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Do They Fit?

We currently are researching the following individuals who share our family name and may (or may not) be related. As we dig deeper, we hope to gather the facts that would establish a connection with precision.

~ Nicholas J. "Nick" Minerd of Trenton, New Jersey ~

Nicholas J. "Nick" Minerd (1842- ? ) was born in Prussia and came to the United States in 1855, settling in Trenton, NJ. In 1874, he opened a tobacco company at 29 South Green Street in Trenton, named the "Bee-Hive Cigar Manufactory." He was profiled in the book, Industries of New Jersey, published in 1882 by Historical Publishing Company of New York, Newark and Philadelphia. He married Amelia (1844- ? ) and had at least two children -- Walter Minerd (born 1868) and Ida M. Minerd (born 1870).

~ Bradford and Emma (Minerd) Harshman ~

Bradford Harshman (1850- ? ) of Fayette County, PA married Emma Minerd. They are listed on page 551 of the 1976 book, The Harshman, Hashman, Hershman, Hersman Family, authored by Charles William Harshman, C.C. Harshman and Mavourneen Harshman. In 1870, the Pennsylvania-born Bradford was single and a laborer in Iowa on a farm in Greencastle, Jasper County. He has not yet been found on the 1880 census.

~ Unknown Attendees of the 1924 Minerd-Miner Reunion ~

In August 1924, the Minerd-Miner family of Western Pennsylvania held its annual reunion in Confluence, Somerset County, PA, near the Western Maryland Railroad Station. The next week, an article about the reunion was published in the Meyersdale Republican, as the lead article in the "Turkeyfoot News" section of the newspaper. "Eighty-two persons were present, most of them being members of the Minar [sic] family and their connections," said the story. Listed in the article were a number of people not known to be connected to the family. Might you help us make that connection?

They were: Lloyd L. Mountain, Aaron Rugg, Mrs. C.M. Hutton, Mrs. Hester Williams, J.R. Nottingham, Mrs. E.A. Taft, L.C. Williams, Adam Nicolson, Mrs. Howard McClintock and Mrs. M.S. Tarney.

Aaron Rugg (1845-1932) was a Civil War veteran who was married to Caroline Linderman and resided in Maple Summit, Fayette County. Their granddaughter Rebecca J. Rugg married Raymond Miner.
Adam Nicholson (1840-1934) was a Civil War veteran who lived in Confluence.
Click here for a more detailed report.

~ Sons of Washington and Margaret (Nicely) Minor, also known
as "Provance": Daniel Z., William A. and John "Jack" Miner ~

Washington Minor (1826-1893) and three of his sons all served in the Civil War. He was born in either Pennsylvania or West Virginia, the son of a woman whose married name was "Nancy (Howard) Miner." Washington's father is believed to have died prior to 1830, meaning the boy likely had no memory of his natural father. Washington was raised by a step-father Simeon Provance, and used the Provance name until later in life. Circa 1850, when the census was taken, Washington's mother Nancy, step-father Simeon, and half brothers Josephus "Cephas" Provance (1834- ? ) and Denune Provance (1837- ? ) lived in Wood County, VA (now West Virginia).

In 1845, Washington married Margaret Nicely, also a native of West Virginia. The census of 1860 shows them in Olive Township, Meigs County, OH, with their children William, Daniel, John, Simeon, Nancy, Austin and Josephine, ranging in age from 13 to two. At the time of the Civil War, Washington left home in Meigs County at age 37, and enlisted in the 7th Independent Battery, OH Volunteer Light Artillery. When the census was taken in 1870, they made their home near Masontown in Monongahela Township, maintaining the "Provance" spelling. At some point in time, in an amazing gesture, Washington changed his name back to his birth father's name, "Miner," perhaps reflecting a disdain for his stepfather. This change appears to have been gradual, as alternate spellings were used over time. Tragically, Washington was killed in a railroad accident at Mt. Braddock, Fayette County, PA on March 4, 1893. He is buried at the Hopwood Cemetery near Uniontown, PA.

Their children, listed below, initially raised under the name Provance, and also changed their names, were William A. Miner, Daniel Zane Miner, John "Jack" Miner, Nancy Hawk, Astinashia Miner, Josephine Miner, Emily Rankin, Josephus Minor and Margaret "Maggie" Joliffe. Washington's younger half brothers naturally kept their Provance surnames -- Denune Provance and Josephus "Cephas" Provance.

Daniel Zane Miner (1848-1904) - Born in either Virginia or Greene County, PA, under the name of "Provance," and even though he was the son of Washington and Margaret (Nicely) Miner. Married Lucinda McClain (1851- ? ). Children were Caroline McGowan-Ealy, George H. Miner, Daisy Weltner Varndell, Albert Miner (married to Elizabeth Minard), Josephus Miner and Maida Louise Milliron. Served in the 193rd OH Infantry during the Civil War. Daniel and Lucinda are buried together at Hopwood Cemetery near Uniontown, PA.

John "Jack" Miner (1846-1909) - Born in Ohio. Married Louisa V. Smith. Also a Civil War veteran, he lived in Brownsville, Fayette County, PA. On Sept. 6, 1909, he mysteriously was found dead near the plant of the Brownsville Coke Company, of unknown causes. He was buried at Bridgeport Cemetery. His six children were John Miner Jr., Jessie Simpson, Washington Miner II, Elizabeth Miner, Arthur Miner and Evelyn Miner.

William A. Miner (1847-1928) - Born in Meigs County, OH, and raised under the name of "Provance," though he actually was the son of Washington and Margaret (Nicely) Miner. He served in the same Civil War unit as his father. William later married Mary Elizabeth Smith (1851-1929). Their children were Margaret M. Dennis, Nancy E. Baker, Charles Marion Miner (who married Minerd step-cousin Jenny White), Ellsworth "Elzie" Miner, Albert Miner, Daniel Z. Miner II, Josephine Dancier, Emily Pearl Wilson, Rebecca May Sayers Wooten and Millie Miner. Buried at Hopwood Cemetery near Uniontown, PA.

Simeon Miner (1853- ? )

Nancy Ann Minor (1854-1933) was born in West Virginia and married John Hawk (1849-1916). They had these children: Albert Hawk, Ada Bell Fuller, Minnie Hawk, Mary Ella Nibbi, Maggie Hawk, John Hawk, Jessie Hawk and Chester L. Hawk. John died in Vanderbilt, Fayette County in 1916, and Nancy passed away in McClellandtown on Jan. 17, 1933.

Josephine Miner (1858- ? ) disappears from history after 1870.

Astinashia Miner (1856- ? ), a daughter, is last known on the 1870 federal census.

Josephus "Joseph" or "Cephas" Minor (1863-1929) was born in Greene County, PA. He married Sarah Dugan of Springhill Township, Greene County, and had four children. Josephus resided as an adult in Columbus, Franklin County, OH, where he worked as a stone cutter. As he neared the age of 66, he was involved in an automobile accident in Columbus, causing a hemorrhage of the brain which led to his death. He died on Oct. 27, 1929, at Grant Hospital in Columbus. His remains were returned to Pennsylvania for burial at the Point Marion Cemetery.

Emily Miner (1861-1925) married Albert Rankin and lived in Hopwood. They had one known son, Frank Rankin.

Margaret Miner (1867- ? ) married Morgan Jolliffe.

~ Mary Ellen (Luckey) Costolo ~

Mary Ellen Costolo (1865-1936), seen here, of near Lemont Furnace, Fayette County, PA has been a longtime mystery. Records differ as to the identity of her father. Her death certificate states that she was the daughter of a man named Minerd -- although other records shown she was the daughter of Joshua and Sarah (Abraham) Luckey. She grew up under the name 'Luckey' and married George Costolo. She also is said to have had a brother William Luckey. Who was her Minerd father, if true, and what was his first name?