John
Charles "Jack" Minor
(1889-1946)
John
Charles "Jack" Minor was born on Nov. 6, 1889 in Sherrodsville, Carroll County, OH,
the son of John and Emma (Howell) Minor.
Although he overcame an early physical disability, he later was killed in a coal
mining accident, one of many of our cousins who lost their lives in the coal,
coke and steel workplace.
Jack
was born with only one full arm, without the lower portion of his left arm,
"but it didn't stop him, or slow him down," recalled a granddaughter.
He made a name for himself as a "one-armed sandlot baseball player in his youth," said the Dover
Daily Reporter. He "played in the outfield for several Tuscarawas Co.
sandlot teams and did some pitching for the clubs."
As an adult, Jack married Nellie Ramella (1895-1977), a native of Punxsutawney, Jefferson County, PA, and the daughter of James and May (McGivern) Ramella.
They had five children: Charles Minor, Emma Jones, Joan Johnson, Raymond Minor and Richard Minor.
The Minors moved to Tuscarawas, Tuscarawas County, OH in about 1916, their permanent residence. They were members of the St. James Lutheran Church. Jack worked as a coal mine foreman for the Midvale Coal Company, and he belonged to the United Mine Workers of America.
At
age 56, on March 22, 1946, Jack tragically was killed when "crushed by a
fall of rock while working in the mine," said the Daily
Reporter. He and other men "were sounding the roof of the mine for
loose rock" when he was caught in a sudden rock fall. "He was crushed from the shoulders down and had to be
liberated from nearly two tons of rock by fellow workmen who were in a nearby
room." His mangled remains were laid to rest in the Lutheran Church cemetery in
Tuscarawas.
Nellie
outlived her husband by more than three decades. Seen here, she remained
in Tuscarawas, and maintained her membership at the St. James church.
Sadly, Nellie passed away at New Philadelphia's Valley Manor Pavilion on Feb. 19, 1977. She was age 81, and was survived by 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Sons Raymond and Dick Minor are believed to have served in the US Navy during World War II, or immediately afterward. In 1946, they both were stationed with the Navy in San Francisco. Dick later settled in Hayward, CA, where he lived circa 1977. Raymond lived in Strasburg, Tuscarawas County.
Circa 1946, son Charles resided in nearby Uhrichsville, Tuscarawas County. In 1977, he was in New Philadelphia.
Daughter Emma Jones-Kail lived in Scio, Harrison County, OH, the same community where her great-great grandfather, John Minard Sr., had settled as a pioneer in 1817. As of 1977, she was married to Wilbert Kail.
Daughter Joan married William Johnson and resided in Ocala, Marion County, FL, circa 1977.
For more information, contact grand niece Carol Serb.
Copyright © 2004 Mark A. Miner