Bio-Minerd, JamesWBodkin

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.

They had five children -- 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, at the age of 59, he was residing, and perhaps employed, at the Leisenring #1 Mine.

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.

Street scene in Dunbar, from an old postcard

Over the years, James also is known to have worked as a painter of houses and churches throughout the Dunbar community. He is said to have been a heavy drinker.

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 produced 16 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

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 91910-1999 ) married Herschel Smith ( ? - ? ) . They had four children -- James F. Smith, Richard H. Smith, Elaine Hawkins and Nadine Reinhart. The Smiths later divorced.

Eleanor resided in Cumberland, Allegany County, 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.

Eleanor died at the age of 88 in Cumberland on Feb. 20, 1999. She was survived by 18 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren. Said the Cumberland Times-News, she "was affectionately known as Na Na ... [and] was a loving mother, grandmother, friend and helper to her family. Those who remain, will treasure her memory..." She was laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Park in Cumberland.

James and Minerva's adult children, L-R: George, Edith, James, Eleanor and David, circa 1953.

Son James Albert Minerd ( ? - ? ) married Elizabeth Hall ( ? - ? ). Their children were James William Minerd, Shirley Dick and Deborah Bittner Polacke.

On Nov. 23, 1931, James and his buddy Stephen Uher were critically injured in a motorcycle accident. The 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 descendants still live there today.

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.

Daughter Shirley Minerd married Clarence E. Dick Jr. (1936-2009). They owned Medina Greenhouse and Florist near Hinckley, OH. Clarence's primary employment over the years was aas a construction superintendent at Leonard Krill Company, "from steel mill repairs in the Flats to nursing homes in Holmes County," said the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He also served as a zoning inspector for Hinckley Township. they attended several of our reunions over the years, and Shirley's painted porcelains were displayed at our 2006 "The Art of Creativity" reunion. Clarence passed away at the age of 73 on July 26, 2009.

Daughter Edith Minerd ( ? - ? ) married Henry Yutzy ( ? - ? ) in 1920. They resided in Garrett, Somerset County, PA before settling in the Cumberland, MD area.

They had three known children -- James Henry Yutzy, Peggy Grimes and Betty Wheeler.

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 James Henry Yutzy (1921-2004) married Lucy Clark. They had two sons -- James C. Yutzy and David H. Yutzy. James was a longtime machinist for the CSX Railroad, and served in the U.S. Army Railroad Corps during World War II. Said the Cumberland Times, he was "a faithful member of the Second Baptist Church, served as a deacon, Sunday School Teacher, choir member and nursing home ministry. He was dedicated to neighborhood clean up and helping his neighbors. For many years, Henry participated in the city gardening program. He always had a smile on his face and a song in his heart. He was an inspiration to everyone who knew him." James padded away at his residence, at the age of 83, on May 19, 2004. He was laid to rest in Sunset Memorial Park.

Son David Edwin Minerd (1914-1984) married Ruth Winifred Morgan (1913-1988). Circa 1937, he resided at Leisenring No. 1 and in Dunbar, where he worked as a laborer.

Seen here, wearing a headset, David operates a military radio while serving in World War II. During the war, he was pictured on the front page of the Connellsville Daily Courier in March 16, 1945, when he was home on military leave. Said the Courier, he "is spending a furlough with his wife, the former Miss Ruth Morgan of Dunbar township, after spending two and a half years overseas in combat in Tunisia, Italy, France and Germany. When his furlough is up, the veteran will return to his tank destroyer outfit in Germany, it being a part of the Seventh Army."

Later, after his service in World War II, they resided in Cumberland, Allegany County, MD. They had one daughter Winifred "Wini" Minerd. He is mentioned for his military service in the 1983 book, Dunbar: The Furnace Town.

David died on June 16, 1984, and is buried at Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery in Flintstone, MD (Section K-4, Row 8).

Ruth outlived David by four years. She passed away on Aug. 13, 1988, at the age of 75, and rests for eternity beside her husband.

Daughter Winifred "Wini" Minerd is an executive secretary with the County of Allegany in Cumberland, MD. She is a local photographer who displays her portfolio at www.photoartfantasy.com.

Son George Theodore Minerd Sr. (1905-1969) married Mary L. Boyd (1910-1997), of Confluence, Somerset County, PA, and the daughter of John D. and Fannie (Tressler) Boyd.

The Minerds had five children -- Edith "Cookie" Loudermilk Allen, Mary Katherine "Kate" Jackson, George Theodore "Ted" Minerd Jr., Richard Minerd and Ronald Cornell Minerd.

Later, George wed Nellie (Fullem) Lerch (1912-a995), the widow of Samuel W. Lerch and the daughter of Charles and Myrtle (McClain) Fullem of Uniontown, Fayette County. They had no children of their own, but her daughter from an earlier marriage, Marlene Lerch wed George's son Ted. Adding to the twists, Nellie's first cousin Sarah Elizabeth Farr married George's cousin Wade Minerd (of the family of Thomas Minerd).

George was a representative for the Dunlap Tire & Rubber Co. until his retirement in 1968. Nellie was the organist for 36 years at Mount Braddock (PA) Methodist Church.

George passed away in July 1969. He was laid to rest at Sylvan Heights Cemetery.

Nellie spent her final years in Voorhees, NJ. She passed away at the age of 83, on Dec. 15, 1995, in West Jersey Marlton Hospital. Her remains were returned to Uniontown for burial at Sylvan Heights Cemetery.

Although divorced from George, Mary kept in touch with her former Minerd in-laws, and came to our national family reunion circa 1995. Over the years she made her home in Collier and Chalk Hill, Fayette County. She died at the age of 86 on March 21, 1997, with burial at Sylvan Heights Cemetery in Uniontown.

Daughter Mary Katherine Minerd (1930-2005) married Marshall Jackson. They had three children -- Marcia "Kim" Noonan, Richard Dawson Jackson and Scott William Jackson. She resided in Uniontown, where she passed away at age 74 on March 15, 2005.

Daughter Edith "Cookie" Minerd married twice, first to Donald Loudermilk, and second to (?) Allen. During her first marriage, she made her residence in White Sulphur Springs, WV.

Dunbar streetscape postcard courtesy of Donna Myers.