James
William Minerd
(1878-1953)
James
William Minerd was born on March 14, 1878 at Dunbar, Fayette County, PA, the son of James
Valentine and Nancy (Warman) Fuller Minerd. A coal miner and furnace
laborer, he spent virtually his entire
life in Dunbar.
On July 3, 1899, at the age of 21, James married
18-year-old Minerva Bodkin (1881-1966), daughter of George and Catherine
(Williams) Bodkin, an old family of Dunbar. The ceremony was performed by James'
first cousin, the famed "Blacksmith-Preacher," Rev. David
E. Minerd.
James and Minerva are seen at right. Their children were Edith Yutzy, Eleanor Smith, George Theodore Minerd, James Albert Minerd and David Edwin Minerd.
James worked as a laborer at an industrial furnace in Dunbar. In 1937, he was residing, and perhaps employed, at the Leisenring #1 Mine.
James registered for the World War I military draft in 1918, and stated his occupation as fireman for the West Penn Power Company of Connellsville. He signed his name with an "X" on the draft card, as he could not write his own name.
As with many American families during World War
II, the Minerds worried when their son David was away serving in the US Armed Forces with a tank
destroyer battalion.
Seen here, wearing a headset, David operates a military radio.
Over the years, James also is known to have worked as a painter of houses and churches throughout the Dunbar community
James died at age 75 on Feb. 3, 1953, and is buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Dunbar. At the time of his death, he and Minerva had 16 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
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James and Minerva's grave at Mt. Auburn |
At
some point in time, the local Ladies Aid Society in Dunbar sold "name
petals" for 10 cents each to the people of Dunbar in order to raise needed
funds. Minerva was one of the purchasers, among others including her sister in
law Emma (Fuller) Robbins and several of her
Robbins nieces and nephews. Each donor's name was stitched with red threads onto
white fabric petals which eventually formed the shape of flowers superimposed on
top of squares. The squares were sewn together into an attractive red and white
banner, in the collection of resident Mae Hardy, who passed it down to her niece
Doris (Porter) Rockwell. Years later, in September 2002, the banner was placed
on display at the Dunbar-Fest Community event, and has continued to be shown at
the annual "fests." Seen at right is the flower pattern
as well as Minerva's individual name petal at left. Click here to see the
quilt at a larger size in our "Online
Quilt Museum."
Minerva outlived her husband by 13 years. She resided for a long time at 43 Railroad Street in Dunbar, and was a member of the Dunbar Baptist Church. Sadly, she passed away at age 85 on Jan. 15, 1966 and is buried with James. At the time of Minerva's death, the number of their great-grandchildren had risen to 31, and she even had 1 great-great grandchild.
Daughter Eleanor Minerd married Herschel Smith. They resided in Cumberland, MD, where she worked for 30 years as a laboratory technician at the local Memorial Hospital. She also was a volunteer phlebotomist for the Red Cross, and received the Sarah Bennaman Award, "given annually to an American Red Cross volunteer," said the Cumberland Times-News.
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James and Minerva's adult children, L-R: George, Edith, James, Eleanor and David |
Son
James William Minerd married Elizabeth Hall, seen here. James worked for Anchor Hocking
in Connellsville, PA for about 34 years. (The Anchor Hocking plant is seen at
right in an old postcard.) He belonged to the BGGA Local and was a
social member of the South Connellsville Fireman's Club. On Nov. 23, 1931, James
and his buddy Stephen Uher were critically injured in a motorcycle accident. The
Connellsville Daily Courier reported that "the motorcycle on which
they were riding was wrecked near Uniontown on the old Connellsville-Uniontown
road... The motorcycle is reported to have attempted to pass two automobiles as
they also were passing and struck a machine driven by W.E. Coddington of
Uniontown, who took them to the hospital." When James' badly injured leg
could not be saved, it was amputated just after the New Year's holiday in 1932.
He was released from the hospital in mid-February 1932. While recovering from his injury, he met his future wife
Elizabeth, who was a licensed practical nurse at Connellsville State General
Hospital. Elizabeth also was a volunteer for the Albert Gallatin Hospice
program. They resided in Dunbar, and many of their descendants still live there
today. Several of their offspring have attended our annual reunions.
Daughter Edith
Minerd married Henry Yutzy in 1920.
They settled in the Cumberland area. Seen here, he was an employee of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and a boxer "remembered by boxing fans as
'the best slambang fighter' Cumberland ever had," according to an article
in the Cumberland News. Henry was nicknamed "K.O." and began
his career at age 14 as a circus boxer in Garrett, Somerset County, PA. Shortly
afterward, his contract was purchased by a boxing promoter. Said the News,
Henry was:
...active in the ring from 1926 to 1936 and his best fighting weight was 143 pounds. He liked to fight so much that he never asked, nor concerned himself about the win-loss record or little else about his opponent. He was game to the core and the rougher the fight got the better he seemed to like it.... His most prized triumph was scored here in the National Guard armory the night he knocked out Johnny Carey of Erie, Pa.,... The knockout came in the first round.
Son David
Minerd married
Ruth Winifred Morgan, seen at right.
Circa 1937, he resided at Leisenring No. 1 and in Dunbar, where he worked as a
laborer. Later, after his service in World War II, they resided in Cumberland, MD. He is mentioned for his
military service in the 1983 book, Dunbar: The Furnace Town. Their
daughter Wini is an executive secretary with the County of Allegany in
Cumberland.
Son George Theodore Minerd married Mary Boyd and Nellie (Fullem) Lerch. He worked for the Dunlap Tire & Rubber Co. until his retirement in 1968. Nellie was the organist for 36 years at Mount Braddock (PA) Methodist Church.
For more information, contact granddaughters Debbie (Minerd) Polacke or Wini Minerd.
Copyright © 2000-2004, 2008 Mark A. Miner