John and Susie's wedding portrait, 1903

John Andrew Miner was born on Dec. 14, 1878 at Metzler’s Mill near Kingwood, Somerset County, PA, the son of Ephraim and Rosetta (Harbaugh) Miner. 

He is believed to have received his middle name as a namesake of an uncle, Andrew Jackson Miner.

At the age of 25, in about 1903, John eloped to Cumberland, Allegany County, MD to marry Susan M. Pletcher (1887-1985). She was just 16, and her parents felt he was a great catch because they thought he had a good income. John’s parents considered Susie a plum because she was such a nice person.

The Miners went on to produce seven children – Ethel G. Miner, Victor Clyde Miner, Edna "Evanell" Kimmel Nicklow, Ephraim Ray Miner, Harold Bruce Miner, John "Raymond" Miner and Kenneth Clinton Miner. 

Sadly, two of the children died in infancy -- daughter Ethel (1903) and son Harold Bruce (age 1 month, 7 days on April 18, 1911, due to "spasms."). Their tender remains are in eternal rest in the Old Bethel Church of God Cemetery near Kingwood.

Old Bethel Cemetery, Kingwood

A number of their children are pictured and mentioned as adults in the volume Down the Road of Our Past published by the Rockwood Area Historical & Genealogical Society. 

John was a coal miner and timber cutter for many years.  He suffered terribly from asthma and was sick a lot during his adult years, often coughing up black coal dust. He and his son Victor often worked together, and once survived a mine cave-in at Indian Head in nearby Fayette County.

In August 1924, John and Susie attended the Minerd-Miner reunion at Lincoln's grove, near the Western Maryland Railroad Station in Confluence. Among the 82 individuals present in the crowd were also John's mother, son Victor and daughter Evanell, and brother and sister in law Harry David and Amanda (Pletcher) Miner. In an article about the reunion, the Meyersdale Republican newspaper spelled the family name as "Minard" but reported the following: "A very successful and pleasant reunion of the Minard family was held in what is known locally as Lincoln's grove, near the Western Maryland Railroad Station.... The family is a numerous one in Western Pennsylvania, especially in Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland and Huntingdon Counties. The gathering on Saturday was their twelfth annual reunion."

Five generations

John and his family also enjoyed the annual Harbaugh Reunions. They are known to have attended in 1947 and 1954 (when John and Susie received the "Longest Married Award") and 1951 (when they were acknowledged for having five generations present). 

In the five-generation photo seen here, John sits beside his mother, while standing in the back are son Victor and granddaughter Melda Bittinger, who is holding her baby son Paul.

The Miners moved in about 1926 to a farm between Scullton and Normalville along the Somerset/Fayette County border. They stayed at this location for the 29 remaining years of their lives together.

When the federal census was taken in 1930, the Miners were counted in their home in Springfield Township. John's occupation was given as farmer, with sons Ephraim and Raymond both working as farm laborers. John's 61-year-old half brother, Grant Miner -- who had significant mental disabilities -- made his home under their roof that year. 

Among their near neighbors that year were their cousins Jacob and Laura Belle (Younkin) Shroyer, Oakey and Gertrude (Shroyer) Harbaugh and J. Frank and Ida (Burkholder) Younkin.

In late March 1933, their son Ephraim was sued by cousin Jacob Shroyer, alleging that Ephraim owed him $10.00 "for goods sold and delivered ... over and above all discounts which the said Ephraim Miner may have against him." Ephraim is said to have left the county with intent to defraud Jake, so Ephraim's employer, cousin Oakey Harbaugh, apparently was required to garnish his wages for repayment of the debt. The case was heard by cousin William Henry "Squire" Miner, a justice of the peace in Mill Run.

The federal census enumeration of 1940 lists the family in Springfield, as farmers, with their married son Ephraim Ray and daughter-in-law Flossie under their roof. 

John was marked as unable to work at age 71 when the census again was taken in 1950. 

John and Susie, 1953, on their golden wedding anniversary

Old Bethel Cemetery

John was marked as unable to work at age 71 when the census again was taken in 1950. 

In 1952, the Miners suffered the loss of their grandson Edward Dale Kimmel, of Dunbar, Fayette County, from the effects of an incurable brain tumor at the age of 20. A year later, they endured the tragic suicide death of their son Kenneth in Ohio.

The angel of death gathered away John in rural Springfield Township on May 15, 1955, at the age of 87, after much suffering with black lung disease and cardiac asthma, a coughing or wheezing caused by heart failure. Following a prayer service in the home, and a funeral at the Old Bethel Church of God, led by Rev. Earl Show, John's remains were lowered into eternal rest at the church cemetery, a small burying ground which holds many generations of Minerd-Miner-Minor and Younkin cousins in its sacred soil. An obituary was published in the Connellsville Daily Courier. He was survived by 16 grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Book picturing John & Susie

After six years as a widow, on March 29, 1961, Susie wed former school teacher and retired farmer Lyman M. Trimpey (Jan. 27, 1876-1962), son of Henry M. and Amanda Elizabeth (Meyers) Trimpey and widower of John Miner's distant double cousin, Minnie Catherine Nicklow (May 10, 1883-1956) of the family of Freeman and Ellen (Firestone) Nicola. 

They enjoyed just a little over a year of time together until the 86-year-old Lyman was stricken by a heart attack and passed away on July 7, 1962. 

The twice-widowed Susie outlived her second spouse by 23 years. In her later life, she enjoyed visiting and staying at the home of her former sister in law, Minnie Gary, in Hexebarter.

Susie died in 1985, at the age of 98. She was laid to rest beside her first husband at the Old Bethel church cemetery, after a separation of three decades.

At Susie's funeral, her children and grandchildren agreed that they had grown tired of seeing each other only at funerals. They decided to form a reunion so that the family could gather at happier events. The first reunion was held the following year, in 1986, at the Kingwood Picnic Grove in Somerset County. Today it has evolved into the national Minerd- Minard- Miner- Minor Reunion. 

John and Susie are pictured and mentioned in a lavishly illustrated, 2011 book about his father -- entitled Well At This Time: the Civil War Diaries and Army Convalescence Saga of Farmboy Ephraim Miner. The book, authored by the founder of this website, is seen here. [More] 

Reunion of John and Susie's descendants, 1988, Kingwood, PA

~ Son Victor Clyde Miner ~

Victor Miner

Son Victor Clyde Miner (1904-1997) was born on Dec. 16, 1904, near Kingwood. 

On April 5, 1926, when he was 21 years of age, he married Delphia Platter (July 23, 1901-1989), the daughter of Henry and Anna Jemima "Annie" (Handwerk) Platter Jr. of Jennings, Garrett County, MD.

They first made their home in Bakersville, Somerset County, and then moved to Grantsville, Garrett County, MD in 1940, where they remained for the rest of their lives. 

The Miners produced five children - Elmer Miner, Victor "Reed" Miner, John Henry Miner, Melda June Bittinger and Anna Jean Heston. 

Victor enjoyed taking his family to the Harbaugh and Younkin Reunions of the 1930s and '40s, held at the Kingwood IOOF Grove. Later, he liked to recall racing in the 50-yard dash.

The Miners were members of the Bethesda Church of the Brethren in Grantsville. In the late 1980s and early '90s, Victor met with the founder of this website several times and provided important details about the history of the family. He enjoyed chewing tobacco and was able to speak fragments of the Pennsylvania German language passed down through the generations. One phrase he spoke, "Vets less," was an Americanized version of the German "Vas ist Los?" meaning "What's happening?" or "What's wrong?"

Delphia and Victor, 1985

Book naming the family

Delphia died on Feb. 24, 1989, at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Cumberland, Allegany County, MD. Rev. Joseph Lewis led the funeral service at Grantsville Cemetery.

Victor outlived his wife by eight years, residing in the old farm house in Grantsville. On two separate occasions, he entertained visits from the founder of this website, including once in the company of the visitor's great-uncle, Edward John Miner.

He passed away at the Meyersdale Manor Nursing Home in Meyersdale, Somerset County on Feb. 2, 1997, at the age of 92. He was laid to rest beside his wife in the Grantsville Cemetery. At his passing, said the Somerset Daily American, he was survived by 16 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. 

Victor and Delphia are mentioned on page 448 of the book The Bittinger, Bittner, Biddinger, and Bidinger Families -- and Their Kin -- of Garrett County, Maryland, authored by Wayne Bittinger, and published in 1986 by McClain Printing Company in Parsons, WV.

Melda

Daughter Melda June Miner (1926-2001) was born on Nov. 26, 1926. She married Paul Stewart Bittinger (Feb. 7, 1928-1966), the son of Thomas and Della (Wilt) Bittinger of Grantsville. They lived in Grantsville, where Paul was a farmer and brick plant worker, and Melda a Dutch Maid supervisor. Their six children were Lois Radcliff, Paul Bittinger, William Bittinger, Dwane Bittinger, Jay Bittinger Sr. and Eric Bittinger. Sadly, as Paul's health failed, he was admitted to Montefiore Hospital in Pittsburgh. Unable to recover, he died on Sept. 26, 1966 at the untimely age of 38. His funeral service was held at the Maple Grove Church of the Brethren, with Rev. Guy Ludwig in charge. Interment was in the Grantsville Cemetery, and an obituary was published in the Meyersdale (PA) Republican and the Cumberland (MD) News. Melda remained his widow for the remaining 35 years of her life. She was co-founder, treasurer and constant supporter of our reunion from 1986 until her passing. Melda had perfect reunion attendance, and her hard work helped transform the event into one of significance for all cousins everywhere. Click to see a special tribute, a quilt she made for her daughter, and also to read her own account of the reunion's origins in the 1980s. Sadly, having suffered from respiratory issues for years, and often unable to get her breath, she succumbed on Jan. 30, 2001, at the age of 74.

• Grandson Paul Henry Bittinger (1950-living) was born on Aug. 17, 1950. He has been married four times over the years and lives in Lawrence, KS. In 1968, he married his first wife, Jancis Murray (? - ? ). They produced a son, Paul Henry Bittinger Jr. Then in 1974, he was joined in wedlock with Dora M. Ali (1954 -living), daughter of Hermelinda Perez Vergara of Panama. They were the parents of Gretta Bittinger and Ellen Rodriguez. In 1989, he married his third spouse, Rita Chapman (1961-living). She had two sons from a previous marriage, Lawrence Chapman and Mark Chapman. A son, Douglas Ali Bittinger, was born of this marriage. In 1993, he wed his fourth wife, Fuarosa M. Vaeono (1966-living). Fuarosa (Rose) is from American Samoa. Three more offspring, Paul Siona Bittinger, Andrew Toaga Bittinger and Charity Leinati Bittinger, were born of this marriage. Heartbreak cascaded over the family when married daughter Ellen, of East Point near Atlanta, passed away at the age of 30 on March 2, 2007.

• Melda and Paul Bittinger and family

  Grandson William Bittinger (1953-living) was born in 1953. He was united in holy matrimony with Gladys Needs ( ? - ? ). They dwelled in Huntsville, TX and are the parents of Justin Bittinger, Crystal Bittinger and Tiffany Bittinger. Today is married to Peggy Hamilton-Richardson.

• Granddaughter Lois Bittinger (1958-living) was born in 1958. In 1982, she married Jerry Radcliff (1950-living). Their offspring are Jeremy Radcliff and Leslie Radcliff. Together, they have owned Jerry's Auto Center in Belpre, OH since 1986. The garage features a fleet of wreckers and service trucks which respond to service calls.

Great-grandson Jeremy Radcliff has a daughter, Ella Grace Heldman.

Great-granddaughter Leslie Radcliff has a son, Hayden Michael Radcliff..

• Grandson Dwane Bittinger (1961-living) was born in 1961. He has made a home in Huntsville, TX. On Nov. 12, 1981, he married Lori Keefe ( ? -living). They produced three children, Jeffrey Bittinger, Jennifer Bittinger and Rebecca Ann Bittinger. Today, Dwane is employed at Arnold Transportation Services.

• Grandson Jay Bittinger (1963-living) was born in 1963. He resides in Grantsville. In 2008, he wedded Deborah Clark ( ? -living).

• Grandson Eric Bittinger Sr. (1965-living) was born in 1965. He wedded Bernadine ( ? - ? ), and they dwelled in Grantsville. Today is is married to Karen ( ? -living) and the couple has a son, Eric Bittinger Jr. He works for the Maryland State Highway Administration.
  
  

Elmer and Dot with, L-R: Blaine, Ralph (front), James, 1970s

Elmer, Dot and family Courtesy Blaine Miner

Son Elmer Elwood Miner (1928-2013) was born on April 25, 1928 in Jennings, Garrett County, MD. "He lived an example of his Christian faith in all aspects of his life," said the Daily Herald. "Led by his conviction that Christ calls us to a life of peacemaking," during the Korean War, Elmer chose not to join the U.S. Armed Forces. Rather, he registered as a conscientious objector and was given a 1-W service designation. He moved to the Chicago suburb of Elgin, IL, where he found employment at Elgin State Hospital and lived at the Brethren Fellowship House. He met his future bride at the Fellowship House. On Dec. 19, 1954, when he was 26, Elmer married Dorothy J. "Dot" Arehart (Dec. 28, 1927-2003), daughter of Ralph and Esther Arehart and a native of Manheim, PA. Their union endured the span of 49 years together. They bore a family of three sons -- Blaine Alan Miner, James Elwood Miner and Ralph Victor Miner. For more than six decades, Elmer and Dot were members of the Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, with him serving on the Parish Credit Union board, deacon cabinet and as head usher. He also was employed in the Shakeproof Division of Illinois Tool Works for 35 years. Another way he served the community was as president of the Elgin Garden Club. Elmer and Dot attended Minerd-Miner Reunions for many years, and he frequently said grace prior to the picnic meal, a tradition which his son Blaine continued at the 2023 gathering. Sadly, Dot passed away at home at the age of 75 on Jan. 31, 2003. Her memorial service was held in the family house of worship, and her obituary was published in the Harrisburg Patriot-News. Elmer outlived her by 10 years. He died at the age of 85, in Elgin's Presence St. Joseph Hospital, on Aug. 6, 2013.

• Grandson Blaine Alan Miner (1955-living) was born in 1955. He is an ordained clergyman. On July 17, 1982, he married Nancy Bailey ( ? -living). Two offspring were born to this union -- Corinna Noelle "Cori" Miner and Grant Victor Miner. Blaine studied at Elizabethtown College and Bethany Theological Seminary. Formerly chaplain at the Dixon Correctional Institute in Illinois, today Blaine is pastor of the Dixon Church of the Brethren. He attended our 2023 national Minerd-Minard-Miner-Minor Reunion at Mill Run, PA.

• Grandson James Elwood Miner (1959-living) was born in 1959. He studied computer science at Manchester College in Indiana. He lives in Elgin and is employed as yearbook specialist with the Church of the Brethren.

• Grandson Ralph Victor Miner (1962-living) was born in 1962. He has remained single. He received his higher education in computer science at Bradley University and Northwestern University. Over the years, he has been an engineering manager at Denniston & Denniston Inc. and Kronis and was a district youth advisor for the Church of the Brethren's Illinois and Wisconsin District. In retirement, he enjoys photography.

Daughter Anna Jean Miner (1930-2019) was born on Dec. 19, 1930 in Bakersville, Somerset County. On Feb. 6, 1966, when she was 36 years of age, she was joined in wedlock with 38-year-old Page Cornelius "Neil" Heston (March 9, 1928-2009), a native of Morgantown and the son of Page Dean and Lois (Tichenor) Heston. Neil had been married before and brought a daughter to the union, Rosemary DeWalt Hess. They resided in Hancock, Washington County, MD. In his working career, Neil was a Wells Fargo security guard in Montgomery County, MD and eventually became a painter for Lockheed Martin in Clarksburg, MD. On the side, he accepted private painting projects and played bluegrass music. Anna Jean worked for six years as a nursing assistant with Marylander Nursing Home. She also was employed by Marriott/ComSat and provided private duty caregiving. Said the Garrett County (MD) Republican, "She was a member of Bush Creek Church of the Brethren, Monrovia, and attended Grace Christian Fellowship, Hancock. She enjoyed rug making, quilting and crocheting." Neil died on Aug. 21, 2009 in Washington County Hospital in Hagerstown. Burial was in Pisgah Cemetery near Morgantown, with the funeral services officiated by Rev. Dr. Edward Guyer. Anna Jean outlived her husband by a decade. Toward the end, she was admitted to Doey's House in Hagerstown, MD. She passed into eternity at the age of 88 on June 4, 2019. Her remains were transported to Pisgah Cemetery to rest for eternity, with Rev. Dr. Guyer again preaching the funeral sermon.

• Step-granddaughter Rosemary Heston wedded (?) DeWalt and (?) Hess. She was the mother of six children. Circa 2009, she lived in Brookpark, OH.

Son Victor "Reed" Miner (1932-living) was born on Nov. 30, 1932. In 1961, he married Rosella Resh ( ? -living). Their six children are Ronnie Reed Miner, Wayne Dean Miner,  Randy Lee Miner, Richard Allan Miner, Beverly Sue Wilburn Sechler and Betty Lou Winebrenner Stanczyk. Reed and his sister Melda jointly owned a dairy farm near Grantsville, but he eventually sold his half to her. The Miners moved to Odenton, MD, where Reed labored at the National Plastic Plant. In September 1967, after the untimely death of their brother in law Paul Stewart Bittinger, they returned to Grantsville and bought back the farm in its entirety. Rosella has served continuously as Secretary of our reunion committee since it was founded in 1986.

• Grandson Ronnie Reed Miner (1962-living) was born in 1962. He wedded Wendy Broadwater ( ? - ? ). They are the parents of Tosha Nicole Miner, April Danielle Miner, Amber Lorraine Miner, Jasmine Rae Miner, Ronald Reed Miner and an infant son who passed in 1985.

Lester and Evanell, 1926

~ Daughter Edna "Evanell" (Miner) Kimmel Nicklow ~

Daughter Edna "Evanell" Miner (1906-1998) was born on Nov. 21, 1906, near Kingwood.

Her first husband, Irvin L. Kimmel Sr. (1904-1978), was a crane operator for West Penn Railways. They married on April 26, 1926, when she was age 20 and he 22. 

Later that same year, in August 1926, they attended a 94th birthday party for Evanell's great-grandmother, Mary Magdalene (Whipkey) Harbaugh at the old family homestead site near Clairton Lake, which became the first annual Harbaugh Reunion.

They had three sons, Floyd " Dean" Kimmel, Edward "Dale" Kimmel and Irvin L. Kimmel Jr. 

The Kimmels resided in Dunbar, Fayette County in the 1950s, where they operated “Smith’s Store” and had a home on Railroad Street.  

Heartache rocked the family in 1952. Son Dale, who was employed with Connellsville Manufacturing & Mine Supply Company, was riddled with cancerous tumors, including some within his brain. He died at home at the age of 20 on July 6, 1952. His remains were placed at rest in Green Ridge Cemetery near Connellsville, with Rev. H.M. Jenkins of the Dunbar Methodist Church officiating.

Later, they moved to Woodbury, NJ, where their son Dean had relocated to in 1954.

Irvin died in Woodbury in January 1978, at the age of 83. 

Somerset Daily American article about the late-in-life marriage of Evanell and Orion Nicklow

Church bulletin

Evanell outlived her husband by many years. She reconnected with a teenage sweetheart, Orion Nicklow (1904-1993) son of William Willis and Minnie Rebecca (Stairs) Nicklow of the family of Freeman and Ellen "Nellie" (Firestone) Nicola. The pair married, and she moved back to her native Kingwood.  Evanell and Orion were featured in a 1987 issue of the Somerset Daily American, titled “Couple Given a Second Chance at First Love.” She later helped found a reunion of her immediate family which eventually became our national Minerd-Minard-Miner-Minor Reunion. 

Evanell, 1989

She spent many hours visiting with the founder of this website, graciously opening her home and heart. She spoke of her beloved ancestors and extended family as if they had just visited yesterday, in vivid language that brought their lives back again to the present. In 1992, they and other cousins took a driving tour of the Hexebarger area, the old Harbaugh farm at Clairton Lake, and to her brother's home in Grantsville, MD.

In 1959-1960, Orion was a member of the building committee that constructed a new, brick building to house the Old Bethel Church of God near Kingwood. Seven years later, he took part in a mortgage burning ceremony when the church completed repaying a $13,800 building loan. Said the dedication booklet, "Due to the goodness of our Heavenly Father, the faithfulness of members and friends by sacrificial giving, the indebtedness has been liquidated as of January 1, 1967, approximately four years ahead of schedule." A copy of the program booklet for the mortgage burning ceremony is in the archives of the Historical Society of the Churches of God in Findlay, OH.

Orion also served on the school boards of Upper Turkeyfoot Township, in 1951-1952 and of Rockwood Joint Schools in 1957-1958. He is pictured and mentioned in the October 1995 Hexie Gazette, published by the late Clyde Miller. 

Sadly, Orion passed into eternity on Feb. 4, 1993, at the age of 88.

Evanell spent her final years at Siemon's Lakeview Manor in Somerset. She died there at the age of 91 on Aug. 21, 1998, and joined her husband in eternal repose at Green Ridge Memorial Park.

Dean Kimmel meets President Reagan

Son Floyd "Dean" Kimmel (1927-2008) was born on April 30, 1927 in Rockwood. He graduated from South Akron (Ohio) High School in 1945, and served in the United States Navy in World War II and in Korea. He married Audra Williamson. During a lengthy career in law enforcement in New Jersey, Dean spearheaded innovative professional development such as training programs, cadet initiatives, a K-9 corps, a mutual aid plan with other Gloucester County departments and deployment of foot patrols. He received many honors, including the J. Edgar Hoover Memorial Award, and was a 1964 graduate of the FBI National Academy, which Hoover himself called "the West Point of Law Enforcement."

He served as president of the New Jersey Chapter of the FBI National Academy and the South Jersey Police Chief Association and founded the Gloucester County Police Chiefs Association. He also helped found a charity golf event, sponsored by the American Legion, that today bears his name -- the F. Dean Kimmel Memorial Golf Tournament. Some 350 VIPs attended Dean's retirement dinner in 1987, among them police chiefs, politicians and FBI officials, including former Philadelphia police commissioner Gregore Sambor, Philadelphia FBI officer Wayne Davis, Woodbury Mayor Richard L. Skinner and Woodbury Councilman Jack Scott. He is pictured and profiled in the book, FBI National Academy. In about 1987, he visited the White House and was photographed shaking hands with President Ronald Reagan. He died in Woodbury on April 3, 2008, at the age of 81.

Son Irvin Lester "I.L." Kimmel Jr. (1934-living) was born in 1934. He married Barbara J. Herron ( ? - ? ). They are the pareents of William D. Kimmel, Deborah Bickner and Brenda S. Harding. The Hardings attended many of the early Miner Reunions held in Kingwood when Irvin's mother was living.

• Grandson William D. Kimmel was joined in marriage with Glenda. They have a son, Will Kimmel.

• Granddaughter Deborah Kimmel married Marvin Bickner. Their children are Barbara Bickner and Bridget M. Bickner.

• Granddaughter Brenda S. Kimmel wedded Mark L. Harding

~ Son Ephraim Ray Miner ~

Son Ephraim Ray Miner (1909-1974) was born on Feb. 17, 1909. 

Daily Courier, 1961

He married Flossie Catherine Shroyer (1919-1966), the daughter of Amos A. and Ida (Bowers) Shroyer of Mill Run, Fayette County. They were 10 years apart in age.

They had eight children -- Ephraim "Leroy" Miner, Emerson Richard "Pete" Miner, Paul Andrew Miner, Betty Houze Wood Allor, Catherine Irene "Cathy" Steely Canfield Ludwig, Hannah Anna May and Clinton Eugene Miner. Sadly, they lost an unnamed stillborn baby girl on July 19, 1959, with burial in Whetstone Cemetery near Fairmont, Marion County, WV.

Ephraim held odd jobs and cut timber for customers. When the federal census count was made in 1940, the newlywed Miners made their home with Ephraim's parents along the Fayette/Somerset County line in Springfield Township. That year, Ephraim drove a truck for a public works project.

The family lived in Mill Run circa 1943; in Canton, Stark County, OH in 1953; and in Mannington and Manacle, Marion County, WV in 1959-1966. 

Tragedy struck the family when son Leroy, age 18, drowned while swimming in Lime Klin Lake behind a fire station at Zoar near Mineral City, OH, on Sept. 11, 1961. His remains were returned to Mill Run for burial at the Indian Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Reported the Dover (OH) Daily Reporter and the New Philadelphia Daily Times:

Sheriff deputies said Miner was trying to retrieve a water jug, which was sitting on top of a patch of weeds, about 150 feet from shore, when he became tangled in the weeds. Miner yelloed for help and Elmer Fleckinger, also of Canton, swam to the struggling youth. Fleckinger was forced to swim back to shore after a futile attempt to untangle Miner, whose thrashing nearly pulled Fleckinger under.... The drowning, which was ruled accidental by Coroner Dr. Philip Doughten, was the fifth in 6 years at the lake. It was placed off-limits to swimmers 3 years ago.

Flossie lived for another five years after the death of their son. Suffering from blood clots, she was admitted to West Virginia University Hospital in Morgantown. She was unable to rally and died there at the age of 46 on May 23, 1966. Her remains were brought back to Fayette County and placed into quiet repose beside her son in Indian Creek Baptist Cemetery.

Ephraim outlived his wife by eight years and moved back to Canton. He died in Canton at the age of 64 on Jan. 6, 1974. He rests beside her for eternity.

Indian Creek Baptist Church, Mill Run, PA

Daughter Betty Miner (1941- ? ) was born in 1941. She has been married thrice. Her first husband Howard Houze ( ? - ? ). In 1961, the Houzes made their home in Canton. Their two children were Bonnie Innes and Paul Houze. Her second spouse was (?) Wood. She married a third time to Dean John Allor ( ? - ? ). She was deceased by 2016.

• Granddaughter Bonnie Houze married (?) Innes

• Grandson Paul Houze

Son Emerson Richard "Pete" Miner (1945-2016) was born on April 23, 1945 in Springfield Township, Fayette County. As a boy, he moved with his parents to Canton, Ohio, where in 1961 he dwelled at the age of 16 even though his parents had relocated again to Mannington, WV. Emerson was wedded to Sharon Fluharty ( ? - ? ). In all, they produced four sons -- Emerson Alan Miner, Larry Francis Miner, Ronald Ray "Ronnie" Miner and Curtis Wayne Miner. Sadly, the Miners outlived three of their children. At some point, he married again to Julie ( ? - ? ). They may have borne additional children, among them Emily Miner, Daniel Miner, Amber Hall and Ricky Miner. Heartbreak enveloped the family in February 2016 with the death of their son Emerson. Just six months later, father Emerson died at home in East Canton at the age of 71, on Aug. 20, 2016. Following funeral services at the Louisville Church of Christ, officiated by Elder Russ Glover, he was laid to rest in Mapleton Cemetery. An obituary was published in the Canton Repository.

• Grandson Emerson Alan Miner (1965-2016) was born in 1965. He married Theresa Birkley ( ? - ? ). They are thought to have had three children -- George Miner, Rodney Miner and Misty Miner. Sadly, their son George died young. In later, years, Emerson kept company with Helen. He died on Feb. 10, 2016.

• Grandson Larry Francis Miner (1966-2020) was born on Dec. 7, 1966. He wedded Brenda Mathe ( ? - ? ). They dwelled in Canton and produced five known children, Larry Lee Miner, Kristina Marie Alspaugh, Michael Miner, Cynthia Solvey and Kayla Rexrode. Over the years, Larry was employed at Bethel Miller Memorials, producing marble and granite memorials. Fond of the out-of-doors, he liked to fish, hunt and work on autombiles. Larry contracted cancer and endured the disease until carried away by the Grim Reaper at age 53 on March 9, 2020. The Canton Repository ran an obituary.

• Grandson Ronald Ray "Ronnie" Miner ( ? - ? ) was deceased by 2016.

• Grandson Curtis Wayne "Kurt" Miner ( ? - ? ) was born in (?). He wedded Crystal. They live in Canton.

• Granddaughter Amber Hall (1994-2013) was born on March 23, 1994 in Canton, the daughter of Patricia A. Hall and granddaughter of Albert Hall. Upon graduation from high school, she resided in Magnolia, OH and was employed at McDonald's in Canton South. She had one son, Kayden C. Hall. Tragically, at the age of 18, on New Year's Day 2013, she died "from injuries she sustained in an automobile accident," reported a Canton newspaper. Funeral services were conducted in a local funeral home, with burial in Eden Church Cemetery. Her obituary noted that in addition to leaving behind her mother, father, step-father and step-mother Troy and Linda Misko, Amber was survived by six sisters, two brothers "and five additional brothers."

• Grandson Ricky Miner played football for East Canton High School. He was a member of the "homecoming court" in October 2013, was pictured in the Southeastern Stark County Press-News. At the time, he was a member of his church youth group with plans to become an Army Ranger.

Daughter Catherine Irene "Cathy" Miner (1947- ? ) was born in 1947. She grew up in Canton, OH. Over the years, she has had three husbands. The first was Donald Steely ( ? - ? ). The children born to this union were Debbie Curtis, Richard Steely and Mychele Steely. Later, she married Dan Canfield ( ? - ? ) and Dennis Ludwig ( ? - ? ).

• Granddaughter Debbie Steely married (?) Curtis. They had three children -- Carmen Curtis, Tashi Curtis and Michael Curtis.

• Grandson Richard Steely

• Granddaughter Mychele Steely

Daughter Hannah Ann "Annie" Miner (1948- ? ) was born in 1948. She grew up in Mannington, WV. She married Edward Heald May Sr. ( ? - ? ). Their two sons were Gregory Scott May and Edward Heald May Jr. They lived in Lewisville, OH.

• Grandson Gregory Scott May

• Grandson Edward Heald May Jr.

Son Paul Andrew Miner (1951- ? ) was born in 1951 and grew up in Mannington, WV. He was united in wedlock with Diane C. (?). They were the parents of Tracy Marie Miner, Richard Lee Miner, Paul Andrew Miner Jr. and Destry Scott Miner.

• Granddaughter Tracy Marie Miner

• Grandson Richard Lee Miner

• Grandson Paul Andrew Miner Jr.

• Grandson Destry Scott Miner

Son Clinton Eugene Miner (1956- ? ) was born in 1956. He married Lori A. ( ? - ? ). Four children were born to this marriage -- Wendy Renee Miner, Clinton Eugene Miner Jr., Calvin Eugene Miner and Buddy Ray Meyers.

• Granddaughter Wendy Renee Miner

• Grandson Clinton Eugene Miner Jr.

• Grandson Calvin Eugene Miner

• Grandson Buddy Ray Meyers

John, Stella and Eugene, 1940s

~ Son John "Raymond" Miner ~

Son John "Raymond" Miner (1913-1979) was born on Nov. 15, 1913. 

He married twice. His first wife was a distant double cousin, Stella Basinger (1914-1996), the daughter of Alva P. and LuCartha (Showman) Basinger of near Normalville, Fayette County, of the family of Jane (Younkin) Showman. They were wed on Nov. 8, 1930, at Oakland, Garrett County, MD, when he was age 17, and she 16.

They had one known son, Clayton "Eugene" Miner. 

Raymond and Stella lived in Normalville. They separated in 1934 after she admitted deceiving him into marriage, four years after the fact, according to an article in the Connellsville Daily Courier. He then went to live in Henry Clay Township, Fayette County, where he filed for divorce in August 1935. 

John, Stella and Eugene, 1950s

During their separation, Raymond obtained work on the farm of Christopher and Anna Show near Confluence. Through this connection he met the Shows' relatives Bertram and Bessie (Frye) Show and their 19-year-old daughter Gertrude Pearl Show. Bessie admired Raymond and felt that he and Gertrude were "cooped up" on the farm and encouraged the two of them to spend time together. In fact they lent Raymond their automobile so he could drive Bessie around. Raymond's landlord, Anna Show, was thus not surprised when Bessie became pregnant with a son. To avoid the shame of an unwanted pregnancy, Bessie had her baby in Cleveland, OH. 

Raymond eventually reconciled with his wife and they remained together until the mid-1940s. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and later resided in Canton, Stark County, OH. He built a successful small business selling washing machines and operating laundromats. But the marriage ultimately did not work out, and the couple divorced in the 1950s. 

He married again, to his widowed sister in law Dorothy (McDonald) Miner, after the tragic 1953 death of her husband (and his brother) Kenneth. Living in Canton, Raymond and Dorothy went on to have three daughters of their own -- Bonnie Hudson, Donna Shank and Debra Covell. In the early 1990s, their daughter Debra served as president of the Miner Reunion, held at Kingwood, Somerset County, PA, which evolved into our annual national reunion. 

Dorothy, Harold, Bonnie and Raymond, 1963

Raymond died in Canton at the age of 66 in January 1979.

Dorothy survived her husband by 36 years. She supported herself by owning and operating a health care business. In her final years she made her home with her daughter in Uniontown, Stark County. She passed away at her home in Uniontown at the age of 91 on Nov. 21, 2015. An obituary in the Canton (OH) Repository noted that she was survived by 21 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. She was placed into rest in Sunset Hills Memory Gardens.

Raymond's former wife Stella also remarried, to Leslie Neel (1909-1967), son of Loren S. and Arvilla (Mountain) Neel of Connellsville. Leslie was known in the region as a former employee of the Wertheimer Motor Company and Liberty Baking Company. The Neels lived at 106 West Morton Avenue until Leslie's death at the age of 57 on Aug. 16, 1967. Stella spent her final years in Canal Fulton, Stark County, OH, most likely to be near her son. She died in Country Lawn Nursing Home in Navarre, Stark County, on Nov. 6, 1996, at the age of 82. Her remains were returned to Fayette County for burial in the Normalville Cemetery.

Son Clayton "Eugene" Miner (1934-1998) was born on Feb. 2, 1934 in or near Normalville, Fayette County. He married Thelma V. Hayes (July 20, 1937- ? ). The couple bore four children -- Marvin Eugene "Geno" Miner, Rodney "Scott" Miner, Dawn "Renee" Pershin and Kimberly Sue Bragg.  The family resided in Canal Fulton, Stark County. He died at the age of 64 on Feb. 24, 1998. His remains were lowered into eternal repose in Canton's Forest Hill Cemetery. [Find-a-Grave] Thelma was deceased by 2019.

• Grandson Marvin Eugene "Geno" Miner married Cathy Steiner and had two known daughters, Angie R. Miner and Jenny Miner.

• Grandson Rodney "Scott" Miner (1962-2019) was born on June 25, 1962. He was twice wed. On June 26, 1982, he married his first bride, Cathy Mayle ( ? - ? ). The nuptials are believed to have been held in Clark County, OH. Together, the couple bore one daughter, Sheena Miner. Their marriage ended in divorce, and Cathy married again to Andy Kanters and settled in Massillon, OH. Then in about 1992, Scott was joined in wedlock with Carol A. Rohr ( ? -2024), daughter of Franklin N. and Norma J. (Smith) Rohr. She is believed to have brought three stepchildren into the second marriage -- Jennifer Semelsberger, Robby Boak and Jeremy Boak. Their union endured the ebbs and flows of 31 years together. The Miners resided in Canal Fulton, OH. For two decades, Scott owned and operated Miners Pump & Plumbing. In his free time, he enjoyed working on motor vehicles such as Ford Mustangs and Club Cadets as well as camping trips with his family. Sadly, Scott passed into eternity at the age of 57 on July 18, 2019. Carol survived for another four-and-a-half years. Said an obituary, she "used to love to go camping and cruising around with Scott in his mustang. She had a heart of gold and was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need, even when battling with her own illness she thought of others first. In her spare time, you would find her working around her house or in the yard and flowerbeds because she wasn't one to just sit down & relax." The angel of death enveloped her at the age of 65 on Jan. 17, 2024.

  Great-granddaughter Sheena Miner ( ? - ? ) 

  Step(?)-great-granddaughter Jennifer married Craig Semelsberger.

  Step-great-grandson Robby Boak wed Shannon.

  Step-great-grandson Jeremy Boak entered into marriage with Tessa.

• Granddaughter Dawn "Renee" Miner was united in matrimony with Dennis "Denny" Pershin ( ? - ? ).

• Granddaughter Kimberly Sue Miner was joined in holy wedlock with Michael Bragg ( ? - ? ) and later with Larry Okolish ( ? - ? ).

Daughter Bonnie Miner (1955- living) was born in 1955. She wed Jack Hudson ( ? - ? ). The couple is not known to have reproduced. They made a home in North Canton, OH. 

Daughter Donna Miner (1956-living) was born in 1956. She was married to Matthew Eugene Ruff Sr. ( ? - ? ). The offspring born to this union were Matthew Eugene Ruff Jr., John Edwin Ruff, Lisa Marie Ruff and Robert John Ruff. Later, Donna wedded Ronald Shank ( ? - ? ) of Uniontown, Stark County, OH.

Daughter Debra K. "Debbie" Miner (1957-living) was born in 1957. She wed Mark Covell ( ? -living). Their three children were Mark Dean Covell, Desiree Kay Covell and Tyler Shaun Covell..

~ Son Kenneth Clinton Miner ~

Son Kenneth Clinton Miner (1922-1953) was born on June 24, 1922 in Somerset County.

He served as a private first class in World War II. 

He married Dorothy L. McDonald (1924-2015) and had two children -- Harold Miner and Susan Fusko. 

Old Bethel Church

As a young adult, Kenneth labored as a mechanic at the Yough Motor Company and the Bennett Motor Sales.  Later, he accepted a position as a punch press operator with General Motors Company at its Brown-Lipe-Chapin Division in Elyria, Lorain County, OH. The family moved with him to Lorain, Lorain County, where they resided at 1975 East 29th Street. 

In 1953, at the age of 31, Kenneth separated from his wife and was interested romantically in a co-worker at GM. Tragically, he died soonafter, on Dec. 7, 1953, shooting himself in the head while in his automobile in the parking lot of the plant, at the age of 31.

His remains were returned to Connellsville's Ansell Funeral Home, followed by the funeral and burial in the Old Bethel Church of God Cemetery. Rev. Earl Show oversaw the interment. 

Dorothy married again to her husband's divorced brother, John "Raymond" Miner (1913-1979). See their bio on this page for more.

Son Harold Miner ( ? -living) was born in (?). He married Mary ( ? - ? ). He served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War. In 2015, his home was in Massillon, OH.

Daughter Susan Miner (1949-living) was born in 1949. Her first husband was Charles Frank Hodges ( ? - ? ). They bore two daughters -- Shannon Maxine Hodges and April Faye Hodges. Then in 1984, at the age of about 35, she wedded Samuel Fusko ( ? - ? ). In 2015, their home was in Canton, Stark County, OH.

• Granddaughter Shannon Maxine Hodges ( ? - ? )

• Granddaughter April Faye Hodges ( ? - ? )

Copyright © 2001-2013, 2015 Mark A. Miner