Walter Edgar Minerd
(1873-1953)
Walter
Edgar Minerd was born on April 19, 1873 in
Bullskin Twp., Fayette County, PA, the son of Calvin
and Mary (Means) Minerd Sr. He is seen here with his second wife, Kathryn.
As a young adult, Walter resided in Scottdale, Westmoreland County, PA. In November 1896, said the Connellsville Courier, he came home and "enjoyed his Thanksgiving dinner with his parents."
On Aug. 14, 1898, Walter married Esther Gertrude Conliff (1870- ? ), a native of England. They were wed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. B.F. Crall in Uniontown, PA. They had six children -- twins Mary Ellen Hough and Margaret Reiland Berkey, Walter "Albert" Minerd, Dorothy Williams Josephine Cramer and Wilbert Minerd.
Walter was a butcher who worked in meat
shops in Connellsville and Uniontown, PA. In
1927, he was one of the few family members to have a telephone number listed in
the phone directory -- "340." Seen here
is a rare old postcard photo of Connellsville's Main Street.
Sadly, Esther died in Fairchance sometime in the 1910s. She is said to be buried at the Catholic Cemetery in Braddock, near Pittsburgh. Afterward, daughter Josephine was sent to live with her grandparents, Calvin and Mary Minerd, where she was raised to adulthood.
In about 1911, Walter married widow Katherine Jane Ann (McMullen) Orwig (1884-1972). She was the daughter of John Benjamin and Henrietta (Prinzler) McMullen. Kathryn brought a son, Charles K. Orwig, to the marriage. Walter and Kathryn then went on to have two children of their own -- Dorothy Funk and Helen Fassett.
Walter registered for the military draft during World War I, and listed his occupation as butcher for F.P. Goodwin of Fairchance, where the Minerds resided.
When the federal census was taken in 1920, Walter and Katherine made their home in Fairchance. Walter's seven children, and Katherine's son, were in the household, as was Katherine's 75-year-old father, John B. McMullen. Walter's occupation was listed as butcher in a meat shop.
Early view of unpaved Morgantown Street in Fairchance
In November 1921, when daughter Josephine married Russell Cramer, "the bride and groom were guests of honor at a wedding dinner served at the home of the bride's parents…," said the Uniontown Morning Herald.
Kathryn was injured in a fall in the winter of 1928, with the news reported in the Daily Courier. While walking with Mrs. Clarence Gruver to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station to board a train for Uniontown, she tripped on a broken step on North Arch Street. She was taken to the home of Mrs. James Quinn on Arch Street, and when she was stable enough to move again, was brought to her home on 509 Johnson Avenue.
Initially, Walter's business -- the Minerd Meat Market at 306 North Pittsburgh Street in Connellsville -- met with success and public acclaim. The business was featured in a Sept. 26, 1928 "Who's Who" special edition of the Daily Courier, which said it was:
... the people's favorite store for fresh meats and one of the best in Connellsville... this market has built up a wonderful reputation and is entitled to its well earned recognition. At this Meat Market you get the best of meats -- all kinds -- and they are fresh, juicy and tender, and in many instances you pay the lowest prices in town. It makes no difference how you want it -- broiled, baked, fried or stewed -- there's a tang of delicious flavor when you use their quality meats, and their modern equipment and display refrigerator counters keep meats fresh and fine at all times. The owner, W.E. Minerd, is to be congratulated on the success of his business. In this business Mr. Minerd finds both his work and his hobby, having chosen this line when a small boy and beginning in the slaughter house where he worked for 15 years. We recommend this place because the proprietor truly is living up to the reputation of the establishment and believe that "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." He treats all customers with unfailing courtesy and gives them their money's worth. He has cheery "good morning" and "good evening" for you.
In
the long run, however, the meat market went out of business. A nephew once said
that Walter did well when working for others, but just could not make a go when
in business for himself.
Later, the Minerds moved to Cuyahoga County, OH, where Walter had a store in Cleveland, assisted by his stepson Charles. Walter and Kathryn are seen here with granddaughter Pauline in 1946.
The Minerds are known to have visited over the years with Walter's second cousins James C. Minerd Jr. and Etta McDowell, and also with the family of Walter's aunt, Minerva Inks.
Little is known of Walter's
last years. He resided at 10520-F Mt. Carmel Avenue in Cleveland, where he is known to have passed away
on Feb. 18, 1951. His remains were returned to Connellsville for burial at Green
Ridge Cemetery. At his death, he was survived by 18 grandchildren and 10
great-grandchildren.
Kathryn survived him by five years, and she died in 1958, also in Cleveland. They are buried together at Green Ridge Memorial Park in Connellsville, PA. Daughter Helen also rests for eternity in the family plot.
Daughter Mary Ellen Minerd (1899-1977) married railroader John W. Hough ( ? - ? ). The wedding took place on March 12, 1921. They were residents of Snydertown near Connellsville, at 619 Snyder Street, for more than half a century. The Houghs had four children -- Esther Turner, John W. Hough Jr., Harold J. Hough and Donald R. Hough. They were members of the Otterbein United Methodist Church and its Win One class for more than 50 years. Mary died at the age of 78 at Connellsville State General Hospital on Nov. 18, 1977.
Daughter Margaret Minerd (1899- ? ) first married Elmer J. Reiland, and lived in McKeesport, near Pittsburgh. They divorced a short time later, and she married sawyer Lloyd L. Berkey, the son of Lewis and Mary (Dietrich) Berkey. She is buried in the Titusville, PA area.
Daughter Josephine Minerd (1901- ? ) married Russell Cramer in November 1921 at the parsonage of the First Baptist Church at Fairchance. Following the ceremony, led by Rev. G.M. Riley, a wedding dinner was served at her parents' home. The Cramers made their home in Connellsville.
Seen
here are daughters Josephine (holding the baby) and Margaret.
Son Walter "Albert" Minerd served with the US Army, but never married.
Son
Wilbert Minerd (1904-1989) also served
in World War II. Before the war, Wilbert had moved to New
York City, where he worked for the Electrolux Corporation. Then, when the war
broke out, he enlisted, and was assigned to the Third Army, serving in France
under General George Patton. After the war, Wilbert moved to Cleveland. He died
there on Dec. 1,
1989, at the age of 85. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Cleveland, OH. His funeral
arrangements were handled by Berry's Funeral Home. During the war, as an Army private, Wilbert won a Purple Heart and
made headlines when he stayed on duty for two days to care for an injured comrade
despite being wounded himself. In a letter to his sister Mary Ellen, later
reprinted in the Connellsville Daily Courier, Wilbert wrote:
A few Jerries flew down on us and started firing on us… Well, about 11:30 they came over and dropped flares which hit the field like daylight. Then they started to drop their bombs. Well I thought it was the end. Some of the men that ride with me got under my M-4 … I pulled them out, of course, cause the Jerries wanted to hit it. They got over one hedge fence. I then heard someone on the other side of the field calling 'please help me.' I could hear him saying 'help me' so then I double-timed across the field to get him. As I was putting him over the hedge fence they (the German planes) got (machine -gunned) me. I then stopped for a while. I mean I kissed the ground till they flew over the field. Then I picked this fellow up again and carried him to another hedge fence. I had to have help to put him over that fence after me being hit. Then two other fellows that were on the other side of the fence helped and they took care of him. No one knew I was hit … Then we started again, leaving the ones that we would not see again behind. I drove all that day until about 8 P.M. I was so tired that I fell asleep as I sat down to look at my wound.
|
| Top headline, Connellsville Daily Courier, Oct. 4, 1944 |
Daughter
Helen E. Minerd (1911- ? ) married Merle E. Fassett on Jan. 7, 1935 at Ripley, NY. They
made their first home in Cleveland, where Merle was a printer. Later, they moved
to Pittsburgh.
Daughter Dorothy Minerd (1914- ? ) married James Williams of Cleveland, OH on Oct. 8, 1933. The ceremony took place in Ripley, NY. They made their first home in Cleveland, where James was manager of the Zanol Company. Later, she married Lester E. ("James") Funk. They resided in Macedonia and Warren, Trumbull County, OH.
Stepson Charles Orwig (1908- ? ) is seen here posing proudly with his gold-colored automobile, circa 1972.
For more information, contact granddaughter Pauline (Cramer) Meloni.
Copyright © 2001-2002, 2008 Mark A. Miner