Rev.
William
Mullen Minerd
(1885-1948)
Click to see a memoir,
'Praying
Billy,'
by great-granddaughter Elaine (Monticue) Brawdy
Rev.
William Mullen Minerd was born in 1885 at Bridgeport, near Mt. Pleasant,
Westmoreland County, PA, the son of Charles Marion and Sabina (Pierce)
Minerd. He began his worklife in the local coal mines and coke ovens but went on
to a 35-year career in the ministry.
On Christmas Day 1903, 19-year-old Will married 20-year-old Violet Pearl Johnson (1882-1964) in a ceremony officiated by Howard S. Wilson in Mt. Pleasant. She was the daughter of Jesse Johnson, and resided at Bridgeport at the time. Their respective fathers had to give consent to the marriage, and the signed permission forms today are on microfilm at the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg.
They had 10 children -- Ruth Virginia Shaffer, Nellie Bish, Lillian Bailey, Violet Pearl Sanner, William "Melvin" Minerd, Bertha O. Blubaugh, Ethel Bernell Hetzer, Paul Wayne Minerd, Donald E. Minerd and Esther Bell Williams Vesek. The eldest was born in about 1906, and the last living child did not pass away for another century, until 2006.
In 1905, the Minerds lived in Morgantown,
Monongalia County, WV, where Will worked as a glass cutter in a factory, and Violet was a
"designer." Their eldest
daughter Ruth was born in Morgantown.
Will loved to play baseball, as did his brothers Ralph and Harry. Will is seen here, second from left in the back row, posing with his baseball teammates of the H.C. Frick Coke Company's Brinkerton Works Club, of near Mt. Pleasant, circa 1910. This image was our "Photo of the Month" in August 2000 - click to see an enlarged version.
In 1910, the Minerds lived at Bridgeport, next to Will's sister Bertha Reese. There, he worked as a "tipple man" at the local coal mine. After attending a religious revival in about 1915, however, he was converted to the Christian faith. He thus decided to study for the ministry, and spent the rest of his years as a clergyman.
Will
was a great admirer of famed preacher Billy Sunday, who had played professional
baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates before entering the ministry. Sunday is seen
here in his dark Pittsburgh uniform, during the 1888-1890 era that he played
in the "Smoky City," at a time when Will would have been a young and
impressionable age.
As a clergyman, Will was licensed to preach in 1916, according to a typed manuscript history of the Calvary United Evangelical Church of Freedom, Armstrong County, PA. He is known to have had charge of churches in these towns: Jennerstown, PA (1918-19); Bethany, PA (1919-24?); Freedom and Salem, Armstrong County (1924-27?); Valencia, PA (1930); and Harnedsville, Somerset County, PA (1930-1936).
In the fall of 1919, when preparing to depart Buckeye for his first assignment, the members of the United Evangelical Church of Bridgeport held a farewell party. Reported the Daily Courier, "Mr. Minerd has been called to preach on a circuit near Johnstown. The people of this place will miss him very much, where he has been noted for his zeal and work for the cause of Christ." Among those attending the party were Mr. and Mrs. William Morgan and family, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stuben, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Minerd, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Minerd, Mrs. Mary Ann Deomer, Mrs. Charles Rhomes, Mrs. John Queer, Mrs. John Clansner, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Slonecker and family, Mrs. Silas Miller, Mrs. Charles Jones, Misses Bess, Harriet and Mary Jones, Harry Rhome, Campbell Glassburn, Cigale Weaver, Frances Miller, Dewey Miller, Marshall Shaffer, Edward Switkey, Kenneth Jones and Mrs. A.M. Shaffer.
A 1999 Somerset Daily American article said that while at Bethany, he "felt the need for a better and larger building. The present stone structure was started Feb. 3, 1921 and was completed in 1922." The church today has a stained glass window bearing his name.
Will
and Violet are seen here with their five children, and one niece, posed in order of height
at the time. They include Ruth, Nellie, Violet, Bertha and Mel, as well as one
of the children's cousins, Marie (Minerd) Price-Plannett.
The estimated date of this image is 1918 in Garrett, PA.
While at Salem in the '20s, Will was responsible for three churches. He was known to have preached at all three of them in a single Sunday, giving a completely different sermon each time. Often, when funds were low, members paid Will in vegetables and chickens. There were other times when the family ran out of food, but he assured them that "God will provide," and inevitably someone would bring some chickens, or some potatoes, to feed the family. Three daughters married men from Armstrong County, and there is a large concentration of descendants there today.
Will and Violet later moved to Rockwood,
Somerset County, PA, where for 15 years he was pastor of the
four-church
Somerset Circuit of the Evangelical United Brethren Church -- Husband, Pleasant
Hill, Beulah and Mostoller. A rare old bird's eye postcard photograph of
Rockwood is seen here, showing the proximity of the town to the railroad lines.
Will was an inspiring preacher. When a popular Rockwood teenager, Merle Evan Miller, died suddenly of appendicitis, the community mourned, and Will "delivered an impressive discourse" at the funeral, said the Rockwood newspaper. "His text was 'I have fought the good fight.' This text was chosen upon request of Mrs. Miller, mother of the young man..."
A 1930 article in the Mt. Pleasant Journal that Will's Bible messages:
... are stirring the deep foundations of his hearers' souls. [He] believes home influence are among the mightiest of all influences upon the soul. There are countless thousands of men who have maintained their integrity and morals, not because they were any better naturally than other people, but because there were home influences praying for them all the time. They got a good start. They were launched on the world with the benedictions of a Christian mother. When you want the grandest idea of a queen, look at your mother.
Seen
here, Will and Violet pose in a formal studio photograph portrait with all
of their 10 children.
While in Rockwood, Will also oversaw the funerals of many local citizens, including his father's first cousin, Daniel Martin Younkin (1935) and a second cousin, George Wingerd.
A 1943 Connellsville Daily Courier article said that Will had held revival services at the Paradise Evangelical Church near Connellsville, which featured "special music by a senior choir and boys' and girls' sunbeam choirs and appearances of ministers from other churches."
The
following year, from July 2-16, 1944, Will served as a song leader for an
Evangelical Camp Meeting at Pine Ridge Camp, located between Lickingville and
Tylersburg, Clarion County, PA. The gathering was led by Rev. A.H. Doescher of
Cleveland, OH, and by Rev. P.E. Pyle of Brookville. A self-mailing promotional
flyer from the camp meeting is seen here.
The Minerds resided at 396 West Race Street in Somerset, Somerset County, PA. Will died at home at Somerset on Jan. 26, 1948, age 62. Interestingly, an original copy of his newspaper obituary has been found in the family Bible of a second cousin, Sadie (Hechler) Sterner in Rockwood.
Pearl
outlived him by 16 years, and is seen here in a color-tinted portrait.
Pearl passed away at the home of daughter Ruth Shaffer at Distant, PA, on July 22, 1964. She was buried with Will at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. At the time of her death, they had 45 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren.
Will's legacy has lived on in many ways. He was mentioned several times in the volume, 'Mongst the Hills of Somerset. For more than 50 years now, their descendants have had a reunion either near Somerset, Somerset County, PA or New Bethlehem, Armstrong County, PA, on the first Sunday of August.
Daughter Nellie Minerd (1909- ? ) was born in Bridgeport, Westmoreland County. She married Robert "Jay" Bish Sr. (1905-2005), the son of James W. and Maggie A. (Shick) Bish of Alcola, Clarion County, PA. The wedding took place on June 30, 1926. He was a longtime coal miner and a member of the Shannondale Grange and Christian Fellowship Church of Fairmount City. Sadly, Nellie died after only a few years of marriage. Jay married his second wife, Rebecca Betty Reade, on Sept. 30, 1937. In all, he had nine children -- Ruth Slagle, Bettie Miles, Beverly Hetrick, Rhonda Slagle, Robert Jay Bish Jr., Roger Bish, Gloria McCoy, Monte Pearl Bish and Lynda Slagle. Jay remained close with his former Minerd in-laws and attended their reunions over the years. He passed away at the age of 99, just three months shy of his 100th birthday, on March 16, 2005. He was laid to rest at the Alcola Trinity Cemetery. At the time of his passing, the Leader Times newspaper said he was survived by 19 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren.
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Will and Pearl Minerd Reunion, 1980s |
Daughter Lillian Minerd ( ? - ? ) married Mervin Bailey ( ? - ? ). They resided in Oak Ridge, Armstrong County. The Baileys had six children -- Jack Bailey, Clifford Bailey, Velma Lucille Hetzer, Dona Belle Davis, Glenn Bailey and William Bailey. Daughter Velma Lucille Bailey (1926-2007) married Ray William Hetzer ( ? -1963) and worked as a licensed practical nurse at Somerset Hospital for many years, retiring in 1983. The Hetzers are buried at Beulah Cemetery.
Daughter
Violet Pearl Minerd (1912-1991) married John Henry Sanner (1910-1998), the son
of George W. and Ella (Cramer) Sanner of Rockwood. The wedding took place in the
Minerd home on
Jan. 23, 1932, with her father officiating. The Sanners' marriage lasted 60
years. They had seven children -- Delores McDaniel, John H. Sanner Jr., Kenneth
Sanner, Iva Lichty, Glenda Moore, Audrey Zoldey and Christine Michaud. Violet was pictured and profiled in a 1987 feature article in the Somerset Daily American,
headlined "Tickling Ivories for 67 Years," for her longtime work as an
organist and pianist at
the Rockwood Church of the Brethren, and as a Sunday School teacher. The
story said that as a "self-taught musician, Violet has been tickling the
ivories for more of her 76 years.... Because her father was a minister, ... she
'played everywhere in every church around'." John was a railroad laborer in
Rockwood for many years, and retired as yard foreman for the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting and was a member of the Somerset
County Fly Fisherman's Association. Violet passed away at the age of 80 in
Rockwood on June 28, 1991, and was laid to rest in the Rockwood IOOF Cemetery.
John outlived her by seven years, and lived in Garrett, Somerset County. He died
on May 8, 1998, at the age of 87. The Daily American noted that he was
survived by 18 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Son
William "Melvin" Minerd (1913-1986) was born in Mt. Pleasant,
Westmoreland County, and was married twice. His first wife was Marguerite
Eleanor Temke, of Hyndman, Somerset County, and they had one son. After the
marriage ended, Mel later married Hannah Guzzy (1915-1997) on Oct. 1, 1938. Mel
and Hannah had six children -- Timothy Melvin Minerd, William Mullen Minerd II,
John Joseph Minerd, James Ronald Minerd, Kathleen Ann Minerd and Ronald Patrick
Minerd. The Minerd resided for a time in Punxsutawney, Jefferson County, PA.
Later, they migrated into upstate New York, settling in Springville. In the
photo seen at right, Mel and Hannah dress up in costume for a special
photograph. Mel passed away at the age of 73 on March 3, 1986, in Rochester,
Monroe County, NY. Hannah survived him by more than a decade. She died at the
age of 82 on Jan. 13, 1997, also in Rochester.
Daughter Ethel Bernell Minerd (1918-1996) was born in Robison, Indiana County, PA. She married Jacob Robert Hetzer Sr. (1919-1972), the son of Jacob C. and Nellie (Ogline) Hetzer of Somerset. The ceremony took place on June 1, 1940, and was led by her father. At the time, Jacob was a trackman for the railroad in Somerset. The Hetzers lived in Somerset, and had four children -- Patricia Critchfield, Jacob R. "Jake" Hetzer Jr., Phyllis Kay Laughlin and Donald R. Hetzer. Jacob Sr. died on Feb. 21, 1972. Ethel outlived him by nearly a quarter of a century. Said the Daily American, she was a "member of Beulah United Methodist Church and Somerset Fire Department Auxiliary, 1937 graduate of Somerset High School [and a] faithful crossing guard for the Somerset Borough Police Department with 18 years of service, retiring in 1994." She passed away at home at the age of 78 on Nov. 9, 1996, and was buried at Beulah Cemetery.
Daughter
Bertha Ora Minerd (1915-2006 ) married Glenn B. Blubaugh (1916-2002), the son of
Lloyd N. Blubaugh of Somerset. Their wedding was solemnized on March 20, 1941,
in the United Brethren High Street Church of Lima, Allen County, OH. At the
time, Glenn was employed in Lima, having left his position as manager of the
auto supply department of the Montgomery Ward Store at Somerset. Bertha worked
prior to marriage at the J.C. Penney Store in Somerset. They remained in Lima
and nearby Cridersville for the rest of their lives, working together at
Blubaugh Service Master, and attending the Shawnee United Methodist Church. Glenn passed away at the
age of 86, in Cridersville, on March 13, 2002. Bertha lived another four years,
and died at the age of 90 on Jan. 8, 2006. She was laid to rest at the Memorial
Park Cemetery in Lima. She was the last of her family.
Son Paul
Wayne Minerd (1920-1978) married Anne (Manquero) Otero (1916- ? ). Paul was a
longtime soldier in the US Army, and Anne was a registered nurse. They resided
in New Mexico, where Paul was a sergeant on the police force of the Sheriff's Office of Grant County, Pinto
Altos, NM, and died at the age of 58, on Dec. 14, 1978 while on duty. A news article said he "was an
asset to the morale and spirit of those he came in contact with." A former
master sergeant in the Army artillery, Paul is buried at Fort
Bayard, NM. His wife Anne was a radio dispatcher. Her fate is unknown.
Daughter Esther Bell Minerd (1922-1998) was born in Jennerstown, Somerset County. She married twice. Her first husband was Lester Grant Williams Sr. They had seven children -- Anna Pearl Williams, William Ralph Williams, Shirley A. Shaulis, Lester G. Williams Jr., Clifford W. Williams, Edward James Williams and Linda Mae Weitz. After Lester's untimely passing, Esther married George Vesek. Said the Daily American, she was a "member of Roof Garden Christian Church, Third Society of Farm Women, 55 and Over Speeders [and a] retired crossing guard for Somerset Borough." Esther passed away at the Easy Living Estates in Somerset at the age of 75 on Jan. 12, 1998, with burial at Weller Cemetery. At the time of her passing, she had 14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Son Donald Eugene Minerd (1925-2003) married Lucille Schrock. They made their home in Berlin, Somerset County, and had two children -- Dorothy Marie Maurer and James Edward Minerd. Donald served in the US Army during World War II. He also was a longtime mechanic for Pickings Repair Shop, a position from which he retired. In 2000, Donald and Lucille attended the National Minerd-Minard-Miner-Minor Reunion in Kingwood, Somerset County. Donald passed away at the age of 78 on Aug. 24, 2003, at the home of his daughter in Fairhope, PA. He was laid to rest in the Pike Cemetery.
Grandson Timothy M. Minerd, working for Xerox Corporation, secured at least 12 patents for his inventions involving connector modules and other related technology. He received these patents over a 17-year span, between 1980 and 1997. Copies of his patents may be found on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website. His patents have been cited in at least 49 patents obtained by other inventors. In March 2006, he made news in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle about concerns over reliable voting booth technology in connection with the federal Help America Vote Act.
Grandson
Jon Minerd has a website
focusing on his 27-year work experience as a technical specialist in the fields
of electrical and hydraulic closed loop control. Jon's daughter Jessica
Minerd-Massey is an artist who owns Renaissance
Studio, creating custom designs in glass for windows, doors, automobiles and
graphic designs for signs.
Grandson Ronald Patrick Minerd (seen at left) is an entrepreneur in the medical education field who owns the 'Minerd.net' website, which features current events about his large, ever-expanding family. In 2005, the virtual New Hampshire company he founded -- Medical Education Broadcast Network (MEBN) -- was named to the prestigious Inc 500 list of the nation's fastest growing private companies. Its Ceoncd.com website provides continuing education and distance-learning programs and materials for medical professionals. Click here to see the full text of the Inc 500 press release and related media coverage in the New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper.
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Ron Minerd and his business partner Sharyn Lee accept their Inc. 500 award in Savannah, GA |
Great-granddaughter
Brenda (Williams) George, seen here, has served for a number of years as
Armstrong County (PA) Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts. She was re-elected in November 2003 for
her second term in the office, which is charged as the chief custodian for the
civil records of the Court of Common Pleas with the administrative
responsibility for their safekeeping and preservation.
Great-grandson Jeffrey T. Minerd, an award-winning author who is a staff writer with MedPageToday.com, filing daily analyses for "the only medical news service for physicians that links consumer medical news and the professional medical analysis needed by clinicians." Earlier, he worked in media relations for the National Institutes of Health, and was a staff editor with The Futurist Magazine. Jeff was guest speaker at our 2000 Minerd-Miner-Minor Reunion.
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2005 reunion of Mel and Hannah Minerd's offspring, Rochester, NY |
Copyright
© 2000-2007 Mark A. Miner.
Photograph of Billy Sunday originally copyright
Goodwin & Co., New York;
as published in "Billy" Sunday: The
Man and His Message, by William T. Ellis,
LL.D. (Philadelphia: John C.
Winston Co., 1913).