James
L. Minerd
(1859-1938)
James L. Minerd was born in
1859 in Ironton, Lawrence
County, OH, the son of John
V.S. and Elizabeth (Livingston) Minerd. While his grave marker states his
birth year as 1864, it's thought he "fudged" a little so he would
appear younger. When he was about seven years old, his family moved back to
Fayette County, PA, for good.
James was a longtime coal miner. Circa 1889, he worked in Dunbar, Fayette County, where many of his uncles, aunts and cousins lived over the years.
On
Dec. 2, 1889, 28-year-old James
married 22-year-old Catherine "Kate" Whalen (1869-1917). She was a native of Dawson, Fayette
County and the
daughter of Peter and Margaret Whalen, emigrants from the United Kingdom.
The wedding ceremony was conducted at Dunbar by justice of the peace Daniel K.
Cameron. A copy of their marriage license is on microfilm today at the
Westmoreland County Courthouse in nearby Greensburg.
Their eight children were Clyde B. Minerd, Wilbert Regis "Patsy" Minerd, Edna Wilson Johnson, Marie Edwards, Hazel E. Johnson, Margaret Pocci, Catherine Hughes and James W. Minerd.
The
Minerds later resided at Republic, Fayette County, which was a community built a coal
mining operation. James was said to be "widely known in Republic and
this district," said the Uniontown (PA) Standard. He converted to
the Roman Catholic faith for his wife.
When the federal census was taken in 1910, the Minerds and their children made their home at the Mitchell Works in Redstone Township, Fayette County. James' occupation is listed as "fireman" in the "shafts." Son Clyde, age 19, was a teamster in the shafts.
Sadly,
in
the summer of 1917, at the age of 47, Kate became gravely ill "due to
a complication of diseases." She went to stay with her sister, Mrs. Ray L.
Sharps of Republic, where she finally died on Aug. 6 of that year. She left behind her
husband and eight children, ranging in age from 27 (son Clyde) to 9 (son James).
James
outlived his wife by more than two decades.
He died at the age of 73 on Aug. 6, 1938 at the home of his married daughter Hazel Johnson in Republic. His death generated headlines, and he was buried beside his wife at Park Place Cemetery in Uniontown.
For more information on this branch, contact great-granddaughter Sandra (Dennis) Riley or visit her website.
Copyright © 2000, 2005, 2007 Mark A. Miner