Minerd.com Biography of Simon and Lear (Shaffer) Miner of North Baltimore, OH

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Simon Miner
(1844-1924)

Simon Miner was born on May 15, 1844 in Unity Township near East Palestine, Columbiana County, OH, one of 15 children of Jacob and Julianna (Forney) Miner.

As a young man, he went by the spelling of "Minerd," though later in life the name is thought to have been shortened to "Miner" or "Minor."

When the federal census was taken in 1870, Simon was boarding in the home of farmer Solomon Fries in Wood County, OH, and working there as a farm laborer. Why Simon made the 200-mile relocation from Columbiana County to Wood County is unknown, but it carries some logic since two sets of Simon's known aunts and uncles (Samuel Minerd and Sophia [Minard] Van Horn) resided in Wood County too.

Main Street in North Baltimore, Ohio

Later in 1870, Simon married Lear Shaffer (1848-1930). She was the daughter of Andrew and (?) (Echelbarger) Shaffer of Wood County -- the father a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother a native of Germany.

The Miners together produced four children -- Etta May Miner, Rose Leech and two others who are not yet identified.

They resided in North Baltimore, Wood County, OH, where Simon found employment as an oilfield worker and pumper.

The 1900 census lists Simon (age 56), Lear (52) and Etta May (15) as living in Henry Township, Wood County.

Oil derrick, North Baltimore

By 1910, the census shows that Simon was employed in odd jobs, and living with Lear by themselves in Henry Township.

Circa 1920, when his elderly sister Eliza Mathany died in Ohio, Simon was named in her obituary in the Warren (OH) Daily Tribune, and mentioned as a surviving brother. The census that year shows that Simon and Lear had moved to Seneca Township, Seneca County, OH. Simon, age 75, was retired and thus not working that year.

Simon died at age 80 on June 28, 1924 of the effects of a stroke in addition to hardening of the arteries. Daughter Rose Leech of Toledo, OH was the informant on his death certificate. Rose was unable to provide the names of either Simon's father or mother for the document.

Lear outlived Simon by six years. As an invalid in 1930, she made her residence at 32 Short Street in Tiffin, Seneca County. She passed away at the age of 82, on May 7, 1930, of a stroke. She was buried at Maplewood Cemetery in North Baltimore. Daughter Rose Leech of Toledo again was the informant for the certificate of death.

They are buried at the Old Maplewood Cemetery, in Row 2, South Section, between East and Center Drives. Their lives are being researched further.

He is not to be confused with a nephew, Simon Henry Miner of Kalida, OH and Kalamazoo, MI, nor a cousin, Simon S. Miner of Trumbull County, OH, the son of John Miner.

~ Daughter Etta May (Miner) Price ~

Daughter Etta May Miner (1885-1968) was born on May 22, 1885 in Hammansburg, Wood County, OH..

At the age of 15, in 1900, she dwelled with her parents in Henry Township, Wood County.

Etta at age 18 and 27-year-old Robert M. Price (Feb. 23, 1875-1959) were joined in wedlock on Aug. 12, 1902 in Wood County. He was the son of Daniel and Martha (Beery) Price and originally from Melmore, Seneca County, OH. Rev. Eli L. Mottes, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, performed the ceremony. At the time, Robert dwelled in Tiffin, OH and was a farmer.

At least two sons born to the pair were Dallas Price and Virgil Price.

The couple resided in 1910 on a farm in Washington, Hancock County, OH. By 1920, they had moved to a farm in Seneca, Seneca County, with both Robert and son Dallas providing farm labor.

The Prices relocated again during the 1920s to Tiffin, Seneca County. There, Robert worked as a caster in a local pottery. By the time the 1930 census was taken, both sons had moved out, but Etta's 84-year-old mother was now in the household. They remained in Tiffin during the 1930s and into 1940, with Robert continuing his pottery trade.

Robert passed away without warning on Nov. 19, 1959. His obituary in the Fremont (OH) News-Messenger said he "was a Seneca county farmeer before moving to Tiffin 34 years ago. For 27 years he was employed by the American Standard pottery here." Rev. Earl Zager of Findlay, OH led the funeral service.

Etta outlived her spouse by nine years. Death enveloped her in 1968. Burial was in Pleasant Union Cemetery in Old Fort, Seneca County, OH.

Son Dallas R. Price (1905-1977) was born on Sept. 9, 1905. On March 23, 1935, at the age of 30, he wed 24-year-old Helen Louise Rex (Nov. 19, 1912-1953), daughter of Frank and Clara (Nafes) Rex. Rev. H.H. Creager officiated. Their home at the time was on 2121 Dorr Street in Lucas County, OH. Three offspring born into this family were Gaynell L. Price, Robert F. Price and Jan D. Price. Between 1940-1948, the Prices relocated to Michigan and settled in Monroe, Monroe County, where Dallas owned his own garage business. The family was plunged into grief when Helen passed away at age 41 on May 26, 1953. Dallas died at age 73 on Dec. 9, 1977. Burial was in Roselawn Memorial Park in nearby LaSalle.

Granddaughter Gaynell L. Price (1938- ? ) was born in about 1938 in Ohio.

Grandson Robert F. Price (1940- ? ) was born in about 1940 in Ohio.

Grandson Jan D. Price (1948- ? ) was born in about 1948 in Monroe County, MI.

Son Virgil Price (1909- ? ) was born in about 1909. He was hurt in a freak accident in late February 1963. Reported the Fremont (OH) New-Messenger, he "received injuries of the face, nose, and knees ... when the farm tractor he was driving hit an icy spot in Seneca Township Road 113 and overturned. He was pinned under the tractor for a while."

~ Daughter Rose (Miner) Leech ~

Daughter Rose Miner (1874-1941) was born on Nov. 28, 1874.

At the age of 19, in about 1893, she married John W. Leech (1870-1941) of Fulton County, OH, the son of Matthew F. and Anna (Williams) Leech.

They had at least one daughter, Ruth Wickard.

The family may have resided in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH early in their marriage. Later, they are known to have lived on Starr Avenue, Eastmoreland Boulevard and then at 436 Grasser Street in or near Toledo, Lucas County, OH.

When the 1920 federal census was taken, the Leeches lived on Starr Avenue in Toledo. John was employed as a railroad engineer. The 1930 census shows them making their home on Eastmoreland Boulevard, with John continuing his work as an engineer with the steam railroad.

Rose died at home at the age of 66 on Aug. 2, 1941. She was laid to rest at Toledo Memorial Park.

John only survived his wife by three months. He died of heart failure at the age of 70 on Nov. 6, 1941. He joined his wife in eternal repose in Toledo Memorial Park. His passing occurred just one month and one day before our nation was plunged into World War II. Daughter Ruth Wickard of Pittsburgh was the informant on the death certificate.

Daughter Ruth Leech (1899-1984) was born on Feb. 9, 1899. She is believed to have wed Walter L. Wickard (Nov. 24, 1903-1995). They apparently did not reproduce. The Wickards resided in the Whitehall and Pleasant Hills sections of Pittsburgh. They were affiliated with the Pleasant Hills Community United Presbyterian Church. Sadly, Ruth passed away on Jan. 24, 1984. Walter died on Dec. 29, 1995. A short obituary for each was printed in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Both wife and husband sleep aside each other in Jefferson Memorial Park in Pleasant Hills.