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January 2025

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Courtesy Delores (Miner) Dalton

One of the largest families profiled on our award-winning Minerd.com website was produced by George Riley and Sally (Croston) Minard of Philippi, WV. The son of Sarah (Minerd) Mayle Wright and an unknown father, George was given the Minard surname and used it throughout his long life. Sally was the daughter of Thomas H. and Nancy (Mayle) Croston.

The couple got started early, marrying on Oct. 30, 1887 when he was 19 and she 15, officiated by Rev. Israel Moats of the United Brethren Church in Christ. Together, they bore a family of 10, among them Grover James Minard, Cansetta Collins, Blanche Ann Collins, Samuel Miner, Willie "Babe" Miner, Marion Francis "Frank" Miner, Conter Miner, Camden Minard, May "Alta" Croston and Mildred Newman. These children produced an astonishing 76 grandchildren and 217 great-grandchildren, including full-and-step offspring. Not all of the grandchildren and beyond have been fully identified, and more will be added once learned.

George’s grandparents Jacob and Ruth (Adams) Minerd Sr. were Pennsylvania-German and Native American Indian. Because of this mixed-race nature, the Minards' children and grandchildren and their spouses often were labeled as “negro” and “colored” in official government records such as marriage licenses, death certificates and census enumerations. When one grandson-in-law registered for the military draft during World War II, the registration official wrote on the card, "Probably negro but dosen't admit to it." That same grandson earned a Purple Heart during his wartime service.

George’s and Sally’s entire married lives were spent in the hills above Philippi. A schoolhouse bearing the Minard name was constructed on their property and was in operation at least from 1927 to 1959. The abundance of coal in the region provided opportunities for a high number of descendants to work as miners. Reflecting a regional trend after World War II, with Eastern Ohio providing a more racially tolerant environment, many branches relocated to Canton, where good jobs were available in the construction and steel industries, and where many still reside.

Today the descendants of George and Sally primarily use the “Minard” and “Miner” spellings, with the “Minard” version pronounced as “Minn-ARD.”

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