Bio-Minerd, Elizabeth Rosensteel

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Elizabeth (Minerd) Rosensteel
Zadowsky Wilson
(1867-1936)

Elizabeth (Minerd) Miller Rosensteel Zadowsky Wilson was born on July 15, 1867 (or 1872) at Rogers Mills, Fayette County, PA, the daughter of Joel and Catherine (Seneff) Minerd. She was married at least three times.

Her first proven husband was James Rosensteel (1867- ? ). They were wed in about 1899, when Lizzie and James were age 32. Whether they ever had any children is unknown.

They often returned to their mountain homeplace for visits. The April 21, 1899 issue of the Connellsville Courier reported that "James Rosensteel of Hogg's spent Sunday with his father in law, Joel Minerd." As late as May 1904, the Courier noted that James was living in Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, and that he had visited with Joel the past week.

Lizzie (with or without James) made a major move in the 1900s, leaving Western Pennsylvania and migrating to Colorado. Details are not yet known, but when her brother David died in December 1903, the Connellsville Courier obituary mentioned Lizzie by name and said she was "of Colorado." She may have relocated there to join her brother, John Wesley Minerd.

By August 1913, Lizzie had married her second husband, Peter Zadowsky, according to a family history prepared that year. Nothing further is known about Zadowsky, but is being researched.

Lizzie later moved to Dayton, Montgomery County, OH, and married her fourth husband, Allen E. Wilson (1863- ? ). They resided at 132 Maryland Avenue in Dayton, where Allen was employed as an inspector on the city railway, and she was a housewife. The federal census of 1920 shows Allen and "Lizzy" making their home together with children (or step-children) Lydia Wilson (1896- ? ) and Florence Wilson (1905- ? ) and lodger Osborn Ross.

Main Street in Dayton, near the Biltmore Hotel, 1930s

In the middle of February 1936, Lizzie fractured her left femur, and her health declined significantly after that. She died at age 63, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Dayton, on April 9, 1936. she was laid to rest in the Memorial Park Cemetery in Dayton. The informant on her death certificate was Corda Smith of 813 Vermont Avenue.

In the Bible of Lizzie 'sbrother, William Henry "Squire" Miner, are inscriptions stating that she died in 1943 at the age of 76. Why this record is different than the actual record is unknown.

~ Lizzie's Former Husband James Rosensteel ~

Lizzie's former husband James Rosensteel is believed to have resided for many years in Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, and later in the Wheeler section of Connellsville area. He may -- or may not -- have married again, to Elizabeth Sleasman (1863-1939), in 1900. She had three children to a previous marriage -- Mildred Miller, Arland G. Miller of Buffalo, NY and August Miller of Millville, NJ. She passed away at the age of 75, following surgery for appendicitis, on April 19, 1939. On Sept. 10, 1940, at age 72, he "was found dead at his home ... by Mrs. Charles Cutter, a neighbor," reported the Daily Courier. [His] death was unexpected as he had been in apparent good health and had been seen about his house earlier in the day." The obituary went on to say that he "had lived all his life in Westmoreland and Fayette Counties, the past 34 years residing at Wheeler. He had worked as a watchman for the Connellsville Silk Company for 20 years, retiring more than a year ago. He was a member of the Covenanter Church of Connellsville." His obituary in the Courier said that surviving were "an only son, Elmer Rosensteel of East Pittsburgh, the two stepchildren: A.G. Miller of Buffalo, N.Y. and August Miller of Millville, N.J. He also leaves 12 grandchildren, including Gary Miller of Johnstown, who had made his home with his grandfather until two months ago when he secured employment in Johnstown." James was laid to rest in Green Ridge Memorial Park north of Connellsville.

James' son Elmer Rosensteel (1904- ? ) is shown on the 1930 federal census with his wife Helen (1906- ? ) and son Elmer. That year, they made their home on Arc Street in East Pittsburgh, where Elmer was a laborer in a steel works.