Joanna
(Minerd) Enos
(1843-1932)
Joanna
(Minerd) Enos was born on Christmas Eve 1843 at Hexebarger near Kingwood, Somerset County, PA, the daughter of
John and Sarah (Ansell) Minerd.
During Joanna's girlhood years, she broke both ankles and later walked bowlegged as an adult, with her weight resting on her ankles.
Raised in a German-speaking household, Joanna recalled Pennsylvania Dutch words in her later years. One such word passed down in the family -- "grumbeer" for potatoes -- was recalled many years later by one of her elderly granddaughters.
Joanna
also is known to have smoked a corncob pipe, a habit picked up from helping
her father when he was elderly and unable to light his own. As an
older woman, when her mind began to fail, her thoughts often raced back to the
hectic days of farm-threshing when as a girl she had to cook constantly for all the
relatives and friends who were helping work in the fields.
On March 29, 1868, Joanna married Civil War veteran Perry Enos (1844-1909). They were the parents of seven children -- Elizabeth "Bessie" Weimer, Hannah Laura Enos, Sarah "Ellen" Hart, Minnie Ann Kuhns, James M. Enos, Jennie M. Snyder and Andrew J. 'Bud' Enos.
Joanna is seen at right, seated, while a horse grazes along the fence in the background.
Perry was born on Valentine's Day 1844. During the war, Perry had served in Co. G, 188th PA Volunteer Infantry. Drafted on Sept. 29, 1864, he stood 5 feet 9 inches tall, with blue eyes and light hair.
While in camp near Richmond, VA in November 1864, Perry "contracted rheumatism, weak back and pain in side and breast" and was treated at the Point of Rocks Hospital, VA. He spent the winter of 1864-65 in "soldier villages" in a camp near Fort Gilmer, VA.
The
"monotony of camp life" was "little disturbed during the
winter" according to published reports, but in March 1865 the regiment marched to
Fredericksburg, VA,
destroying "stores and property collected for the use of the rebel
army."
Seen at left is a rare, old colorized photographic postcard showing the wartime destruction in Fredericksburg. The caption states that within 15 miles of this spot, "more great armies maneuvered, more great battles were fought, more men were engaged in mortal combat and more officers and privates were killed and wounded than in any similar territory in America."
Later, in April 1865, the 188th marched to the Confederate capitol city of Richmond, which was in flames as Union troops passed through. Though the war ended in April 1865, Perry remained in the Army for an additional six months, and was discharged at Lynchburg, VA, on Oct. 4, 1865.
Richmond residents flee as their city
burns on April 2, 1865
The
colorized photo of Lynchburg seen at right was taken during the war years, and
gives us an idea of what Perry would have seen as he completed his military
service. The image was taken in front of
the courthouse looking down Ninth Street to the river. It shows the old Market
House that stood in the center of Ninth Street at Main. The house with the
chimney in the foreground was a fire engine house.
Perry returned home after the war. He and Joanna were married three years later. After marriage, they acquired 31 acres of farmland near White, Fayette County, that they farmed for many years. The June 10, 1898 Connellsville Courier reports that Perry had "raised his new barn...."
In
the years after the war, Perry applied for and began receiving federal pension
benefit payments in recognition of his military service. The Dec. 14, 1894 Courier said that Perry had "received notice some
eight or nine months ago that his pension would be reduced from $12 to $8 per
month, but he has been drawing his $12 right along, reports to the contrary
notwithstanding."
Perry was politically active, and in November 1882 was elected an officer of the Democratic organization of Springfield Township. The Courier reported:
The late democratic victory was celebrated in the village of [Normalville] with speeches, illuminations, bonfires and a torchlight parade. Two martial bands enlivened the occasion with their music. Men, women and children turned out to celebrate the first democratic victory since 1857. After the marching was over, a meeting was organized by the selection of the following officers: ... vice presidents, ... Perry Enos....
The old Enos farmhouse, circa summer 1957
The
remaining years of Perry's life are obscured by the mists of history. He died near White on March 30,
1909, at the age of 63. The details are not known.
Joanna outlived him by 23 years, and passed away on Feb. 19, 1932. They are buried together at nearby Snyder Cemetery.
For more information on this family, contact great-great-granddaughter Peg (Grimm) Mansberry.
Copyright
© 2000, 2004, 2006 Mark A. Miner.
Fredericksburg photograph by Mathew Brady.
Richmond
lithograph by Currier & Ives.
Enos farmhouse photos by Mabel (Snyder) Richter.