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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
William H. Minard, living on section 33, Spring Creek township, devotes his time and energies to farming, his place comprising forty acres of good land. He is a native of Ohio, having been born in Erie county on the 11th of August, 1852. His father, Frederick A. Mi- ard, was a native of Connecticut, but settled in Ohio in early life and there followed the occu- pation of farming. There William was reared upon the homestead farm, assisting his father in the operation of the land and enjoying the ad- vantages of the common schools. In 1872 the father, with his family of four children, re- moved to Nebraska, then regarded as the Em- pire state of the west, and settled in Merrick county, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah N. Cobb, and was a daughter of Ralph Cobb and a native of the Empire state. Following the removal of the family to Ne- braska William H. Minard remained at home for three years, after which he rented land and began farming on his own account. As a com- panion and helpmate, for life's journey he chose Miss Jennie Sliter, to whom he was married March 10, 1877. She is a native of Indiana and a daughter of Henry Sliter, who was born in New York but later removed to Indiana, and afterward became a resident of Merrick county, Nebraska, in which locality his daugh- ter formed the acquaintance of William Min- ard, to whom she afterward gave her hand in marriage. The young couple lived upon a rented farm for some years and then with the capital saved from his earnings Mr. Minard purchased eighty acres of his father's place. Subsequently he sold that property and bought a livery stable in Central City, Nebraska, con- ducting it for two years, on the expiration of which time he sold out. He then moved west- ward to Perkins county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded ane hundred and sixty acres of land and began to improve a farm. He there built a house and fenced eighty acres of the land, dug a deep well and put in a wind pump. As time passed by his labors resulted in the de- velopment of a good farm, upon which the fam- ily lived for four years, when the drought and grasshoppers caused the destruction of crops, and as there was no income, in consequence Mr. Minard was compelled to sacrifice his home there, selling out at a big loss because of the improvements which he had placed on the prop- erty. With his family he then started eastward, not knowing where he would settle until he reached the fertile and well watered prairies of Mahaska county. Being so well pleased with the appearance of this locality and its prospects he here determined to start in life anew. He had brought with him what household effects he could carry, also some cattle and young colts. The latter became so footsore that Mr. Minard had to have boots made of old leather to protect their feet. It was in 1890 that, trav- eling in emigrant style, Mr. Minard reached Mahaska county. He determined to remain here and rented a farm near Oskaloosa, where he engaged in the dairy business for eleven years. He next spent five seasons on a farm near New Sharon, and at the end of that time removed to his present farm on section 33, Spring Creek township, buying forty acres of improved land, on which was a good house, barn and outbuildings, the place being pleas- antly located within three miles of Oskaloosa. Here he has since carried on general farming and whatever success he has achieved is at- tributable entirely to his own efforts, his prop- erty being the visible evidence of his life of energy and thrift. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Minard have been born seven children, of whom five are yet living, while Edith May died in Nebraska at the age of one year, and one other was killed by a train on the Rock Island Railroad at the age of four- teen months. The eldest living is Jay S., who is married and resides in New Sharon; Mabel, at home; Raymond; who assists in carrying on the farm; William and Nellie, also at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Minard are members of the Bap- tist church, of Oskaloosa, and have been identi- fied with the denomination for twenty-five years. Politically he is a good republican, always sup- porting the men and measures of the party, and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. Although he has met with reverses and obstacles, he has persevered in his business career and as the years have gone by has worked so earnestly and indefatigably that now he is in possession of a comfortable home and is earning a good living. William H. Minard, living on section 33, Spring Creek township, devotes his time and energies to farming, his place comprising forty acres of good land. He is a native of Ohio, having been born in Erie county on the 11th of August, 1852. His father, Frederick A. Minard, was a native of Connecticut, but settled in Ohio in early life and there followed the occupation of farming. There William was reared upon the homestead farm, assisting his father in the operation of the land and enjoying the advantages of the common schools. In 1872 the father, with his family of four children, removed to Nebraska, then regarded as the Empire state of the west, and settled in Merrick county, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. His wife bore the maiden name of Sarah N. Cobb, and was a daughter of Ralph Cobb and a native of the Empire state. Following the removal of the family to Nebraska William H. Minard remained at home for three years, after which he rented land and began farming on his own account. As a companion and helpmate, for life's journey he chose Miss Jennie Sliter, to whom he was married March 10, 1877. She is a native of Indiana and a daughter of Henry Sliter, who was born in New York but later removed to Indiana, and afterward became a resident of Merrick county, Nebraska, in which locality his daughter formed the acquaintance of William Minard, to whom she afterward gave her hand in marriage. The young couple lived upon a rented farm for some years and then with the capital saved from his earnings Mr. Minard purchased eighty acres of his father's place. Subsequently he sold that property and bought a livery stable in Central City, Nebraska, conducting it for two years, on the expiration of which time he sold out. He then moved westward to Perkins county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded ane hundred and sixty acres of land and began to improve a farm. He there built a house and fenced eighty acres of the land, dug a deep well and put in a wind pump. As time passed by his labors resulted in the development of a good farm, upon which the family lived for four years, when the drought and grasshoppers caused the destruction of crops, and as there was no income, in consequence Mr. Minard was compelled to sacrifice his home there, selling out at a big loss because of the improvements which he had placed on the proprty. With his family he then started eastward, not knowing where he would settle until he reached the fertile and well watered prairies of Mahaska county. Being so well pleased with the appearance of this locality and its prospects he here determined to start in life anew. He had brought with him what household effects he could carry, also some cattle and young colts. The latter became so footsore that Mr. Minard had to have boots made of old leather to protect their feet. It was in 1890 that, traveling in emigrant style, Mr. Minard reached Mahaska county. He determined to remain here and rented a farm near Oskaloosa, where he engaged in the dairy business for eleven years. He next spent five seasons on a farm near New Sharon, and at the end of that time removed to his present farm on section 33, Spring Creek township, buying forty acres of improved land, on which was a good house, barn and outbuildings, the place being pleasantly located within three miles of Oskaloosa. Here he has since carried on general farming and whatever success he has achieved is attributable entirely to his own efforts, his property being the visible evidence of his life of energy and thrift. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Minard have been born seven children, of whom five are yet living, while Edith May died in Nebraska at the age of one year, and one other was killed by a train on the Rock Island Railroad at the age of fourteen months. The eldest living is Jay S., who is married and resides in New Sharon; Mabel, at home; Raymond; who assists in carrying on the farm; William and Nellie, also at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Minard are members of the Baptist church, of Oskaloosa, and have been identified with the denomination for twenty-five years. Politically he is a good republican, always supporting the men and measures of the party, and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. Although he has met with reverses and obstacles, he has persevered in his business career and as the years have gone by has worked so earnestly and indefatigably that now he is in possession of a comfortable home and is earning a good living.
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy