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Thomas
'Luther' Minard |
Thomas "Luther" Minard was born on March 1 or 3, 1868 near Gambier, Knox County, OH, the son of Thomas G. and Elizabeth (Glasner) Minard.
Sadly, Luther's father died when Luther was seven months old, and thus the son never known the man.
On Sept. 12, 1885, when he was 20 years of age, Luther entered into marriage with his first wife, 18-year-old Emma Mae Hissong (1870- ? ). They were wed by the hand of R.F. Hall in Knox County.
The Minards produced one daughter Flora May Miner, born on Valentine's Day 1886.
By May 1895, when his mother died, Luther was living in the town of Allegheny on the North Side of Pittsburgh, PA. That year, he received a bequest from her estate in the amount of $50.00.
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Stepson's obituary, 1901 |
Luther's second wife was Sarah "Agnes" Atherton (1859-1917), the daughter of John T. and Mary (Sprey) Atherton. They were married on Nov. 24, 1898, in Knox County, with the ceremony performed by justice of the peace William M. Edgar.
Agnes brought a stepson, Joseph Atherton, to the marriage.
Luther worked as a molder, and they resided at 214 West Curtis Street in Mt. Vernon. and later at 653 Carroll Street in Akron, Summit County, OH. He also appears to have been a Christian minister, using the "Rev." title in the 1910s, and leading praise services at the North Main Street Rescue Mission.
Tragically, stepson Joseph died an untimely death at age 19 of "quick consumption and pneumonia," said the Mt. Vernon Republican News. His death occurred on Aug. 26, 1901. He "worked at the C. & G. Cooper shops before he was taken ill, six months ago Monday," said the News. "He was confined to his bed during nearly all of his illness."
Some 16 years later, Sarah died after surgery for appendicitis/intestinal obstruction on Jan. 15, 1917, in Akron. She was just 57 years of age. Her remains were brought to Mt. Vernon for burial, reported the Mt. Vernon Democratic Banner. At the time, Luther spelled his last name "Minarde."
Luther worked as "a moulder at Cooper foundry," said the Mt. Vernon (OH) News. Circa 1917, he resided in Wilmerding, southeast of Pittsburgh, where his daughter Dorothy (Minard) Masters was born. Wilmerding was home to Westinghouse Air Brake Company which housed many machine shops and foundries in town, and may have been Luther's workplace.
Not long afterward, he moved back to Akron, married the baby's mother and made a dwelling-place at 557 South Arlington Street.
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Akron's East Market Street, seen from Hotel Portage |
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Mt. Vernon News, 1940 |
At the age of 50, on March 19, 1918, Luther wed a third time to 44-year-old Mary A. Martin (Aug. 10, 1874- ? ). Rev. L.N.D. Wells, of the High Street (First) Church of Christ, presided over their nuptials, held in his study. A native of Cleveland, Mary was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Barrance) Martin and at the time was employed as a nurse in Akron.
The newlyweds' first address was 445 Talbot Avenue. The federal census enumeration of 1920 shows the pair in Akron, with him continuing to be employed as a molder, but with her having no occupation.
Luther wrote an empassioned letter to the editor of the Akron Beacon Journal, printed on Dec. 5, 1923. He wrote:
In your issue of Nov. 28, you gave first page space to a lengthy article entitled, "In School-Klan War." I fail to see wherein you find any war between the school and Klan. The act of the Klan and the expression of the school board indicate a decided difference of opinion, but no indication of war... We all realize that the bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ were ousted from our school by the American people, through the instigation of the Catholics and Jews, but are we to continue to allow the foreign people within our borders to say what our children shall be taught in our free, American, public schools?
His letter stirred indignation from a number of Beacon Journal readers who sent in their rebuttals.
An Akron City Directory for 1928 lists the couple at 1066 Stroman Avenue, with his employer listed as Mohawk Rubber Co.
In poor health spanning several years later in life, Luther passed away at at 71 in his home in Akron on Feb. 10, 1940. He was laid to rest in the Glendale Cemetery, perhaps in Akron, with a short funeral notice printed in the Akron Beacon Journal. The Mt. Vernon News said he was survived by wife Mary "and several nieces and nephews."
Mary's fate is unknown, but will be published here when learned.
~ Daughter Flora May Minard/Miner ~
Daughter Flora May Minard/Miner (1886- ? ) born on Valentine's Day 1886.
Nothing more about her is known.
~ Daughter Dorothy (Minard) Masters ~
Daughter Dorothy (Minard) Masters (1917-1978) was born on Aug. 8 or 28, 1917 in Wilmerding, Allegheny County, PA.
She grew to adulthood in her parents' home in Akron, OH.
At the age of 17, on Oct. 31, 1934, she tied the marital cord with 21-year-old Raymond M. Masters (June 16, 1913-1978), son of William and Margaret (Kern) Masten and a native of Massillon, OH. Officiating was Municipal Judge Chalde D. Emmons. Ray dwelled in nearby Canton, OH and had no job at the time of marriage.
The pair became the parents of seven -- Nadine Mae Watkins, Ray Masters, Margaret J. Morris Stephen, Jeanne Y. Whittmer, Bonnie Wehr, Larry Masters and William Masters.
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| Raymond Masters' employer in 1940, Timken Roller Bearing Co., Canton |
Dorothy and Raymond dwelled in Canton for decades. The 1940 federal census enumeration shows his occupation as an inspector, and it's known that he was employed that year with Timken Roller Bearing Company. The family addresses in 1940 were 1713 19th Street Southwest and 5814 Quimby Avenue in Cleveland. In 1950, with their home in an apartment on Cook Avenue, with Raymond earning a living as a house painter.
Near-tragedy shook their world in April 1949 when their 12-year-old son Raymond "accidentally hanged himself with a rope at his home," said the Akron Beacon Journal. "The rope was part of a swing hanging from the ceiling of the Masters' family basement home. The boy was unconscious when found by his mother [and a] police cruiser in the vicinity summoned firemen with a resuscitator."
Sadly, both husband wife died in the same year, some eight months apart. He succumbed first, at the age of 64, in Aultman Hospital, on Jan. 19, 1978. Then at the age of 62, Dorothy passed away on Sept. 18, 1978.
Daughter Nadine Mae Masters (1935-2007) was born on April 13, 1935 in Akron. She was joined in wedlock with Donald Ross Watkins ( ? -2010). He was a graduate of Hartville High School, earning his diploma while in the U.S. Army, studying at the Armed Forces Institute. He then attended the University of Wisconsin and received pilot's training at the Air College in Compton, CA. The family was in Los Angeles by 1962 and lived at 1235 Hinnen Avenue. They appear to have returned to the Akron/Canton region by the late 1970s, living in Plain Township. Donald served in 1979 as a member of the Plain Township Zoning Commission and in 1981-1992 as a Plain Township Trustee. In 1992, he was elected to the board of commissioners of Stark County. At his retirement as a commissioner in July 2000, the Akron Beacon Journal said that he "didn't enter politics to be popular. But somehow, the Stark County commissioner's straight-forward style and tireless work ethic kept him in public office for 21 years and earned him respect across political and community lines... [He] fought for better police, fire and jail services [and] has been vocal about his support for a countywide piggyback sales tax." Nadine reputedly died in Las Vegas on Oct. 4, 2007. Donald outlived her by three years. Death swept him away, also in Las Vegas, on July 2, 2010. A brief obituary in the Las Vegas Review-Journal referred to him as "a retired politician..."
Son Raymond L. Masters (1937- ? ) was born in about 1937 in Canton. He has made his home in Canton.
Daughter Margaret J. Masters (1938-2015) was born on Sept. 25, 1938 in Canton. She was an alumna of McKinley High School. Margaret was twice-wed. Her first spouse was (?) Morris ( ? - ? ). The two children they bore together included Bill Morris and Dwain L. Morris. Later, she tied the knot with (?) Stephen ( ? - ? ) and became the mother of April Stephen. Her home in the 2010s was in Alliance, OH. Said an obituary, "employed at the former Kresky's. She was a life member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and a professional bingo player." Sadly, while undergoing treatment at Community Care Center, she died at the age of 76 on April 6, 2015. In an obituary, the family asked that any memorial contributions be made to the Alliance Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice.
- Grandson Bill Morris is married to or a companion of Sue Burkett.
- Grandson Dwain L. Morris ( ? -2014) was born on (?). He passed away on Sept. (?), 2014.
- Granddaughter April Stephen ( ? - ? )
Daughter Jeanne Y. Masters (1944- ? ) was born in about 1944. She married (?) Whittmer. She was deceased by 2015.
Son William R. Masters (1946- ? ) was born in about 1946. He was deceased by 2015.
Daughter Bonnie Masters wed Robert Wehr. The Wehrs have lived in Canton in Canton.
Son Larry Masters ( ? - ? ) has resided in Canton.
Copyright © 2005, 2008, 2012, 2024 Mark A. Miner