stated that both were dead, although he did not know when they had passed away. It's quite possible Howard's parents were never married. Evidence shows that he was raised by his widowed grandmother, but lived with and knew his father during those early years.
In the federal census of 1880, eight-year-old "Howard Campbell" was residing with his father in his grandmother's household in Connellsville, Fayette County. Also residing in the home were his uncle Stewart Minerd and boarders Peter Grim, Franklin Fuller and Ezakiah Fuller. At some point, he adopted his father's name of "Miner."
As an adult, Howard stood 5 feet, 8 inches tall, and weighed 160 lbs., with dark brown eyes and brown hair.
Company E, 10th Pennsylvania Infantry in Philippine trenches
During the Spanish-American War, Howard enlisted in the 10 Pennsylvania Infantry at Mt. Gretna, PA, on April 7, 1898. In his enlistment papers, he named his father, "Howard Miner - Connellsville, Pa.," as his nearest relative.
He was assigned the rank of private in Company E. He was sent immediately to the Philippine Islands, where the US Army was fighting Spanish insurgents. At the furious Battle of Fort Malate, on July 31, 1898, he and his regiment faced a deadly assault of 1,000 enemy troops. In the action, Howard received a gun shot.
When the news was telegraphed home to his uncle Stewart Minerd, it erroneously stated or was interpreted to say that Howard had died. Adding insult to injury, the story was published incorrectly in the Uniontown Daily News Standard, in the section, "From Oliphant."
Stewart Minor of this place received word today of the death of his nephew, Howard Minor of the 10th regiment.
Fortunately, this news was premature. Howard had only been wounded in action, by a gunshot in the left hand. The bullet had entered at the wrist, and exited at the knuckle of his middle finger. It disqualified him from further service. Howard received an honorable discharge in Manila on Nov. 21, 1898, and he returned home. He was unemployed for more than a year, until 1900.
The day after Christmas 1900, Howard married Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" Seibert (or “Sibert”) (1879-1966). The wedding was performed by Rev. Dr. S.W. Keister of the United Brethren Church of Mount Pleasant, but with no other attendants.
The Miners had one – George Edward Miner (1901-1976).
They resided in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, PA circa 1930. They relocated over the years to and from nearby Scottdale, and moved frequently, to 905 Pittsburgh Street, 10 Chestnut Street, 409 West Broadway, 300 Mulberry Street and 200 Loucks Avenue, all in Scottdale. Betsy was a member of the First United Brethren Church in Scottdale. Demonstrating their support for their church, Mary and son George both pledged $7.80 – a relatively large sum for the time – during the 1925-1926 fiscal year. A year book and directory of the church lists their names, and today is on file in the Minerd-Minard-Miner-Minor Archives.
Howard's employer for 12 years, the U.S. Cast Iron Pipe and Foundry in
Scottdale, billed as "the largest pipe mill in the world"
Howard was employed by the H.C. Frick Coke Company from 1900 to 1910, earning $4 per day. In November 1916, Howard was severely burned in a gas fire while disconnecting a service line in the employment of Fayette County Gas Company. Said the Connellsville Daily Courier, "It is thought that some person smoking set fire to the gas. Minerd's right arm was burned very badly, his left arm not so badly and his face was scorched."
He also worked as a "machinist helper" and "pipe fitter" for the United States Cast Iron Pipe and Foundry Company in Scottdale for 12 years, from 1918 until the plant closed in 1930. In 1933, during the grip of the Great Depression, he earned a total income of $508.
Howard also was "one of the oldest members of the Scottdale Fire Department," said the Connellsville Daily Courier, and belonged to the local lodges of the Odd Fellows and Moose, as well as Capt. J.A. Loar Post, No. 310, of the United Spanish War Veterans in Mount Pleasant. He enjoyed smoking a pipe.
At
right, an invitation postcard to attend the tenth annual reunion of the 10th
Pennsylvania Infantry, held Aug. 13, 1909, in Greensburg. The image shows Col.
Alexander L. Hawkins, commander of the regiment, who died of illness during the
return voyage home. It is not known whether Howard attended. He is known to have
gone to the reunion of the 10th in Connellsville in 1918.
As he aged, Howard’s health began to decline gradually, including hearing and eyesight, and well as experiencing weakness and dizziness. He underwent hernia surgery in 1928. In about 1938, he wrote the following:
It is hard for me to hear. My eyesight is poor; my left hand is deformed, and I have difficulty in rising it. Because of my age nobody will give me a job. I get short of breath; at times I am weak. When I get up and bend over I feel dizzy. I have to get up six times at night to pass my water.
He applied for, and began receiving, a monthly pension from the government for his wartime service, in the amount of $60.
Howard
suffered from stomach cancer and a tumor of the neck during 1942, losing 25 lbs.
but retaining a good appetite. He was hospitalized for 12 weeks at the Veterans
Administration Hospital in Pittsburgh. Though released, he did not live much
longer, and passed away, at age 69, on Feb. 20, 1943. He was laid to rest in the
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, and his obituary was published in the Connellsville Daily
Courier. At the time of death, he was receiving $100 monthly.
Betsy outlived her husband by more than two decades, and moved to 140 Walnut Avenue in Scottdale. Circa 1944, she received her husband’s military pension comprised of reduced monthly payments of $40, because she was unable to prove that Howard’s ailments were caused by the war.
At
right, the railroad depot in Scottdale, with the Kromer House hotel in the
background.
Betsy enjoyed visits by her husband's younger half-brother, Joseph David Minard, and his wife and children, who affectionately called her "Aunt Betsy."
She died in 1966, and rests for eternity beside her husband.
Son George apparently never married. He never knew the names of his grandparents, and identified them as "Unknown" in legal papers. He died in 1976, at the age of 75.
Copyright
© 2005 Mark A. Miner.
Photo of 10th Pennsylvania Infantry originally published
in the book,
Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 1898-1900, on file at
the
Mount Pleasant (PA) Free Public Library.