Bio-Minerd, JacobApilona

Jacob W. Minerd, also known as "Miner," was born in 1883 near Philippi, Barbour County, WV, the son of John and Martha (Male) Minerd.

Jacob was of medium build and height, and had dark hair and brown eyes. He carried various nicknames during his lifetime, including "Tug," "Timothy" and "Old Man." He resided in the Grafton area and was a self-employed general farm laborer.

Circa 1910, he resided with his cousin Jennie Collins in the Philippi area and was a next-door neighbor to his uncle and aunt, Henry C. and Catherine Minerd. During World War I, in 1918, the 35-year-old registered for the military draft, and was marked by the draft board as a "Negro."

The spectacular scenery seen from Mt. Morris Cemetery, where Appilona Minard rests for eternity in an unmarked grave

Jacob was married to Apalona Harsbarger (1874-1931), the daughter of Jonas and Rebecca (Roger) Harsbarger. The bride was nine years older than the groom. (Her name also has been spelled "Appilona Minard.") They made their home at Cove Run, Barbour County.

Tragically, Appilona died on Sept. 20, 1931, of "pneumonia fever," at the age of 57. The informant on her death certificate was Lena Osborn of Grafton, WV, relationship unknown. She was buried at the Mt. Morris Cemetery about 11 miles north of Belington, with her grave marker recorded in the booklet, Barbour County, West Virginia Cemetery Headstone Readings. Unfortunately, a search of the Mt. Morris Cemetery in May 2007 failed to locate Appilona's grave stone.

Embarrassing headline naming Jacob in connection with "Carrie Miner" and a male companion. She may have been the wife of his brother Stephen Minard.

During the late 1930s, Jacob lived in Sandy Creek near Grafton, Taylor County, WV. He was named in an embarrassing news headline involving a "Carrie Miner" at the end of August 1939 when she and a male companion, 40-year-old Early Kisner of the Cove district, were arrested for "appearing outside their homes without any clothing." Said the Philippi Republican, "Residents of Sandy Creek, in Barbour county, near the Taylor county line complained to local officers, and the two were taken into custody by state and county officers a few days ago. They were arrested at the home of Jacob Minor, of that community." Carrie and Kisner were "each fined $50 and costs and Kisner given a jail sentence of ninety days and the Miner woman a jail sentence of sixty days, when given a hearing Friday before Magistrate Ben Wilson... The Miner woman is supposed to visit on Sandy Creek during the week ends."

Jacob is said to have been killed by a freight train in or near Philippi. Details will be added here when learned.