Almira
(Minerd) Overholt
(1863-1941)
Almira
Melissa 'Allie' (Minerd) Overholt was born in 1863 at Hexebarger, near
Kingwood, Somerset County, PA, the daughter of Charles
and Adaline (Harbaugh) Minerd. She and her husband resided in
Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA.
As a four-year-old, Allie and her parents moved to a farm at Nicolay, Fayette County, PA. She like to tell stories of making maple syrup and entertaining visiting Indians. She also claimed that the Jesse James Gang once came through Fayette County and stayed a night at her parents' barn, dressed as women.
In 1886, at age 23, Allie gave birth to a son, Ernest Earl Minerd. The boy was raised by Allie's parents.
Allie later married James Wesley Overholt (1861-1923), whose name originally was spelled "Overholtz." They lived in Midway, also considered South Greensburg, and their three children were Claude C. Overholt, Arnold A. Overholt and Orra Jean Overholt.
Sadly,
little Orra (seen here) was sickly as a young girl, and died at age 13 in
1908. In her final illness, she is said to have embroidered a doily which her
mother treasured for many years afterward as a poignant keepsake. Orra was
buried at Hillview Cemetery in Greensburg, and her grave marker is badly faded
today.
The Overholts were longtime members of the First Church of the United Brethren in Christ, located on North Third Street in Youngwood.
In
August 1913, Allie and James attended the first
Annual Minerd-Miner Reunion at Ohiopyle, Fayette County They also attended later Minerd
reunions.
The photo seen at left, is believed to have been taken at a Minerd reunion in or near Somerset, Somerset County. Allie stands third from right, with her son Ernest at far right, and son Arnold second from left, along with her sister Martha Gorsuch and nieces and nephews.
Circa 1921, the Overholts resided in Greensburg. Their home was "at Willow Crossing, near Baker's siding on Trolley," a relative once said.
James died in 1923. The exact date and cause are not yet known, but will be reported here when learned.
Allie outlived him by 13 years. In August 1924, the year after she became widowed, Allie attended the Minerd-Miner reunion at Lincoln's grove, near the Western Maryland Railroad Station in Confluence. Among the 82 individuals present were Allie and her sisters Sadie Luckey, Martha Gorsuch and Allie Overholt and brother Lawson Minerd. In an article about the reunion, the Meyersdale Republican newspaper spelled her name as "Allen Overholt," but reported the following: "A very successful and pleasant reunion of the Minard family was held in what is known locally as Lincoln's grove, near the Western Maryland Railroad Station.... The family is a numerous one in Western Pennsylvania, especially in Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland and Huntingdon Counties. The gathering on Saturday was their twelfth annual reunion."
In 1941, Allie passed away at the age of 78. She was laid to rest beside her husband and daughter Orra at Hillview Cemetery in Greensburg.
The Overholts' grave marker at Hillview in Greensburg
Son Ernest in 1915 was President of both Christian Endeavor and the Friends' Bible Class, and served on the Sunday School Executive Committee, of the First Church of the United Brethren in Christ of Youngwood, PA. He was treasurer of the 1927 Minerd Reunion and secretary in 1930, and is mentioned in Way Back When: Youngwood, The Railroad Town.
Son Arnold was President of the 1930 Minerd-Miner Reunion and President of the Knights of Honor of the Sunday School of the First Church of the United Brethren in Youngwood.
Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007 Mark A. Miner