Record Reunion Crowd Honors
Our 'Pioneer-Patriot' Ancestors
More Than 140 Cousins Attend from 36 Pennsylvania
Towns and 10 States;
New Officers Elected
KINGWOOD
and MILL RUN, PA -- Setting a new attendance record, more than 140 people came
to the recent two-day national Minerd-Miner-Minor Reunion. Together, we honored
our “pioneer-patriot” ancestors who settled in Western Pennsylvania more
than two centuries ago.
Pioneer ancestor, Jacob Minerd Sr., acknowledged as a Revolutionary War veteran, moved with his wife Maria to the border of Fayette-Somerset Counties in 1791. Today, the number of their descendants and spouses has mushroomed to 13,600, and counting.
The
highlights included a presentation on frontier life by re-enactor Willy
Frankfort (seen at right), a walking tour of the cemetery where the pioneers
are buried, and a workshop on researching Revolutionary War soldiers. Our
clan’s 16th annual reunion, held in Kingwood and Mill Run, drew cousins from
36 Pennsylvania towns, and from 10 states.
At our picnic on Saturday July 14, Willy and his group focused on the dangers and joys of frontier life in the era in which the Minerd pioneers lived. They focused on hunting and protecting against Indians as well as gathering at weddings as well as other social events.
Filling
vacant committee positions, Doris (Sands) Hawker (left) of Morgantown, WV was
elected Treasurer and Sid Miller (right) of Mont Alto, PA was elected Vice
President. The voting was unanimous,
demonstrating the dedication and commitment Doris and Sid have provided us the
past several years. Sid also took a group photograph for the sixth
straight year, and produced attractive, limited edition reunion shirts.
Eugene
Podraza, of Lawrenceville, N.J., seen at right, gave a fascinating update
on his quest to find our family's roots in the Palatine region of Germany. Mark
Miner of Beaver, PA, president of the reunion committee, described the progress
to expand our popular website, www.minerd.com.
Prizes were awarded to Uniontown’s Mildred Z. Minerd, age 89, as the oldest family member in attendance; Mia Schweizer, age 3 months, of Harrison City, Pa., the youngest there; Bill Warrick of Bothell, WA and Rita Ramirez of Fort Worth, TX, for traveling the furthest; and Lynn (Pfeifer) Shrum of Beaver as the most recent newlywed. Door prizes included jars of home-produced honey by Alvin and Pauline (Ream) Leslie of Fort Hill, PA, a special candle by Bonnie (Pfeifer) Morell of Rochester, PA and children’s toys by Liz (Zoeller) Miner of Beaver. Wendy (King) Zeller of Stevensville, MD and her family led games for the children, and created a special keepsake favor for everyone in attendance.
On
Sunday, July 15, the group toured the cemetery of the Indian Creek Baptist
Church in Mill Run, seen at left. We stopped at more than 10 sites, which
featured our clan's connection with American life and culture -- journalism, the
Civil War, Fallingwater, Major League Baseball, Hollywood filmmaking, coal
mining, railroading and church volunteerism. Everyone who attended received a copy of Western Pennsylvania History magazine, with a
cover story about our cousin and famed “Mountain Poet” Allen
Harbaugh, who is buried here in an unmarked grave.
Though
preparing for the service, Rev. John B. Davis not only joined our
cemetery tour group but graciously provided a prayer of thanksgiving for
families. After the tour concluded, the group attended worship services at the
church, seen at right, led by Rev. Davis. A number of cousins who are
members of the church congregation stopped to greet our group after the service.
Following
the worship service, we enjoyed a picnic lunch in the historic grove of the
church. Nancy Koontz (left), Regent of the Great Crossings Chapter of the
DAR, and Duane Howard (right), President of the SAR of Somerset County,
PA, led an interesting and lively panel discussion on how to join their
organizations. Cousins who have already begun the application process shared
their experiences and compared notes, seen below right.
This
year's theme was part of ongoing research to measure the long-term impact of the
clan on society. In past years,
reunions have honored many hundreds of coal, coke and steel laborers; military
veterans, and educators, and have envisioned what 21st century families will be
like.
Next year's reunion, our 17th, will be held the weekend of July 13-14, 2002.
2000 Reunion
Reunions of other branches
Reunions
of the 1990s Early reunions
Copyright © 2001 Mark A. Miner