Bio-Minerd, JacobBuck

Jacob Minerd Jr.
(1854-1907)

Jacob Minerd Jr. was born on Sept. 12, 1854 in Evansville, Preston County, WV, the son of Jacob and Ruth (Adams) Minerd Sr. His birthdate also has been given as January 1861, but his birth officially is on record in Preston County.

We do not know if this family is related to ours, but it is known that Jacob Jr.'s father was a "Dutchman" (Pennsylvania German) and that he was from the precise area of the Fayette/Somerset County, PA, border region where our Minerds were pioneers in the 1790s. We also know that Jacob Jr.'s mother was a Native American and that Jacob Jr. and his siblings thus were considered of mixed race (or "mulatto" in the language of the mid-1800s).

As a young man, Jacob moved with his parents and siblings to South Grafton, Taylor County, WV and to Philippi, Barbour County, WV. Later, in the late 1870s or early 1880s, Jacob moved to the Athens County, OH, area.

On July 24, 1887, 33-year-old Jacob married 16-year-old Martha A. "Bessie" Buck (1867-1932?), daughter of Alonzo and Sarah (Miller) Buck. The ceremony was performed in Athens County. It's possible Jacob fibbed about his age, given the difference of 13 years between him and his bride. Bessie was a native of Ohio.

Jacob labored as a farmer and farm hand. He also is known to have driven teams of horses and wagons, hauling materials for local customers. The photograph seen at right shows Jacob with a load of long pipe, taken along a road in the Guysville area of Athens County. Click to see a larger version of this image, our "Photo of the Month" for May 2007.

The Minerds had seven children, born between 1889 and 1899 -- Eva D. Minerd, Claude "Cloddie" or "Tod" Thomas Minerd, Edna A. Kyle, Lonnie B. Minerd, John Edward Minerd, Basil A. Minerd Sr. and one of unknown identity who died prior to 1900.

Circa June 1900, when the federal census was taken, the Minerd family was renting their home, and living in Amesville, Ames Township, Athens County. In later years, the family also resided in Rome Township, Athens County.

Family portrait, taken at M.M. DeWeese Studio, Stewart, Ohio: Standing, back row, left to right: Tod, Edna and Eva. Seated, front: Basil, Jacob, John and Martha.

Tragedy struck the family in the spring of 1907. On April 4, while working on the farm of Mahlon Hayes about two miles south of Guysville, Jacob "dropped dead," said an Athens newspaper. He "was planting potatoes when he suddenly fell and died before medical aid could be summoned. He had been in good health previously and heart failure is supposed to be the cause of death." A granddaughter recalls that he had stopped his work to rest in the shade of a tree when he was stricken.

The funeral was held two days later at the Minerd home, and Jacob's remains were laid to rest in the Bean Cemetery. Jacob's family believed him to be age 42 at death, but in reality his actual age was 53. The Bean Cemetery is seen here circa 2005. A search of the cemetery, as well as an examination of burial records held at the Alden Library at Ohio University in nearby Athens, show that Jacob's grave is not marked, a fact that has been confirmed by family stories of a granddaughter.

Martha outlived her husband by 20 or more years. She remained in the Guysville area, and married again, to Addison (?) Bean. Over the years, she stayed in close contact with her children and growing family of grandchildren. One granddaughter remembers Martha giving her a scolding when playing on a porch.

She died on Jan. 11, 1934, at the age of 66, having suffered from heart disease. She was laid to rest beside or near her first husband. Their grave is said to be next to the fence at the top of the hill at Bean Cemetery.

View on Amesville's unpaved State Street. Note the railway track in the foreground, left to right

Son Claude ("Cloddie" or "Tod") Minerd (1891-1966) was of medium height and build, and had blue eyes and dark brown hair.

Circa 1918, he resided at Guysville and was employed as a farmer by Mrs. Amy Cornell. He was a veteran of World War I, having served as a corporal in the 308 Motor Battallion. On his military draft registration card, he noted that his race was "African" and that his right foot was disabled, "caused by broken ankle."

Todd married Ethel Frye (1896-1983), the daughter of Lee and Maud (Perrin) Fry. They were members of the Stewart Wesleyan Church.

The Minerds resided in Guysville, Athens County and had 12 children -- Claude Watson Minerd of Little Hocking, OH; Bessie Beatrice Brown of Guysville, OH; Margaret Rittinger of Chillicothe, OH; Roberta Dailey of Stewart, OH; Mina Mae Boyer of Columbus, OH; Mrs. Cre Yeater and Ohema Dumfee of Guysville, OH; Beverly Humphrey Thompson of Columbus, OH; Eudora VanKeuren Barnhart of Athens, OH; Robert Thomas "Bob" Minerd of Barberton, OH and Nebraska; William Minerd of Guysville, OH; and Roy Minerd of Athens, OH.

In December 1927, Ethel and several of her children attended a birthday party for M. Coon in Guysville, and the news was published in the Sunday Messenger newspaper. In mid-May 1932, the Athens Messenger reported that "Tod Minerd and family have moved to the property of E.W. Cunningham at the corner of Main and Mill Streets" in Guysville.

Ethel died on Feb. 12, 1983, having outlived her husband by 17 years. She was laid to rest in the Stewart Cemetery. Her obituary in the Athens newspaper said she was survived by 30 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.

Daughter Bessie Beatrice Minerd ( ? -1967) married Robert L. Brown (1911-1976), the son of Leslie and Florence Brown of Athens County. They resided in Guysville and had three children -- Jim Brown, Eldon Brown and Donna Tanthorey. Said the Daily Sentinel newspaper, Robert "attended the Pilgrim Holiness Church at Stewart and was a 33-year retired employee of the B&O Railroad. A resident of Guysville for the past 45 years, he retired from the food service department at Ohio University on Nov. 8 [1976." Bessie passed away in Wood County, WV on Oct. 5, 1967. Robert survived Bessie by nine years. He died on Nov. 14, 1976, at the age of 65.

Daughter Margaret Minerd (1920-1992) was born in Springfield, Clark County, OH. She married (?) Rittinger. They made their home in Chillicothe. Margaret died in Chillicothe at the age of 72 on May 7, 1992.

Son Robert Thomas "Bob" Minerd (1925-2007) was married twice. With his first wife, he had two children -- Marlaine Herbert and Mark G. Minerd. Later, he married Barbara Louise Books on Sept. 5, 1959, at Little Hocking. They had one daughter. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, on the USS Houston in the Asian-Pacific Theatre, Bob returned home to Guysville. He "went to work in the logging business with a team of horses," said the North Platte (NE) Telegraph. "He later moved to Ashtabula, Ohio, and started trucking over the road. He went to work for Consolidated Freight in 1965, and retired from there in 1985." In 1971, they moved to Nebraska, settling in Hershey. There, Bob was a member of the local Shrine, Elks and American Legion. Bob passed away at the age of 81 on Jan. 7, 2007, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, NE. He was laid to rest at Fort McPherson National Cemetery.

Daughter Mina Mae Minerd (1929-2001) married (?) Boyer and resided in Columbus. They had two foster daughters, Linda and Nita. Mina died at the age of 72 on Sept. 2, 2001, at Mount Carmel Hospital in Columbus.

Daughter Beverly Minerd (1936-2008) attended Rome-Canaan High School and was a member of the Stewart Wesleyan Church. She married (?) Thompson. She resided in Stewart, and passed away on Dec. 18, 2008, at the age of 72.

Daughter Roberta ("Bertha") Minerd (1922-2010) was born on Dec. 1, 1922, in Springfield, OH. She married (?) Dailey, with their residence in Guysville. Bertha was a longtime cook for Ohio University in Athens. She passed away at the age of 87 on Sept. 11, 2010, at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital in Athens. An obituary appeared in the Athens Messenger.

Familiar landmark in Athens -- the old Herrold's mill and dam along the peaceful Hocking River

On May 15, 1912, at the age of 19, daughter Edna Minerd (1893-1916) married 24-year-old James Delbert Kyle (1887-1965). The ceremony was performed by Athens Mayor G.H. Slaughter.

James was a native of "The Garden" near Stewart, Athens County, and was the son of James and Roe (Sutton) Kyle. He was of medium height and build, and had blue eyes and dark brown hair.

The Kyles resided in Stewart, Athens County, and had three children -- Etta Louise Kyle, Mary Margaret Kyle and Anne Kyle.

Sadness enveloped the young couple on Oct. 1, 1912, when their firstborn daughter, Etta Louise Kyle, died at the age of three months, 13 days of organic heart disease. The infant was laid to rest in the Bean Cemetery in Stewart.

Tragically, the Kyles' marriage lasted only four years. In the fall of 1916, Edna came down with a bad case of pneumonia, most likely while expecting the birth of their third child. She passed away from the illness on Oct. 4, 1916, at the age of 24. She was laid to rest in the Haga Cemetery in the rural hills of Guysville.

The cemetery is seen at left as photographed in April 2005. Edna's grave today is not marked, but is recorded in the booklet, Rome Township Cemetery Inscriptions by Nancy E. Bryan Aiken and T. Lee Gregg, on file at Ohio University.

The year after Edna's death, James registered for the military draft during World War I. The registration agent filled out a card stating that James was residing on Hazel Ridge in Frost, OH and was self-employed in farming. The agent also marked that James' wife was deceased and that two children were depending upon him for support.

When the federal census was taken in 1920, James and Mary and their nine children from three marriages lived under one roof in Athens Township, Athens County. The census-taker recorded that the 32-year-old James worked as a general farmer.

Tragedy rocked the family again on June 23, 1937 when son Hugh, just a few weeks shy of his 18th birthday, died of liver disease at the Ohio State University in Columbus. His remains were returned to Athens for burial.

Later, the family relocated to Lancaster, Fairfield County, OH, where they remained for many years. Said a newspaper, James "was employed by the Anchor Hocking Glass Co. in Lancaster until his retirement." They made their home at 528 East Locust and at 702 Washington Avenue.

Daughter Mary Margaret Kyle (1913 - ? ) married Ralph Jassogne ( ? - ? ), a native of Indiana, and whose family were immigrants from Belgium. They had at least one son, Ralph Charles Jassogne. In 1932, the family made its home in the Reese Addition of Lancaster. The Grim Reaper once again cut down an innocent child on Oct. 12, 1934, when son Ralph, age one year, nine months, was run over by an automobile, and died of a skull fracture after being rushed to the hospital in Lancaster. The lad's broken remains were laid to eternal rest in St. Mary's Cemetery in Lancaster.

Son Basil A. Minerd Sr. (1897-1981) had grey eyes and brown hair. He married Audrey Lonas (1909-1992), the daughter of Charles O. and Bessie I. (Carsey) Lonas. Their children were Jean Beal Secoy and Donna France Creighton of Athens, OH, Shirley Morris Fender of Chauncey, OH; Earl Edward Minerd of Athens and Florida, Basil A. Minerd Jr. of Washington; Charles Minerd of Springfield, OH; Roger Minerd of Glouster, OH, Gary Minerd of Chauncey, OH and North Carolina; Richard Dow Minerd; and Larry Lee Minerd.

One of their daughters recalled hearing that the Minerd family was of Cherokee and Irish descent.

Circa 1918, Basil labored for D. Evans in Guysville. In late August 1927, Audrey made news in the gossip column of the Athens Messenger when she "and children were the guests recently of Mrs. Edgar Burton" in Harmony, Athens County.

Sadly, their son Richard, a veteran of World War II, died at age 23 of heart disease on Feb. 27, 1953, and was buried at Clark Chapel Cemetery in Athens.

Basil passed away in 1981, at the Logan Health Care Center in Chauncey, OH, at the age of 83.

Audrey outlived him by 11 years, and died on July 30, 1992. She was laid to rest beside her husband at Clark Chapel Cemetery. At the time, she was survived by 32 grandchildren and several great and great-great grandchildren.

Son Earl Edward Minerd (1922-1996) was a US Army veteran. He lived in Licking County, OH. Earl died at home at the age of 74 on Aug. 29, 1996.

Daughter Donna Minerd married Merle France, son of Ivan and Ruth France of Nelsonville. They were wed on Sept. 24, 1958 at New Martinsville, Wetzel County, WV, by the hand of Rev. W.H. Sliter. At the time of marriage, they both resided in Sistersville, WV.

Son Basil A. Minerd Jr. (1927-2001) was born on April 8, 1927. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy. Basil was married twice, first to Lillian Greenberg. They are seen at right. The Minerds had three children -- Robert Allen Miner, Patricia Thomas and Richard Dean "Rick" Minerd. After the Minerds divorced in about 1954, Basil married again and lived at Moses Lake near Spokane, Grant County, WA, with a second family of two sons and two daughters. Lillian also married again, to Jesse Rutherford. Basil died on Nov. 12, 2001, at the age of 74, in Washington State.

Daughter Shirley Minerd (1936-2009) married (?) Morris and (?) Fender but later in life used her maiden name. She had two children -- Ronald Morris and Debra Perez. Said the Athens Messenger, Shirley resided in Glouster and "was a member of the Jacksonville Eagles and was an avid bingo player." She passed away at the age of 73 on June 10, 2009. At the time of her passing, she was survived by 11 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Son Larry Lee Minerd faced a lifetime of run-ins with the law, leading to his tragic death. In November 1969, wanted by the Adult Parole authority, he was apprehended in Temple, NH. Extradited back to Athens County, he faced legal charges there. In the 1970s, he made his home in Columbus, OH. Tragically, he was mortally shot by a rookie police officer in Atlanta in December 1972 when he held up an employment office and held a teenage girl at gunpoint as a hostage. The story hit the Associated Press wires and made headlines in newspapers around the country.

Son Roy Roger Minerd (1947-2004) lived at Glouster and had two children -- Roger D. Minerd Sr. and Brenda Moore. He was a member of the Glouster Eagles. On Halloween 2004, while "participating in Glouster's trick-or-treating ... his homemade 'swamp man' costume caught fire ... while he was giving out candy," said the Athens Messenger. He died of his burns on Nov. 2, 2004, at Ohio State University's Medical Center in Columbus.

Richard Dean "Rick" Minerd in his two primary careers -- as a Columbus radio personality (circa 1984) and later as chief of police in Obetz, OH (2005).

Grandson Richard Dean "Rick" Minerd is the retired Chief of Police in Obetz, a suburb of Columbus, Franklin County, OH, where he spent a decade in law enforcement. Earlier in his career, he worked for 10 years as a public affairs officer with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, and was frequently quoted in hundreds of news stories in the Columbus Dispatch and on radio and television in connection with crime-fighting activities. He was quoted in Time Magazine (Dec. 15, 2003) for his work to help catch a sniper along Ohio's Interstate 270 who had gunned down numerous motorists before being captured. Rick also has been quoted or mentioned in the New York Times, USA Today and Cleveland Plain Dealer. In 1991, he appeared on a segment of television's America's Most Wanted with John Walsh to apprehend an escaped rapist. Prior to his career as a police officer, he was a radio news, sports and talk-show broadcaster with some of the most popular radio stations in Columbus -- WTVN, WCOL, WNCI and WMNI. Rick considered but did not pursue an election campaign in 2008 for the office of Sheriff of Franklin County. In 2009, he authored his memoirs, Life Is A Jukebox: Real Stories of Triumphs and Tragedies, issued by Trafford Publishing and available on Amazon.com. The volume is described as "a police chief's look back at both sides of the police tape and the unlikely circumstances that made him step from one side to the other."

Son John Edward Minerd (1899-1974) had a short and slender build, with brown eyes and black hair. He apparently never married. "He had been an oil field worker and farmer for the greater part of his life," said a newspaper.

When he registered for the military draft in 1918, at the age of 19, he marked himself as a farmer, but the draft board representative wrote, "In my opinion occupation is more of an excuse." He lived during the 1960s in Nelsonville. Later in life, he resided in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Fickisen in Guysville. He passed away on Dec. 12, 1974, and is buried in the Bean Cemetery in Guysville.

Be sure to visit Jacob's page on the TribalPages.com website compiled by Barb Nelson with significant excerpts from our research and website.