Bio-Miner, Mary Ann-Richter

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Mary "Anna" (Miner) Richter
(1861-1931)

Mary "Anna" (Miner) Richter was born on Sept. 11, 1861 near Humbert, Somerset County, PA, the daughter of Henry A. and Matilda (Rose) Miner. Her husband was one of many of our cousins killed in coal industry accidents.

Anna was small of stature and said to have carried a scar on her right cheek, where a cow's horn dug in when the animal turned its head to swat a fly.

In about 1879, at age 18, Anna married 22-year-old Robert Henry Richter (1857-1920), a coal mine laborer who was the son of Nancy A. Richter of Brownsville, Fayette County.

They had 10 children, born a quarter century apart -- Lena May Layhue, William Henry Richter, Anna Belle Turner Lyons, Goldie Anastasion, Christine Johnson Butts, Albert Richter, George R. Richter Sr., and three who are not yet identified.

Robert was considered "well known" and worked as a laborer at the Leisenring No. 1 Mine to the southwest of Connellsville. They are known to have lived there in February 1914 at the time their son William was married.

Tracks and buildings of the nearby Leisenring No. 2 Mine

The Richters lived in the Connellsville area, including at Coalbrook and on Tenth Street in the West Side, also known as Greenwood. In 1883, when Anna's brother Silas got married, the ceremony was held in the Richter home. Circa 1906-1907, the Richters lived at 422 East Main Street, and by 1911-1912 had moved to 282 Eighth Street, and were listed in the Connellsville City Directory.

Tragedy struck on or about Oct. 6, 1920, when 63-year-old Robert was killed in the Leisenring mine when he was accidentally squeezed between two mine cars. Relatives heard the news and went running to the house, calling up to Anna to tell her the news of his grisly death. The Connellsville Weekly Courier reported:

Mr. Richter's neck was broken and he suffered internal hemorrhages. He was removed to the plant hospital, where he died shortly after. Mr. Richter, with several other workmen, was engaged in putting up cement pillars in the mine where a squeeze had occurred. They had finished their work and were on their way to the bottom of the shaft when they met a mine car loaded with pit poste, going in the opposite direction. Mr. Richter, who was in the advance of the other men, stepped to one side of the track at the curve. The space was too small and he was pinned fast before the car could be stopped. [Stanley] Comisky, who is captain of the first aid team of the plant, brought the injured man to the surface and summoned Dr. Francis J. King, but before he arrived Mr. Richter died.

Robert's remains were laid to rest at Hill Grove Cemetery in Connellsville. Anna's distant cousin, Rev. David E. Minerd, who was pastor of the United Methodist Church in Greenwood, conducted the funeral. He does not have a grave marker.

The widowed Anna relied upon her children and siblings over the years for support. She is known to have attended the large 1929 and '30 McDowell-Miner Reunions at Hillcrest Park in Connellsville.

Mary Ann, second from left, at a reunion with siblings, left to right: William G. Miner, John R. Miner, Jennie Paolone and Grant U. Miner

Anna later "had a little grocery store" on Ninth Street in Connellsville where Route 119 is now. She lived in Freeman's Lane and toward the end of her life moved in with sister Jennie Paolone in Dutch Bottom near Connellsville, at 405 Cummings Avenue.

Anna passed away at age 69 on Aug. 21, 1931, at Connellsville State Hospital. The Daily Courier reported that she "had been in ill health for about two years." Her funeral arrangements were handled by the J.E. Sims Funeral Home. Her burial site has not yet been located, but a granddaughter once recalled that it "was out in the country somewhere."

Anna's sons William and George were pallbearers at the September 1935 funeral of her brother, John Ross Miner.

~ Daughter Lena May (Richter) Layhue ~

Daughter Lena May (1880-1956) was first married to a man not yet identified. The marriage ended on Feb. 16, 1900, when Lena was just 20 years of age. On March 31, 1900, she married 32-year-old Silas "Cy" (also called "Joseph" and "Josiah") Layhue (1870-1934), a coal miner whose first wife had died on May 1, 1899.

Cy was a member of the United Mine Workers of America, Leith Local. (Leith is seen at right in an old postcard view.)

It's not known if either brought children to the marriage, but they had 15 children between them -- Albert J. Layhue, Harry Layhue, Clarence Layhue, Silas Layhue Jr., William Layhue, Ruth Augustine, Arvilla (or Alverda) Rogers, Violet Minnick, Pearl Cole Stewart, Rose Johnson Carlson, Emma Smitley, Maggie Baughman, Hannah Hennessey, Myrtle Layhue and Minnie Perkins Strumako.

Circa 1931-1934, the Layhues resided on Strawberry Alley in Uniontown. Cy suffered from high blood pressure. On Aug. 23, 1934, he fell dead of a heart attack while working in a shed in his yard. Lena, who had gone to New York to seek employment, was called home for the funeral. He was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery, with his funeral conducted by Rev. H.V. Layhue, assisted by Lena's distant cousin, Rev. David E. Minerd.

Lena outlived Cy by 22 years, and later moved to Duquesne, near Pittsburgh. She died at the home of her married daughter Rose in Duquesne at age 76 on June 22, 1956, and was laid to rest in Laurel Hill Cemetery. At the time of her death, Lena had 26 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. A personal inspection in 2006 by researcher Harry J. Ansell revealed that the Layhue graves at Laurel Hill are not marked.

Son Albert J. Layhew (1902-1975) was a veteran of World War II. He married Rose Welch ( ? -1971), and they resided at Fairbank, near Uniontown. They had three daughters, Arlene Huseman, Shirley Mae Grist and Anna Fisher, and had 22 grandchildren. Albert's funeral arrangements in 1975 were handled by the Edward E. Minerd Funeral Home of Uniontown.

Cy and Lena Layhue's newspaper obituaries, 22 years apart

~ Son William H. Richter ~

Son William H. Richter (1883-1973) was born in 1883 in or near Connellsville. At the age of 30, in 1914, he was employed as a pumper in the coal mines of Leisenring, near Uniontown. That year, on Feb. 16, 1914, he married 26-year-old Bertha Mae Harvey (1888-1947), also of Leisenring, and the daughter of Richard and Josephine (Wolf) Harvey. Rev. R.C. Wolf, likely a relative of Bertha May's officiated.

They had 10 children -- Dorothy Miller, Mabel Wilson, Betty Jane Nativio, Clarence W. Richter, James L. Richter, Carl Henry Richter Sr., Mary Hunt, Fidelis Darling Hunt and Thomas E. Richter, plus a daughter who died in infancy. They lived at Leisenring No. 1 mine circa 1939. The Daily Courier reported that William "had lived most of his life in Dunbar Township and was a retired coal miner of the United States Steel Company, having retired from its Ronco Coal Mine." Bertha passed away at home at Leisenring No. 1 at age 59 on Dec. 23, 1947. William outlived Bertha by more than a quarter of a century, and resided in Dunbar Township. He died on Nov. 14, 1973, at the age of 90. At the time of his death, he had 34 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Daughter Fidelis Darling Richter (1908-1939) married Thomas B. Hunt Sr. (1900-1960), the son of Thompson and Mary Louise (Jaquette) Hunt. He had been married once before, and brought four children to the marriage -- Thomas B. Hunt Jr., Mary Louise Horne, Evelyn "Jane" Hunt and Lenetta "Ruth" Stark. A newspaper said he was "for many years active in politics and involved in coal [and] oil leasing" in Uniontown, Fayette County. Fidelis and Thomas went on to have four children of their own -- Timothy Hunt, Thacille "Birdie" Hunt, Thompson Hunt and Terry Byron Hunt. Tragically, Fidelis passed away at the age of 30 on Sept. 25, 1939. She was laid to rest in Laurel Hill Cemetery. Thomas then married her sister Mary Richter the following year, in 1940. (See below for more.) The Hunts' son Terry Byron Hunt married Elva Ruth Byers. Sadly, he died on Labor Day 1971, leaving a seven-year-old daughter.

Daughter Dorothy Richter (1915- ? married (?) Miller and, in 1978, made her home in Connellsville. By 1983, she was living in Victorville, CA.

Carl H. Richter Sr.

Son Carl Henry Richter Sr. (1916-1983 ) -- seen at left -- was born on May 7, 1916. He was married twice. He and his first wife, Edith Evans, divorced without having reproduced. He then wed Genevieve Resick, and they made their home in Cleveland, OH. The Richters had seven children -- twins Marcia E. Smith and Martin Rae Richter, Carl Henry Richter Jr., Cynthia Jean Willis, Anita Jane Graves and twins Joyce Marie Cross and James William Richter. Carl served in the military during World War II, receiving a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. While in Cleveland, Carl was employed for Warner and Swasey for 25 years, until a heart condition forced him to retire. They mourned when son Carl Jr. was killed in 1979 in a motorcycle accident. Carl retired to Seminole, Pinellas County, FL, where he "spent the remainder of his life fishing the Gulf of Mexico," said a daughter. Carl passed away on Aug. 22, 1983, at the age of 67. The Richters' son Martin died of cancer in 2009.

Lemont coal and coke plant

Son Clarence W. Richter Sr. (1918-1983) married Frances (?) and four children -- Sherry Fosbrink, Dellman Richter, Clarence W. Richter Jr. and Henry Richter. . He also was a longtime employee of United States Steel Corporation, and retired after a long career there. He is known to have worked at the Youngstown mine in Westmoreland County (circa 1947) and at the Lemont Furnace works circa 1973. He lived in Lemont Furnace circa 1978. Clarence lived in McClellandtown, Fayette County during his later years. He died at the age of 65, on March 15, 1983. He was laid to rest at Green Ridge Memorial Park in Connellsville.

Son James L. Richter (1919-1983) was employed for 32 years at the famed Homestead Works of U.S. Steel. He was a member of the United Steel Workers Union and a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. He married Caroline Wilson and they lived at Dunbar. The Richters had six children -- Harold Richter, James Richter, Jeffrey Richter, Bertha Mae Bodkin, Diane Romanko and Rhonda Richter. James passed away on Aug. 30, 1983. He is buried at Green Ridge Memorial Park near Connellsville.

Daughter Mary Richter (1921-1978) married her widowed brother in law, Thomas B. Hunt Sr. (1900-1960). They had four children of their own -- Todd B. Hunt (1940-2008), Toni Davis, Trudy Dursa and Samuel Brendel Hunt. They lived in Bethelboro. Mary was a member of the Great Bethel Baptist Church in Uniontown. Thomas passed away on Aug. 28, 1960 at the Uniontown Hospital. He was laid to rest in the Laurel Hill Cemtery. Mary then married Jack G. Legat (1928-2000), and lived in R.D. 1, Uniontown. Mary suffered from cancer, and died from its effects on Dec. 4, 1978, at the National Institute of Cancer Research in Bethesda, MD. Her remains were returned to Uniontown for the funeral, followed by burial at Sylvan Heights Cemetery. Jack Legat was a World War II veteran. While hunting south of Uniontown, on Oct. 9, 2000, he suffered a heart attack and died. Son Todd married Joyce LaClair and resided in Sterling Heights, MI, where he "was proud to be a Mason and Shriner," said the Uniontown Herald-Standard, "and worked as a tool and die welder for Chrysler Corp. for 37 years. He will be remembered by all who knew him for his love of people and his extreme generosity with his time and talents." Todd passed away at the age of 68 on Sept. 11, 2008, with burial at Sylvan Heights Cemetery Mausoleum in Uniontown.

Daughter Mabel Richter (1922- ? ) married Frank Wilson. They made their home in Leisenring in 1983.

Daughter Betty Jane Richter (1923-2008) married Alfred J. Nativio Sr. (1915 -1990) on June 12, 1943. They resided in Dunbar and had 12 children -- Geraldine Nativio, Sandra Nativio, Kenneth Nativio, Alfred Nativio Jr., William Nativio, Janet Devince, Nancy Domer, Patricia Nativio, Roger Nativio Sr., Tina (Benson) Nativio, Karen Nativio and Dolly Mae Nativio. Alfred was a machine operator at the Anchor Hocking Glass plant in Connellsville, a position from which he retired. He also was a member of Local 140 of the GBBA. Betty Jane passed away at the age of 84 on May 11, 2008, the last surviving member of her immediate family. She was laid to rest in Mt. Aloysius Cemetery. She was survived by 20 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson. One of Betty Jane's granddaughters -- Amanda Sines -- is an accomplished track and field athlete at East Stroudsburg University, holding school records in the discus (133-3), indoor shot (44-7 ½) and weight (50-4) and ranking second all time in the hammer throw.

Son Thomas E. Richter (1928-1988) married Thelma Wilson. They had three children -- Greg Richter, Thomas Richter and Carol Fordyce. The Richters made their home in Dunbar. Thomas passed away at the age of 60, at Frick Community Health Center in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland County, PA, on Dec. 28, 1988. Interment was at Green Ridge Memorial Park.

~ Son Albert Richter ~

Son Albert Richter (1887- ? ) first married Carolyn Kromer (1892-1917). He was 23, and she 18. The ceremony took place at his parents' home on Sept. 13, 1910. He worked as a teamster early in the marriage, driving a furniture wagon. Sadly, after only seven years of marriage, Carolyn died at age 25, of unknown causes, on Feb. 17, 1917.

After 18 months as a widower, Albert married again, to 20-year-old Katherine Mae Nicholson, on Aug. 8, 1918. At that time, he worked as a barber.

Circa 1920, when the federal census was taken, they lived at 611 West Crawford Avenue in Connellsville, where he was a keeper of a lunch room. Their fates after that are unknown.

~ Daughter Anna Belle (Richter) Turner Lyons ~

Daughter Anna Belle Richter (1892-1976) was married twice. Her first husband was John Turner ( ? - ? ). He abandoned the family, and died somewhere in New York State. After they divorced, Anna Belle married Patrick A. Lyons ( ? - ? ).

She had one daughter, Bessie Keys. Anna Belle and Bessie resided in the Hillcrest section of Connellsville.

Anchor Hocking plant in Connellsville

The Daily Courier said she was "employed as a matron at the Anchor Hocking Corporation and worked at the Overholt Distillery, and was a custodian for the United Presbyterian Church on Morton Avenue."

She passed away at age 83 on March 20, 1976, at the Fazio Nursing Home in Markleysburg, Fayette County, and was laid to rest in the Hill Grove Cemetery, Connellsville.

~ Daughter Christine "Teeny" (Richter) Johnston Potts Butts ~

Daughter Christine "Teeny" Richter (1899-1992) was married three times. Her first husband was William C. Johnston (1887- ? ), a native of Pittsburgh who was a stone mason. They married on June 12, 1917 in a ceremony at Fairview Street in North Union Township near Uniontown. Circa 1931, Teeny resided in Coraopolis, Allegheny County, PA. After 14 years of marriage, they divorced on May 28, 1931.

Within one week, on June 4, 1931, Teeny married 30-year-old Ray J. Potts (1901- ? ), a laborer who was a native of the Pittsburgh area.

Later still, she married Wayne L. Butts ( ? - ? ). In 1956, the Buttses resided at Clairton in Pittsburgh's Mon Valley. Circa 1970s through the 1990s, Teeny resided in McKeesport, near Pittsburgh. She had five sons -- Harry D. Johnston, James I. Johnston, Francis M. Johnston, Edward E. Johnston and Wayne L. "Buster" Butts.

Teeny died at age 92 on Feb. 25, 1992, and was buried at McKeesport and Versailles Cemetery. At the time of her passing, she had 17 grandchildren and uncounted great and great-great grandchildren.

~ Daughter Goldie (Richter) Anastasion ~

Daughter Goldie Richter (1902-1991) married Gustavious "Gus" Anastasion ( ? -1941), an immigrant from Greece. They resided in Connellsville in the early 1930s through the 1970s, and had four children -- Robert N. Anastasion, Della M. Anastasion, Helen Nocine and Mary Canter.

Sadly, Gus died in 1941 at a young age.

Goldie later resided in Port Allegany, McKean County, PA. She died at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport, PA on Feb. 15, 1991, at the age of 88. Gus and Goldie are buried together in Green Ridge Memorial Park in Connellsville.

~ Daughter George R. Richter Sr. ~

Son George R. Richter, Sr. (1905-1984) first married Violet Round (1900-1970), the daughter of William and Julia (Walcroft) Round. They were members of the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church of Uniontown.

They had four children -- Rev. George R. Richter Jr., pastor of the West Park Alliance Church in McKees Rocks, PA; Rev. Logan T. Richter, pastor of the West End Alliance Church in Richmond, VA; Florence Ellenberger, who was married to Rev. Robert Ellenberger, pastor of Crescent Alliance Church of Aliquippa, Beaver County, PA; and Laura Thrasher, who was married to Wibert B. Thrasher of Leisure City, FL.

In later years, the Richters resided in Vanderbilt, Fayette County, and in 1976 lived at Aliquippa. The Beaver County Times noted that George "was a retired employee of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and a member of Crestmont Alliance Church, Hopewell Township." After Violet's passing, George married Blanche Corwin. He died at age 79 on April 17, 1984, at the Beaver Valley Geriatric Center, and was laid to rest at Green Ridge Memorial Park in Connellsville.