Huston
D. Minerd
(1862-1938)
Huston D. Minerd was born on June 21, 1862 at Hopwood, Fayette County, PA, the son of Andrew and Sarah (Devan) Minerd. He was a blacksmith who worked in the coal, coke and steel industries of Western Pennsylvania.
He married Mollie Kissinger (1863- ? ) in 1882. They had two known daughters – Pearl Millward and Julia Minerd.
Huston was active in the community as a young man, and in 1879-1880 served as treasurer and sentinel of the Dunbar Lodge, No. 1236, IOGT.
A skilled blacksmith, Huston set himself up in business at “the blacksmith shop opposite the Brant hotel [in Hopwood], and will be assisted by the veteran blacksmith, Andrew Minerd, his father,” said the Uniontown Genius of Liberty. In the early 1890s, Huston worked as a blacksmith at the New Atlas Coke Works in Uniontown, and owned a town lot in nearby Dunbar. Later, they moved to Pittsburgh.
Death struck the family in March 1897, when 14-year-old daughter Julia died of typhoid fever. Her body was sent from Pittsburgh to Hopwood "on the 10:25 train over the B.&O." railroad for burial in the family plot at Hopwood Cemetery.
In 1900, the federal census shows that they lived on Wiley Avenue in Pittsburgh, where Huston was employed as a day laborer, and 14-year-old daughter Pearl as a tailoress.
At some point the Minerds moved back to Fayette County. It’s thought that Mollie died first, but the date is unknown.
In the 1920 census, Huston is shown living by himself in South Union Township, Fayette County, working as a blacksmith for a coal plant.
When the 1930 census was enumerated, Huston made his home with his married daughter Pearl Millward and family in German Township, Fayette County. At age 67 that year, he had no occupation.
Huston died in the Millwards' home on June 26, 1938. He was buried at Hopwood Cemetery, though his grave is unmarked today.
Son in law Harry Millward spent a 35-year career as fire boss at Leckrone and superintendent of the Filbert Mine and as chief mine inspector for the H.C. Frick Coke Co. He also was a member of the Coal Mining Institute of America.
Grandson David Bradburn Millward was a state mine inspector at Phillipsburg, PA, circa 1951. He also was a life member of the Coal Mining Inspectors Institute of America, a member of the National Mine Rescue Association, and a past president of the Moshannon Coal Mining Institute, of the Mine North Central Safety Association and of the Mine Inspectors Advisory Association. He also was treasurer of the Chester Hill Borough Council and secretary of the Philipsburg-Osceola Joint School Authority.