Bio-Minerd, LutherSr

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Luther Minerd Sr.
(1865-1945)

M. Luther Minerd Sr. was born on Jan. 10, 1865, in Scio, Harrison County, OH, the son of Daniel and Rebecca (Knouff) Minard. He is acknowledged as a pioneer of northern California in the late 1800s, and also spent parts of his adult life in Idaho and Arizona.

Irvine's 1905 History of the New California, seen here, contains a published profile of Luther. It said that while "living the conventional farmer's life, unproductive of any great events, yet he is honored by his fellow men for the many sterling qualities he possesses, among them honesty and integrity in his intercourse with those about him."

Growing up in Ohio, Luther’s father felt very strongly that he should be educated at nearby Scio College. In fact, in his will, father Daniel wrote that:

… my son Luther Minerd [shall be given] a term of three years schooling at the Scio college in Scio, Harrison County, Ohio, commencing when my said son Luther arrives at the age of eighteen years, the same to be paid out of my estate by [my wife]. Providing that my said son Luther does not desire the benefits of an education and will not attend school as above directed and provided for him, he is not to receive any money out of my estate in lieu of his education or the value of his three years schooling is not to be paid to him in money out of my estate. I mean that if my said son Luther should refuse and neglect to attend school as provided for him, that he is not to be paid the value of the three years’ schooling in money out of my estate.

In 1888, some 11 years before his father died, Luther is known to have attended Scio College, but did not graduate. (Scio College later was merged into Mount Union College.) In the old records of Mt. Union College, Luther is referred to as "M.L.," suggesting that "Luther" was actually his middle name, and that his first name began with "M.")

Luther married Mary B. Cornelius, daughter of H.P. Cornelius of Sacramento County. Mary's father was from Denmark, and her mother from Norway. The date of marriage is given as on March 7, 1895, but this date is suspect, as other evidence suggests they were married in 1888, and perhaps earlier.

They lived on Upper Stockton Road and had at least four children -- Luther Minerd Jr., Lillian R. Raxten, Dannie C. Minerd and Harry Earl Minerd.

Sadly, Dannie died the year he was born -- at the age of eight months, on June 6, 1896, attended by Dr. White in Sacramento. Burial was in the Elder Creek Cemetery, with funeral arrangements handled by the Geo. H. Clark funeral home. His passing was noted in the 1905 History of New California.

Luther must have moved away from Ohio a short time after he left the college, and went to California. An 1888 issue of the Cadiz Republican reported that "Luther Minard and wife, and son, Luther, and little daughter, Lyllyian, of Sacramento, California, who are spending the winter with his mother, Mrs. D. Minard, visited last week with his brother, Mr. E.M. Minard, of Scio."

After leaving his home state, Luther changed how his surname was pronounced, though the spelling remained the same. This may have been due to a dispute with relatives, but the cause is unknown. He placed the accent on the second syllable, so it is pronounced "minn-ARD" rather than "MINE-erd." His descendants continue to say it that way today.

The History of the New California states that Luther settled in Sacramento in 1890, rather than 1888. But regardless of the settlement date, he went on to work there as a farmer and then was a salesman in the retail meat business. Said the History, "in the fall of 1896 [he] purchased and removed to the farm which he now owns and occupies, consisting of twenty acres, thirteen and a half acres of which are devoted to the growing of grapes, principally of the Tokay and Mission varieties. Almost his entire time and attention are devoted to this industry, and his farm is well tilled and produces bountifully." His farm was located "near the Upper Stockton road, about six miles southeast of the Sacramento court house…"

Seen at left is a postcard from the early 1900s showing a typical grape harvest in the region.

Interested in the welfare of his Sacramento-area neighbors, said the History, Luther "in various ways demonstrated that he is a public-spirited man, ever solicitous for the welfare and advancement of the community in which he has cast his lot."

Luther and family rarely returned east. However, in 1906, the Cadiz Republican in Ohio reported that “Mr. and Mrs. M.L. Minerd, of Sacramento, California, were in Cadiz last week on a visit to his sister, Mrs. W.W. Morgan. This is Mrs. Minard’s first visit to Harrison county in sixteen years.”

At times the Minerds also are known to have resided in Idaho in Rupert, Minidoka County (1911) and also in Kansas (1915). Brother Grant is known to have traveled to Idaho in 1909, and may have visited Luther there. Luther's son Harry was born in Idaho in 1909 as well.

When the federal census was taken in 1920, Luther is listed in Holbrook, Navajo County, AZ, where he lived alone and was employed as a butcher in a meat market. By 1930, Luther and Mary had moved again to San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles, where they made their home at 339 19th Street. the 1930 census shows Luther, Mary, Lillian and Harry residing in their household, with Luther having no occupation. In about 1937, he began suffering from cancer of his left kidney. He endured this illness for five years, until he suffered a heart attack and died, at the age of 80, on March 12, 1945. His remains were cremated, and interred at the Mt. View Cemetery in San Bernardino.

San Bernardino's E Street as seen from Third Street, with the ever-present San Bernardino mountains looming in the background

Mary's fate is unknown. More will be published here when known.

~ Son Luther Minerd Jr. ~

Son Luther Minerd (1897- ? ) registered for the World War I military draft in 1918, and stated his occupation as working for himself. At the time, he was living at Artesia, NM, as was his father.

Grandson Francis L. Minerd has been a longtime expert in the steel industry in southern California, specializing in wire processing and machinery, and working today as a successful consultant. He and his wife Selma attend our 2005 national Minerd-Minard-Miner-Minor Reunion in Western Pennsylvania, and received the award for "Furthest Traveled."

Based in Whittier, CA, Selma is a top political strategist and organizer with the Republican Party of Los Angeles County, 58th Assembly District, and has been photographed with every Republican president since Richard M. Nixon. She has received many prestigious awards for her work. In 2006, she announced her intention to run for the Republican nomination in the 38th State Senate District. Click here to contact Francis and Selma.

~ Daughter Lillian R. (Minerd) Raxten ~

Daughter Lillian R. Minerd (1903- ? ) was born in California. At the age of 26, in 1930, she worked as a "trained nurse - private duty" in San Bernardino. She married (?) Raxten. She died in Los Angeles, at the age of 76, on Jan. 22, 1980.

~ Son Harry Earl Minerd ~

Son Harry Earl Minerd (1909-1987) was born in Idaho. He was a drug store laborer circa 1930, when he was age 21. He passed away at the age of 79 in Kern, CA on Feb. 17, 1987.