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Milton H. Langford

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Descendants of Wilhelm Minnir (Minear) and Eva Susanne Ehl
1 Wilhelm Minnir b: 1650 in Ernsbach, France d: Aft. 1705 in Germany
+Eva Susanne Ehl b: 1650


2 Christian Minnir b: February 9, 1675/76 in Eizelsasse, (Michelstadt), Odenwald, Germany d: Bet. 1719 - 1720 +Anna Rosina Gengelbach b: September 1, 1672 in Lutzelsachen, Mannheim, Baden, Germany m: February 27, 1702/03 in Evangelical Parrish of Hohensachen, Mannheim, Germany

3 Johann (Hans) George Minnir b: May 12, 1705 in Lutzelsachsen, Palatinate, Germany d: December 14, 1779 in Heidelberg, Northampton Co., PA +Anna Catherine Mayer b: May 12, 1709 in Duren, Germany d: May 1745 in Conestoga, Lancaster Co., PA m: November 23, 1728 in Sinsheim, Heidelberg, Baden, Germany

4 Johannes (John) Minear (Minier) b: February 11, 1729/30 in Michelfeld, Norbaden, Palatinate, Germany d: April 5, 1781 in Hacker Creek, Randolph, (West) Virginia
+ Maria Ursula


Killed by indians on April 5, 1781 while returning from Clarksburg, VA where he entered a deed. Harrison County WV Deed Book 1:52,53.
Came to America aboard the ship "Mary" with his parents. Arrived Philadelphia, PA Sep. 8 1732. Settled in Lancaster County. Moved to (West) Virginia in 1774. Established a Fort called "Fort Minear." Extensive accounts of his life can be found in "Histories of Tucker County, WV" by Hu Maxwell

From the book "The Monongalia Story - A Bicentennial History, II the Pioneers", by Earl L. Core, pp. 74-76:
"Battle at Pringle's Ford. On April 5, six men from the Fort Minear settlement (now Saint George) were returning home on horseback from Clarksburg, where they had appeared before the board of land commissioners. They had located on valuable lands in the Cheat River valley and wanted to establish their ownership. The party was composed of John Minear, Daniel Cameron, Frederick Cooper, Salathiel Goff, Andrew Miller, and Henry Miller.
The trail ("Pringle's Packroad") from the West Fork and Buckhannon River areas crossed the Tygart Valley River at what was called Pringle's Ford (just below present Philippi); Ford Run flows into the river at that point. Here the Indians, hiding in thickets, ambushed the party. Fansler tells the story:

'The Indians....had been on a raid... where they killed several persons, and practically exterminated the Schoolcraft family, fifteen of which had either ben killed or carried into captivity within a space of seven years....

'The Indians hung a leather gun-case over the trail and positioned themselves in the thickets on either side. The Minear party....were riding single file with Minear in the lead. He was almost beneath the decoy when he saw it and stopped, which also halted the five riders behind him. The fact of an ambush flashed to his mind and he yelled out 'Indians!' but, too late, the momentary halt had given the Indians time to aim and, as Minear called out, the firing commenced. Horses and men fell together, Minear, Cameron and Cooper being killed on the spot. Goff and Andrew Miller were unhorsed and took to the woods. Henry Miller, who was riding the rear file, turned and fled back to Clarksburg without much difficulty, since he was mounted on a fleet horse and the Indians were afoot.

Andrew Miller ran up a steep hill with several Indians in pursuit, armed with knives and tomahawks, and yelling and gesticulating wildly. Had they exerted their energy in the chase instead of using it up by yelling and flinging their arms about, they undoubtedly would have caught Miller, but he made good his escape by reaching the crest of the hill fist and, with a downhill run, was able to outdistance them while they were still struggling to the crest.

Salathiel Goff, German immigrant, soldier of the Revolution, and 33 years of age at the time, made one of those storybook escapes. He ran for the river, in the opposite direction from the Millers, under the assumption that if the Indians chased them all it would divide their forces and reduce their effectiveness. Several Indians pursued him, confident of a speedy capture. At the river bank he doffed his coat to swim and then perceiving that it would be useless to do so, tossed his coat into the river and crawled into an otter den that just happened to be conveniently at hand. When the Indians reached the bank above him he learned, from their conversation, that they thought he had dived into the river and expected to see him rise at any moment. They saw his coat floating down the river and moved off to keep pace with it, thinking perhaps, that he had either drowned or was floating beneath his coat. As soon as they were out of sight Goff crawled from concealment and headed for Saint George, thirty miles away, which he reached that night, bringing the startling intelligence of the massacre to the astonished settlers."

In book I of this five part series, titled, "The Monangalia Story - A Bicentennial History, Prelude", p.p. 320- 321, there is more: ( the parts in single quotes are italicized in the book, as it is taken from another source, with the original spelling)

'John Menior is intitled to four hundred acres of land in Monongalia County on Cheat River opposite the mouth of Clover Run to include his Settlement made theron in the year 1776.' " John Minear was leader of the colony that settled at the mouth of Minear Run, Tucker County (Withers, 126). He supervised the construction of Fort Horseshoe and Fort Minear and was killed by the Indians in 1781 (Withers, 311; Fansler, 34, 53, 55, 58, 60, 61; Maxwel, 34-68)."

'Jonathan Manier is Intitled to two hundred acres of land in Monongalia County on the Cheat River below the mouth of Clover Run to include his Settlement made theron in the year 1776.' "Tucker County. Jonathan Minear was a son of John (p. 320), and was killed by the Indians at Jonathan Run in 1780 (Fansler, 31-35)."

There is also a great picture of a roadside historical marker at Saint George, which I assume is still there (this book was published in 1974). The marker reads, "FORT MINEAR Erected by John Minear in 1776, who with a group of immigrants later founded Saint George. Settlement attacked by Indian bands in spring of 1780 and in 1781. Minear and his son Jonathan among killed."

(From Bill Minear WAMINEAR@digiscape.com)

5 David Minear b: 31 Jul 1755 in Bucks Co, Pennsylvania d:21 Oct 1834 in St George, West Virginia +Catherine Saylor b: 10 Dec 1771 m: ca 21 Apr 1789 in Harrison Co, West Virginia d: 9 Feb 1833

6 Manassah Minear b: 1788 d: 1852 in Elkhart, Indiana
+Lydia Holbert b. abt 1790, Loudown, VA, m. abt 1806, d: 1830 Randolph Co, WV
*2nd Wife of Manassah Minear:
+Sarah Middleton

7 William Minear b: 1812 d: 1850 in Coryell Co (Milam Co) TX
+Lydia Pakle Hymer b: 1 Jul 1815 in Bath Co, Kentucky m: 9 Jun 1834 in Bath Co, Kentucky d: 8 Aug 1899 in Bandera, Texas (later married Meacham Curtis)

William Minear and his wife, Lydia Packle Hymer (Picklesheimer) had been living on their apple farm in Van Buren, Iowa. The sold their land to move south to Texas with a covered wagon and horse team. When in Texas, they joined Lyman Wight's Colony at the Cedars. There they lived in tents. The family tired of living with the Colony and moved down to the Lampasas River where, once again, they lived in tents. One day, four men came to their tent and wanted William to go with them to see about a cow that had just had a young calf. William went with them riding his nice young buckskin mare. The mare's colt and a dog followed. He also had a new saddle made by a man named Grissom. William never returned from that trip in Coryell County, Texas in 1850. Lydia found his body. The horse and saddle were gone. After she buried William, she gathered her six children and rejoined the Lyman Wight Colony at Hamilton, Texas. Lydia was a devout member ot the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints.

8 Amanda Minear b: 24 May 1838 d: 16 May 1863 in Bandera ,Texas
+[1] George Hay b: 17 Mar 1836 in Erskine Parish, Renfrewshire, Scotland m: 31 Dec 1858 in Bandera, Texas d: 6 Feb 1925 in Bandera,Texas

8 Emma Avdosca Minear b: 20 May 1840 d: 16 Aug 1901
+Joshua Sutherland m: 2 Jan 1860 in Bandera ,Texas

8 Marinda Minear b: 5 Jun 1842 in Van Buren Co, Iowa d: 7 Mar 1923 in Charter Oak, Iowa
+Robert Ballantyne m: 2 Jun 1860 in Bandera ,Texas

8 Virgine (Virginia, Virgie) Elva Minear b: 25 Mar 1844 in Fannin Co, Texas d: 16 Nov 1941 in Bandera, Texas
+[1] George Hay b: 17 Mar 1836 in Erskine Parish, Renfrewshire, Scotland m: 4 Jul 1865 in Bandera, Texas d: 6 Feb 1925 in Bandera ,Texas

Virgina was also a devout member ot the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints. She, with Frank and Mary Hay Langford's help, built the Church on the corner of Fourteenth and Hackberry.

8 Martha Minear b: 25 Aug 1846 d: 1900
+William Ramsey m: 25 Dec 1867 in Bandera ,Texas

8 Mary Minear b: 25 Oct 1848 d: 27 Nov 1935 +Arthur Pue III m: 1868 in Bandera ,Texas

8 Joseph William Minear b: 28 Mar 1851 d: 7 Oct 1923 in San Antonio, TX
+Harriet "Hattie" Emily Wight m: 10 Sep 1888 d: 6 Oct 1926

Please see http://www.rootsweb.com/~cascgs/minear/index.htm for a detailed working report of the Minear/Minier/Minnir families.


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