Henry Clay "Harry" Minor Jr. was born on Feb. 28, 1878, in Knoxville, Knox County, TN, the son of Capt. Henry Clay and Mattie Hunt (Phillips) Minor Sr.

As an infant, Harry and his parents relocated to Bristol, Sullivan County, TN and remained for 13 years, making their home in the Virginia House (or "Hotel") on the Virginia side of the city for three years and in the Nickles House on the Tennessee side for another three years. The 1880 federal census shows two-year-old son Harry living with his father and mother in the Virginia Hotel on Russell Street in Goodson, Washington County, VA. 

Later, they returned to Knoxville.

At the age of 22, in 1900, Harry lived at home with his parents and earned a living as an express messenger in Knoxville. The 1903 Knoxville City Directory also listed him as an express messenger and boarding with his parents at 518 Asylum Avenue. He progressed up the company ladder to the position of bookkeeper. 

Harry has not yet been found on the census of 1910. 

On Sept. 19, 1912, in Butler County, OH, the 34-year-old Harry was united in marriage with 25-year-old Mary Lucille Freeman (1887- ? ), a native of Ironton, Lawrence County and the daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Karlsberger) Freeman. Rev. Sheridan Watson Bell officiated. 

At the time of marriage, Harry's residence was in Knoxville, with his occupation listed as clerk, while Mary lived in Hamilton, Butler County, and earned a living as a sales lady. The newlyweds requested that the news of the marriage not be published. How the couple met, living so far apart, is not yet known.

Circa 1915, at the death of his brother Wilkie "Joseph" Minor in Boston, Harry was reported by a Knoxville newspaper to be living in Cincinnati.

At some point in 1915, he was admitted to the Athens State Hospital in Athens, Athens County, OH. He suffered from dementia paralytica, an illness leading to loss of memory and other mental capabilities. Some medical sources say that this type of dementia may be related to late-stage syphilis. Harry was treated by Dr. C.W. Irish from Oct. 4, 1915 to Dec. 26, 1915, without improvement. He died the day after Christmas 1915 at the age of 37 years, nine months and 28 days. 

News of Harry's death was telegraphed to friends in Knoxville, and an obituary was printed in the Knoxville Journal and Tribune. The article noted that the deceased "was for many years a resident of this city, and was well known. He was a son of Harry C. Minor, Sr., for many years connected with the local express offices."

His remains were returned to Knoxville for interment in Greenwood Cemetery. The source for his information on his Ohio death certificate was marked as "Probation Papers, Lawrence Co."