Mary (Minerd) Baer was born on Oct. 7, 1900 in Dunbar, Fayette County, PA, the daughter of Thomas Watt and Theresa (Dowling) Minerd.

Uniontown Herald Standard

She married Allen Baer (1895-1980), the son of William H. and Mary (Miller) Baer.

They produced a family of 10 children -- among them Thomas Baer, James A. Baer Sr., Emma Yeager, Charles Baer, Mary Dillard, Francis Donald Baer Sr., Robert Baer, Roy Curtis Baer Sr., Harry Glenn Baer and Virginia Staff.

Allen was a veteran of World War I, and received a Purple Heart for an unspecified wound. They resided at Smock, near Uniontown, Fayette County. 

When the federal census was taken in 1930, the Baers made their home in Menallen Township near Uniontown. Allen was employed as a coal digger in a local mine. Living next door were Mary's retired parents.

The coal industry was devastated by the Great Depression of the 1930s. The Baers made the decision to pursue farming as their source of income, and moved to farm near Uppermiddletown/ Smock, Menallen Township in between 1935-1939, as shown in the U.S. Census of 1940. Allen is known to have advertised in the Uniontown Morning Herald in April 1935 the sale of 100 leghorn hens for 30 cents apiece.

The family earned an additional windfall of income circa 1941 when natural gas was discovered on their farm at a depth of about 1,300 feet.

In the late 1950s, Allen advertised that he was selling canning tomatoes, for a dollar a bushel. "Bring container," the ad said.

Allen died on Jan. 9, 1980.

Mary suffered from cancer, and only lived for three months longer. She passed away in Pittsburgh's Mercy Hospital at age 79 on April 18,1980. An obituary in the Uniontown newsppaer said there were 24 grandchildren and one great-grandchild who survived her.

They are buried at the Presbyterian Church in Smock.

~ Son Thomas W. Baer ~

Son Thomas W. Baer (1924-2019) was born in March 1924.

During World War II, he was a private in the U.S. Army.

He lived on a farm along Fan Hollow road near Smock, Fayette County circa 1973-1980, where he is known to have bred hundreds of chickens.

Thomas was stricken with cancer of the pancreas and died, at the age of 94½, on Nov. 17, 2019. His remains were lowered into rest beside his brother Charles in Pleasant View Cemetery in Smock.

~ Son James A. Baer ~

James and brother Francis (right), 1997 Minerd Reunion

Son James A. Baer (1925-2002) was born on March 8, 1925 in the now-gone coal mining town of Helen near Smock, Fayette County.

In about 1953, at the age of 28, he was joined in marriage with Eleanor L. McKulka (Sept. 22, 1931-2024), daughter of Frank and Mary (Golden) McKulka of the coal mining patch town of Keisterville, PA.

They remained together for 49 years until the separation of death.

Their brood of five children were Carol Shimek, Sharon Rouse, Mary Casserly, James A. Baer Jr. and Thomas W. Baer.

James spent 36 years working as a truck driver, and then a dozen years as a custodian for the Uniontown Area School District. He also was a sportsman and enjoyed gardening and cars. James and his brothers and their families attended our national family reunions at Kingwood, Somerset County, PA. The Uniontown Herald Standard once said he was a "very kindhearted man, a wonderful husband and father, and proud grandfather."

James passed away at the age of 77 on Oct. 18, 2002 in Uniontown Hospital Burial was in Sylvan Heights Cemetery in Uniontown, with Rev. Galen E. Winebrenner leading the funeral service.

Eleanor has outlived her spouse by several decades and endured the death of son-in-law James Shimek in 2023. Said an obituary, she "was a homebody and enjoyed decorating her home for all holidays and cleaning her home."

She died in her home at the age of 92 on March 16, 2024.

Daughter Carol Baer ( ? - ? ) was born on (?). Circa 1982, she married James Shimek (June 18, 1950-2023), son of George and Mary (Koss) Shimek. The couple dwelled in New Salem near Uniontown and stayed together for 41 years until cleaved apart by death. Three daughters born to this union were Crystal Hunnell, Laurie "Reese" Hall and Katie "Bubsy" Shimek. He was especially close with his son-in-law Toney Hunnell. James in young manhood was active with the Fayette County 4-H Club and was a 1969 graduate of Uniontown Area High School. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish and hunt. Said an obituary, "He took an annual trip to the hunting camp in Venango County with the 'crew.' He enjoyed gardening and doing yard work. Jim was a lifetime member of the Fairbanks Rod and Gun Club and various sportsman clubs over the years. He was a member of the Fayette County IPL League for many years. He also enjoyed playing pool and trying to 'hustle' people who didn’t know him. Jim loved telling stories whether they were fact or fiction. He loved to laugh and to make others laugh." His family was astonished that he seemed to know just about everyone wherever he went. Sadly, James died at Ruby Memorial Hospital at West Virginia University on Sept. 4, 2023. 

• Granddaughter Crystal Baer ( ? - ? ) wed Toney Hunnell ( ? - ? ).

• Granddaughter Laurie "Reese" Baer ( ? - ? ) married Craig Hall ( ? - ? ).

• Granddaughtert Katie "Bubsy" Shimek ( ? - ? )

Daughter Sharon Baer ( ? - ? ) wed Randy Rouse ( ? - ? ). The pair lived in Smock in 2002-2024.

Daughter Mary Baer ( ? - ? ) was united in matrimony with David Casserly ( ? - ? ). The couple put down roots in Uniontown and in 2024 were in New Salem, PA. They are the parents of Steven Casserly.

Son James A. Baer Jr. ( ? - ? ) entered into marrriage with Patty ( ? - ? ). In 2002, they dwelled in Finleyville, PA. By 2024, they had migrated to Colorado.

Son Thomas W. Baer ( ? - ? ) has resided in Uniontown.

~ Daughter Emma (Baer) Yeager ~

Daughter Emma Baer (1927 - ? ) was born in about 1927.

She was joined in wedlock with (?) Yeager ( ? - ? )

In 2002, she dwelled in Chula Vista, CA. Evidence suggests that she may have died in Chula Vista on April 26, 2013, though this needs to be confirmed.

~ Son Charles E. Baer ~

Son Charles E. Baer (1930-2005) was born on Aug. 28, 1930.

He served as a corporal in the U.S. Army Air Force during the Korean War.

He is not believed to have married and in 1980 resided in Smock.

Charles died on May 23, 2005 at the age of 75. He rests in a grave beside his brother Thomas at the Pleasant View Cemetery at Smock. Inscribed at the base of their marker are two short verses of Scripture -- "For God so loved the world" (John 3:16) and "The Lord cometh" (The Psalms).

~ Daughter Mary (Baer) Dillard ~

Daughter Mary Baer (1933- ? ) was born in about 1933.

She married Percy E. Dillard Jr. ( ? - ? ).

The Dillards made their residence in Smock, and their two children were Percy Scott Dillard and Robin Dillard.

Heartbreak rocked the family on Nov. 1, 1973 when son Percy, a third grader at Menallen School in the Uniontown Area School District, was burned to death when trapped in an uncle's storage building during a fire. He passed away at the age of nine. His remains were lowered into eternal rest in the Pleasant View Cemetery at Smock.

In the mid-1990s, Mary entertained a visit at her home with the founder of this website.

Daughter Robin Dillard ( ? - ? )

~ Son Francis Donald Baer Sr. ~

Son Francis Donald Baer Sr. (1934-2021) was born on May 2, 1934.

He married Bertha Workman ( ? - ? ), daughter of Roy Workman of Grindstone, Fayette County.

The Baers produced three children -- Francis Donald Baer Jr., Cheryl Ann Brumley and William Russell Baer.

In August 1966, Donald and Cheryl were pictured in the Uniontown Morning Herald in celebration of their July-August birthdays. Photograph portraits of the Baer children again were printed in the Morning Herald in 1971.

They resided in Uniontown in 1980 and in Balsinger, PA in 2002.

Francis and his brother James attended our Minerd Reunions in the 1990s.

Sadly, on his 87th birthday, May 2, 2021, Francis passed into eternity. Interment was in Visitation Cemetery in Elliottsville, Fayette County, with Pastor Gary Workman presiding at the funeral service. No obituary is known to have been published.

Son Francis Donald Baer Jr. married Billie Jo and had two known children.

Daughter Cheryl Ann Baer ( ? - ? ) was born in (?). She wedded Richard Ward Brumley (Nov. 16, 1960-2020), a native of Uniontown and the son of Hayward Earl and Elizabeth Jane (Elwell) Brumley. The couple bore two known daughters -- Nicole Kolencik and Samantha Tait. For nearly three decades, Richard was employed at Walmart, rising to the position of department manager. He then joined M and R Transportation, driving a school bus for the Laurel Highlands School District. One of his favorite personal activities was enjoying a meal at the Eat N Park restaurant in Uniontown. Sadly, on July 28, 2020, Richard passed into eternity while at home, at the age of 59. Interment of the remains was in Walnut Hill Cemetery. An obituary was published in the Uniontown Herald-Standard.

Son William Russell Baer was united in wedlock with Joy Lynn.

~ Son Robert Wilson Baer Sr. ~

Son Robert Wilson Baer Sr. (1939- ? ) was born in about 1939.

At the age of 18, in 1957, Robert joined the U.S. Armed Forces. He received training in equipment maintenance at the Engineer School at Fort Belvoir.

He married Judith Ann Martin ( ? - ? ).

The couple had two children -- Robert Wilson Baer Jr. and Brenda Gilbert.

They made their home in Monaca and then Industry near Beaver, Beaver County, PA and by 2002 in East Liverpool, OH and in 2012 in Lisbon, OH. Sadness blanketed the family at the early deaths of their son Robert Jr. in 1995 and daughter in law Diana in 2012.

Son Robert Wilson Baer Jr. (1958-1995) was born on Jan. 9, 1958 in Uniontown. He moved to Beaver County with his parents. He was joined in wedlock with Diana Lynn DeAngelo (1962-2012), daughter of Ralph and Jeanne (Roberts) DeAngelo of East Liverpool, OH and Midland, Beaver County. They produced two sons -- Christopher Robert Baer and Shawn Joseph Baer. In about 1996, they moved to Calcutta, OH. Robert was employed with Miles Corporation as a computer specialist. He enjoyed volunteering with youth sports and coached Little League baseball. Diana was employed as a nurse's aid at Friendship Ridge in Brighton Township. They were members of St. Blaise Parish in Midland. Sadly, Robert Jr. died at the age of 37, in the Medical Center of Beaver, PA, on Jan. 20, 1995. He was interred in Beaver Cemetery, with an obituary appearing in the Beaver County Times. Diana survived her husband by more than two decades and maintained a residence in East Liverpool, OH. She succumbed at home on Feb. 24, 2012 at the age of 49. Following a mass of Christian burial at her church, led by Fr. Michael Yaksick, her remains were placed into repose beside her husband's.

• Grandson Christopher Robert Baer resides in East Liverpool, OH.

• Grandson Sean Baer dwells in Wickliffe, OH.

Daughter Brenda Baer ( ? - ? ) was born in (?). She was joined in marriage with Frank Gilbert ( ? - ? ), son of John and Betty Ann Gilbert. They have lived in Lisbon, OH. Their one known son is Jeremy Matthew Gilbert.

• Grandson Jeremy Matthew Gilbert was engaged in 2016 to Katie June Varwig, daughter of Thomas and Robin Varwig of Hartselle, AL. At the time, he was a Bible teacher at Southside Christian School in Greenville, SC, having received a bachelor's degree in Bible teaching from Columbia International University, and Katie was a senior at the university, majoring in business and organizational leadership.

~ Son Roy Curtis Baer Sr. ~

Son Roy Curtis Baer Sr. (1940-2014) was born on Nov.18, 1940 in Smock. At the age of 18, while tending a furnace fire, he suffered second degree burns of the left hand and face and was treated in Uniontown Hospital.

On March 4, 1963, at age 22, he married 19-year-old Judith Darlene Blosser (July 16, 1943-2013), daughter of David and Dorothy (Wood) Blosser of Uniontown. The couple enjoyed a half a century of marriage until separated by the Grim Reaper of death.

The couple produced these children -- Patricia A. Baer, Roy Curtis Baer Jr., Tammy Baer, Lisa R. Perkins, David A. Baer, Charles E. Baer and Christopher M. Baer.

In about 1960, the Baers moved to Brighton Township near Beaver, Beaver County, PA, where they maintained a home along Barclay Hill Road for 43 years. Reported the Beaver County Times, Judith's "greatest passion was her family, and she loved her grandchildren with all her heart."

Judith died at the age of 70 on Sept. 9, 2013. The Times printed an obituary.

At the age of 74, Roy passed away on Dec. 7, 2014. An obituary was published in the Times, which reported that his survivors included 14 grandchildren.

Daughter Patricia A. Baer made her home in Germantown, MD in 2014.

Son Roy Curtis Baer Jr. married Kathy and resides in Denison, TX.

Daughter Tammy Baer dwelled in Charlestown, WV.

Daughter Lisa R. Baer married Robert Perkins. In 2014, their residence was in Frederick, MD.

Son David A. Baer married Maritza and made their home in Clarksville, TN in 2014.

Son Charles E. Baer wedded Amy and lived in Charlestown, WV.

Son Christopher M. Baer dwelled in Germantown, MD.

~ Son Harry Glenn Baer ~

Son Harry Glenn Baer (1943-2002) was born on May 26, 1943.

As a young man, he was employed at the Duquesne Works of U.S. Steel.

He is believed to have lived in Smock, Fayette County in 1980.

Harry passed into eternity on Aug. 22, 2002. Interment was in Pleasant View Cemetery in Smock.

~ Daughter Virginia (Baer) Staff ~

Daughter Virginia L. Baer (1945-2003) was born on July 24, 1945.

She married (?) Staff. They produced two children, Michael Staff and Amy M. Lennex.

Their home in 1980 was in Fellsburg, PA and by 2002 was in Brownsville, Fayette County.

Sadly, Virginia passed into eternity at the age of 58 on Oct. 21, 2003.

Copyright © 2001, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2023 Mark A. Miner