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Eleanor "Ellen" (Minerd) |
Eleanor "Ellen" (Minerd) Pritts Polen Pryor was born on May 29, 1874 at Rogers Mills, Fayette County, PA, the daughter of Joel and Catherine (Seneff) Minerd.
At age 19, Ellen joined her church. The June 28, 1895 Connellsville Courier reported that "About three hundred people gathered at the backwater in Indian Creek near Rodgers' Mill on Sunday ... to witness the ordinance of baptism. The following named persons were immersed: ... Ella Miner..."
On Sunday, Nov. 15, 1896, when both were age 22, Ellen married Ludwick H. Pritts (1874-1903), the son of Osborne and Mary Pritts. The service was held at his residence in Normalville, Springfield Township, Fayette County, PA, by the hand of A.G.C. Sherbondy.
In 1898, the Prittses lived at Vanderbilt, where he worked as a laborer.
In the census of 1900, she and Ludwick are shown living near Normalville, Springfield Township, with their children Bessie and Roy.
Tragically, Ludwick is believed to have died on Sept. 13, 1903. This left Ella as a widow and single mother at the age of 31.
After 27 months alone, Ella married again, to Ebenezer Bell Polen (1882-1947), the son of Nathaniel "Lewis" and Ida (Welsh) Polen of Hopedale, Harrison County, OH. The bride and groom united themselves in marriage in Uniontown, after securing a marriage license. Ella was age 31, and Ebenezer age 23.
The census of 1910 shows "Ebinezer" and "Ella" Polen living as farmers in Green Township, Harrison County, OH. They had been married for four years, but had no children.
They both were mentioned by name in a Minerd family history written in August 1913 by cousin Allen Edward Harbaugh ("The Mountain Poet"), and read aloud at the clan's first-ever reunion at Ohio Pyle, Fayette County.
By 1920, the Polens migrated to Wayne Township, Jefferson County, OH. That year, Ebenezer was a brakeman in a local coal mine. A 17-year-old "son," Carl Polen, also made his home with them that year. Carl worked as a yardman on the section railroad.
The Polens' marriage eventually dissolved.
Later, Ellen apparently married a third husband, (?) Pryor. That's her name given in inscriptions in the family Bible of her brother, William Henry "Squire" Miner, with a notation stating that she died on June 11, 1951, at age 77.
Ebenezer married again, to Anna (?). He passed away at the age of 65, on Aug. 22, 1947, in Jewett, Harrison County. The cause of death was heart disease and hardening of the arteries. He was laid to rest in the Cadiz Cemetery.
More will be added here when learned.
Copyright © 2000, 2002, 2008, 2012 Mark A. Miner