Clyde
L. Stairs
(1893-1975)
Clyde L. Stairs was born on Jan. 25,
1893 in Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, PA, the son of Lehman
G. and Mattie (Minerd) Stairs.
(We are trying to determine if Clyde may have been married twice, first to "Mary L." who lived in Greensburg in 1911, the same year Clyde is known to have resided there. That year, Mary L. sent a postcard to Clyde's sister Lula Swift, saying "They are on a strike here at Heste. To-day is the first... I remain with Love your sister.")
Clyde was employed as a surveyor in Westmoreland County coal mines for about two decades (1930s and '40s), and later suffered from black lung. He also may have been involved with early coal mine unionizing activities. In August of 1910 or 1911, Clyde's sister Bess sent a card to their sister Lula, saying: "Jess Evans, Clyde's boss, says that it is a Bluff. Papa says that they ought to treat you mean so that you can't follow them over some half acre."
In
January 1909, Clyde sent Lula a card (seen at right), saying "I got to
Jones [Mills] at 11:30. I will be home at 5 o'clock if nothing happens." In
1911, he sent Lula another postcard, saying "Got here OK. Going to
Johnstown Wed." The cards today are preserved in the Minerd-Miner-Minor
Archives.
Clyde is known to have married Sarah Bessie Swink (1895-1944), the daughter of Susan Swink of Mt. Pleasant. Their children were Betty Jean Stairs and Susan Jane Bratcher.
Clyde must have had an interest in raising flowers. In the late 1940s, he grafted a rose in a florist shop, and apparently exhibited it at a county fair or other community event. More will be reported here on this when learned.
Sadly, Sarah died on Dec. 18, 1944 in Mt. Pleasant. She was only 49 years of age at her passing. The Connellsville Daily Courier said she had been "at Frick Memorial Hospital where she was a patient for treatment." The funeral was held at the home of her mother on South Diamond Street.
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Clyde working outdoors, early 1970s |
Widowed for more than 30 years, Clyde
resided at 11 North Hickory Street in Scottdale. He worked for Mt. Pleasant
Floral, and was a member of the Christ United Methodist Church of Scottdale, and
belonged to the Elks Club.
An old postcard view of Scottdale's Pittsburgh Street is seen here, looking west from Broadway.
Clyde died in Mt. Pleasant on March 7, 1975,
at the age of 82.
He was buried at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
Daughter Susan Stairs is seen at right. She married (?) Bratcher and circa 1975 resided in Orlando, FL. The Bratchers had three children.
Copyright © 2001, 2005-2007 Mark A. Miner