Minerd.com Biography of William Henry and Emma (Hurd) Miner of Delightful and Warren, OH

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William Henry Miner
(1851-1940)

Delightful Cemetery

William Henry Miner was born in either 1849 or on March 7, 1851 in Warren Township, near Champion, Trumbull County, OH, one of 13 children of Joseph and Elizabeth (Forney) Miner.

Circa 1875, when he would have been about age 25, William married Emma E. Hurd (April 1858-1919), the daughter of Martin and Elizabeth "Betsy" (Curtis) Hurd.

Emma was nine years younger than her husband.

Together, they produced a family of two daughters, Rosie Housel and Flora Harriet "Hattie" Painter Clark Harrington.

The Miners resided in the Champion area, where William worked as a carpenter, as enumerated in the 1880 census of Southington, Trumbull County.

He also was a farmer and retired from this occupation in September 1910.

They were members of the Evangelical Church at Delightful, Trumbull County.

Emma passed away at the age of 61 on Feb. 8, 1919, due to a stroke and uremia. She was buried at the Delightful Cemetery.

Green dot near the village of Delightful marks the farm of William and Emma Miner, comprising 13 acres, in this 1899 map.

Warren Tribune Chronicle, 1940

William outlived Emma by 21 years. Later in life, he was a resident of Warren, living at 1015 Summit N.W.

He died as he neared his 89th birthday, on Leap Day, Feb. 29, 1940. He was buried beside his wife, "with Nelson Miller, Edward Smith, Rockwell and David Leiby, Charles Rufner and Gernie Hurd serving as pallbearers."

William's survivors at the time included "one grandchild, two great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren," said the Warren (OH) Tribune Chronicle.

They are buried together under a large prominent marker. They rest with Emma's parents, Martin and Betsy Hurd, whose names also are inscribed on the marker.

~ Daughter Rosa N. "Rosie" (Miner) Housel ~

Daughter Rosa N. "Rosie" Miner (1874-1951) was born on Nov. 5, 1874 or 1875 in Southington.

When she was 17 years of age, on Christmas Eve 1892, she entered into marriage with 19-year-old Algie T. Housel (July 3, 1873-1947), son of Isaac and Eveline (Dabney) Housel. Officiating the nuptials was Rev John S. Ruttledge, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church of West Farmington, Trumbull County. Because Rosa legally was too young to marry, her father appeared in Trumbull County Court to give his consent.

Warren Tribune Chronicle, 1947
Warren-Trumbull County Public Library

The only child born to the pair was Bessie Linny" Rumbaugh.

Federal census enumeration records for 1900 show the young family in Gustavus, Trumbull County, with Algie working as a day laborer.

They resided together in Johnston Township, Trumbull County from about 1898 to 1947. In 1910, Algie's occupation was as a carpenter and in 1920 as a farmer and in 1930 as a home-building carpenter. They are known to have provided Rosa's widowed father with a roof over his head in 1920-1930, and also Algie's widowed brother Clyde in 1930.

Algie was retired as of 1940.

He was gathered in by the angel of death at age 73, in Johnston, on Oct. 9, 1947. An obituary in the Warren Tribune Chronicle said "Death came after a three-day illness" and that he "had lived on the same farm here for the past 45 years." Following funeral services conducted by Rev. George Van Wingerden, the remains were laid to rest in Johnston Township Cemetery. His pallbearers included Fay Root, Ceylon Root, Seth Root, Kenneth Clauss, William Clauss and Phillip Clauss.

Warren Tribune Chronicle, 1951
Warren-Trumbull County Public Library

The widowed Rosa moved into the Champion household of her married granddaughter, Eva Mae Parker, and was there in 1950. Sadly, at the age of 75, she became ill and died three weeks later in Trumbull Memorial Hospital on Sept. 9, 1951. Heer obituary in the Tribune Chronicle said she "resided in Johnston for many years." She was survived by two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Rev. Kenneth Birney led the funeral rites.

Rosa passed away at the age of 75 on Sept. 8, 1951, in Warren.

Daughter Bessie "Linny" Housel (1896- ? ) was born on April 5, 1896/1897 in Farmington, Trumbull County. She dwelled in Johnston, Trumbull County in young womanhood. At the age of 19, on March 25, 1916, she was united in the bonds of matrimony with 21-year-old farmer Alfred N. Rumbaugh (Dec. 18, 1894- ? ), also of Johnston, sometimes spelled "Rambaugh." Rev. John C. Smith officiated. Alfred was born in Lake County, OH and the son of Samuel and Lavine (Gillett) Rumbaugh. The offspring they produced together included Eva Mae Parker and Merle Tod Rumbaugh. The couple resided in Warren in 1920 and 1930, with Alfred earning a living during those years as a mechanic in an automobile garage. The couple eventually divorced. As of 1947, she made her dwelling-place in Phalanx, OH. Bessie moved into the home of feed store proprietor Hallie Hardman in Southington and in 1950 served as his housekeeper.

Granddaughter Eva Mae Rambaugh (1917-2004) was born on Feb. 9, 1917. She grew up in Warren, OH. Eva entered into marriage with Glenn Elmer Parker (Feb. 4, 1914-1974), a native of Boyertown, Berks County, PA and the son of Raymond John and Mildred (Vaughn) Parker. They became the parents of Nancy L. Mccauley, Frank Laverne Parker, Faye E. Parker and Robert D. Parker. During World War II, Glenn joined the U.S. Army and served as a member of the 19th Infantry Division. Circa 1950, making a home in Champion, Glenn worked as a steamfitter and electric welder for a manufacturer of fire extinguishers, while Eva Mae was employed as a bookkeeper in a feed store. In that year they housed Eva Mae's widowed grandmother, 72-year-old Rose Housel. Sadly, at the age of 60 Glenn passed away in Warren on May 15, 1974. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery in Cortland, OH. Eva lived for another three decades as a widow. She surrendered to death on March 28, 2004.

Great-granddaughter Nancy L. Parker (1938- ? ) was born in about 1938. She was joined in wedlock with (?) Mccauley ( ? - ? ). Nancy dwelled in Champion, OH in 2017. She was affiliated with the organization TNR which helped citizens deal with stray animals. She made news in 2019 when the Trumbull County Board of Health cited her for feeding stray cats. After a public outcry, she attended a hearing with the board and was allowed to continue her ways.

Great-grandson Frank Laverne Parker Sr. (1939-1986) was born in 1939. In 1972, he married Thelma Louise (Rooks) Lukehart (1941-1993). He was the father of Frank Laverne Parker Jr. Frank Sr. also wed Patricia A. (1949- ? ). Frank was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. He died in Warren at the age of 46 on June 4,1986.

Great-granddaughter Faye E. Parker (1943- ? ) was born in about 1943 in Ohio.

Great-grandson Robert D. Parker (1948-2017) was born on Jan. 7, 1948 in Warren. He is known to have served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. Robert's occupation over the years was as a supervisor for New Methods Inc. and as a truck driver with Venture Plastics. He was the father of Jamie Sears. When he was 40 years of age, on Nov. 5, 1998, he wed Janine S. Stroup ( ? - ? ). The pair stayed together for 28 years until the separation of death. In 1991, they moved to Braceville near Warren and remained for good. Robert and Janine attended services at Braceville United Methodist Church. He liked to cook, shop, raise dogs and cats and go to family cookouts. He also was a fan of the Cleveland Indians baseball team. At the age of 69, Robert died on July 12, 2017 as a patient in St. Joseph's Eastland, Warren. His remains were cremated.

Warren Tribune Chronicle, 1989
Warren-Trumbull County Public Library

Grandson Merle Tod Rumbaugh (1922-1989) was born on March 12, 1922 in Warren. In young manhood he worked for U.S. Gypsum. Merle was thrice-wed. On May 19, 1943, when he was 19 years of age, he was joined in wedlock with 18-year-old Dorothy Mae Huff (March 20, 1925-2002), of Champion, Trumbull County and the daughter of Guy Walter and Anna (Brewster) Huff. Justice of the peace Dallas Rogers officiated. Their three offspring were Elwood "Butch" Rumbaugh, Darlene Pierce and Merle M. "Sam" Rumbaugh. Merle is known to have served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Then in 1950, living in Leavittsburg, OH, he worked as a burner in a structural steel company, while Dorothy made a living as a barmaid in a club. The first marriage ended in divorce on Feb. 6, 1957, and Dorothy married again to James M. "Bud" Barrett and moved to Spangler, Cambria County, PA. In the early 1960s, Merle dwelled in Leavittsburg and was employed as a truck driver. His second spouse, with whom he tied the knot on May 3, 1961, was Elizabeth (Cline) Birchfield ( ? - ? ) of Mineral Ridge, OH and the daughter of Everett and Ada (Hamilton) Cline. Their divorce was finalized in Common Pleas Court of Trumbull County on May 31, 1974. After his second divorce, he lived at 143 York Street and was self-employed. On Aug. 23, 1974, the 50-year-old Merle wed his third bride, 31-year-old Harriet Poehler (Nov. 25, 1943 ? - ? ), of Warren, daughter of Wayne and Nancy (Bordewick) Poehler of Warren. Rev. J.C. Owens officiated. The couple bore a daughter, Nancy Anne Rumbaugh, who sadly died at age five weeks on Feb. 8, 1974 in Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland. The Rumbaughs were plunged into another wave of grief in May 1975 when their son Elwood was killed in the last military action of the Vietnam War, part of the infamous "Mayaguez Incident." Their final address was 407 Iowa Street Northwest, and he held a membership in the NAUS Club nightspot in town. Sadly, on the fateful day of Dec. 15, 1989, Merle suffered a massive heart attack and was rushed to St. Joseph Riverside Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Burial was in Warren's Oakwood Cemetery. He was pictured in his obituary in the Warren Tribune Chronicle. Former wife Dorothy died on Jan. 26, 2002.

Great-grandson Elwood Eugene "Butch" Rumbaugh (1943-1975) was born on Sept. 10, 1943 in Warren. After his parents’ divorce in 1957, he moved with his mother to Spangler, Cambria County, PA. He joined the U.S. Air Force during the early years of the Vietnam War, enlisting on Sept. 16, 1960, and devoted the rest of his career to the service of our nation, eventually making the ultimate sacrifice. When he was age 18, on Oct. 7, 1961, Elwood married his first wife, 17-year-old Betty Ann Alexander (1943- ? ), daughter of Leonard W. and Mary (Herr) Alexander. Officiating was Rev. Leslie L. Burbich. Their union dissolved in divorce in Dade County, FL in January 1966. Then in July 1966, in Dade County, he married again to Lorene Bernice (Breakfield) Voyles ( ? - ? ), daughter of Roy Breakfield of Van Buren, MO. At about that time, he was in the process of a transfer from Shepherd Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX to the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. The couple made news in Minot the next year when receiving approval to retrieve discarded clothing and toys at the base dump, launder the clothes and fix the toys, and donate them to the Berthold Indian Reservation. But the marriage ended in divorce in Okaloosa County, FL on March 29, 1971. Circa 1972, Elwood married his third bride, Vickie ( ? - ? ) of Dothan, AL. Then in 1973, he was among an air crew with the 317th Special Operations Squadron of the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field honored for successfully executing a rescue mission. Reported the Fort Walton Beach (FL) Playground Daily News, "On Sept. 20, helicopter aircrew members Fit. Lt. Nicholas Hobson (Australian Air Force exchange officer), 1st Lt. Kenneth M. Lowen, TSgt. Fred J. Cook and SSgt. Elwood E. Rumbaugh rescued an A-70 tactical fighter pilot near England AFB, La. The pilot was Col. Louis Weber, 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing commander."

Elwood was assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron and deployed in 1975 to the Nakhon Phanom Airbase in Thailand. He lost his life in a daring rescue mission in responce to the Khmer Rouge capture of the merchant container ship SS Mayaguez in what became the last action of the Vietnam War. The ship's crew was captured and the vessel towed to Koh Tang Island. When informed of the Mayaguez seizure, President Gerald R. Ford said it was "an act of piracy" and issued a warning to Cambodians that failure it "would have the most serious consequences." At the president's approval, an assault force was authorized to deliver squads of U.S. Marines behind enemy lines to rescue the prisoners. Elwood took part in the mission as a navigator-gunner aboard the helicopter CH53, nicknamed the "Super Jolly Green Giant," code name "Knife 21." Shortly after dawn on the fateful day of May 15, 1975, Elwood's helicopter successfully delivered Marines to the island beach and was speeding away in-air when struck by a round from an enemy grenade launcher. The chopper crashed in flames in the Gulf of Thailand about a mile offshore. Elwood was trapped inside as the chopper rolled over, and while able to free the co-pilot and swim to the surface, he sank back underwater and was not seen again. His body was not recovered.

Above: U.S. Marines abandon their damaged CH-53 helicopter during the Mayaguez rescue mission. Below: wreckage of CH-53 helicopters at Koh Tang Island. Courtesy U.S. Air Force/Wikipedia.

The mission made headline news around the country, with Press Secretary Ron Nessen and Secretary of Defense James R. Schlesinger taking part in an official White House announcement of the casualties. The Cambodian hijackers sought political asylum from the Thai government, claiming they had captured the Mayaguez on their own and had not been sanctioned by the Cambodian government. Memorial services for Elwood were held in River Falls, AL, near Vickie’s family home of Red Level, Covington County, and a grave marker erected in his name in Arlington National Cemetery. Two decades later, in 1995, a team of investigators with the Joint Task Force for Full Accounting traveled to Koh Tang to try to find the remains of the 18 American casualties. They found the wreckage of Elwood's helicopter and some 161 body fragments including teeth and bones of the arm, leg, finger, rib and jaw bones. The artifacts were shipped to the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, and despite the fact that 9 men were positively identified from DNA, Elwood's were not among them. Elwood was featured in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette column by Dennis Roddy on Nov. 21, 2001, headlined "Vietnam’s Special Ops Got Little Fanfare and Put Many Names on The Wall." Roddy wrote: "This is a war, we are advised, in which much cannot be told. Many of its heroes must be celebrated behind doors closed to those paying for the fight. Teams will travel the world, fighting undeclared enemies in battles no one will announce or publicly acknowledge. Elwood E. Rumbaugh was that type of soldier." Roddy went on to say that Elwood was the next-to-last casualty of the war, number 58,225 from a total of 58,226 souls. His name is inscribed on the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu (the "Punchbowl") and appears in an April 23, 2000 Post-Gazette list of western Pennsylvania casualties of the Vietnam War.

Great-granddaughter Darlene Rumbaugh (1949- ? ) was born in about 1949. She was joined in wedlock with (?) Pierce ( ? - ? ). Circa 1989, they lived in Spangler, PA and in 2016 in Northern Cambria, PA. In more recent years she was a companion of Walter Wojno.

Great-grandson Merle M. "Sam" Rumbaugh (1951-1997) was born on Nov. 25, 1951 in Warren. He served in the U.S. Army and the National Guard. Merle was married at least twice. His first wife was Theresa A. ( ? - ? ). They apparently did not reproduce. Their divorce was approved in Cambria County on Nov. 16, 1981. Circa 1984, he resided at 3546 Highlawn Rear in Warren and was unemployed. His second bride, with whom he tied the knot at age 32, was 19-year-old Cathy Jean Sheldon (1965- ? ), also of Warren and the daughter of Richard M. and Ethel J. (McWilliams) Sheldon. The nuptials were held in Warren n Sept. 9, 1984 by the hand of Bishop Robert L. Dean. The pair also did not bear children. Merle is known to have belonged to the local post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and to the NAUS Club, a local nightspot. After suffering a massive heart attack at age 46, the angel of death claimed Merle on Dec. 2, 1997 in St. Joseph Health Center. His remains lie in repose in Oakwood Cemetery, Warren.

~ Daughter Flora Harriet "Hattie" (Miner) Painter Clark Harrington ~

Daughter Flora Harriet "Hattie" Miner (1879-1953) was born on Jan. 15, 1879 in Southington/Delightful, Trumbull County.

Hattie was thrice-married. She first entered into marriage at the age of 18 on July 1, 1897 with Southington resident Walter E. Painter ( ? - ? ). Rev. H.A. Hensel led the wedding nuptials.

One known son born to the pair was Henry W. Painter.

Federal census enumeration records for 1900 show the Painters living in Niles, Trumbull County, with Walter working as a streetcar motorman.

Circa 1910, Walter labored in a local mill.

The marriage fell apart, and the pair divorced.

Hattie Harrington's burial site

Then on July 3, 1915, when she was age 36, Hattie married 36-year-old farmer William Clark (May 15, 1879-1933) of Warren Township and the son of John and Martha (Herner) Clark. Rev. J.C. Smith of Warren officiated. William also was divorced from his first spouse, Hattie's cousin Nellie Alice (Mathany) Clark, daughter of James A. and Eliza Jane (Miner) Mathany.

William thus brought a stepdaughter into the second union, Hazel May Henderson.

William's occupation in 1920 was as a steelworker engaged with corrugated metal. That year, he and Hattie provided a home for her widowed father. In 1930, he earned a living as a railroad watchman. Their address in the early 1930s was 198 Vermont Street Northwest.

Sadness cascaded over Hattie's world when William at age 53 was stricken by a cerebral hemorrhage and surrendered to death on Feb. 26, 1933. Anna Sample signed the official Ohio certificate of death. Burial was in Delightful Cemetery.

During the years after her second marriage ended, she made a home at 720 Tod Street, Warren.

Warren Tribune Chronicle, 1953
Warren-Trumbull County Public Library

Then at the age of 57, on May 8, 1937 she wed 53-year-old truck driver Walter Harrington (Nov. 9, 1883- ? ), a native of Ashtabula County and the son of Orin and Liddie Hitchcock) Harrington. Rev. Charles L. Rush of Warren led the ceremony. At the time, Walter resided at 1015 Summit Northwest in Warren. They stayed together for their remaining 17 years.

In 1940, the Harringtons lived on North Leavitt Road in Leavittsburg

Hattie suffered from heart disease and was admitted for treatment to Trumbull Memorial Hospital. Unable to rally, she died of its effects at the age of 74 on July 19, 1953. She was buried at Delightful Cemetery, with Rev. William B. Ring in charge. An obituary in the Warren Tribune Chronicle said she was a "lifelong resident of Trumbull County" and that she "had been in failing health for the past two years."

Son Henry W. Painter (1899- ? ) was born in Aug. 1899. Sadly, the son passed away during the decade between 1900 and 1910. No record of his passing has been found other than in a census disclosure made by his mother in 1910.