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Venetta Pearl (Minerd) |
Venetta Pearl (Minerd) Sawyer was born on March 2, 1900 in Fayette County, PA, the daughter of Andrew and Anna (Kissinger) Minerd.
At the age of 16, on Nov. 28, 1916, Venetta married George A. McLaughlin Sr. (1894- ? ), a native of Texas, at Wellsburg, Brooke County, WV. She gave her age as 21 on the marriage license. They had three children -- they were Hershell D. McLaughlin, Lillian Betty Ruble and George A. McLaughlin Jr.
When the federal census was taken in 1920, the McLaughlins made their home on Hazelwood Avenue in Pittsburgh. George was employed as an optician in an optical firm.
In 1930, the growing family made its home along Pine Creek Road in Franklin Park, near Wexford, Allegheny County. The census taker recorded George Sr.'s occupation as clerk in a grocery store.
Sometime after 1930, the McLaughlins' marriage ended. The details are not known.
Later, Venetta wed Harry P. Sawyer (1908-1972), the son of John and Julia Sawyer of Pine Township in Pittsburgh's North Hills. She was eight years younger than her husband. They had one son, Harry E. Sawyer.
For many years, the Sawyers resided at 308 Pine Road, McCandless Township in the Ingomar community of Pittsburgh's North Hills. Harry was the proprietor of Sawyer and Son.
Harry died at age 64 on Aug. 15, 1972.
Venetta outlived her husband by more than seven years.
She passed away on Nov. 6, 1979, at the age of 79. Following funeral services at Brandt Funeral Home in Perrysville, she was laid to rest with her husband at Allegheny County Memorial Park, next to her mother and brother Hershall Minerd.
~ Son Harry E. Sawyer ~
Son Harry E. Sawyer apparently was married twice -- first to Wilma E. King and later to Esther Watson, daughter of Fred and Esther Watson of Bellevue, near Pittsburgh.
Harry wed Wilma on Oct. 8, 1962, at the St. Henry Roman Catholic Church in Pittsburgh. She was the daughter of William J. King of Pittsburgh. At the time of marriage, Harry was a partner with his father in Sawyer and Son, while Wilma worked at Screw and Bolt Corporation of America. They lived at 5900 Babcock Boulevard, and were members of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church near the intersection of McKnight Road and Siebert Road in Ross Township.
Harry and Esther made their home at 130 Hillvue Lane in McCandless.
In all, Harry had at least five children -- James Sawyer, Robert Sawyer, Denise Sawyer, Yvonne Michele Sawyer and Diane Carol Sawyer. Several of the children's births were announced over the years in the North Hills News Record.
In 1974, Harry was employed as an engineer with the Penn Central Railroad.
Copyright © 2001, 2009 Mark A. Miner