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Stephen T. Minerd was born on Jan. 7 or 17, 1870 in Barbour County, WV, the son of Ruth Ann (Minerd) Kennedy. He was raised by his grandparents, Jacob and Ruth (Adams) Minerd. While Stephen told his children that his father was "Edward Minerd" and his mother "Ruth Kennedy," it is believed that he was raised under his mother's maiden name and that the actual identity of "Edward" is unknown, but could have been his birth father's first name.

We do not know if this family is related to ours, but it is known that Stephen's grandfather Minerd was a "Dutchman" (Pennsylvania German) and that he was from the precise area of the Fayette/Somerset County, PA, border region where our Minerds were pioneers in the 1790s. We also know that Stephen's grandmother was a Native American and that Stephen's mother, uncles and aunts thus were considered of mixed race (or "mulatto" in the language of the mid-1800s).

Little is known of Stephen's young life, other than as a teenager, he shuttled between West Virginia and Ohio. 

On Sept. 23, 1888, in Doddridge County, WV, he married Lucy Lorraine Hill (1872-1939), a native of Morgan County, OH. The nuptials took place at the home of John Hill, and were led by Rev. George W. Duff. Stephen was age 19, and Lucy 16, at the time. (Their marriage license also is on record in Athens County, OH.)

The Minerds had 10 children in all -- Lydia Ann Minerd, Mary Ethel Goins, Jessie Mae Kennedy, Myrtle Minerd, Leslie Ray Minerd, Everett Elwood Minerd, Ivy Lucille Minerd, Harry Gillion Minerd, Chalmer Taylor Minerd and Bernice Marie Smith. 

Sadly, Stephen and Lucy lost four of their children at young ages -- Lydia (age 7 in 1896) and Myrtle (1896), Leslie Ray (1900) and Chalmer Taylor (1908) as infants.

Flemington, Barbour County, WV, where the Minerds lived on and off over the years

Seen at right, Stephen (far left, holding a jug) stands with Roy Kennedy and Kenneth Goins.

In a 1930s land deed of Taylor County, WV, he is listed as "a brother of the half-blood" of a group of the Kennedy clan -- Josiah Kennedy (died 1934) who was married to Icy Minerd; John H. Kennedy, Sarepta Mayle (who was separated from her husband), Opha Kennedy (widower), Jefferson and Edith Kennedy, Harrison and Elsina Kennedy, Ray and Cora Kennedy, Howard Kennedy (separated from his wife), and Nancy C. and Charles Mayle. 

[Stephen's sister in law Cora Bell (Mayle) Kennedy (1900-1976) was the daughter of Emily Jane "Emma" (Minerd) Mayle and the granddaughter of William Minerd.]

In 1900, when the federal census was taken, the Minerds resided in the Flemington area of Taylor County. Boarding in their home that year were Stephen’s brothers in law, Chancy Hill, Waitman Hill and James Hill. 

Stephen and Lucy eventually migrated into Ohio, following the pattern set by other of their relatives. Stephen found work there as a coal miner. The Minerds likely lived in both Athens, Athens County and Marietta, Washington County. Their daughter Mary is known to have been born in Athens in 1893. They also lived in Lathrope, Athens County in 1912. Circa 1939, the family resided in Sharpsburg, Bern Twp., Athens County.

Typical coal mining operations in Nelsonville, Athens County, ca. 1910

Lucy passed away at age 67 on May 13, 1939 in Marietta. The cause of death was liver cancer of six months' duration. She was laid to rest at Mount Hermon Cemetery in Athens County, OH. She is said to have "a very old headstone which is very hard to read."

Stephen outlived his wife by 12 years. He spent the last years in the home of daughter Iva in Sharpsburg. On or about May 14, 1950, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, but lived another nine months. He finally passed away, relieved of his suffering, on Feb. 13, 1951. His obituary noted that he was survived by a sister, "Mrs. C. Mayle, Grafton, W.Va., ... along with seven half-brothers, 22 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren," said the Athens Messenger. He had no Social Security number.

He is buried beside Lucy at Mount Hermon, but there is no headstone marking his final resting place. Rather a small metallic grave marker identifies the site.

The family is listed and profiled in Benjamin F. Bain's book, Multiracial Pioneers of the Ohio Valley (volume 3).

Stephen's grave at Mount Hermon Cemetery near Athens, OH

~ Daughter Jessie Mae (Minerd) Kennedy ~

On May 28, 1909, 18-year-old daughter Jessie Mae Minerd (1891-1985) married 24-year-old William Henry Kennedy (1885-1932). He was a coal miner, and the son of Alexander and Josephine (Male) Kennedy (also spelled "Kennada") of Washington County, OH. They made their home in Bern Township, Athens County. Their children were Glenn Kennedy, Gracie Hardin, Delcie Lewis, Della Faye Churchill, Glenda Barnett and Thelma Jackson. Tragically, William suffered from stomach cancer, and succumbed to its effects at the age of 45, on March 10, 1932. His remains were laid to rest at Mt. Hermon Cemetery. On William's death certificate, he was listed as "colored." Later in life, Jessie lived in Zanesville, Muskingum County, OH circa 1964. She was a member of the Greater Apostolic Church of Christ in Zanesville.  Jessie died at age 94 on Sept. 28, 1985, and is buried with her husband. At the time of her death, she had 20 grandchildren, 63 great-grandchildren and 29 great-great grandchildren. 

Daughter Della Faye Kennedy (1914-2010) married Jonathan Budwell Churchill ( ? -1989) and had four children: Wanda Bailey, Budwell William Churchill, Herbert Allen Churchill and Ronald Brown. Said the Zanesville Times-Register, "She was a member of the Greater Apostolic Church of Christ, a former employee of the Ballas Egg Company and retired from Essex Wire after 30 plus years of service. Mrs. Churchill enjoyed shopping and spending time with her children and grandchildren." Jonathon died on Sept. 11, 1989. Della outlived him by nearly 21 years. She passed away at the age of 96, at Willow Haven Care Center, on July 8, 2010, and was laid to rest at Mount Hermon Cemetery in Athens County. At her death, she was survived by more than 95 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Daughter Glenda Kennedy married (?) Barnett and resided in Zanesville.

Daughter Thelma Louise Kennedy married Frank Jackson and made their home in St. Clairsville, OH.

Son Glenn Kennedy married Bonnie and lived in Zanesville.

Daughter Delcie Kennedy married (?) Lewis.

Daughter Gracie Kennedy wed (?) Hardin.

One of Jessie's great-grandsons, John Louis Morgan Jr. (1948-1969), resided in Pacoima, Los Angeles County, CA. He served as a corporal in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War as a member of Company B of the 31st Infantry, 9th Infantry Division. Tragically, at the age of 21, John was killed in the Mekong Delta on April 10, 1969, after stepping on a land mine. His remains were returned stateside for burial in Zanesville in the Veterans Memorial Garden of Woodlawn Cemetery. His marker, as photographed by Sue Wolf, is seen here. John's name also is inscribed on the Muskingum County Vietnam War Memorial in Zane's Landing Park along the Muskingum River in Zanesville, and on the Minerd.com "Wartime Military Casualties" webpage.

~ Daughter Mary Ethel (Minerd) Goins ~

On July 30, 1911, daughter Mary Ethel Minerd (1893-1986) married John Henry Goins II (1886-1981), the son of John H. and Elizabeth (Kennedy) Goins Sr. of Washington County, OH. John was a longtime coal miner in the Zanesville area. Mary was a member of the Apostolic Church of Christ in Zanesville, and was employed for many years as a domestic worker for St. Thomas Catholic Church Convent and Rectary. 

John died of renal failure at age 95 on May 20, 1981. 

Mary outlived him by five years, and passed away of Alzheimer's Disease on June 9, 1986. They are buried in Mount Hermon Cemetery. At the time of Mary's death, she had 136 living descendants, including 29 grandchildren, 66 great-grandchildren and 41 great-great grandchildren.

Stephen and Lucy's children, L-R: Harry, Jessie, Mary, Bernice and Ivy

~ Son Everett Minerd ~

Son Everett Minerd (1903-1964) may not have married. He was born on April 17, 1903 in Berrysburg, Barbour County. As an adult, he resided in Sharpsburg, Athens County, and was a member of the Mt. Carmel Evangelical United Brethren Church. 

At his passing, his obituary was published in the Athens Messenger. He is laid to rest beside his parents. 

~ Daughter Ivy Lucille (Minerd) Fisher ~

Daughter Ivy Lucille Minerd (1904-1993) married Charles Jesse "Jess" Fisher. They lived in Sharpsburg and Amesville, Athens County. They had seven children -- Garnet L. Fisher, Jesse L. "Bud" Fisher, Betty Smith, Marlene Mayle, Judy Dean, Jo Elaine Davidson and Canda Conkle. Iva passed away in Aultman Hospital in Canton, Stark County, OH, at the age of 89 on July 13, 1993. Jess's fate is unknown. They are buried in Mount Hermon Cemetery. 

Daughter Garnet L. Fisher (1924-1995) married (?) Ramsey. They resided in Stark County, where Garnet served in the healthcare industry. Garnet passed away at home at the age of 71 on July 17, 1995. 

Son Jesse L. "Bud" Fisher (1922-2000) was born in Athens County, but "lived most of his life in the Canton area and was a retired labor foreman with Gibbons and Grable Construction, retiring in 1984," reported the Canton (OH) Repository. On July 10, 1942, Bud married Frances Smith, the daughter of Vinton and Lydia Smith of Rendville, OH. They were married for nearly 58 years. The Fishers had six children -- Brenda White, Renee Pinkerton, Vivian Cindia, Beverly Stinger, Shari Rothacher and Roger D. Fisher. They were members of the Apostolic Holiness Church of Canton. Bud died at the age of 77 on June 2, 2000, after coming home from a long day on the farm, "following an apparent heart attack," said the Repository. He was laid to eternal rest in Evergreen Memorial Gardens.

~ Daughter Ivy Lucille (Minerd) Fischer ~

Daughter Bernice Minerd (1909-1985) married Elwood Smith (1906-1971), the son of Edward and Diantha (Mayle) Smith. They resided in Canton, OH circa 1964. Elwood was a construction worker in the Canton area for many years. They had two children -- Jerry Smith and Janet Allender. Elwood passed away at the age of 64 on Sept. 8, 1971, having "been in failing health some time," reported the Zanesville Times Recorder. Following Elwood's death, Bernice moved to Chesterhill, Athens County, where she made her home at the time of her death in 1985. They are interred at Mount Hermon Cemetery. An old postcard view of Chesterhill, with unpaved streets, is seen at left.

~ Son Harry Minerd ~

Son Harry Minerd (1912-1993) lived on Route 1 in Cutler, OH circa 1964. He married Pauline Harris and had five children -- Melvin Minerd, Roger Minerd, Richard Minerd, Hilda Norris and Danny Minerd. 

In the late summer of 1958, the 44-year-old Harry was employed by Don King Construction Company of Jackson, OH. On Aug. 18, 1958, he was trapped "when a sewer-line ditch through sandy soil caved in at Zanesville's sewage-disposal plant project at the old Tube Mill site in lower Putnam," said the Times Recorder. Harry was buried under six feet of earth, and it took a team of 20 men a total of 25 minutes to dig him out. He was immediately given oxygen, and eventually recovered.

For information on Lucy (Hill) Minerd's family, visit Glenn Barnett's website.