|
Herman Minerd |
Herman Minerd was born in 1872 in Dunbar, Fayette County, PA, the son of Isaac and Catherine (Smiley) Minerd. When he was eight years old, his father died. This may have impacted his life greatly, as he appears to have been a nomad, residing all across the United States at various points of time.
It is entirely possible that he is the same person as "Carl Minerd" who has a separate biography on this website, and who also suffered from mental illness.
Very little about Herman's life is known. In the spring of 1897, at age 25, and despondent after the death of his mother, he attempted suicide by eating toxic laurel leaves. The news was so sensational that it was reported in the May 13 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (spelled "Haman") and in out-of-state newspapers such as the Youngstown Vindicator in Ohio. "His recovery is doubtful," said the Vindicator, but he in fact survived although then promptly disappeared. Reported the May 18 Post-Gazette, he "was discovered three miles south of Morgantown [WV] this morning by his brother. He was traveling for the wilds of West Virginia, and never intended to return. His friends had heard that he had drowned himself in a reservoir near town."
His whereabouts over the next 40-plus years are a mystery. He may have tried his hand at selling insurance, as an "H. Minerd" of New Mexico is listed in the 1920-1921 edition of The Insurance Year Book, and at the time was based in the town of Artesia.
In 1938, at the death of his 80-year-old brother Charles A. Minerd, Herman was residing in New Mexico, and was mentioned in the brother's obituary in the Buckhannon (WV) Record. His name was printed as "Haymond."
Circa 1943, following the passing of his sister Flora Mills, the Uniontown (PA) Evening Standard said he was living in Arkansas. The following year, when his brother Thomas Watt Minerd died, the Connellsville (PA) Daily Courier noted that Herman was in Kansas.
More will be reported here when learned.
Copyright © 2006, 2012, 2017 Mark A. Miner