Albert Lloyd
"Bert" Minerd
(1884-1946)
Albert Lloyd "Bert" Minerd was born on March 21, 1884 in Fayette County, PA, the son of James and Emma (Meyers) Minerd Jr.
Bert married Lucy Mae (Nicklow) Kelly (1891-1940), the daughter of Eli and Della (Savage) Nicklow. They had no children of their own, but raised Lucy's son Charles E. Kelly Sr. from a previous marriage.
The Minerds first resided at Tucker Run near Dunbar, Fayette County. Then, in October 1906, said the Connellsville Weekly Courier, they moved to Fairchance, "where he has employment."
They also resided in Wynn and Haydentown near Smithfield, Fayette County. Bert is said to have been a blacksmith.
Bert registered for the World War I military draft in 1918, and stated his occupation as locomotive fireman for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
A niece recalled that Bert had a "coal
stove and an outhouse" at his home. He played the fiddle at square dances
at Shady Grove Park in Uniontown (seen here) on Saturday nights. He also "called"
dances from time to time. A niece recalled him as a "very large man"
who had a size 20 neck and a size 50 waistline. He was jolly and handsome and
had rosy cheeks.
When the federal census was taken in 1930, Bert and Lucy and his widowed mother made their home together in Smithfield. His occupation was listed as blacksmith, employed by his own shop.
Lucy suffered from sugar diabetes and passed away on Nov. 24, 1940. She was buried in the Minerd family plot at the remote, mountainous Lynn Point Cemetery near Dunbar, Fayette County. The snow was so heavy that her casket had to be carried on a sled up the steep slope to where the cemetery is located. (Click here to see our report on the cleanup of this cemetery.)
Bert outlived his wife by six years. He died of a heart attack on Sept. 27, 1946, at the age of 62. He was laid to rest near his wife at Lynn Point. Neither of their graves there is marked.
Stepson Charles E. Kelly Sr. (1907-1959) resided in Smithfield, and married Ida Zinn. They had nine children – William E. Kelly, Albert L. Kelly, Charles E. Kelly Jr., Emma 'Jean' Lowller, Anna Marie Hainzer, Margaret Whoolery, Audrey Burner, Nancy Louise Kelly and Patricia Jane Kelly. It’s believed that Jean's husband, James Lowller, was the son of Evelyn (Minerd) Walters of Smithfield.
Copyright © 2002-2003, 2008 Mark A. Miner