Minerd.com Biography of Hugh Valentine and Mabel Olive (Shanower) Miner of Tontogany, OH

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Hugh Valentine Miner
(1884-1968)
Click to see the Hugh V. Miner Family Photo Album

Mabel and Hugh Miner

Hugh Valentine Miner was born on his namesake day, Feb. 14, 1884, near Tontogany, Wood County, OH, the son of Jacob and Louise (Finkenbeiner) Miner.

On March 4, 1908, when he was 24 years of age, Hugh was united in the bonds of holy matrimony with 23-year-old Mabel Olive Shanower (1885-1985), a native of Plymouth, IN, and the daughter of Ananias B. and Lucy Ann (Whiteleather) Shanower.

Hugh and Mabel are said to have ridden a streetcar from Tontogany to Perrysburg, Wood County, to be married at the home of Rev. Tannyhill.

The Miners became the parents of three children: Harvey "Dean" Miner, Lucy Margaret Mettler and Ivo "Dale" Miner.

The family resided in Tontogany for decades.

As a young adult, circa 1931, Hugh was manager of the Royce and Coon Grain Elevator at Tontogany, Later, for 19 years, he worked at the highway garage of what is now the Ohio Department of Transportation, from where he retired.

Broad Street, Tontogany

Hugh had a boiler's license, and usually worked nights as a watchman.

Another distant cousin who worked for the county highway department was Logan Potter, son of George and Mary (Leonard) Potter.

Mabel was a member of the Past Noble Grand Club of Oriana Rebekah Lodge in Tontogany. She kept scrapbooks filled with news clippings of relatives and friends, preserving an important part of our family’s legacy.

Old grain elevator in Tontogany

News story, 1958

In 1958, the Miners celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by hosting an open house reception at their home for 100 guests. A newspaper article said:

Book namingMabel

The Miners’ only daughter, Mrs. Duane Mettler, of Edon, baked the 3 tier cake for the occasion, which was decorated with white icing and topped with yellow roses. Yellow tapers, surrounded by yellow rose-buds on a white linen cloth, added to the attractiveness of the buffet table…. A picture of the bride and groom taken 50 years ago was hung on a wall between two recently taken pictures, adding interest to the celebration.

Hugh and Mabel were married for a total of six decades. They marked their 60th wedding anniversary in February 1968 with an open house in the Tontogany City Hall.

He passed away in Bowling Green on Oct. 28, 1968. Interment of the remains was in the sacred soil of Union Hill Cemetery near Tontogany.

Mabel outlived Hugh by 17 years. When Tontogany celebrated its centennial anniversary, she was pictured in s special booklet, Tontogany Times: Story of Tontogany, Ohio, 1875-1975. She was a talented quilt-maker, and two of her quilts are featured in the Minerd.com Online Quilt Museum -- one with blue highlights, and the other featuring pink details.

She died at the age of 100 on March 16, 1985, also in Bowling Green. They are buried together at Union Hill.

Quilt lovingly crafted by Mabel for a great-granddaughter

Dale Miner

~ Son Ivo "Dale" Miner ~

Son Ivo "Dale" Miner (1908-1955) was born on Sept. 23, 1908 in Tontogany, Wood County.

He lived in Tontogany in young manhood and earned a living in 1929 in the Toledo yards of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, working in "firing." He also labored as a mechanic, machinist and grinder.

He was a talented speaker and singer and gave many recitations and musical solos over the years in church and school settings and to benefit charities such as the American Red Cross. He was known also to entertain audiences between acts of the Tontogany community play.

While hunting in November 1930, Dale was struck by a gunshot. Said the Bowling Green Daily Sentinel-Tribune, "luckily the shot was too far spent to do much damage."

He was twice-wed. His first bride was Gwenna Evelyn Belleville (June 22, 1913-1937), daughter of Loy and Lulu (McCrory) Belleville of Bowling Green. They tied the knot on Aug. 8, 1935, when he was age 27, with the ceremony led by Rev. Z.C. Bates, of the Rudolph Church of Christ. News of the union was made public in the local newspaper.

Gwenna was a 1931 graduate of Bowling Green High School and then for several years was employed as a stenographer in the law offices of E.G. McClelland and C.H. Hock. She held a membership dating to childhood in the First Church of Christ of Bowling Green.

Dale and his 1st wife, Glenna- Courtesy Beverly (Hansen) Miner

Tragically, their union only lasted for a little more than two years. At the time of their marriage, Gwenna had been suffering with tuberculosis for about three years, said to have been contracted "from intestinal influenza." As a newlywed, her illness grew progressively worse. In March 1936, she moved back into her parents' home although she continued to take part in Miner and Belleville family activities. By January 1937, she had been admitted to the Oak Ridge Sanitarium at Green Springs, Seneca County. A Bowling Green newspaper article dated July 1, 1937 reported that visitors found her "looking fine and in good spirits."

But no recovery was to be made. Sadly, after 10 months at Green Springs, she died there at the age of 24 years, four months and 24 days on Nov. 18, 1937. In an obituary, the Sentinel-Tribune said "She had been a patient sufferer... In spite of her illness she always had a ready smile for all... Her faith in her Master never faltered. It cvan truly be said of her, she was a true Christian and always attended her Master's services when her health permitted." Funeral services were conducted at the Church of Christ in Bowling Green, jointly officiated by Rev. T.E. Winter and the man who had performed their nuptials, Rev. Bates. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery.

News story

Dale remained a widower for about two-and-a-half years. On June 26, 1940, at the age of 31, he married 22-year-old waitress Ruth A. Miller (Oct. 27, 1917-1986), originally from Grand Rapids, OH and the daughter of William Ray and Lulu Ann (Swick) Miller. Presiding at their wedding nuptials was Rev. Ray L. Cross of Bowling Green, in the Bowling Green Methodist Church.

Together, the couple produced one daughter, Jean Grant Mohn, born in Reading, MI in 1942.

The Miners' first residence was in Grand Rapids, Wood County. They often had Sunday dinners with Dale's parents, sister Lucy Mettler and brother Dean and family. By 1942, the family relocated to Michigan, where they resided in Reading, Hillsdale County, MI. There, he first worked at the Weaver Tannery. In time, they moved to Hillsdale, MI, with him appointed as a deputy county sheriff. In June 1950, while back in Tontogany for a family gathering, they all attended the centennial celebration at Montpelier. He joined the Moose lodge at Adrian and, as of 1955, was employed at the Faraday Electric Company in Adrian, MI.

News of Dale's death- Courtesy Beverly (Hansen) Miner

Tragedy struck on Jan. 30, 1955 when Dale was killed in an automobile accident two miles west of Pittsford on State Route 34. While en route to work, said a newspaper, "the wheels of Miner's 1953 Oldmobile dropped off the pavement on one side of the road. The car then skidded across the pavement to the other side and left the road. The car went through guard rails and down an embankment rolling over several times. It finally came to a stop 300 feet from the starting point of the skid. Mienr was thrown from the car and died instantly."

His remains were laid to rest in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Neapolis, Lucas County, OH.

His widow Ruth waited for three years and on May 16, 1958 married James Pugh (June 28, 1913-1980), son of Otis and Anna (Dull) Pugh. He brought five stepchildren into the union -- Eleanor Eckhart, Doris Bills, June Wright, Lois Lee and Ross Pugh. James was a truck driver for Funk Motors, a part-time farmer and employed by Allied Chemical Company in Toledo, retiring in 1977.

She held memberships in the Calvary United Methodist Church in Grand Repids, the Maumee Valley Homemakers Club and the Providence Grange. Their address in 1980 was 16484 Wapakoneta Road. James passed away on Sept. 10, 1980 at home. Rev. James K. Steward presided over the funeral rites, with interment taking place in Beaver Creek Cemetery.

Ruth outlived her second husband by six years and resided at 1534 Freedom Street, Toledo. With her health in decline, at the age of 68, she was admitted to St. Charles Hospital in Oregon near Toledo, and died on Sept. 14, 1986. Her obituary in the Sentinel-Tribune said that she was survived by one grandchild, 14 step-grandchildren and 17 step-great-grandchildren.

Daughter Jean Miner (1942- ? ) was born in 1942 in or near Reading, MI. She was a teenager at her father's tragic death. She and her mother returned to Wood County and made a home in Grand Rapids, OH. Jean entered into marriage with Frank Grant ( ? - ? ). The one known son they bore together was James Grant. As of 1968, the Grants dwelled in Toledo, OH. Jean's second husband was (?) Mohn ( ? - ? ). Jean and her son are known to have attended the 60th wedding anniversary of her grandparents Hugh and Mabel Miner in 1968.

~ Son Harvey "Dean" Miner ~

News story

Son Harvey "Dean" Miner (1910-1998) was born on Jan. 7, 1910 in Tontogany.

When he was 29 years of age, on July 29, 1939, he was joined in wedlock with Vera "Florence" Hardy (Sept. 16, 1919-2012), a native of Williams Center, OH and the daughter of Henry Mark and Ola DeEtta (Shettel) Hardy. They stayed together through the thick and thin of nearly 59 years.

Florence was an alumna of Swanton High School and then attended a business school. She was active in the 4-H organization and served as a local advisor for a dozen years. Said an obituary, Florence "was an accomplished seamstress, quilter, and excellent cook. She was equally at home serving a dinner for two or for 200, as she prepared many meals at the First United Methodist Church in Bowling Green of which she was a member. Florence was active in the Rebekah Lodge receiving the Decoration of Chivalry, one of the highest commendations. As an active member she held all elective and appointive offices in the local Oriana Lodge #774 and in 1986 was elected President of the Ohio Rebekah Assembly, I.O.O.F."

Dean received his bachelor of science degree in education in 1932, from Bowling Green State University, specializing in industrial arts. In 1947, he was awarded a master's degree at Ohio University, and then went on to study at the doctoral level at Case Western Reserve and Wayne State University. Part of his career was as an influential industrial arts instructor at his alma mater, BGSU. Said a newspaper, he was "a specialist in setting up industrial arts programs" and is known to have organized and set up industrial arts programs at schools in Weston, McClure, Florida Local School, Wauseon, Anthony Wayne, Gaham Local High School, St. Paris and Tontogany.

Dean was the author of the book Exploring Patternmaking and Foundry, published by the D. Van Nostrand Co., of Princeton, and of "Pattern Making and Foundry in the General Shop" in the October 1950 edition of Industrial Arts Magazine. In 1959, he was appointed to a team of Ohio University educators in a program through the Nigerian government and the International Cooperative Administration. Their mission was to study the technical education programs of Nigeria's secondary schools and colleges before making specific recommendations for change.

During a two-year leave of absence from BGSU in 1960-1961, Dean and Florence resided in Enugu, Nigeria, about 200 miles inland. The couple worked with missionaries to encourage and support their work. Later, upon returning to the United States, he authored "Industrial Arts in Nigeria" in the December 1966 issue of the Journal of Industrial Arts Education. He retired from BGSU in 1975 as associate professor emeritus and was named a laureate member of Epsilon Pi Tau, an honorary fraternity devoted to technical education. He also held memberships in the Northwestern Ohio Industrial Education Association, Retired Teachers' Association, First Families of Wood County and the Odd Fellows, where he "held every local office and acted as Grand Chaplain for two terms at the state level," said a newspaper.

Some of Dean's creations -- the Exploring Patternmaking book, altar at the First United Methodist Church, and drop-leaf table. Below, his obituary, 1998.

At his home church, the First United Methodist Church in Bowling Green, Dean also "donated his labor to build most of the chancel furnishings, including the large overhead cross, pulpit, lectern, baptismal font, altar, and pew communion cup-holders in the sanctuary," said the Toledo Blade. Dean's creations are shown at larger size and greater detail on three pages of our online "Museum of Creativity" -- the book page, chancel furnishings page and home furnishings and decor page.

Diagnosed with cancer in the early 1990s, he battled the illness for a number of years until his passing at the age of 88, on June 20, 1998, in the Community Nursing Home. The Toledo Blade newspaper carried an extensive obituary, entitled "Ex-Industrial Arts Teacher Was 30-Year BGSU Veteran." His granddaughter Rev. Kathleen Kisner co-officiated the funeral service with Rev. Vance Summers Jr. He was laid to rest in the Union Hill Cemetery near Tontogany.

Florence outlived her spouse by 14 years. She endured a stroke and soldiered on despite losing a bit of her personality. At the age of 92, she passed away in Wood Haven Health Care Center on Jan. 26, 2012. Rev. Becky Schofield-Motter officiated the funeral service held in the family church.

Bob and Beverly Miner

Son Charles Robert "Bob" Miner (1940-2022) was born on June 14, 1940. He was an alumnus of Washington Township/Otsego High School and later received his bachelor of industrial technology degree from Ohio University and and master of industrial education degree from Bowling Green State University. In young manhood he accompanied his parents on a mission trip to Nigeria, West Africa. He also served in the U.S. Air Force for two decades, with tours of duty in Great Britain and Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines and then a posting in Duluth, MN where he met his future bride. After leaving active duty, he joined the Air Force Reserves.

In nuptials held in Duluth, MN on June 19, 1965, the 25-year-old Robert was united in matrimony with Beverly May Hansen ( ? -living). Their union survived for a remarkable 56 years until separated by death. The two offspring they produced together are Kirk Miner and Rev. Kathleen Kisner. Bob went on to a long career as an industrial arts and technology teacher at Gateway Middle School in the Maumee (OH) City System. As a high school educator, said the Bowling Green newspaper, "He enjoyed developing creative lessons for life skills such as plumbing and how to use basic tools. He also spent time as the technical director for the Middle School theater productions." Robert also followed in his father's footsteps in church leadership with the Trinity United Methodist Church in Bowling Green, serving in 2005 as chairman of the board of trustees, Sunday School teacher, choir singer and delegate to the annual conference for nearly 20 years. He also helped to lead mission trips to Appalachian regions. Their travels also included 20 countries and 44 different U.S. states. He was a member of the Tontogany lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Wood County Hospital Wheeled Meals and the Black Swamp Chapter of the Veteran Motor Car Club of America.

Above: The Miners surrounded by a trellis of roses on their wedding day, and at the 2017 reunion holding the bust of Bob's father. Below: exploring the ruins of the old Samuel and Susanna Minerd farmhouse near Tontogany, 2007.

Beverly receiving award

In her own right, Beverly has been an active family historian and volunteer with the Wood County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. Bob and Beverly’s family are profiled in the 1994 publication, On the Courthouse Steps of Wood County, Ohio, and are immortalized in a sewn section of a special quilt produced by the Genealogical Society. She also contributed information for Carl Day's 2002 book, Tom Custer: Ride to Glory, and introduced the author when he spoke at the 2002 Minerd-Miner-Minor Reunion. Beverly received an award in 2003 for her work with the Historical Society of the United Methodist Church of Ohio. The pair attended several other of the national family reunions over the years. Sadly, he passed away in their home on May 3, 2022. His funeral service was held in the family church, with interment in Union Hill Cemetery. In his obituary, the family asked that any memorial donations be made to the family church or Bridge Home Hospice.

Son Kirk Miner (1968- ? ) was born in 1968. He is a 1987 graduate of Bowling Green High School. He then studied at Owens Community College, Hocking Technical College and Bluffton College.resides in Columbus, OH and is employed by the city school district. He has attended several national Minerd-Minard-Miner-Minor Family Reunions over the years and was interviewed with his mother at the 2023 event in a Facebook Live video.

Daughter Rev. Kathleen May Miner (1970-living) was born in 1970. She is a 1989 alumna of Bowling Green High School. She received her bachelor of arts in 1993 from Otterbein University and in 1997 was awarded her master of divinity degree at Perkins School of Theology. In 1993, Kathleen married Craig Kisner ( 1971 - living ). Their three children are James Kisner, Elizabeth Kisner and Lila Kisner. Kathleen has been a longtime pastor in the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. During her career, she has been appointed as a pastor at Christ Church (Kettering), St. Paul Trinity United Methodist Church (Elmore), Westwood United Methodist Church (Cincinnati), Amelia United Methodist Church (Union Township, Clermont County), Armstrong Chapel United Methodist Church (Indian Hill), Walnut Street United Methodist Church (Chillicothe), and Bainbridge United Methodist Church (Bainbridge) before being named pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church (Grove City) in 2023.

Lucy Mettler

~ Daughter Lucy (Miner) Mettler ~

Daughter Lucy Miner (1916-1975) was born on April 15, 1916.

She was one of 21 graduates of the 1934 class at Washington Township High School in Tontogany. She was an advisor to the local 4-H Club "in 1933 at the age of 17 and remained in that capacity for seven years," said the Tontogany Times booklet.

She entered into marriage with Leonard "Duane" Mettler (July 5, 1914-1963), the son of Harley and Zilpha (Bistline) Mettler of Williams County, OH.

The pair did not reproduce.

Duane was a veteran of World War II. He was employed over the years as a quality control inspector in the farming industry, employed by the Weatherhead Company of Angola, IN. He and Lucy were active in the community.

Leonard and Lucy Mettler, and their farm - Courtesy Beverly (Hansen) Miner

News story, 1932

In 1932, Lucy was named the official Wood County representative to the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, having written an award-winning essay on “Wood County and Ft. Meigs in History."

Lucy was a self-employed beautician. Their home in 1948-1963 was on a farm in Edon/Cooney, Williams County, OH.

After suffering a heart attack, Duane was admitted as a patient to Cameron Hospital in Angola, IN. His condition was so grave that Lucy's parents, brother Hugh and spouses drive to Cooney for a visit. Three weeks after becoming ill, on Nov. 1, 1963, Duane died at the age of 49. An obituary was published in the Bowling Green Daily Sentinel-Tribune.

Stricken with "multiple myeloma" -- cancer that forms in white blood cells -- she died in Heritage of Perrysburg Nursing Home at the age of 58 on Feb. 17, 1975, and is buried in Riverside Cemetery at Montpelier, Williams County, OH.