Bio-Miner, WilliamGKuhns

William G. Miner
(1864-1932)

William G. Miner was born on June 26, 1864 near Humbert or Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA, the son of Henry A. and Matilda (Rose) Miner. He was a longtime coal miner who met a tragic fate in a streetcar accident.

As a teenager, William migrated with his parents to Connellsville, Fayette County, PA, where his father found work in the booming coal and coke industry.

On Feb. 23, 1887, William married his first wife, Alice Kuhns (possibly also spelled "Koonce" or "Koontz") (1868-1910), the daughter of Peter and Sarah E. Kuhns, and a native of Allegheny County, PA. The ceremony was performed by justice of the peace Thomas R. Torrance.

The Miners had five children -- William H. Miner, Meda Buttermore, Minnie M. Parker, Lillian "Lillie" Belle McDowell Walters and Espey Miner.

Over the years, the family lived in a variety of places, following available coal mine jobs. These include Westmoreland County, PA (1887), Connellsville (1900), Allison, Fayette County (1916) and Morgantown, Monongalia County, WV(1920s-30s). William is known to have been a fireman in the Allison Mine in 1916, and also to have worked as a railroad brakeman at one time.

Typical coke ovens in Connellsville of William's era

Heartache rocked the family on Nov. 17, 1910, when Alice, only age 42, died at their home in Swaugertown, near Connellsville. The Connellsville Daily Courier said she "was well and favorably known in and around Swaugertown." Alice was laid to rest in the Hill Grove Cemetery in Connellsville. Her grave marker erronelously is inscribed with a year of death as "1911" when in reality it should be "1910."

After Alice's death, William re-married after a year, on Nov. 29, 1911, to Sarah A. Morris, age 49, a resident of Smithfield, Fayette County, and the daughter of Victor and Jennie (?). Their nuptials were performed in Uniontown by the hand of Rev. J.S. Bromley. The marriage license shows that Sarah's first husband died on Nov. 29, 1893, and thus she had been a widow for 17 years before wedding our William. On the license, he listed his occupation as "farmer."

The Miners' marriage did not last. By 1919, he made his home in Morgantown, Monongalia County, WV.

William's third wife, whom he married on Christmas Eve 1919, was Rosa Lee "Rosie" (Walls) Rogers (1867-1939). The wedding took place in Fairmont, near her home in Mannington, Marion County, WV. She was a native of Gladesville, Preston County, WV, and the daughter of Samuel and (?) (Menear) Walls. Rosie had previously been married, and she brought six children to the marriage with our William -- Edna Brothers, Minnie Stump, Ruby Gribble, Harry Rogers, Samuel Rogers and Roy Rogers.

William and Rosie set up their housekeeping in Morgantown. A rare old bird's eye postcard view of Morgantown, hard by the Monongahela River, is seen here.

Though residing in Morgantown at the time, William and his large family attended the McDowell-Miner-Ritenour family reunions in the Connellsville area in 1928-29-30. At the 1928 affair, at Hillcrest Park, William and his brother Grant, along with son-in-law Arthur McDowell, Emerson Ritenour, formed the planning committee. Son in law George Buttermore was elected chairman, daughter Lillie Belle secretary, and John Miner treasurer.

A local newspaper published a lengthy account of the McDowell-Miner 1928 reunion, and listed the following other immediate family members in attendance: Arthur and Lillie Belle's children Dorothy, Gladious, Mildred, Joseph, Thelma, Lillian and Zora, of Uniontown; John Ross and Mary Ellen (Ringer) Miner and daughter Mabel of Swaugertown Road, Connellsville; brother Grant and Drusilla (Fike) Miner and their grandchildren Wilma, Dorothy, Thomas and Robert Miner of Hillcrest Park, Connellsville; sisters Jennie (Miner) Paolone-Stevenson and Mary Ann (Miner) Richter of Connellsville; son in law and daughter George and Meda (Miner) Buttermore and their children Alice, Sarah and Esther of Mt. Braddock; granddaughter Lillie (Buttermore) and her husband Raymond Uncapher and children Florence and Junior of South Connellsville; and cousin Charles H. Rose of Normalville, PA.

William's gnarled hands from a lifetime of hard labor

The 1929 McDowell-Miner reunion was held at daughter Lillie Belle McDowell's home in Haddenville, Fayette County. "There was no set program, the older folks spending the time talking over old times while the younger folks played games and romped in the orchard," said a newspaper article, seen at right. "At noon dinner was served on picnic tables under the grape arbor, covers being laid for forty persons." Attending this reunion were William's brother Grant and wife Drusilla Miner and their grandchildren Wilma and Dorothy Miner; and William's son William H. and wife Louise Miner with their sons William, Charles and Harold.

The following year, the McDowell-Miner Reunion was held at Hillcrest Park in Connellsville, and William served on the program committee along with son in law George Buttermore (president), brother John R. Miner (treasurer), granddaughter Dorothy McDowell and brother Grant U. Miner (program committee). Reported a local newspaper:

It was an all-day affair, with about 100 in attendance. After dinner there was a religious service, led by George Buttermore. Races followed. The fat women's race, run by Mrs. Charles Buttermore and Mrs. Charles Sargent of Brownsville, the former winning. The girls' 50-yard dash, ages 12 to 20 years, was won by Miss Lurleine Upton of Summit. Mrs. Ewing Hager was the oldest person to attend. She is past 81. There were several others of ripe age.

Tragedy struck in the summer of 1932 when William was age 57, working as a janitor in the Price business block in Morgantown, and residing with Rosie at 921 Charles Avenue. On Saturday, Aug. 6, he boarded a streetcar bound for Sabraton about 5 p.m. After being seated, he may have suffered a partial stroke, although he got off the car at Charles and Richwood avenues without assistance. Reported the Morgantown Dominion News, William "apparently slipped from the platform and under the car, his left leg protruding inside the rail... The car was started [again], but Miner's cries quickly brought a stop." The newspaper added that "Some said he had reached up to pat a little child leaning from a car window when the car started and that he slipped and lost his balance, the car pinning his leg between the platform and trucks. Others said one wheel ran over the leg below the knee."

He was rushed to the Monongalia County hospital, where his leg was amputated below the knee. Said the Dominion News, "a nurse said Miner was suffering from extreme shock and loss of blood." When relatives arrived, he told them, "I don't remember what happened." The Dominion News kept readers informed for several days. One article said that he "rallied Sunday and hopes were entertained for his recovery though from the time he was admitted at the hospital it was said he was in critical condition." Sadly, though, he could not overcome the devastating blow. He passed away on Monday, Aug. 8, 1932, two days after his fall and injury.

William's body was shipped to Connellsville, where the funeral was held at the home of brother Grant in Hillcrest Park. His mangled remains were laid to rest beside his first wife Alice at Hill Grove Cemetery in Connellsville.

Rosie, a widow at age 65, remained in Morgantown, at 921 Charles Avenue. She was a housekeeper, and died at the age of 72 on Sept. 1, 1939. She was laid to rest in the Pisgah Cemetery in nearby Preston County, WV.

Daughter Lillie Belle Miner (1893-1987) was born in 1893 in Dunbar, Fayette County. She was first married to Nelson A. Miles Nicholson ( ? - ? ), a native of Granite City, IL, on June 10, 1916.

Later, she married Arthur McDowell ( ? - ? ), a native of Chalk Hill, Fayette County.

Lillie and Arthur lived in Connellsville, and had eight children -- Dorothy Fisher, Joseph McDowell, Leroy McDowell, Gladys Varndell, Martha Cook, Izora Miller, Lillian Solomon and Mildred Martin.

She is seen here with her brother, Espey Leroy Miner, who spent many years in Cleveland, OH.

After Arthur's death, Lillie Belle married Henry Walters. She resided for many years at Haddenville, Fayette County. Later in life, she moved to Akron, Summit County, OH.

She died at Brecksville, OH at age 94 on Aug. 12, 1987, and was laid to rest at the Chalk Hill Lutheran Cemetery. Her obituary was published in the Somerset (PA) Daily American.

Daughter Dorothy Hess McDowell (1912- ? ) was born in 1912 in Connellsville. On July 16, 1935, she married Ralph Edmund Fisher (1911- ? ), a 24-year-old painter, and the son of Earl and Amanda (Barricklow) Fisher of Uniontown. Their wedding was held in Waynesboro, Franklin County, PA, performed by Rev. J.M. Rutherford.

Son William H. Miner (1889-1958) is described in Luther J. Grimm's typescript genealogy report of the Grim and Grimm families found at the Uniontown (PA) Public Library.

He moved to Pittsburgh, where he was residing when he married Louise Stauffer Balsley (1887-1963), daughter of Charles and Isabelle Balsley, at Moyer, Fayette County on Dec. 28, 1912. He was age 22, and she 24, at the time. Rev. J.B. Keirn officiated.

They had three children -- William E. Miner, Charles Woodrow Miner and Harold Donald Miner.

Circa 1932, the Miners made their home in South Uniontown, and hosted a Christmas season visit by William's brother Espy, who made his home in Cleveland. The following November, when Espy and family again visited, William and Louise lived on Mullen Street in Uniontown.

William worked as an electrician, a sub station operator and a car operator. He is known to have been a pall bearer at the funeral of his uncle John Ross Miner in 1935. He and Louise resided on McClellantown Road in the 1940s, and later at 64 Lenox.

Louise outlived him by five years. She died in 1963, and was laid to rest beside her husband at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Bullskin Twp., near Connellsville.

Son William E. Miner ( 1913- ? ) was an optician in Pittsburgh circa 1959. He married Margaret Hightower ( ? -1971) on Dec. 22, 1938, and had three children -- Linda Virginia Miner, Josephine Miner and William C. Miner. The family resided at Hopwood, Fayette County circa 1924. In 1941, the family lived at Birmingham, AL. Later, they relocated to Pittsburgh, residing at 160 Henderson Street and at 2520 Spring Garden Avenue on the North Side. Margaret passed away in Pittsburgh on April 21, 1971, with her obituary printed in the Pittsburgh Press. William died on March 6, 1986, with his obituary also published in the Press.Son Charles Woodrow Miner (1913-1976 ) married Mabel Kathryn Sickles ( ? - ? ) on July 31, 1931. They had one son, Charles William Miner. Charles Woodrow lived in New Jersey circa 1958. He passed away in 1976, and is buried beside his brother William in the Union Dale #3 Cemetery on Pittsburgh's North Side.

Graves of brothers Charles and William Miner at Union Dale #3 Cemetery on Pittsburgh's North Side

Son Harold Donald Miner Sr. (1924- ? ) is seen at right. He married Mary Lou Perkins ( ? - ? ) on June 29. 1947. They had two sons -- Harold Donald Miner Jr. and Douglas Alan Miner. Harold Sr. served in World War II, and was stationed in Rhineland, Ardennes and Central America. He is pictured in the book, Heroes All, a service album of soldiers from Uniontown and South Union Township. He lived in Lorain, near Cleveland, OH circa 1958.

Son Espy L. (or "Espey") Miner (1904-1960?) was only six years old when his mother died. He initially was sent to a Catholic orphanage in Greenville, PA. At some point he was taken in by his sister Lillie Belle McDowell, and remained close to her his entire life.

He earned a living as a young man by laboring a powderman's helper in coal mines in and around Uniontown. He was married twice -- his first wife, not yet identified by name, died in childbirth. Nothing more about her is known.

When the federal census was taken in 1930, Espey lived with his married sister Lillie Belle McDowell at Haddenville, Menallen Township, Fayette County. That year, he is shown to be a widower, and his employment as a road laborer. His whereabouts were unknown by his family just two years later, in 1932, the year when his father was fatally injured in Morgantown. Over the years, he is said to have been a high diver in Florida, a chauffeur, and dock worker and machine shop laborer in Cleveland. As a superintendent on the docks at Lake Erie, he helped unload automobiles shipped from Detroit, and great rolls of newsprint to be used by the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He later worked in a machine shop in Alliance, OH and

In Cleveland in 1932, he wed Alberta Juanita Brooks (1914- ? ), the daughter of Ott and Minnie Brooks of Chicota, TX. They had three children -- Marlene Louise Richards Hogan, William Lee Miner and Carole Leetta Hubert.

At the holidays in 1932, several months after the death of his father, reported the Uniontown Daily News Standard, Espy visited "for the Christmas season" with his brother William H. Miner in South Uniontown before returning home to Cleveland. Again the following November, Espy, Alberta and baby daughter Marlene motored from Cleveland to Uniontown for a visit with his brother William.

Espey and Alberta Miner family -- with their three children at Christmas; mowing his lawn; and with their first two grandchildren -- Carol and Doran Richards.

Circa 1959, Espey and Alberta separated. He remained in Cleveland, while she moved to Washington State.

Afflicted with cirrhosis of the liver, and having spent many years as a heavy smoker, Espey passed away in June 1961, at the home of his sister Lillie Belle. Word of his death was sent to Alberta in Washington, where she received the news in September 1961.

After about a year as a widow, Alberta married again, to Lawrence Pattison. They enjoyed 28 years of marriage.

Alberta died in Washington on Feb. 7, 1990. Her ashes were placed at Forest Grove Cemetery in Olympia, WA

Daughter Minnie Miner (1889- ? ) married Gilbert V. Parker (1886- ? ) in about 1905, when she was 16 and he was 21.

They lived at Cass near Morgantown, Monongalia County, WV when the federal censuses were taken in 1920 and 1930. Gilbert was an electrician in a local coal mine.

The Parkers had at least eight children -- Orten D. Parker, Justine R. Parker, Carlita V. Parker, Espy L. Parker, Velorian V. Parker, Lloyd F. Parker, Everett E. Parker and Evelyn V. Parker.

Daughter Meda Miner (1887- ? ) married George S. Buttermore (1879-1966), the son of Alex and Sarah (Stillwagon) Buttermore of Connellsville. They had seven children --Blanche Allen, Lilly Uncapher, Alice Martone, Esther Callahan, Sarah Snyder, Harry E. Buttermore and Grace Doutt.

The Buttermores resided in Westmoreland County (1903), Connellsville (1903-1905), Indiana, Indiana County, PA (1907), Fayette City, Fayette County (1910), and New Castle, Lawrence County, PA.

George worked for many years as a "literature evangelist" for the Seventh Day Adventist Church. In November 1932, the church's national newspaper, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, reported that "On Sabbath, October 1, in the mountain waters near Mount Braddock, in the West Pennsylvania Conference, [Milton Conger] baptized five adults, who were fully consecrated to the cause, having been won to the faith by the personal effort and Bible studies of George Buttermore, one of our strong laymen. This brother is continuing his able soul-winning labors, and expects soon to present others to the Lord."

L-R: Lillie Belle McDowell (left) and Meade Buttermore (right) with their uncle and aunt, Grant and Drusilla (Fike) Miner

Daughter Blanche Buttermore (1903-1982) married her first husband (?) Allen ( ? - ? ) and resided in New Castle circa 1966. She later married Elvin Fritz ( ? - ? ) and relocated to Santa Anna, CA, where she died circa 1982. Her remains were brought back to New Castle for burial.

Daughter Grace Buttermore ( ? - ? ) married Eugene L. Doutt (1907-1991). He "retired in 1970 from Aetna-Standard where he worked as a welder," said the New Castle (PA) News. "He formerly worked at United Engineering in New Castle. During World War II, he served as a welding instructor." Eugene died in 1991, at the age of 84.

Daughter Lilly Buttermore (1905-2000) married Raymond Uncapher (1902-1976). She "worked as a practical nurse in the New Castle area," said the New Castle News. "She enjoyed music, singing, gardening, crocheting and knitting afghans." According to the News, Raymond "was retired from Martin Brothers Trucking Co. of Bessemer." Raymond passed away in 1976. Lilly outlived him by nearly a quarter of a century, and died in 2000, at age 95.

Son Harry Buttermore (1907-1994) married Marjorie A. Gwin ( ?- 1989). Said the New Castle News, he "was a retired garage mechanic from Pennsylvania Power Co. He belonged to the Coachmen's Club." Marjorie "worked at the J.C. Penney and Troutman Department stores in New Castle." Marjorie and Harry died five years apart -- she in 1989 and he in 1994.

Daughter Alice Buttermore ( ? - ? ) married Theodore Martone ( ? - ? ) and lived in Chester, PA. Circa 1982, Alice resided in Cleveland, OH.

Daughter Sarah Buttermore ( ? - ? ) married Ralph Snyder ( ? - ? ) and resided in Dallas, TX.

Daughter Esther Buttermore (1926-1988) married James Callihan and lived in Columbus, OH. Circa 1982, Esther resided in Baltimore, MD. She is buried at the Baltimore National Cemetery with her son, Lee Scott Callihan (1957-1965). For more information on this line, contact Bev (Callihan) Knies.