Bio-Miner, Martin

Martin Miner
(1840-1915)

Martin Miner was born at Hexebarger, near Kingwood, Somerset County, PA, Sept. 28, 1840, son of John and Sarah (Ansell) Minerd. He was a farmer and a Civil War veteran, and survived several major battles. He also was an officer of our family's first reunion in Western Pennsylvania in 1913.

Martin grew up in Hexebarger though he lived most of his adult life in Normalville, PA. He learned how to read and write, educated in local one-room schools. In October 1905, as a 65-year-old, he and his wife visited his birthplace, but he later admitted to a newspaper reporter that the "old ear marks of boyhood days are about all obliterated."

As a young man, Martin stood five feet, six inches tall, with blue eyes and light hair. During the Civil War, he enlisted in the 142nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company C, on Aug. 12, 1862. (He was one of five siblings and in-laws to serve in the Union Army. Brother Henry A. Miner and brother in law Charles Rose were in the 171st Pennsylvania Infantry; brother in law Andrew "Jackson" Rose was in the 142nd PA Infantry; and brother in law Perry Enos was in the 188th Pennsylvania Infantry.)

Martin and the regiment saw action at the battles of Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and Petersburg. He would have watched with horror at Gettysburg when his brother in law, Jack Rose, was shot in the right forearm and had to have the damaged limb amputated.

Seen here is an artist's depiction of the "Battle of the Crater" at Petersburg.

... I contracted typhoid fever, was sent to a Hospital at Harrisburgh Pa. and while in the Hosptal I had an attack of Rheumatism or at least that is what the Doctor in attendiance said. gave me Linament to Rub on it. Releved me some.... Prior to the attack ... I never knew what Rheumatism was.

The typhoid kept Martin incapacitated for two months. At some point later, he was hospitalized at Acquia Creek, MD. Later, he caught the measles "while in the line of duty on the heights of Alexandria near Washington City, D.C." In January 1864, he visited his sick cousin Ephraim Minerd at Camp Convalescent in Alexandria, after which Ephraim wrote in his diary, "I was soury that he had to go."

At Gettysburg, Martin's name on the Pennsylvania Monument (left), and the 142nd PA Infantry monument.

On New Year's Day 1867, Martin married Amanda Williams (1844-1930), by the hand of Rev. Benjamin Walker of Kingwood. He was age 23 at the time, and he was 27. Amanda was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Leichliter) Williams, and her siblings included Levi C. Williams, Thomas Williams, George Williams, Mrs. O.F.M. Nicolay, Mrs. H.G. Conn and Mary A. Liston.

In the fall of the year they were married , the newlyweds moved to a farm near his father's property north of Normalville, Fayette County, PA, where they spent the rest of their lives. Martin purchased the 48-acre farm outright from the heirs of William Kern in 1873.

The Miners built a farmhouse in the fall of 1886, seen in a sketch at left. Less than two years later, the July 12, 1888 Connellsville Courier reported that the "residence was struck by lightning Friday, and badly damaged. None of the family were injured." Martin painted the house in May 1904, with the Courier opining that it "will look dandy when finished."

Sadly, son Levi Homer and daughter Sarah Elizabeth both died in infancy. Homer passed away as a result of diphtheria in January 1881, and Sarah was a victim of "brain-fever" in November 1883.

Seated, l-r: Martin, Amanda and baby Nettie. Standing l-r: Agnes, Warren, Ed, Charles, George and John

Over time, Martin suffered from sore eyes, stiffness in his right shoulder and pain in his left breast. He wrote in 1890 that "I was treated by Dr. Jos. Rogers & Dr. Nickol both since deceased and a Doctor in Pittsburgh Pa. who was advertised as a great Eye Doctor. Got medison from him but done no good." He also used "local treatments + remodies that I applyed and Liniments I bought in the stores." (A copy of that letter is seen here, with the original in the National Archives in Washington, DC.)

He successfully obtained a federal pension for his wartime illnesses. Friends testifying on his behalf were Garrett Hall of Normalville and David Bigam of Normalville. Periodically, he underwent medical examinations so government physicians could confirm that he was as disabled as he claimed. In one such exam, in 1904, at age 64, a physician wrote:

All the joints of the body are affected with rheumatism, especially is it severe in the hands; cannot close fingers n either hand on palms and joints are enlarged. Pain and tenderness across lumber region and down both sciatic nerves, stooping is done with difficulty, muscles around shoulder-joints are contracted ... [and] water passing from the eyes all the time.

Martin was active in the Normalville community, serving as vice commander of the William T. Campbell Post 375, G.A.R.; delegate in the Republican party; and school board officer (circa mid-1890s). In late November 1896, along with Josiah S. Murray, Frederick Miller, W.H. Showman, David Nickelson and Andrew Johnston, he is known to have represented the G.A.R. at the funeral of his former comrade David Bigam of Normalville. On June 27-28, 1913, he traveled to Gettysburg for the 47th Annual Encampment reunion, and held the position of assistant inspector for District 43.

In the field behind the Miners' home was a small private cemetery, where they buried an infant child. While Martin and Amanda are buried elsewhere, their cemetery was once named "Miner Cemetery," and the list of burials is available for viewing on the web. Also known to rest there, in an unmarked grave, is an infant child of their niece Sarah Ellen (Enos) Hart (1893). The Miner Cemetery is among the stand of pine trees, seen at left. Many years later, in May 1938, the Courier announced that there would be a cleanup day at the cemetery -- "All persons are asked to bring tools and be prepared to work."

Despite having moved from Kingwood to Normalville, the Miners kept in contact with Amanda's kin in their old home village. A short blurb printed in the Oct. 11, 1895 edition of the Connellsville Courier reports that "George Williams of Kingwood visited his brother-in-law, Martin Meiner [sic], on Saturday."

In October 1905, Martin (age 65) and Amanda spent an enjoyable weekend with relatives at Kingwood. While there, he visited his birthplace at Hexebarger but after returning home told a Connellsville Daily Courier reporter that the "old ear marks of boyhood days are about all obliterated." The Miners probably had been the guests of Ephraim and Rosetta (Harbaugh) Miner, his first cousin who lived in Hexie. Martin and Ephraim had served in the same Civil War regiment and were more like brothers than cousins.

In 1913 and 1914, when the first two Minerd-Miner Reunions were held at Ohio Pyle, Fayette County, Martin served as vice president of the new organization.

In May 1915, Martin was named in the Daily Courier as one of a few surviving Civil War veterans in Normalville. The others listed were A.J. Johnson, William J. Brown, John K. Grimm and W.H. Showman. On Memorial Day that year, Martin's cousin Rev. David E. Minerd spoke at a special service at the United Brethren Church of Normalville.

Martin died suddenly on Oct. 1, 1915 after returning from a Civil War veterans reunion at Washington, D.C., where he had marched in the grand review before President Wilson. A local newspaper reported that he had:

...joined the veterans from this section when they departed in a special car on Monday. Throughout the trip he appeared in the best of spirits, and companions say he apparently showed no ill effects of the long hike up Pennsylvania avenue. On the return trip the party was delayed several hours because of a freight wreck near Williams, and he was a day late arriving home. It is believed reaction from the excitement of the reunion and the journey home resulted fatally.

Within an hour after arriving home, "supper had just been finished and the veteran had pushed back his chair and was relating events of the grand encampment when he suddenly collapsed and within a few minutes was dead from apoplexy."

Amanda, seen at left, lived another 15 years. She passed away on March 15, 1930, at the age of 85. In an obituary, the Courier said she "had been ill for several months" and died "from the infirmities of age." The obituary added that she was "one of the oldest and best known residents of Springfield township." She was laid to rest beside her husband.

The field of public education remained important for many generations of this family. Son Ed was a teacher and a principal of the Connellsville area elementary schools for 43 years. Daughters Agnes Miller and Nettie Brooks both taught school in the area, Agnes for 28 years and Nettie for 45 years. A large number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren also have worked in this field.

Son John was an entrepreneur who ran his own general store for many years in Normalville. He was active in the region's politics and economic development, and once served as Clerk of Springfield township.

Martin is frequently mentioned, and he and Amanda and their children are pictured, in a lavishly illustrated, 2011 book about his beloved his cousin who also was a veteran of the Civil War -- entitled Well At This Time: the Civil War Diaries and Army Convalescence Saga of Farmboy Ephraim Miner. The book, authored by the founder of this website, is seen at right. [More]